What You Need to Know About Dual Sport Motorcycles
Dual-sport motorcycles are set up with the necessities for road riding like mirrors and turn signals, as well as tires and suspension that can handle at least moderate off-road riding. Over the years, this motorcycle type has become all the rage, endearing a growing number of riders.
Ever wondered what makes these machines so popular? Read on to all about the allure of dual sport motorcycles.
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History
In the early days of motorcycling, the bikes were built to withstand the poor road conditions of the time, essentially making them early predecessors in spirit to modern dual-sports. By the late 1950s, brands like Triumph were offering modified “scrambler” versions of their lightweight road bikes with knobbier tires and raised exhaust pipes.
As the 1960s were coming to a close, Yamaha had taken a different approach by modifying a dirt bike to manage some pavement time, and called it an “enduro”. While scramblers could manage higher speeds on-road, they reached their limits sooner off-road than the more rugged enduros that were often ill-suited for highway rides.
By the 1980s, dual-sports became more serious with bikes like BMW’s R80 G/S. This model had the mass and power to manage high speeds, as well as the durability and suspension to handle off-road terrain, even conquering the famed Paris-Dakar Rally multiple times.
Modern Dual Sport Motorcycles
Today, definitively classifying dual-sports can be tricky since opinions on their definition vary. The category has evolved and separated out adventure (ADV) bikes due to their large displacement, cargo-carrying capability, and bulky size. However, scramblers are still known as street-based machines that have been given aggressive tires, and possibly an increase in suspension travel, usually with retro styling cues.
Dual-sports are generally lighter weight than Scramblers or ADVs, tipping the scales at less than 400 lbs., with most having a 4-stroke single-cylinder engine, typically no greater than 650 cc’s in displacement.
Still, contemporary dual-sports can be further classified into groups of larger, heavier bikes that manage pavement riding better. These are typically machines with 500-or-more cc displacement, as opposed to lightweight machines that are easier to manage off-road with engines 200-300 cc’s in displacement.
Popular Dual Sport Motorcycles
Entry Level / Lightweight
Both Honda and Yamaha have been building small, simple dual-sport bikes for decades, and they continue to do so. These machines can be found around the globe, often sold in vast numbers to folks who use them as primary transport in rough conditions, but also by those who want an easy-to-ride, simple trail bike for around the acreage or at the cabin.
The Honda XR150L and Yamaha TW200 utilize very simple, small displacement, carbureted engines with low power outputs, low weights and seat heights, making them very inclusive.
Mid-Weight Models
Suzuki’s DR-Z has become legendary in the segment, celebrated for its capabilities off-road, but also easily modified to a wildly-fun on-road Super Moto. For 2025, the DR-Z4S arrives with a thoroughly modern drivetrain.
The model also comes with advanced electronics like selectable drive modes, traction control and switchable ABS brakes to ensure a fun and safe ride. Honda’s CRF450L takes the company’s CRF450R dirt bike and modifies it for street use. While simpler than the DR-Z4S, the 450L is a formidable machine off-road.
Heavyweight Models
The heavyweights come in a few notable flavors, too. Kawasaki’s venerable KLR 650 is renowned for its incredible durability and simplicity. It’s a big, effortless, and incredibly tough dual sport. Still, its modest power limits its on-road use, and its sheer bulk hampers it on the gnarliest trails but the KLR has won over adoring owners around the world.
KTM’s 690 Enduro R is big, but thanks to high-end components, it’s not as heavy as the KLR. Plus, all those parts help the KTM cover wild terrain with ease, while having more than enough power to tackle highway duties. Of course, quality parts don’t come cheap, and the KTM 690 Enduro R is a pricey machine.
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Which Dual Sport Bike is Best for You?
To determine which bike fits your needs, you’ll need to consider how you plan to use it. For riders looking to travel on long-distance adventures that may see some rough roads, or occasional trail use, the larger-scale bikes are a good option.
Riders planning on short pavement rides to get to the trails, or quick trips into town, are likely to prefer the more manageable size and weight of a smaller dual-sport for more serious off-road use.
In either case, dual-sport motorcycles can provide durable, capable and efficient transportation. They are especially popular in rural areas and parts of the world where road conditions can deteriorate very quickly. Not sure if you want to ride the road or the trails? Why not do both? Pick a dual-sport that’s right for you and go explore!
Jeff Wilson
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