Dual sport engine size?


What size engine would you get in a dual sport?

  • 250cc or less

    Votes: 3 14.3%

  • 400cc ish

    Votes: 8 38.1%

  • 650cc ish

    Votes: 8 38.1%

  • 900cc or larger

    Votes: 2 9.5%
  • Total voters
    21
R

RoadTrip

New Member
The WR250R would be my top pick, KTM 500 EXC would be second, 650's are considered too heavy to be fun by many.
 
B

bleedinblue

Senior Member
Elite Member
leem00 said:
Continuing from my other poll...
http://www.600cc.org/forum/f44/dual-sports-what-model-cooling-type-would-you-recommend-28941/

What engine size dual sport would you choose?

It seems the 250 and 650 are the most common...

I was leaning more towards a 250 or 400 though.

Opinions?
Click to expand...
What do you intend to use it for?Off road, gas saver, or do you just want a inexpensive option besides the 6r, that can still make you smile?

Most singles are going to feel boring after the 6r on the street.I'd go with a 450 for that reason, they are rockets off road.But a 450 wouldn't really have better mileage or anything.

Alot of people love those suzuki drz400's.If you've never ridden a wr450 or something, then you would feel that a drz400 is nearly perfect as a dualsport.

If your looking for something cheap and used, id look for a drz400, honda xr400 or as another example, my uncle snagged a yamaha xt350 for $600 last month, its way better than a 250 and isn't super tall like a 400cc+ machine.But its air cooled and has a rear drum brake.
 
M

MichaelInVenice

Lot of Class, Mostly Low
Elite Member
Based on your description of your needs in the other thread, I'd say the best value right now is the new Honda CRF250L. It's not quite to the level of the WR250R in it's componentry and use of lightweight materials, but MSRP is more than $2000 less. It's head and shoulders above the Kawasaki KLX250S, which is steel-framed and carbed and seriously due for an upgrade. (I owned one and thought it was a great bike for the price at the time, but a new fuel injected honda is the same price!)

The 650s are really more focused on adventure riders than on people who want a dirt bike that can also be ridden on roads to and from the trail, which seems to be where you position yourself.

But... if you're really looking at this as an entry level intro to dirtbiking, I wouldn't worry about any of the above. Find a lightly-used KLX250S, Honda CRF230L, Yamaha XT250, or even Suzuki DR200SE. All of these are carbed and easy to work on, and all but the Kawi are air-cooled. Jet the carb properly if it hasn't already been done, it's cheap and easy. You'll buy it cheap and you'll sell it cheap in a year or two when you're ready to move up. No point in learning trail riding on a new expensive bike that you WILL drop in the dirt often.

The "in between" bike size many talk about is the Suzuki DR-Z400S. Bigger than most dirt bikes, smaller than most of the 650s in the adventure category. Many use it as an intro adventure bike. It's OK in the dirt, but heavier than the 250s and you'll have a tougher time learning on it.

But like I said, buy used, don't worry about the cosmetics, and upgrade later.
 
J

JSP

Super Moderator
Guy i used to work with had klr 650 and his girl a klr 250. He ejoyed hers offroad more and his onroad. Said his was too heavy to really be fun. But hers was a bit of a drag slabbin the pavement to the trails.
 
M

MichaelInVenice

Lot of Class, Mostly Low
Elite Member
But I'd also ask around in your area and see what locals recommend for your trails. Around here you can either go technical -- which tends to favor the lightweight 250s that I'd prefer -- or you can go for the higher-speed dirt roads and enduro or MX-style riding. If your preferences and your area favor the latter kind of use, then go for the bigger motors, and the Suzuki would probably be a good choice.
 
M

MichaelInVenice

Lot of Class, Mostly Low
Elite Member
JSP said:
Guy i used to work with had klr 650 and his girl a klr 250. He ejoyed hers offroad more and his onroad. Said his was too heavy to really be fun. But hers was a bit of a drag slabbin the pavement to the trails.
Click to expand...
KLR650s are great bikes, but really more adventure bikes than dirt bikes. It would definitely be my choice to ride through Baja or the Utah desert backroads, if for no better reason than the huge tank! The newer KLX250S replaced the KLR250 and like I said it's a nice bike, though increasingly outdated.
 
P

Perdurable

Teeker!!!
Elite Member
my dirtbike is a 250 and wheighs 200lbs and i ride it like a raped ape!!! but a duel sport is gonna be heavy!!!
DS vs MX
650cc 400-500lbs feels like a 450cc MX
400cc 300-400lbs feels like a 250cc MX
250cc 250-300lbs feels like a 200cc MX

DS=DuelSport
MX=MotoCross Dirtbike

This is all just imo
personally i would rather have a 1000cc sport bike and a 250cc/450cc MX i just HATE the idea of having one bike that dose both!!!

but if i were to get one this would be it!!
 
L

leem00

Sport touring Member
Elite Member
bleedinblue said:
What do you intend to use it for?Off road, gas saver, or do you just want a inexpensive option besides the 6r, that can still make you smile?

Most singles are going to feel boring after the 6r on the street.I'd go with a 450 for that reason, they are rockets off road.But a 450 wouldn't really have better mileage or anything.

Alot of people love those suzuki drz400's.If you've never ridden a wr450 or something, then you would feel that a drz400 is nearly perfect as a dualsport.

If your looking for something cheap and used, id look for a drz400, honda xr400 or as another example, my uncle snagged a yamaha xt350 for $600 last month, its way better than a 250 and isn't super tall like a 400cc+ machine.But its air cooled and has a rear drum brake.
Click to expand...
My intended use would be the dirt roads and once it dries out this summer running up and down the creeks around here. As Ped mentioned the MX bike might be better but with no truck or trailer the dual sport fits a little better. My other concern is seat hight as my 29" inseam is SHORT! My idea would be to keep the 6r off the dirt roads and creek crossing once I get one of these.
 
P

Perdurable

Teeker!!!
Elite Member
leem00 said:
My intended use would be the dirt roads and once it dries out this summer running up and down the creeks around here. As Ped mentioned the MX bike might be better but with no truck or trailer the dual sport fits a little better. My other concern is seat hight as my 29" inseam is SHORT! My idea would be to keep the 6r off the dirt roads and creek crossing once I get one of these.
Click to expand...
i think this might fit you well then seat hight is the same as the fz6r
2013 Yamaha XT250 Specifications, specs

but this one sits higher it is a 400cc with the same clearance and its only 30lbs heavier
Suzuki Cycles - Product Lines - Cycles - Products - DR-Z400 - 2013 - DRZ400S


Keep in mind they do make light kits for the off road bikes =)
http://www.motosport.com/dirtbike/2012-yamaha-YZ250--light-kits?mmy_source=leftnav
 
Last edited:
B

BoneJj

Well-Known Member
My thing is that I want a 2 cylinder dual sport and no one seems to make a 400ish bike with 2 cylinders..... or anything more than one cylinder for that matter...

the only dual sport with anything other than a single cylinder is the Triumph tiger but that's 800cc which is a big extreme and excessive for offroad use. They need to make a 500cc version or anything from 400-500cc. That and it comes in at 473lbs, that's just excessive for a dual sport bike. that needs to be trimmed down a lot.
 
Last edited:
P

Perdurable

Teeker!!!
Elite Member
BoneJj said:
My thing is that I want a 2 cylinder dual sport and no one seems to make a 400ish bike with 2 cylinders..... or anything more than one cylinder for that matter...

the only dual sport with anything other than a single cylinder is the Triumph tiger but that's 800cc which is a big extreme and excessive for offroad use. They need to make a 500cc version or anything from 400-500cc. That and it comes in at 473lbs, that's just excessive for a dual sport bike. that needs to be trimmed down a lot.
Click to expand...
why? torque is key for off road =P more cyl basically just lets you go faster
"The number of cylinders gives you a more even application of power, and the smaller cylinders allow higher RPMs for much greater power -- but for brute twisting grunt torque the single cylinder rules. Which is why dirt bikes, where torque is at a premium, are mostly singles."
 
Last edited:
B

BoneJj

Well-Known Member
Perdurable said:
why? torque is key for off road =P more cyl basically just lets you go faster
"The number of cylinders gives you a more even application of power, and the smaller cylinders allow higher RPMs for much greater power -- but for brute twisting grunt torque the single cylinder rules. Which is why dirt bikes, where torque is at a premium, are mostly singles."
Click to expand...
yes, but I like the lack of sever vibration at highway speeds when I want to commute on the bike, so a nice 2 cylinder setup for a dual sport would work great for me in that regard.

What was one of the biggest decisions when I was buying my current bike, not having vibrations or as little as possible. Try riding a DRZ400SM on the interstate for while. The thing will vibrate like a SOG.
 
B

bleedinblue

Senior Member
Elite Member
BoneJj said:
yes, but I like the lack of sever vibration at highway speeds when I want to commute on the bike, so a nice 2 cylinder setup for a dual sport would work great for me in that regard.

What was one of the biggest decisions when I was buying my current bike, not having vibrations or as little as possible. Try riding a DRZ400SM on the interstate for while. The thing will vibrate like a SOG.
Click to expand...
If you buy one I better get a finders fee.I accept integrated tail lights as currency btw.

Aprilia
 
M

MichaelInVenice

Lot of Class, Mostly Low
Elite Member
BoneJj said:
yes, but I like the lack of sever vibration at highway speeds when I want to commute on the bike, so a nice 2 cylinder setup for a dual sport would work great for me in that regard.

What was one of the biggest decisions when I was buying my current bike, not having vibrations or as little as possible. Try riding a DRZ400SM on the interstate for while. The thing will vibrate like a SOG.
Click to expand...
Well, the BMWs and V-stroms are also twins, but not designed as real dual sports either. They're adventure bikes that will handle dirt roads quite nicely but are just too big and heavy for the trails.

Some of the bigger dual sport singles are relatively smooth -- KLR, BMW single, Husky Terra (which uses the BMW engine) -- but it is relative to other singles, not to a multi-cylinder setup. But they're designed more as entry adventure bikes than true dual sports. A bike that's really designed to handle trails (rather than dirt roads) is going to need that high-torque, low-weight single and will sacrifice high-speed comfort. My old KLX250 was fine at speeds up to 60-65mph. If you need to go faster than that, I'd argue that no dual sport worthy of the name will do the job. You just have to give up too much off road to gain that high speed on-road performance.
 

B

BoneJj

Well-Known Member
bleedinblue said:
If you buy one I better get a finders fee.I accept integrated tail lights as currency btw.

Aprilia
Click to expand...
okay now those look like a nice set of options but I would probably have to drop the bike about 3 inches in order to be able to ride it. At a seat height of 36 inch I wouldn't even be able to touch the ground even with the tip of my toes at a light. Thy have 12.5 inches of ground clearance and even if I brought it down to 8.5 with a 4 inch drop that would be plenty for the majority of the riding that I would do down here and give me a nice working seat height for everyday riding.

I can't seem to find the weight of the bike though, I must be missing something...

Looks like a really promising bike. I always forget about them when I'm looking at bikes, probably because I don't have a local dealer for them.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.


Top