Best Dual Sport Motorcycle

There are many types of motorcycles that you will find ridden by bikers on roads. The primary types of motorcycles are cruisers, dirt road bikes, and superbikes; which are further classified as per use and technical specifications. A popular class of motorcycles that is attracting the attention of many motorbiking enthusiasts is 'dual sport'.

What is a Dual Sport Motorcycle?

In simple terms, a dual sport motorcycle is one which is manufactured in a way that it can be ridden on dirt tracks and terrain as well as on normal roads. These motorbikes are also sometimes referred to as 'dual purpose' or 'all road'. They have a good power, pickup, and acceleration for off-road use; and street legal equipment such as headlights, mirrors, horn, license plate, speedometer, and all other essentials for standard use. Brands such as Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Honda are believed to be most popular for manufacturing some of the best dual sport motorcycles.

Buying a Dual Sport Motorcycle

When buying a good motorcycle; you need to think of some important considerations such as the weight, height, power, and most importantly the use. If you are shorter than 5.6 inches, you may find it difficult to handle most dual sport bikes. However, there are some models for shorter people as well. These motorcycles come in three categories of weight; lightweight from 110 to 140 kg, middleweight from 140 to 160 kg, and heavyweight that are more than 160 kg.

Lightweight dual purpose motorbikes generally have more height and ground clearance, and come with most features found on conventional dirt track bikes such as heightened suspension and knobby tires. These are good motorbikes for women touring enthusiasts. Middleweight motorcycles have lesser ground clearance and lower suspension than their lightweight counterparts. They offer a compromise between a dirt ride and a standard touring ride. On the other hand, heavyweights are those which are mostly intended to be used on long rides; which demands for features like low ground clearance, a comfortably seat, smoother tires, and luggage carrying capacity.

Suzuki DR650
This model from Suzuki is believed to be one of the most successful dual sport bikes. It sports a 644cc, 4-stroke, single cylinder, 4-valve engine which generates a power of 43 horsepower. It also has a decent fuel tank capacity of 13 liters. Its height is 47.0 inches and weight is 147 kg. Its DR650 SE variant is currently available.

Yamaha TDM 850
The Yamaha TDM850 is a dual purpose bike that is fitted with an 849cc, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, two-cylinder engine which has a power of around 78 horsepower. It has a minimum ground clearance of 160 mm and a seat height of 795 mm. Its fuel tank of 20 liters is useful for long rides. Riders say that it is not suitable for tough off-road riding though.

Kawasaki KLR 650
This is probably thought of as one of the best dual sport motorcycles. It houses a 4 stroke, single cylinder, 651cc engine which generates a peak power of 44 bhp. In addition, it proves to be a good off-road tourer with a 23 liter fuel tank. This bike may not be recommended for starters as it weighs approximately 180 kg.

Honda XL1000V Varadero
The XL1000V Varadero is a heavyweight dual purpose bike which is most appropriate for long distance road travel and limited off-road use. It comes with a 2 cylinder, 996cc, v-twin engine which provides an impressive 93 hp. Other specifications include a fuel tank of 25 liters, weight of 276.7 kg, and seat height of 838 mm.

Choosing the option is simply a matter of matching your requirements with the specifications of the bike. Dual sport motorcycles are those which combine features, characteristics, and specifications of both dirt bikes as well as sport bikes.