Which dual sport motorcycle is right for you

Seriously, be honest here. You'll save yourself a lot of money if you do. If you're a beginner, buy yourself a small used bike and get comfortable on that.

Give yourself three to six months to learn how to manage it. Take the motorcycle safety course and get your endorsement.

Then go get yourself one that you can grow into. Buying yourself a sparkling new bike right off the bat will probably result in broken turn signals and a bruised ego. After you drop it following a two- mile-an-hour spaz-out in the supermarket parking lot, in front of a school bus full of kids who all laughed and pointed at you. Not that I'd know.

If you are shorter than 5'6", the world of dual-sport motorcycling is going to be tougher for you to enjoy. Because of long-travel suspensions and the tall valve trains of four-stroke cylinders, modern off-road motorcycles tend to be a leggy bunch. The aftermarket does provide kits that shorten the suspension on most popular models.

While some manufacturers sell street legal dual sport bikes under the cc range, you won't get far on a major highway without ticking off a line of drivers behind you. Continuous speeds exceeding 50 mph on such small bikes is not a good idea. This is where you'll have to separate fantasy from reality. But in reality, you'll probably be riding horse trails in Redmond on your way back from getting a box of Lucky Charms for the kids.

What kind of off-road riding will you be doing? Mostly unpaved Forest Service fire roads? Or gnarly single track barely wider than your handlebars? Now nearly every motorcycle manufacturer offers one or more Adventure Bike models and competition for market share is high. The popularity of these bikes and strong sales accelerated investment in technology and pushed design improvements further.

Modern Adventure Bikes are capable of handling all but the most extreme trails off-road while still offering the all-day comfort of a touring bike. ADV Bikes offer quick handling that makes them a joy to run hard on twisty back roads.

Adventure Bikes offer the most versatility in Motorcycling. Some models of Adventure motorcycles may vary significantly. Adventure Bikes typically have larger displacement twin cylinder engines that can cruise comfortably at speed.

The greater horsepower and longer gearing allows them to keep up with the flow of traffic and accelerate with ease during passing maneuvers.

The bikes can also stop quickly with street biased tires and more powerful brakes, offering better safety in emergency situations.

The larger engines run at lower RPMs making them smoother and more durable for long-distance travel. Riders are less fatigued with protection from the wind and a comfortable seat as well. Large gas tanks provide a typical range miles, allowing riders to venture off in remote areas and travel further without refilling. The bikes can be loaded up with Luggage Racks, panniers and top boxes that allow riders to carry gear for camping and long-term tours.

Passenger can also be carried without significant impact on the handling of the bike. Heavy duty long-travel suspensions are able to absorb the impacts of off-road riding. The bikes allow riders to explore dirt roads and even technical terrain in the hands of a skilled rider. Aftermarket accessories like crash-bars help keep the exposed plastics protected from damage in a fall.

Adventure Bikes are significantly heavier than Dual Sport motorcycles making aggressive off-road riding and technical trails more challenging. During off-road riding, body positioning is limited because of windscreens, seat designs and luggage systems. Their weight and protruding parts e. Panniers and windscreens can make them more difficult to handle aggressive off-road riding. Exposed plastic bodywork and windscreens can get damaged in a fall and are expensive to repair. Picking up these heavy beasts can require more than one person.

The complexity of the engines and advanced electronics can make some Adventure Bikes more difficult to fix if a remote repair is required. The bikes are also more expensive to purchase, maintain and repair than Dual Sport motorcycles. It boils down to your physical capabilities and intended usage of the bike. If you live close to the trails and want to ride more difficult terrain or just want a lighter bike that is easy to maneuver, then a Dual Sport Bike is for you.

If you have aspirations for long trips that include significant paved sections, then an Adventure Bike is definitely for you. The Questionnaire will help you analyze your needs and discover some different Adventure Bike Models that are potentially a good match for your intended usage and physical capabilities. Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike — a Honda MB5. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding.

As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far. So KTM and with adventure fairing are dual sport adventure bikes? And DR with large tank is? Adventure bike is a marketing term, which covers way too many shapes and styles of motorcycles. It is basically depicting a design style with an upright seating position. Only company that follows the rules you put in this article is BMW.

You definitely have a lack of reading comprehension. The VanVan is precision tuned to perform equally well on city streets as it does on the trail and track, and a pleated seat helps keep you comfy on long riding days. But maybe the most appealing touch is a pair of extra-wide tires that help stabilize the bike and, honestly, just look damn cool. The rollout of fully electric cars has been long and fraught, but the electric dirt bike and dual sport industry has actually been thriving for years.

Zero is a leading manufacturer in this sector, and the FX is their latest electric masterpiece. Perhaps its best feature is an accompanying app that makes it easy to switch from preprogrammed dirt to pavement modes, but the fully electric powertrain and satisfyingly gangly suspension are no slouches either.

Cue up the Captain Planet theme song in your bluetooth motorcycle helmet speakers and get to shredding. Honda makes nearly every other kind of motorized vehicle, so hey, why not dual sports? And, of course, the Japanese company pulls off the CFL with the aplomb that they bring to all of their motorcycles. It is also street legal so you can also ride it on the streets. Recommended Experience: To ride an Enduro, you must be a skilled off-road rider.

This bike is made for long-distance off-road trips and can go through any rough terrain. The Electric Dual Sport motorcycles differ from the traditional dual-sport bike in both power and range. Once you charge it, this bike is ready to tackle any terrain that gets in your way. It is environmentally friendly and will definitely help you out on fuel costs. It has a go-anywhere capability that any rider will enjoy. Recommended Experience: This motorcycle is perfect for a rider with all experience levels.

If you are a motorcycle enthusiast that enjoys riding on both street and dirt, why have 2 motorcycles when you can have one that does both.