Best Beginner Dual Sport Motorcycles Tier List: Ranking the Best Dual Sport Bikes for Beginners
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 มิ.ย. 2024
- There are a ton of very awesome beginner dual sport motorcycles out there, but they aren't all on the same level, in my opinion. Let's sort them out into tiers based on some very specific beginner dual sport motorcycle criteria:
Ease of riding
Longevity (in terms of remaining relevant as skills improve)
Dual Sport Versatility
Beginner Motorcycle Reliability
Price
Cost of ownership
Ease of ownership
With that in mind, here is my (extremely subjective) Dual Sport Motorcycle Tier List. These are the best dual sport motorcycles for beginners in a very particular order.
S Tier
CRF300L Rally
Honda CRF300L
Kawasaki KLX300
A Tier
Suzuki DR650S
Honda CRF250L
Kawasaki KLX250S
Yamaha XT250
B Tier
KLR 650S
Yamaha TW200
Kawasaki KLX 230
KLR 650
Suzuki DRZ400S
Suzuki DR200
C Tier
Yamaha WR250R
KTM 690/Husky 701/GasGas 700
Honda XR650L
D Tier
KTM (Husky) 500 EXC-F
KTM (Husky) 350 EXC-F
Beta 390 RR-S
Beta 500 RR-S
Beta 430 RR-S
F Tier
Honda CRF450L
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction/How They're Rated
01:41 F Tier: Honda CRF450L
02:44 D Tier: KTM 500/350, Beta 390/500/430
03:41 C Tier: Yamaha WR250R, KTM 390, Husky 701
05:22 B Tier: KLR650, TW200, DRZ400, and more...
08:06 A Tier: CRF250L, XT250, DR650, KLX250
10:56 S Tier: CRF300L, CRF300L Rally, KLX300
12:55 Outro
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Do this same video but for 2nd bikes. I started on a 700cc 4 cylinder. I now have a bmw f700gs. I think the bmw is the bees knees but I haven’t ridden a Honda or yamaha and would like your opinion.
I wish you would’ve put the DR350S on the list. I understand it’s old and probably shouldn’t get a mention but you talked about it with the DR200 and I just kind of want to know where you think it stacks up next to the DR200, DRZ400 and DR650.
I was kind of thinking 690 would be the perfect motorcycle but that gas tank is so small 😢
I completely agree with this video, just because I have a 300 l rally doesn't mean I'm biased but wow, what a fun bike with cool features. Love the dash, the ability to add an accessory charger for USB right to the factory harness. The thing had a nice growl in around 5200 rpm. Not obnoxiously loud. Loud enough for me and I've gotten compliments from my neighbors and local cops. Here in the town I live in Ontario Canada, the local police are thinking about buying a few after we talked. Perfect for patrol and fleet because of the long service intervals. There is a reason why I had to wait a year to get and the dealer is 2 hours away! I get why people like KTMs and all that but they're just not good for me as I can't service them, there is no dealer near me to buy parts. It'd be like me buying a BMW or Mercedes-Benz. Stupid expensive for the parts and they are "hangar queens". I buy stuff to use every day, that's why this thing sits in my garage.
PS>>if you want one, get your order in now, the dealership I dealt with was only alotted 3 for 2023 and they are a big dealer for London, Ontario. Other regions might have a little bit more but I doubt it.
The best bike is the one that you can afford
Another vote for the TW200. Bikes over 450 lbs are not beginners bikes.
The old saying “It’s more fun driving a small/slow bike fast, than it is to drive a fast/heavy bike slow!” Absolutely true.
Totally agree! No 400 to 700cc bike is a beginner bike.
+1 for TW200. You will want to keep it forever, even after you’ve outgrown it and have moved on to something more advanced. It’s still one of my favorite bikes to putt around on
Agreed. I sold my tw200 for a steal and want another one. I feel like a tw200 is in its own weird fun category
If your able to keep more than one, the TW is a no brainer.
A used TW200 isn't cheap! Unless its a complete wreck.
The Suzuki DR650 would be my top choice. When will it ever get FI🙏🏻. Thats all it needs...
Absolutely true. I came from 120+hp sport bikes bought a Tdub,,love it and although I probably will buy something slightly bigger eventually with fuel injection and liquid cooling. I’ll keep the TW. Like my old CBR I’ll most likely keep forever.
You can't keep it forever because the engine needs a rebuild at 30K miles. There are Chinese made lifan engines that outlast the TW200.
DO NOT! Start with a KTM 1190 Adventure Vtwin 155hp 😂
I'd love to see a similar video from you explaining where you'd rank these same bikes for an INTERMEDIATE rider. I know since you have become more advanced in your own riding, you've sought out more powerful and more advanced bikes like the CRF450L. Would you place that same bike that you ranked as F tier in this comp into the S tier for an Intermediate or advanced rider? Or would you have another bike to recommend instead? I think you've got a lot of great insight into the bikes from many manufactures and would love to hear your perspective. Cheers!
My wife wanted a dual sport after learning to ride last year. We looked at the S-tier bikes but ended up getting a XT250. I feel like calling it an A-tier is pretty accurate. Great bike for her and also fun for me to play around on. Edit: forgot to clarify, the S-tier bikes were a bit too tall for her liking and the XT250 is one of the shorter bikes out there.
Excellent pick for a wife bike. I've rode the XT before, loved it. I'm only 5'7, so I love the smaller, shorter bikes. Hope you guys have a ton of fun riding together.
I got an xt250 because I couldn’t find a crf250l, and as it turns out the little xt is a great bike for me to learn my off-road skills!!!
I’m 6’4, bought one, love it, first bike, bought it used in a great deal. Enough power, gets me around where I need to go, very good quality
The XT225 is a number one seller in Japan. =Fun to ride, cheap, very reliable, uses little fuel.
If they had the old 2 valve Honda XL200 I would pick that. XR250L with carb mods.
XT250 might be a S tier wife bike if she's a newer rider. Low seat, easy to ride, not intimidating. Not TOO heavy to pick up, but almost. Inexpensive and reliable. KLX230S is also a good choice.
With 18 years experience I've forgotten what new riders need. Great listen every point you made made sense from my experience, you've gain a subscriber!
Saw you outside of Giant Loop HQ in Bend a few days ago but didn’t want to be a weirdo so I didn’t introduce myself. Thanks for making great content. Your CRF250L video from a few years ago pushed me to get one and get into the world of dual sporting and I can’t thank you enough! Keep up the good work!
Fantastic compilation, straight to the point, with super practical and usefull perspectives without all the bla bla. Way to go, keep up the good work! 👍
Very good summary, I ride a CRF 300 Rally and as an experienced/expert/ form magazine bike tester in Australia I have to say that these bike are very capable right throughout the skill scale, I can keep up and exceed most guys on much bigger more powerful bikes over all types of riding conditions
Once again a very common sense video. Very good points. I just bought a used DR 650 to go along with my Africa Twin. I think a good selling point for it is it was desigend for two ride heights. The rear can be lowered by moving a bolt on rear shock linkage. The front can be lowered by moving an internal spacer inside the fork tubes. This was all designed by Suzuki . The one I bought was already lowered and I kind of like it. Didnt really need it but I might leave it like it is.
I love my KLX230. It exceeded my expectations, and it will forever be my trail bike.
My neighbor has a KLX300...great bike, he loves it
Good list. I have ridden/owned most of these and agree completely. Currently ride CRF450RL and love it as an experienced rider.
Peeks in garage... KTM 500 EXCF and 690 Enduro R. Was all prepared to give my keyboard a workout HOWEVER you are correct, they are not great *beginner* dual sports.
I want a 500-EXC(W) after getting bit by the KTM bug, and my bike isn't on the list either, but I will make an argument for the 300-XCW as a beginner dual sport rider. I did own a few dirt bikes when I was a kid and I'm returning many years later, but I'm definitely still a beginner...
The 300 is the best dirt bike I've ever ridden, so if you know how to ride at all and are more interested in dirt, the 300 is also super easy to ride. I had a DRZ-400 for a couple months and it was definitely much harder to ride off road, and down right heavy by comparison.
That's my crazy argument for the bike I settled on. Oh and mine (2018) came back as "Motorcycle" at registration just like any other street legal bike, so it actually is a dual sport, technically 😅
Honestly even a built 350 or 400 can be dangerous with a lightweight rider. I had a drz434 and let one of my less skilled friends ride and looped it with the throttle in first gear
@@codybertram6122 True, I'm probably coming from a different head space tho- I probably wouldn't recommend any of these bikes to a true beginner, or younger rider with less self control (definitely not any of the heavier bikes). Most of them will loop in first anyway, with enough disregard for the throttle. I'm thinking more about someone that's older, understands power sports, has played around with fast toys, is coming from street bikes/ ATVs, etc. (knows how to ride and wants to transition to different terrain). Beginner dual sport, not beginner/ first bike.
I definitely still recommend a 300xcw as something that's light and easy to ride stock (can really lug 1st & 2nd) but has plenty of power to grow into (changing the P.V. spring/ preload is quick & easy)
I haven't ridden a 500 but I have a feeling it would be pretty close, but better on-road and a little harder on tighter trails?
@@Wooskii1 I definitely think that weight plays more of a factor in this than horsepower (if they have been trained to know the power and when to use it) lightweight bikes are just easier to take off on in any terrain. Many beginners have a hard time taking off on a thumper. They either lug it to death or whiskey throttle lol. Then they get scared of the power. Which is a good thing. I didn’t respect power for many years and have dug gravel out of my back because of this. But any lightweight bike is so much easier to corner and maneuver and most don’t even need the horsepower they just want to hop the power band wagon and say they have a 400 or bigger because people talk down on 250-350s. Many motocross riders have said they wish there was a 350 class because 450s are just down right dangerous and if you try to ride them hard you actually go slower than riding them casual. I would say get a 250 and really learn the bike before you go up.
@@codybertram6122 Yeah, I totally agree with you, and I definitely think a heavy bike is scarier than a powerful bike off road (to an extent).
I'm guessing you mean a 250 4 stroke?
I would like to be able to recommend a 250 2 stroke, but they're drastically different between years, make/ model, and mods- from tall geared, fire breathing MX bikes to more easily managed enduros. The KDX 200 is supposedly "the best ever", but I've never ridden one, so I can only recommend the 300 enduros- Feels like a big mountain bike and (the KTM at least) has power delivery that's much more predictable/ manageable than almost every 250 I've ridden, and that's with the intermediate PV spring (older RMX 250 might be close?). You can toss the tame spring in to get more linear power. Other than being expensive and having a tall seat height, I don't know if you can do much better. Beta X-trainer maybe?
Australian / my perspective. I'm an older ex road rider and picked up a KLX230R in 2019 to start my off road journey. I did a high country ride on that bike and road all the same trails as WR250's, WR450, KTM690, T700, DRZ400 etc. It did surprise a number of people to see I was still there at the end of 2 days riding. This year I moved to the KLX300R, we don't get the dual sport model of the KLX300 in Aus - we only have the KLX250's here. (I'm guessing we are the dumping ground until Japan runs out of them...) I'm glad I started out on the 230 as it is lighter, slimmer and a little simpler than the 300 and really helped build my confidence. Yet another great video, well done.
Well done and fair. 32,000 miles on my DR650 in the last 8 months and it has been offroad, freeway, and the Dempster Highway taking all with ease. Windshield, seat, and bigger tank make it a versitile go anywhere and it's great for those vertically challenged like me.
List is spot on! I am currently doing all my offroad hooning on a DRZ400 (fun fact, its the bike McLovin dropped in the mud hole in this vid) and I 100% agree where it is in the list. I do want to check out a CRF300L sometime. I have that issue with being a bit on the shorter side so a lot of the KTM's and Husky's are just not in the cards for me. That and I have a hard time dropping 12K+ on something I know I am going to bang up and drop. Great vid!
Very happy to see the DR650 on there. I am a returning rider who hasn't ridden dirt since in high school, in the late 1980's. At that point I had a Yamaha IT490 which was WAY too much for me. I was worried about having to get something small in order to build the off road skills but would need to ride it to the ORV areas so need the highway capability, and was worried about having to go through several purchases to get where I want to be. Ultimately I want to do BDR/TAT style riding but day to day I'm street almost exclusively due to living in the city where the closest off road opportunities are over an hour away. Looks like it would work for me as something I can get next year and not have to make another purchase the following year!
Thank you for making this very detailed video.
As someone just getting into it and considering different bikes atm, this video was not just entertaining but actually influential on my thoughts and choices.
I have literally just opened a new tab for each bike you mentioned in A-tier and S-tier to go and check availability and prices for them in my region(northern Germany/southern Denmark).
Love the content. I'm not even interested in a dual sport or anything more than rough dirt roads that all the gatekeepers would say don't even qualify as off road, but I watched this just to get the down to earth info on this class of bike. With all the reviews on these that I've seen, I don't think you'll get a lot of opposition to the rankings outside of brand preference or differing definitions of "beginner" riders. I am a beginner, and I appreciate the time you put into providing solid info along with all the pure entertainment on your channel.
Love to see you do a video covering dirt/enduro tier list…. This was a great video. Keep up the great work.
So happy i did my research before I bought a motorcycle. Proud owner of a KLX 300, and throughout the learning process, dropped it about 4 times, nothing hurt, not really any scratches either, Im now comfortable and licensed, and I can say that once you get used to the height, it will serve you well
You’re spot on brother! I absolutely LOVE and still own a few old XR’s, but they are super tall and intimidating to a new rider. Never thought I’d be willing to part with them until I got my brand spanking new 23 300 rally back in July. Absolutely hands down the most fun and easiest bike to ride I’ve ever owned. Never rode the 250 version, but they are always for sale with low miles in the 4K range, and would have to be a great starter bike. Always enjoy your work, keep it up and be safe!
Yeah, I would agree … I learned on to ride on a XR650L, so it is doable. However, I am 6’1” with an inseam of 34”, so it just felt comfortable versus a shorter bike. Also, I think the thing going for it is maintenance, but I understand why he took it out of the judging criteria.
The one bike that I didn’t agree on was the KLR650 … I got to finally try lifting a KLR650 Adventure and I think it gave me a hernia. The bike that I agree on is the DR650 … there is a part of me that would take it over a XR650L due to the oil cooling radiator and I believe it has a Kush drive.
However, these are nitpicks … I would definitely send a new rider to this video.
2 things I'll add to the DR650's virtue list.
1. full frame. The lowest, most forward part of the bike is steel, not your crank case, not your exhaust, not your oil filter. The bike was made to bounce over crap.
2. Factory suspension has a lowering option. You have to pull a your suspension apart (intimidating), but you can drop the seat by a little over an inch, warranty approved.
Great vid. Thanks for compiling all this info.
Excellent list Ben, I think you nailed it. Seat height is a big factor for me. It's nice to see someone recognize that category. That can be huge for new riders.
I'm an old rider and chose the DR650 over the XR650 primarily due to the lower seat height.
As a new rider and someone who's vertically challenged, I agree!
You just know I was sitting here watching with my fingers hovering above the keyboard getting ready to respectfully object but....
I agree with everything point you made!
Great Video as usual bro! Love your opinion that's what's so cool about your channel. I'm going to stick with the 2022 KLR 650 Adventure, with some Modes. I've been riding street for 40 yrs, and just starting back dirt road travel. At 60yrs old and at 295lbs. This bike should last.👍✌ Love your channel and I'm going to do my first BDR out here North East next year.🏍🏍
Just picked up my new DR650s today! Looking forward to logging some miles on it!
I changed my TW200 rear sprocket to a 45 tooth and my XT250 front sprocket to a 16 tooth. That alone was all I needed to cruise 65mph all day and still hit single track trails fully “ADV” loaded.
I agree with your assessment and WHY you chose what you did.
If the TW200 had a 21” front tire I wouldn’t have bought an XT250.
Love the video!! Nice to compare the different bikes to one another and not just saying this is good and this is bad because what does "good" actually mean? Would love to see you do this format with the adventure bike as well !!! (Middel weight and heavyweight)
Great list. Only 2 arguments i have: I would recommend the WR250 for beginners, although it is a tougher bike to tame I’ve had 2 friends that had these as their first bikes and it forced them to learn very quickly. I also don’t really count the KLR as a dual sport anymore - it weighs just as much as a T7 and should be treated as an adventure bike. Outside of that, this is a great list. I started on my DR650 and don’t plan on selling it anytime soon, although hindsight I may have bought a DRZ400 instead. Both great bikes though.
great list. Now do the same for beginner ADV bikes!! Patiently waiting for your take on the Himalayan
For all of the reasons you listed I'd have the DR650 top of the chart. It does everything and is the "every man's" dual-sport.
I am an aging experienced road rider wanting a dual sport for touring & a little off road riding.
Ive gone from a Harley to a BMW K bike, to Suzuki Savage 650.
I did a 3000 mile trip on the 650 this summer without issue. I love that little bike. Ive had two.
Ive been looking for awhile now & i seem to keep zeroing in on the DR650.
However, i dont see a lot of info out there on it in the dual sport world.
Glad to see it so high on the list touve created here.
Thanks for the work you do here~
Greetings,
As always another brilliant detailed video 🇺🇸🎉🍾🇺🇸
Keep producing more quality videos as you always do.
I currently have a 300L Rally and love it. 10 years ago when I had my last dual sport I had a KLX 250 and I loved it as well. Both great bikes.
Just bought my first bike and it's the 300L Rally. I'm absolutely loving it
I just recently bought a new dr650 and I love it. It's my first dual sport (first bike was a z650rs) and it will 100% replace my street bike because it allows me to do all the things I need and want to do all off one cheap, reliable, steed.
I will admit, if I had started on this as my very first bike, I would probably be intimidated by the height (being 5'9), but even with only a year+ of riding under the belt, the height is no concern at all.
I think you list is pretty accurate for new/inexoerienced riders. I see of riders get in over their head because they try to start off with an over powered bike that they can’t touch the ground on. It only scares them away from the sport.
Man... you are spot on with so much! I just have a lifetime of riding and my fav bike so far was a 90s xr600r that i got plated for street. It was friggin bullet proof and u could almost do a full bike rebuild with the stock tool kit
Great video. And I'm TOTALLY agree with you. Perfect tierlist.
I’m not a duel sport rider, but this was a fun video to watch. Good job. Thanks 👍
Good list, love these videos.
I have AWR2 fifty, R, and a kalex 300. And I cannot decide which one I like better.
I love lists like this, even though I’m not a beginner dual sport rider anymore. I’ve had many of the bikes you listed, and I think you’re spot on for the most part. As another commenter said, the TW200 is an entity unto itself. It was the first bike I bought when getting back into riding after a very long hiatus, and I still have it. I’ll probably never get rid of it. I really love riding that bike. Another bike that I think will make it onto lists like these in the near future is the Honda XR150L. I’ve seen a couple of these bikes in person, and if I had room for it, I’d probably buy one. $3000 is significantly cheaper than what you can get into a new TW or an XT250 for, low seat height, not overwhelmingly powerful, and looks to generally be a fun bike to ride. Anyway, good list Ben.
Love the list. I rode for 20 years before getting my dual sport. It’s odd being a veteran street rider but a newbie off-roader. I got a dr650 and absolutely love it. Dropped it, easy to pick up. Modded it, super easy to work on. It simple, light, and I’m happy this is my first off-road bike. I dropped a few grand on mods but it’s for sure my absolute favorite bike right now.
As someone who started riding just last summer and was lucky enough to land a CRF300L Rally, I couldn’t agree more with everything you said about it. It’s an incredibly versatile and fun bike that takes me wherever I want to go.
Excellent recommendations! Dualsport beginners need to watch this video.
Great video. Love the DR650!
DR200 is definitely slept on. I spent 4 years learning on a DR200, from road to single track. A true dual sport. Easy maintenance. Lightweight, approachable, cheap on gas. The list goes on.
I have taken that bike everywhere, and through places people on much more capable bikes had hard times with.
It is not a great enduro bike, but it will hop logs and teach you everything you need to know.
Everyone I know who has ridden it loves it. I have a hard time justifying selling it because of how faithful that unit is.
If I were elected supreme world leader, everyone would get a DR200 when they turned 12 years old.
Great video. Appreciate your work.
Well Mr. Dork in the road. I think you nailed it! Been riding too many years and have basically owned at one time almost all the bikes you mentioned. My current stable has resulted in a 2023 KLR650S, 2023 WR450F, which I have lowered the suspension and turned it into my angry dual sport bike, and I love it. And of course I have a two stroke. The new 300's are great D/S bikes, can't say enough about them. Pretty much most people would be content with the 300's. Even experienced riders especially when it comes to reliability and maintenance. The bike I regret most selling was my 2015 Super Tenere. Owned it for 7yrs and it was probably the best bike I have ever owned. Thinking of getting my wife a XT250 next year to join us on camping trips. Thanks for the content.
DR650, the beginner bike that you'll want to keep.
I started on a DRZ S, but it didn't cut it on the open roads. Too buzzy above 55 and got blown around too much.
I sold it and found a mint DR650 and a low hour DRZ400E for dirt within months of each other. Pre-covid, everything was cheaper.
I modded the heck out of the DR650 including an 18" rear wheel and pumper carb. Definitely needed suspension work.
Got a KTM XCF-W 500 this year.
If I was forced to only have 1, it would be the DR650.
I’m no expert, but I’ve had dual sports in the past, looking at getting into it again and doing a lot of research, and I don’t think I could argue with 1 bike, or recommendation in this video.
Great information.
Thank you
Well justified and thought out list 👏👏👏
I think you did an excellent job here. There might be a few bikes you could move around depending on the person. If a person is tall a few bikes could be moved up and vice versa. Also if the most off road you see is a dirt road you might be able to move some bikes around on this list. I used to have a 2019 KLX250 and it really surprised me how well it went off road. Overall I think you did a great job explaining why you put the bikes where you put them.
as a new rider with a 30" inseam, I'm definitely leaning towards the XT250. The fact that they're more widely available on the used market is a bonus.
Thank you for the hard work you put into your videos. I'm looking at the XR150l and most likely will get the CRF250l. I live in west texas, in the middle of nowhere. It's a great place to enjoy the scenery on two wheels.
OMG I forgot the XR150L. Damn it.
Gabe from Torture Test Magazine has some videos out about the XR150L and he has figured out a way to solve its oil burning problem. All that is needed is a longer crank case breather tube. If any one is interested in one of these check out Gabes video's. Adventure daily also did a review on the XR150L.
This was really helpful, thanks
I am glad you included DR650
Just found your channel. Absolutely love your content.
I mostly agree with the rankings. I started my dual sport journey on a KLX230. Had a blast, great bang for the buck and i developed my skills. I learned some bike maintenance, saved some money, and bought a new ktm 500 exc-f. It’s been amazing and basically everything i could dream of. Perfect bike for where I live in the mountains of western NC. I highly recommend the Honda CRF300L series to any friends or the klx300, honestly that’s probably enough for 95% of riders
Very good list, especially when taking maintenance into account. Like you said, some of those KTM family bikes you had lower are great bikes, but do require more maintenance more often
That was a great riders point of view. I'm thinking about getting the KXL for short trips and a little trail riding. My KDX is plated, but it really winds out on the Hwy. LOL. Keep up the great videos and don't mind the occasional crap I give you. Ride safe my 2 wheel friends.
I started out on a 2006 Yamaha WR450...tough way to learn, but I'm 6'1" and in the neighborhood of 250 pounds (It's a pretty big neighborhood, but you get the point...I'm a big guy). Also, I rode BMX for most of my childhood and I ride on the street. All that considered, I would have been better served to start out on something smaller, but there really isn't anything like big bore 4-stroke grunt to teach a new rider how to get out of trouble...great video, excellent summary; I look forward to more of your content, my friend!
I bought the crf300L this summer and have been loving it. I have been getting about 70mpg. I wish the gas tank was a bit bigger but there are mods for that. I agree with your ranking here!
Coming up on a year with my KLX 300 and I still love it! I haven’t found anywhere it can’t take me.
Great stuff as always!
Just picked up a Beta 390 RRS coming from dirt bike background this is my first road legal bike. I think the 390 will be great for woods/trail and gravel roads the way I will be using it.
If you have some riding experience it's perfectly manageable. Those 390s are sweet bikes.
I like the list and approve that you remembered the old DR200. It might be a forever bike for me. It costs nothing as long as i keep the battery happy.
I sort of agree. I bought CRF300L for an upcoming 20,000k trip, but I would say I'm a solid, maybe advanced, definitely experienced trail rider. So it's not just for beginners. For where I'm going, there may be better bikes, but I don't think there are better choices.
I like your videos Ben.
Hi! Maybe not the vid most relevant to my question, but your latest. New rider here and looking forward to catching your Oregon BDR vid on the big screen tonight. Narrowing-down my purchase to a Honda CB500x (hopefully 2019 or later) or Honda CRF300LS (30-inch inseam. Would either bike work OK on the BDR? Your choice? I know the 300LS is fuel capacity challenged, but what about the Hwy speeds and going over the Cascades (I live over in Corvallis). Love your content!
Considering that I recently bought a 2024 Klx 300, I agree! And I can’t wait to finally get my frickin endorsement next Monday! Just in time for the likelihood of wetness in the ol’ Portland winter!
Good informative video Dork Man. I'm looking for a DR 60 but in my part of Australia they're not all that common and therefore expensive. There are some around but from $5000 - $13000 for later set up versions.
Great list! Bought a used DRZ, lowered it and put on a stiffer rear spring. The power makes it fun compared with my 250L.
I think you did a pretty good job, I would change a few rankings. The 650-700 bikes should be avoided by new riders based on weight alone. The WR250R should be higher, most riders don't realize they have built in rear suspension lowering capability. The rear shock has a threaded clevis that can get you about 1.5 inches lower and the forks can be dropped about an inch too. Makes it much better for us short legged riders. I also went down 1 tooth on the front sprocket and it pulls like a tractor now. I lost some top speed but I didn't buy it to be a road racer anyway.
The 690/701 weighs the same as his top choice 300 Rally.
I have a CRF300l and absolutely love it. One great thing about it is that it is a great platform to upgrade. I have spent half the cost again upgrading it and I would not change it for anything on the market. Bike is far more capable than me as a middle age trail rider.
Man in theory I would LOVE everything about the bike, but I just can't get over how much I hate the shape of the headlights, it ruins the whole look of the bike FOR ME
I just bought my first dual sport a brand new 2023 Honda CRF300l and I absolutely love it did my first trail ride out in the desert the suspension was a lil soft but manageable overall I’m happy with it and would highly recommend it.
This is awesome do more tier lists please!!
I agree completely with your evaluation of the DR650.
I started out on a dr650 and have taken all over oregon dirt roads, single track, long highways and done 2 up riding. Absolutely love it and super simple to work on. Recently got a second bike (wr450f) for a more high power short rides
AWESOME VIDEO!! Really enjoyed it, although I’m not exactly the demographic this is for considering that I’m a new-ish offroad rider, but highly skilled street rider. For me, the answer keeps coming back to everyone saying, “dude, you need two bikes!” 1) a highly capable street bike that’ll scratch the itch for the long distance and fast canyon riding I do and I’m good at, and 2) a lightweight dirt bike that I can get better and more confident at riding offroad on. For now, since I can only afford one bike at the moment, I’m on one of your C-Class bikes, the 701 Enduro, that kinda does it all, and will have to keep me happy until I can figure out how to get (i.e., afford) more bikes.
Great compare vid! I love that KLX300! Please Please Please do one of these with ADV and or Scrambler bikes!!!!
Sadly, I haven't ridden as many so it would be a lot of speculation. I've been lucky enough to have ridden almost every bike on this list.
Very nice video! The thing I hear about the Honda 300L is they're not good over 60 mph on interstates.
You say it's comfortable at 70 mph which is what I need out of it. Is this true?
Great great video. I have a DRZ400. First dual sport and first bike in 35 years. Forgiving enough to allow me to get through Section 3 of the Oregon BDR (with just 3 months of riding experience) with no problems. But also leaves me feeling I have a loooong way to go before I find its limits. I am 6 feet tall though and would not want to ride this bike if I was any shorter than that. It is tall.
5'7 24 years old I've dreamed of this bike since high school. I'll never back down from a tall production style bike (cboys just made a 6ft tall dirt bike that I'll pass on lol) but I love the bike and I've never fallen from being too short as I can tip toe both feet or flat foot a single foot. But I will praise this bike until the day I die! haha
I found your channel while researching an on/off road bike; light trails, logging roads ect... I come from 20yrs on a Busa but dirt is all new to me. As yiu say New rider, you mean new to dirt or new to bikes? I worry something like the CRF300 will leave me waiting more power given the background, but is that the case off road? Digging the couple videos Ive seen so far!
Great list!
Great video! I was wondering where the DR350SE would fit into this list? Thank you!
I purchased a crf300l rally because of your channel. I love it for my first bike for all the reasons you stated. Can I get a link to those crash bars? You the man!!
I think you've done a great job of evaluation in this category. As an old( maybe very old) rider and mechanic I personally prefer the carburetor. Fuel injection is easy to repair by just buying the parts that have failed but a carburetor can be easily modified to give increased performance for very little cost and no expensive programming to buy and learn. Just my thoughts and not everyone will have the time nor will they acquire the skills to modify the Carburetor. My DR 650 now does nearly 100MPH (155 KMH on a metric speedo). Enjoy your videos.
I spent a lot of time looking for the right bike. Agree with this list 100%. Bought the Honda CRF 300L Rally. Perfect bike for me and likely will have it for a while. 4000km on it now.
great, tyvm. Cannot decide between husky 701 and crf300l rally, but this helps
Great video. What happened to the off road bikes that someone with a 32' inseam was comfortable on? I can remember scaring myself silly coming into a 90 degree corner backed up by barbwire on a Husky 450 (400?) with the front end in the air in 5th gear. My current rides are a "67 Norton P11 desert sled and an "88 Honda NX 650.
No disagreement from me Ben. I think you hit the nail on the head all across the board. I think this list will be a big help to people wanting to get into riding a motorcycle.
Good review. Agree with your assessment
As a rider with 25 years experience in total and someone who has owned a dr200, klx250, drz400, klr650, and now dr650. All of which made your list, and I’ve also ridden a xt250 and the xr650L along with a hand fully of the beta’s and ktm/husky’s…….I would say you’ve done a great job with this list 👍 any difference in opinion I would have would be so insignificant it’s not worth bringing up lol
Ooh, I had no idea I needed this content.
I have the 2021 KLX 300 and I have absolutely LOVE this bike. I ride all over the Klamath Basin in Oregon. I have taken this bike on trails, mountains, deserts, and on highway trips. It I s a daily commuter for work in the warmer months.
If I had one complaint, it’s that there isn’t a fuel gauge. I have to reset my trip meter after every fill up in order to have an idea of where my fuel level is. It does have a dummy light that comes on when there’s half a gallon left.
Other than that, it’s a terrific bike and very dependable
I'd be interested in your pro's and con's comparison of carbureted vs fuel injection.
You seem skewed more towards fuel injection, but other than your differentiation of old and new school, not sure the basis for the bias.
Would make a good review.
Nice video. Do you have footage of your riding a DR650?
Another great vid dude!
I have zero objections to your list! HOWEVER, you failed to mention the BMW G310GS! There are still many of those out there. If someone was to ride 90% of the time on roads, backroads, fire access roads, I would put it as a very sold B. If they did quite a good bit of off road and changed the tires out to Kenda big blocks like I did, sadly I would give it a low C grade. It is VERY easy to ride on, and a exceptionally comfortable seat. Easy to learn on......once you get past learning the small friction zone of the clutch. 🤷😄
Personally, i think you nailed it. I rode the 2023 klx300 during the "Let the good times roll" kawi test rides. Will get you there, very linear power...week, but great for a new rider.
I agree with your choices. I'm a returning rider starting on Suzuki TS250. 40 years later at 65 bought used 1100 mile DR650. At 366lbs make it a good all around bike for beginners and older riders. Now at 67 I still love it. At 5'8" height really is the first thing to go by IMO. If you're not comfortable you're not going to ride as much and may just give up.