You beloved brother Dork are indispensable for bigger noobs like me that have no point of reference to how a small single might struggle to make top steed up hill with me on it though venerated for having ample power to conquer the third world roads or lack there of. Y'all, Ian included, have shown what a awesome community there can be so long as we are excellent to each other. Cheers from the unsprung KLR club! 🍻
Funny how much I enjoy both of your channels content, I’m an experienced rider that’s raced and ridden at a level beneath Pro class , tested dirt bikes for magazines for years but recognise you guys speak to the vast majority of riders where there at , well done men from the land down under👍🇦🇺
This is a video I wish I had watched five years ago before I bought my Africa Twin. My goal of riding off-road was impossible for me, and I've since down-sized to a Honda CRF250L. I bought used for exactly the reasons you outline. I'm having a blast with the smaller bike riding off-road and gaining skills and confidence.
As a Tuareg owner and have owned numerous big adv bikes I can definitely agree with starting on a lightweight dual sport bike. Even as a more experienced rider now I will always have more fun, less stress and have the desire to want to test my skills a bit more on a smaller, lightweight bike, builds your confidence.
I think that eventually a big adventure motorcycle rider even with many years of experience will end up with one of those bikes either as a complement to the big bike or simply as a down sizing do to age or do to health conditions, so they are also good for relearning what they already knew many years ago. Cheers
I’ve been riding fifty years, and this just reinforces what I’ve said for ever. All riders should start in the dirt on a trail bike before getting big bikes. Way less expensive and not as painful when you crash. Not if you crash, but when you crash. Better too eat some mud while learning than a bumper.
One thing with the DR is that the factory lowering can be done at home without a ton of work. Though you will need a special tool to take apart the forks. Tusk sells it for $30. The nice thing about this factory method is that it doesnt screw up the geometry like lowering links/moving the fork clamps would. I did it, and both me and my stubby legs are very happy with it.
The lowering option was a big reason why I bought my DR. I never did it because once I got the Sargent low seat I was happy enough with that. My inseam is 29 inches btw.
The 390ADV is such a fun bike and modifying it hasn't been crazy expensive. Saw a dealer in my state mark their 23' models down to $4500😳 earlier this year. You can find them for cheap sometimes and even with .99% apr.
@@karlfonner7589 funny that you should say that. It was Scuderia West in San Francisco that had the bike super cheap. But they ended that sale and now their 390's are $6399 which is still a grand off. K & B Motorsports in Petaluma has the best price that I can see now. Their price is $5199.
Totally agree with all of your thoughts here! We bought the little Honda XR150L bikes because they checked all the boxes for her on the cheap! I ended up liking the bike much more then expected also.
Learned to ride on a brand new 1985 XL 350R when I was 19 years old. Wish I still had it. Graduated to a bunch of mid late 80's sport bikes. Left the bikes behind in my later 20's and after a long gap bought a new DR650 in 2019. Five years of comuting and weekend off road riding and lots of aftermarket parts, I just purchaced a new Norden 901 to have something more highway friendly and 2-up capable. Love it so far. No intention of getting rid of the DR though, unless I get something like the KLX300 to replace it.
DR650 is the one I am buying to travel. I will be moving up from a honda cb250 which I have used to travel far but the DR650 is going to make a great improvement
I had a 390 and on my scale it was 400 pounds. But it was a very fun bike. For long hwy trips going up one tooth in the front works really well. The aftermarket flat foot pegs are worth the money. My only complaint was the suspension was not difficult to outride off road. Different fork springs helped with that.
All good advice 👍 I picked a KLX250 for my reentry after three decades of not riding, the brain thinks it can still ride dirt, but the body has forgotten. Soon after I found a 2011 KLX250 with a 300 OEM top end with only 870km on if. I t had a pipe on it, so the hole swap saved me $1500. Had the power I needed for my 100kg arse and adding a IMS tank, SC seat, a fork/shock rebuild from a specialist & KDX larger snorkel it was the perfect ride to relearn basics & to be able to ride safe. I have only just upgraded a tad after two yrs to a KLX400e & sad about selling the beloved 300. Take possession of a Himalayan 450 in a week or two, but keeping the 400 for single track rides & other rides where the weight & newness of the Himalayan prohibit (I don't want it scratched up yet). So I think I played it smart to come back to my youthful love of bikes in the bush. Great topic to come back to. 👍 PS, sorry if I have already told this story. A Used KTM350 might also fit the bill too. And I haven't dropped a bike for at least 6 months, except for tomorrow 😁🤕
Very useful video! I downsized to Yamaha XT250 last year - primary reason why I picked it was the lowest seat height combined with the highest ground clearance. Next, in order of priorities, Weight, Reliability, Price. It's been amazing. This year I want to add KLX300 for direct comparison. Thank you for the great videos!
For me the KTM 390 adventure is ideal. As most of my riding is onroad, with offroad whenever I can, it is a quick, great handling, light machine. Offroad it works fine. Had a Tenere 700, too heavy to drop riding solo. Had a CRF250L, great offroad, bland on road. Had a Himalayan, boring on road, fine offroad but never thrilling. And more than anything, it comes down to tyres (tires) for offroad riding anyway I reckon.
Thanks Ian, I just bought the KLX300 2 months ago, after watching your videos! and yes, the seat height is too high. I’ll most likely lower it- otherwise it’s great. I tried finding a used dual sport for quite a while (Las Vegas) and found the few used ones which were typically 10-15 years old and were in the $5k price range. So availability, lack of documentation, and price lead me to purchase a new bike. It took many different attempts at many different dealerships before I bought at a fair price. I answered many great ads that had a great sale price, only to have the freight, dealer prep, and doc fees jacked up, and one even gave me an out the door price that was acceptable (In a well itemized text) then denied that they made the offer. I finally found a dealership in California that had 0 dealership fees and would beat any other offer. My OTD price for the KLX300 was $7040 with me being responsible for the licensing in another state. This is in comparison to the $8600 that everyone else wanted as their out the door price. I hope this information helps anyone thinking about buying new, or what to expect when looking for used.
May 2024 will mark one year of riding a motorcycle for me. My first and current bike is a 2023 KLR650. In retrospect, it's an awfully heavy bike, and I've spent a lot of time picking it up, but I've learned a lot. I was too focused on trying to find something to fit my big frame, rather than something that felt comfortable. A year in, I'm much more confident on and off-road, but think it might've benefitted me to start on something smaller, like the TW-200 I rode for my MSF course.
Ian, let me just point out your setup, the lights, background and colors are absolutely insane! I feel so comfy watching this video, outstanding work, really. Thank you very much for all your hints, they are pure gold. As for me, i just finished a 3 day trip with my trusty V-Strom 650, first time offroad and with 25k kms street tyres, i've been laughed at first, then i gained respect from all the guys there, they kept saying "how does he f******* do that!?!?" They also knee at me once Hahaha!! 😂 Sometimes it's also the willpower of the rider that really makes a difference...
We get so boned in Europe. More then half are not available. I guess the 390adv, gs310, versys300 and honda 300L are the best around here from your list. Dual sport bikes can be found on the second hand market but having to deal with higher maintenance, carburated, kickstart bikes is not great for beginners. Most are registered as an old-timer. I'm on the lookout for second-hand, I really don't want to spend the money on the newer ones, they are too costly for me. Something like the DRZ400 could be found around 3K
I agree with Ian about new short riders getting their feet down. As a 26" inseam rider, it was personally better to learn how to ride a motorcycle that I could get both feet down first so I could focus on every other aspect of riding. Once I felt confident riding, I started getting on taller bikes and got comfortable 1 footing it and sliding off the seat as needed.
Ian, another excellent and informative video. I do have a question, would you do a video on the best bikes for beginners who are over 6 ft 2 in tall and weigh over 200 lbs.? Thanks
Looking forward to seeing a Scrambler 400 review. I imagine there's more capable bikes in class (390ADV or Himalayan 452) but I'm a sucker for genuinely more capable retros
Good advice, and I think the reason not many big adventure bikes see the dirt is because as you mentioned the owners probably have a smaller dual sport in the garage also which they use for actual intentional off-road rides, and when they bought their big bike for road use they just wanted something they know they could also take down the odd trail here and there if they want to. But smaller bikes are definitely the way to learn, will cost much less and hurt much less if it lands on you WHEN you drop it
In Europe we have the Voge 300 Rally. Cheapest and best of them all. No brainer. 5 year warranty. From the factory that does BMW engines and with Bosch electronics.
Great outline, I'm still very tempted by the 300l, TW200, and DRZ 400. I do a fair bit of cycling and the bike I have the most fun with is my fat bike which makes me think the TW200 would be a great match for me. I just wish the riding season was longer in Canada.
If you want to just get out and see stuff, keeping the speeds down or not tackle too technical terrain at higher speeds, the TW200 is great. Fun looks, fun handling, comfortable exploring. One reason its more of a farm bike than a MX or enduro is less suspension travel, and those big tires are heavy so the suspension it has has to fight more unsprung weight. The DRZ400 goes towards enduro/mx land in performance, more than double the engine output of the detuned run-on-anything TW200 without a more MX maintenance schedule like the CRF450R. It is tall, and the weight is high, so more of a challenge to start with. I have and love both, but could see myself enjoying a CRF250 or KLX230 or KLX300 in place of either. Especially of the TW200 since maybe I've outgrown it.
Great content Ian. Although I’m an owner of two motorcycles, you can always learn new things by listening to excellent video content I’m passing along to friends thank you.
Thank you for opening my eyes to more bikes than I was previously considering. For instance I’ve really been eyeballing the CRF300L, but had not even considered the BMW you featured. I’ve also been looking at a KTM 790, but completely bypassed the KTM 390. I have lots of data to crunch now and this was a perfect video for me.
Nice choices! Had a 300L and loved it but on the freeway NOPE........ sold it and got a KTM 390 and love it..... and as stated they are cheaper if you look hard. Does what I need and light when dropped ! and yes not as great offroad as the CRF but it works great for gravel roads and lighter dirt trails. I am not ass young and spry as I used to be so the days of motocross are way behind me...... 😄
Haven’t watched yet but my 300L has to in top three. So stinking easy especially compared to my 450RL. Thanks Ian Always appreciate your content. Enjoy your riding good sir! 🏍️💨
i was a little surprised the royal enfield himalayan wasn't on this list, beyond that i completely agree with the video. and thanks for the help, from your videos, on deciding to get a Suzuki VStrom 800DE. It honestly rides like a dream!
2 years in, had the xt250, great bike but a tad too slow on the highway with gear, upgraded to a 2023 ktm 390 ADV, great so far, and 0 zeros, there are some new spy shots in India of what they are calling the 390 enduro.
I’ve been riding an XR 650 L for the past 10 years. I’ve dumped it over several times and that thing is a heavy pig to get up off the ground, which is why I would never buy a big heavy adventure bike. It’s too scary in case of a crash, now I’m in the market for a KTM 500 exc-f or The XR 450 RL I want something more modern and lightweight is a big plus!
Thanks Ian! Another great vid. I stepped down from a KLR and F650GS because of weight. I currently have a XT250 which is great, but looking to either a 310GS or 390adv for more longer on road camping. BMW is offering great deals right now at 0% and the 3 year warranty
Thanks for the video. I just bought the old model Royal Enfield Himalayan 411. It's not on the list but still I find it a confidence inspiring bike. Maybe it's a bit heavy but I find it easy to handle. Haven't done any serious off-roading yet but I hope I will be able to do so when finally the spring starts in Finland 😊
Always the best content, thank you. Love my Honda xr150l, seems like it got better after the break in period. It's awesome to have such a great line up of small dual sports these days! Get out and enjoy life, go to places you've never been, and stay safe.
I think the dual sport bikes are the way to go learning how to ride the trails. Can’t say much on the other 2 small ADV bikes, but I have the KTM 390 Adventure and I wouldn’t consider that bike for beginners or learning how to ride off road. Maybe if you’re riding dirt roads with some riding experience. The weight and the seat height are the main reason. If you tilt the bike just a little, most people won’t be able to keep it from falling over, especially on a trail with unusual grades.
Good content and well presented. Another option too, once you get comfortable with one of these bikes, it could be your "forever" bike depending on your age/goals/abilities.
Excellent video... I live off grid and the dirt roads are very rough. My truck can only do 5 mph due to road conditions. I've been seeking a dual sport for a backup transportation... This helps me figure a few ideas for my purchase.
it's like pouring salt into my wounds everytime i see these videos about dr650 or the drz, and by that i mean the fact that we can't get them in Europe since forever (we don't have the grandfather clause). during the pandemic prices for a used one skyrocketed, i have not checked lately but a drz could go for 3500$ depending on the exchange rate. (one is advertised now for ~3200$ year 2004)
Ian, the reason you might NOT have been given a press KV300X to review is you call “real balls & strikes come what may. And if you where to check it’s scheduled 6000+ mile check-up & more importantly what a dealership would charge for a oil change, valve check & proper reset to specs, you could buy a new KV300X at the cost of 3 - 4 visits ! The biz model is like selling razor handles for a lost on the front end as to make a huge profit selling its razors on the back end, LOL. The KV300X MC is a great fun “explorer mc “ like the Honda XL 150 but can go on highways / interstates at a safe speed !!! So sad a practice for a such a fun explorer bike…..
Just so: low weight, easy to control, easy to lift up (actually I'd recommend a newcomer to get a 110 kg enduro bike to start with). Anyhow, low weight is paramount when building confidence.
Nice guide! I currently have a 200cc dual sport just for this purpose of learning. It's nice to hear I'm on the right path. I wouldn say not to worry too much on the seat height. It's better to learn what that feels like on a lighter weight bike, I think. Will you review the cfmoto 450 MT / Ibex when it becomes available? I would appreciate your opinion on that bike
You da man. You da industrious, high-productivity man! 50 years ago, I traded my CZ-125 even for a Honda SL-125. On that Honda (never road-legal) I chugged around for a good year, loving it. Snowmobile trails were great fun to ride. Parked outside, it would start at -20°C no problem. That was before I knew anything about synthetic oil. I’d go as far as saying that many people who start on a big bike will never know as much about riding as they would if they started on something small, light, and slow. A very-lightweight 220 lb. motorcycle is a different kettle of fish when hauling it out of a mud hole, or stuck on a steep slippery, root-infested hill - compared to a 35 lb. mountain bike.
Great content! I like watching you and Dork in-the Road videos. I live in Ga and have a Honda 04 Honda crf230f that is street legal ( tag, lights) and want to learn more about gravel riding. You ride vey fast on sand and it’s a bit intimidating! Any recommendations on educational videos about riding offroad, gravel, rocks, and sand that you would recommend. Bret Tcaks offers a course here in Dahlonega Ga that I was thinking about but it’s pricey. Anyway great videos. The Tranalp series especially. The air filter is a maintenance is a big downer. I’ll keep watching you
One related topic that I rarely hear/read…how much mountain bike experience does the rider have? Understanding balance and the theory of two wheels cannot be understated.
Money is the root of all poorly chosen motorcycles. Your average beginner isn't of the mindset they will buy one bike, beat it up till they ride good, then get a second bike. If they wrench, they are more likely to be that way. Buy a used bike, fix it, learn to ride, fix it, buy the forever bike, maybe sell the beginner. Most will buy a "beginner" bike, try to learn to wrench, run up costs at a shop, realize they bought a bike not capable of being ridden on the highway 100 miles, but have to sell their used bike to get the money for the forever bike, which means losing a season. A dual sport is fine for running around campus. A 250cc will do. But riding that 250cc 100-200 miles home on weekends or trying to go on adventures not in the local area, it might not be a good choice, unless you have a trailer or truck. So, the larger 450cc-650 cc, if the weight is right, will be better as a first bike, because they will likely never sell it until there is no room in the garage. Most beginners who get a DR650 and the lowering kit, will remove the lowering kit after a year and never look back. And probably never sell it the DR. They can now save for something else, but that DR will be there for a friend, for a backup. The excuses are numerous 🙂
I am once again asking for a review on the Versys-X 300. (Also if you've got the ear of a Kawasaki rep please tell them to put the 450 in it. I'll even settle for the old 400.)
@@THR33SIXX3MPYR highway is just fine 120kmh no problem it tops out at 160 kmh. You should get a extra wind defkectir or bigger screen. Dirt roads no problem, has not bottomed out yet. Sand dont know. Valves is at 12000km. There is talk about it running hot but this is a misconception. The gauge can show all segments but this is ok it is not until the red light goes on there is any danger.
Interesting list. I would think the DR400 would be at the top of your list. Cost, reliability, excellent off road and major aftermarket support. Resale value is also very good.
@bigrockmoto best reviews on youtube. For a beginner rider who wants to start exploring the country on a motorbike. More road and light offroad. Which bike is the best as first bike? Gs310 or ktm390adv?
If u didn’t start out with dirt bikes when u were a kid, ignore all the fluff that ur gonna get into this and ‘tear it up’ as an adult. Know yourself, enjoy any bike, and if u desire to try the ‘adventure bike’ route, buy used. Picking those things up gets old, QUICK, imho from helping buds, too many times.
Great list and honestly I really wonder what ones have cruise control as an option cause having the ability to easily lay down interstate miles would be a total selling point for me
No love for the Honda CB500x/NX500, which I find odd given your inclusion of the KTM 390 Adventure. For learning to off-road, the CB500X gets the job done and it's a better touring bike than the other ADV bikes you mentioned. I'm guessing you've omitted it because it's wet weight is about 440 lbs, but despite that it's pretty easy to maneuver. I think most new riders would be happier with an inexpensive, used CB500X than they would with a Kawi Versys 300 or a BMW G310GS.
Thank you. This video target was sure someone like me 😁💙🔥 Edit: One question, what would you think of the DR400 and the XT660? Both have called my attention
I bought a V300x. But it's way too breakable to actually drop a bunch and hope to sell it again, and imo it's not a keeper. Nearest legal trails is 4 hours of highway. Now what? Is 200kg that bad? I'd probably keep a Himy 450...
Great video as always, thank you. I haven't looked at the kawasaki 230s as i fell into the camp of thinking it's too small of an engine for 100km/h and less aftermarket parts are available. I've only sat on the crf300 rally and i was on the balls of my feet The biggest concern i have with the kawasaki is due to something i read on the forums. Apparently if you stall it on a hill you can't start the bike again until you're on level ground? Do you know anything about this?
