Are Small Bore Dual Sports Useless? | 250cc VS 650cc Comparison 

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The Doctor is still the greatest bike ever made. Long live the King!

After my 09 KLX250 ate a valve and destroyed it's top end while going down the highway, I kind of agree. I now have a DR in the garage.

I've always thought the Sherpa was a cool looking bike. Looks like it does pretty well for a 250.

I have an XR150L and really enjoy riding it on the gravel roads in rural NW Iowa. Most of the county paved roads have very little traffic so cruising along at 50mph is not a problem, as farm equipment goes much slower. And side by sides are supposedly limited to 35 mph. I keep tossing around the idea of getting something a little larger. I am 74 years old and love how easy the 150 is to toss around. My thought is have fun on whatever bike you have!

The answer between most of the 350/300’s vs the DR come down to rider weight, riders intended usage and rider ability. A 200+ guy will not be happy on the smaller bike, I know a guy with a 300 rally who is 160 and even he isn’t happy at a fast highway pace. If you have to travel distance to the trail head the smaller bike will be tiring, quickly. If you have the ability to hard motocross it the 650’s weight will be a turn off, but those guys will gravitate to a 350/500 KTM or DRZ400 anyway - not a 250 class and not a 650 class and still not the answer for 90% of us. If you’re limited to one bike, a 200+ rider, average skill set, middle age or mature rider the answer is a no brainer, it’s the DR650 is it. Period. Side note; I had an old Honda NX250 in the late ‘80’s; wow, so far ahead of its time, the new 250’s have nothing on it besides better looks, FI and ABS.

I tried to live with a WR250R but I have a bit of highway to do before getting to the trails and that thing is downright dangerous/gutless when traffic is going 75+. Now I have a modded Dr650. I gave up a little off-road prowess but gained a lot more on road comfort.

I didn't buy my 300L to ride down the interstate. I bought it to find the path less traveled. The busiest road I might hop on is a state route. Honestly, I have no interest in riding the highway on any bike. I also have no interest in a heavy bike. The 300L is my goldilocks bike. It will do it all and doubles the big bores in mileage.

I truly believe your dad will fall in love with the DR for the way he rides. No other bike offers the versatility. I am actually happy to go offroad all day on the DR or be on the pavement all day with my street bike friends. I can do it all on the DR. Couldn't say that with any other bike I've ever owned.

The DR is just happy at 120 kph , and can also blast up to 150 to pass in a pinch. The KLX 300 was close to maxed out at 130kph.

How about a bike in the middle like a DRZ400 or the more powerful 450 crfl? I am currently in the market for a dual sport, I have no idea if I want to buy a CRF250L, DRZ400, a 450 EXC or WRF, a XR650R, a 690/701 Enduro or a T7... I want to be able to go off-road with it. However I don't have a lot of spots close to my home, so I need a bike that can handle some road, but mainly off road. I also wanted a supermoto, so the DRZ, 450 and 690/701 could do that job too, but I'd rather have a 450 SM but the 450 might not be great for highways so I can go to the off road spots... I don't know man 😭

I had a T700, and a KLX 300 in my garage. I seemed to always wanna get on the KLX300...unless i was going on a longer ride with Hwy because the KLX just seemed to lack power. The DR 650 seemed to bridge the gap perfectly. I now have one bike. ( the DR) and am super happy. It goes everywhere my KLX would go. But Also will do my ADV rides with the acerbis 20 l tank.

Owned a Yamaha XT 350 before I got my first KLR. The XT is still to this day the best off road bike I’ve ever owned. Light, confidence inspiring low seat height, but man it sucked on the road lol

I had a DRZ400, it wasnt exciting, so I sold it for a Husky 501, I have an Africa Twin and I think I’m going to sell it and get a DR 650. I love the AT, but really dont need 1,000 cc on the Highway or offroad. I want to sell it while it still has good value with low-ish miles.

Ive had em all, I tell new riders to skip the 250 bikes, dangerously slow in traffic.

I love my KLX300. Would i like a bigger bike at some point? Yea. But not as a replacement, only as a second bike if i want to drive longer distance on the highway on a bike.

Until recently I never really understood the purpose of 250s and 300s. I think they make sense if you’ve got trails to ride. There’s really nothing close where I live.

Anyone who has taken their DR 650 through deep sand and really gnarly single track can answer that.

So my drive to any decent places to go are 1-2hrs away. A DR 650 would work fine with a larger tank and better seat.

I have a 1200 Super Tenere right now.

My DRZ has been pretty much a perfect all around dual sport bike since 2006. It’s not the greatest on highways, but I don’t do much highway or pavement riding with it anyway. I sold me T7 last night after realizing it’s way more bike than I need. I kind of changed my thoughts about my riding going forward after breaking my wrist last May, so I’ve decided to stick to bikes that I can pick up if I drop them.

Was hoping for some DRZ400 in the mix at least in the discussion. I have a DRZ and am thinking about jumping to a 650 like the XR to have a bit more legs on the highway, but I'm not convinced I'll notice any difference at all on the road and will suffer greatly off road.

Hi Swanky, am new to your channel, but am liking the content, but have question or suggestion for you, can you do a pick up the Bike off road comparison after a fall? i sold my Africa Twin for the T7, but find it even harder to pick up, am considering a DR, or something other?

DR350 Entered the chat.. I feel like around 40hp is where you get enough power to cruise on all roads in a relaxed manner. Should be able to cruise at 130km/h (80mph) all day with a bit of reserve power, pop wheelies around town, spray some gravel. Then again it should be light enough to be nimble offroad. and.. 350km+ fuel range. DR650 does it ok, but it´s still a bit on the heavy side hence a 380 bored DR350 might be the golden ticket?

I ride a wr250r. With sm wheels it will do 80, but it struggles. You can ride highway but it's not fun. However with knobbies on I find it hard to believe that any of the 3 650's would be near as much fun when riding offroad. It has plenty of power in the dirt and even the stock suspension is decent for smaller jumps. It's the most fun I've had on 2 wheels

I had a chinese 250, WR250r and CRF450rl and now a klx230, KTM 500exc and a KTM 890s. I ride the 890 the most now. There is no single track to ride here just endless public dirt roads. Some are not maintained well and have deep sand and super slick clay. 890 does really well on the dirt and excels on the pavement. As configured it si still a 500 plus pound bike. I would like to be down to one bike. I think something between the 500 and 890 would be ideal. Thinking about the 390 enduro if it is actually released. KTM690 and DR650 are others I am considering.

They're fun to ride around town though

First, I gotta get me one of those hats. Second, sounds like a commercial for a DR650 and that's ok. My current stable: '07 KLR and '10 XT250. I'm 6'3" and 175 lbs and 66 years young. For me the XT is too short but lots of fun on trails and useful for self-training. The KLR is good for scenic dirt roads and highways and I like the seat height. Main XT complaint is it is cramped for me. Main KLR complaint is it is heavy. So it's like I'm dating a fat girl and a pygmy, but want to find the one that's just right. And now you have me looking at DRs. One day I'll find my true love!

I'm planning to ride the SD BDRX this year. I'm taking my DRZ and a friend of mine is going to use my DR650. I havent taken the DRZ or the DR on a multistate trip before, so i think this will really help me decide if the DRZ worth keeping for light adventure or not. The DRZ is such an awesome bike but it certainly isnt the swiss army knife that the DR is.

Ive been riding for 40 years and i believe Duelsport bikes are the best learner bikes for sure they are tough easy to handle and pick up and work on at home as for the Dr650 i think its one of the best bikes ive ever owned or ridden its just so damn good incredibly versatile

Got a klx250s for my son to learn on when he was 13. He got his license on it and rode it for a year before wanting a sport bike. I ride the 250 all the time. It'll run 70. Cruiser backroads at 60 all day and i love riding it. Ours is piped and had the airbox opened up. Runs pretty good for what it is.

Im 60. I've had em all 690, XR, KLR, DR. I'm on a fully modded 300L and it handles 70mph in Colorado on I-70 fine for short links. If your young and bulletproof go big or go home...till you can't.

I love my Honda XR150 Tornado. Use it mostly around town. Weak on the highway and sest is terrible. I would like a 650 but they are too expensive where I live (Argentina). I ride on the road only but most roads are terrible. For trips I use a 400 Falcon. Much better but only 30 hp.

They’re not useless, they just have no fun power, only difference between a little 250/300 vs a 650 is 30lbs. I’d rather have the 30lbs then have awesome fun power. Wayyyyyyy more fun.

I bought a DR200 as a first bike and I regret not going with a DRZ-400 or DR650 or any other bike with more power. 200cc is not enough for the highway, 50mph (80 kmh) is pretty much the top safe speed on that little bike.

Hey Ben, how did your XL250 do on the road and compare to the Sherpa? I feel like the XL250 had a bit more power? I also have an 85 Yamaha XT200 with 225 top end, and it tops out at 90-100 Km/h (60-65 MPH). As you said, nice and light for off-road, but I find it scary small and slow for road riding. If I lived in a rural area and only had back roads to ride, it would be ok for that. My KLR is much preferred and capable for regular road riding.

I’d be happy on a small dual sport bike , but the bike wouldn’t be happy with me . I’m to heavy for one and I’d feel I’d brake it lol

the sherpa is the bomb. i have an xt225, which is comparable but much less ass. 🌞

Thank you for sharing the ride and your insights. You dance around how the DR650 treats your riding better than the DRZ400S, mostly that it is better on the hightway. Is it partially that the DRZ is more offroad focused like the XR? Is the gearing just not tall / wide enough on the DRZs that the DR's 5 speed is OK but the DRZs is not? Does the lower first and extra 17nm torque have people gearing it shorter for a lower RPM at highway speed? What hurts my brain the most is hearing that people get better mileage with a bigger engine that has nearly the same 5th gear ratio (0.826 vs 0.863). Giving me some FOMO :) 200-250s are fun bikes, great to start out on, great to keep going, but my TW200 makes me nervous up the mountain canyons because it can't pull the passes as fast as the cars want to go so I'm often keeping an eye on my rear view mirror and looking for turnouts. A 350+ is enough to not need this. I was wondering if a 250 might be.

Got 6th gear on two small bore dual sports. On the wife's crf230m its arguably beneficial for a sub 120lb rider. On our '95 DR125SE....you can use it to gain speed going downhill.

Why not a CRF450L?

many are saying the 2024 DR650 could be the last year made..due to emissions rules..same with the XR650L Honda

I have a 2023 Honda CRF 300 Rally, and I think I only have maybe 27 hp, so 30 does sound high for the Sherpa.

I'm thinking about picking one up and it's your fault😂

I like the criticism of the xt 250 but that’s the problem. Why are we comparing a 250cc trail bike meant for beginners with a 650cc duelsport bike for more advanced riders. Love the video and keep up the work.

I have a CRF300L Rally and like it a lot. Once you get the suspension upgraded a bit. It will go any where with out much trouble. Its sweet spot is 65 mph and will get 70 mpg as long as you are not flogging it and that is with camping gear strapped to the back of it.

I think you could pair a klx300 quite nicely with a middle-weight ADV (v-strom 800, t7, transalp) for a nice balance of bikes in a garage… but I think it’s hard to go wrong choosing an XR/DR to pair instead.

It is nice to have multiple bikes. But, you should try a DR350 too. It is light, fast enough, smooth, fun to ride, and if geared right (high gearing) will go fast down the highway. Has a lot more wind to the face, and gets blown around more than the 650's (I have a KLR650 too, which is used for real multi day trips). But, they are super fun, and fast enough. Whereas the 250 xt and sherpas don't like cruising highways much (my wife has a TW200, and I used to have an xt250). If you want a really light little bike, almost like a scooter in town, but great on super tight narrow up hills, try a TTR125. Smooth to about 35 mph, and you can put your feet down in ruts going up steep narrow hills.

I’ve got a klr650 and klx250s and the klr definitely has more power but honestly they both cruise at 70 easily and get there pretty quick. That 250 does 70 at 7k rpm though lol

I went through this twice. I tried to just have a crf250l (tried it twice) for trails but I live 45 minutes on freeway and highway to get there and then even more than twice longer to the national forests closest to me. The crf was ok but gutless and I was thrown around too much. I used to come home exhausted after a ride. I bought a vstrom 800 de and while heavier i do everything I used to do with the crf250l and can ride for hours without a single complain. Yes it is heavier and if riding alone I have to be more careful but I could ride it 3 hours straight without a struggle, not needing to stop or wanting to.

Depends on what you do. The way my wrr is suspended I can hare scramble and play on a motocross track, bdr type ride and camp. Interstate? , not interested but maybe on a fat, slow dr. Thats why you can’t compare a dr to a husky, ktm or any plated off road weapons for highway ride. It all depends on what you want out of your bike.

I hope you find somebody who has a DRz400 to ride this summer. I think your memory is a bit off the highway really well and going 80 is not a problem. So much better than my KLR 250

KTM500EXC or a Husky 501s

I have in my possession a XR650L a 1977 Triumph 750cc a Kawasaki Ninja 250cc and a CSC TT250.... comparing the XR650L to the CSC TT250 is kind'a weird... the TT250 has a major lack of power 5 speeds but does do 60mph on the road faster than that is turning it kind'a tight.... and only having 200 miles on the bike I don't want to push it real hard.... the TT250 is my Kid's bike I bought it especially for Him/her about 2 ~3 years ago.... but sense my kid doesn't have a licenses to drive i have been the only one to ride it or fiddle with it.... I added a bigger carb to the TT250 in the hopes of getting a bit more power out of it....and it did help a little bit.... the kid wants the bike tall like it came from the factory...so I haven't lowered it I think it is a 32" seat height, we added a lower seat which helps alot but it is still tall for this old shortie ! my XR650L has been lowered and I am alot more comfortable on it and I can cruse at 70mph if I so desire so I choose the XR650L when I go riding it's easier lighter and just funner to ride than all my other bikes I would say if your in the market for a 250cc bike don't get an off brand bike. the power is just too low on many of them a 250cc is a in between size and unless your real careful you'll wind up with an underpowered 250cc that has a hard time getting out of it's own way.... on the other hand my 250cc Ninja which weighs around 350~400lbs.... has the power of a 650cc machine in a 250cc package it can do over 100mph cruise at 80mph all day but it is not a trail bike...strictly a street machine. it depends on what you want ! for a beginner bike I would go with a 250cc with no hesitations.the problem with the Ninja is the seating position... not the power it has more power than I'll ever need but the crotch rocket forward leaning position is horrible there is no getting around it. even with bar risers it still sucks !

I have a gen 2 KLR and a DR250. I want a DR650 as well. I don’t think it’ll replace the KLR but it might. I think the KLR would only be replaced by two bikes though, the DR and modern classic setup for touring. Different purposes the KLR is just ok at.

I’ve had everything from 1200cc (bmw) and down, I currently ride my klr for 15,000-20,000 mile tours . Presently debating on getting the 2024 RE Himalayan 452 …

If you are more offroad oriented, or backroads oriented, the 300s work well. The dr is more of a backroads bike with the occasional offroad excursion. Thst being said i know people that offroad theirs all the time. I just spent a day riding with some folks on drs and i had no trouble keeping up on road on my klx300 but they were more cumbersome offroad. I do miss my dr though. Big thumpers are just magical.

There's nothing wrong with small cc bikes they have their place. I wouldn't have a bike that didn't have enough power to get me out of trouble, with the way people drive these days that's important. My DRz400 wasn't nearly enough and my KLR650 struggled. My Xr650 is borderline but does the job. It really depends on your abilities and what you need it to do.

I plan on loading a bike and driving to a location. It will be street legal for local riding. When finished, load again and head out. So, I want a light weight street legal dirt bike type. I'm thinking a Honda 300.

I'm getting my MFS done this weekend. I have three bikes in mind ( klx 300, drz and dr650) I'm a bigger and taller fella. So im kinda leaning more toward the drz or the 650.

I just got a fun bike, 2000 honda xr400r . I'll let you know how it goes this summer. I'm 57 years old

Im mostly a backroads rider on older bikes, yet 250s are fun and light. Id rather ride the larger bikes on the highway. My first ride on the freeway was on a honda cb360. Of couse I ride whatever bike I feel is fun.

Good points . I’m looking at the Dr, KLR , KLX 300 & Rally plus Versys X300 . Just waiting for the local dealers to get them in the showroom so I can get a better feel for what might be a good fit. I’ve owned a Gen. 1 KLR & always missed selling it & the new S model fits like a glove. But I’m 75 now not 45 & weight makes a difference. I presently have a KLX 250 & it suits most of my riding but It restricts me in some respects. The X300 would work with 50/50 tires & bash plate . All of the bikes are close in price . Hope sometime in May the models will be available to check out. Looking forward to seeing what you’ll do with your DR

I'd buy that super sherpa today if I didn't live on the other side of the country I've always loved that bike and always wondered how it stacks up against my klr 250 I think it's pretty close to the same bike except the Sherpa has a starter I think the sherpa is a tiny bit smaller frame

No Sherpa wheelies lol

Had a wr250r and now a dr650. Hates the wr for lack of power on road. Dr is such an awesome bike, especially since I grew up on bikes from the 80-90’s

Plus you can ride the DR 350s will do 60 65 mph and it can hit 84mph . Even with my fat back end .

The one bike I’ll probably never get rid of is my drz400

I am trying to decide between the KLX300sm, DZ400, and the DR650sm

We have to have a meetup soon!

End of May early June!

Kawasaki klx 300 on the same ride comparison?

I learned on a 250.