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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 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.
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.
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!
+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
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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!
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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
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 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.
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 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~
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!
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!
Good list! I think there are only like two bikes I would change: the XR650L and the KLR650. IMO, the taller seat height is less of a downside the the higher weight of the KLR. But I can see your justification for either. For context, I started riding at 34, I'm 6'1" and low-200s weight -- and I started on a DR650 that I absolutely love and think is the perfect bike *for me*. Before that I went and looked at two Gen 2 KLRs, and even had a deal ready to go on one, but it fell through. And after getting a chance to ride some dirt bikes, decided I didn't want the 400lb+ KLR. With the DR I still didn't go super light, but I did save ~75lb and IMO got a better bike for my money. Mine has improved suspension, and in the two years of increasingly difficult riding I've done, I have yet to find the bike's limitations. All of the things people say are "bad" about the DR are exaggerated, IMO. It has more than enough power to get you to faster-than-you-should-be-going on a bumpy trail or road, and with a satisfying pull, too. There are only two times I really feel the weight of the bike: Deep sand, and tight single track. But for the majority of the riding that *I like to do*, it never bothers me and never feels "heavy." All of that to say ... I agree with the A placement for a DR650. It's been a great beginner bike for me, and honestly I doubt I'll ever sell it. I love it that much. It really is a "do everything" bike -- about as "dual sport" as it gets.
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.
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.🏍🏍
I agree with the rankings. However, my concern with the 300L/KLX is electrical issues. What if the ECU/sensors get a bit wacky, and no Honda dealer is around? This is where bikes like the dirt-simple DR650 shine. Yes, the old bikes lack ABS/FI, etc. Anyway, reading between the lines of the video, it looks like the benefits of 300L outweigh the simplicity of the older bikes, and the 300L seems reliable enough with the added complexity. I'll personally get a DR650 as my only bike to last me past the next apocalypse.
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.
I am surprised as Royal Enfield Himalayan, or Scram 411, did not make the list or receive an honorable mention. Though it might be a lot better than a carburetor 650 for beginners. However, opinions are like sphincters. Everybody has them, and many are stinky. I totally enjoyed the review. Thank you.
yup, i think the RE Himalayan should be on the list. To some, it's not exactly a dual sport, so i won't argue with Ben. But to me, it would be an A (or at least B...ok, maybe a C) bike. It's sort of a KLR. A bit heavy, a bit slow, but will get you there, just try not to drop it. I learned on a CRF 230, and thought the seat height was a bit much, but it's sort of normal for a 'dirt' bike.
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 have never ridden a motorcycle before but I've already decided what I'm going to get first, a klr 650. I'm glad it made it decently high on your list
My bike never gets on these lists because it is older. I have a 2008 Honda Crf230l and I love it. I am even a bigger guy 6’ 315lbs and does great for me. I just putt around on back roads, gravel roads and dirt roads. Thanks for all the information your videos are great.
I second the 2008 230l. I am a big guy too 6’ 320 and love it. Small enough I can strap to the back of the camper and have a blast on back mountain roads.
Here in Europe the CRF 300l has a very strong competition from the Chinese Voge 300 Rally. I own a 300L and from what' I've seen the Chinese bike offers everything that the CRF does, with a much better stock rear shock, and with 2k euros less (4k for the CRF Rally version). It will all come down to long term reliability of the Chinese brand.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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!
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.
About 3 weeks into the xr650l as my first bike. I’m very happy I got it. I am a big guy at 6’3 and I have lots of experience with bmx and mountain biking. For someone like me i would recommend the xr650l.
DRZ s Tier, its the bike I should have started on. XR650L is solid B tier, the only downside is the seat height. 701/690 should be in D or F for beginners.. they are rocketships on and offroad.
For those that are arguing about the quality of the bikes in this list, remember that this is specifically meant for beginners. Objectively, sure, the 500EXC-F is probably the best dual sport on this list. But not for a beginner. Things beginners need are: - Light weight - Manageable power and throttle response - Low maintenance - Manageable seat height - Cheap - Reliable Things like the quality of the suspension are a non issue for someone learning to ride.
I'm an experienced rider, but don't appreciate a higher seat (btw, I'm over 6' and ride almost exclusively off-road). I typically will shave down and reskin my seats to my preferred seat height, so making a decision on a bike based on the seat never comes into play. Nice comparison video!!!!
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.
For beginners the XR150L should be mentioned. Ultra low specs sure but at 3k brand new, never dropped, not someone elses used mechanic project, it's worth it. Some of us don't have 6 to 7 grand to drop on a bike. Especially if as a beginner you're not sure about riding as a hobby or as a form of transportation.
Being a guy where seat height is not a problem. I agree those are all good choices, except the KLR650. I do not think it is a beginner bike. It is beginner friendly, but not if you are an absolute beginner and want to ride off road very much. I really agree with the KLX300. It is a bike you will want to keep, even when you move up to the adventure bike. As always good content!
The CRF 300L ain't just a beginner , I have been riding for a few months now and in the trails I can go faster than guys with 10k bikes , just because my suspension is soft I can gun it and it will make the ride smoother making it possible to go faster
I can agree with the DRZ400s placement. It might be a little much to start on, especially if you are short, but you can learn to wrench and upgrade it to keep long term. I have the SM and stock it's fun, but add a big bore and it's a whole new bike, add cams and a stroker crank and you have a bike that's insanely fun. Mine will cruise 75mph, pull the wheel up easily in 3rd and with a properly tuned FCR carb you'll still get 50+mpg.
6th gear, fuel injection That being said, I will probably rebuild mine a few times before I replace it. At 6 foot 2 and averaging about 110kg I haven't found anything that suits me better
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.
100% agree with this list. Kawasaki Super Sherpa is right there with the Yammie TW200 (if you can find a Super Sherpa). A buddy of mine has one, and it's nearly identical in description to what you said. Works great as a first bike, tractors along, but man it is underwhelming when it comes to power. You'll outgrow it quick.
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!
Apart from the seat hight, which didnt bother me. The newer model (23 in my experience) KTM 500's are very confidence inspiring to me. Coming from a Chinese pitbike for less than a year, it was a big relief that it wasn't a twitchy rocket. The throttle is so soft, you have to damn near full throttle to get much with the stock throttle cam. It luggs forward without any clutch on a steep uphill and climbs things i shouldn't be able to. But im sure im biase.😂 the seat hight is a real issue for others though. I think for my shorter friend we should go with the xt250. Love the list!
I am not a suer experienced rider but have a couple years of experience riding a ttr 230 on back trails and some more technical riding. I wanted to upgrade to something street legal this year so I bought a wr250r a few months back. As a 5’9 rider the seat height was intimidating when I started looking into these bikes, luckily I was able to find one with aftermarket seat lowering kit and low seat option (this brings the seat height to like 34.5 in) as well as lower gearing making it better off-road. So far it has been awesome to continue to learn skills on-road and off. I feel if you can find these bikes with some of the aftermarket adjustments that fit your needs/wants as a rider you could put it in B or maybe even A tier but maybe I’m a little biased 😂
Ease of maintenance is closely related to simplicity, and often weight. The TW200 = Air cooled, carbureted, rear drum brake. Thats 3 items right there that check the Simplicity boxes. Fixing or rigging a carb on the trail to just limp to safety is far easier than dealing with fuel injection. If you have a TW200, treat it well, it is absolutely worth it. Lower weight, you can push pull drag it much easier than a heavy bike. If you ever go to sell it, you can name your price and it will be sold in 5 minutes. Stay gold.
I would consider the type of riding that you want to primarily be doing. I heard Dork reference it in several different ways in the video, but I think it's just as important as choosing a bike that's good for a beginner. If you're looking to do more highway and forest service roads than trails, a KLR/DR/DRZ/XR would be ones to lean towards. If you want to do primarily trail riding, I'd take seat height and power into account as well. If a Beta/KTM/Husq/GasGas aren't cost prohibitive and you're >5'10, the 350s are great options for a turnkey dirt bike w/ a plate that aren't overpowered for trails, but can still do 55mph between trails.
My first dual sport was the CRF450RL. Definitely not a beginner bike and I was going for the 300L but could not find one for months and a guy backed out of buying the 450RL that I ended up getting. Thankfully I’ve gotten pretty comfortable riding it. It’s been an amazing bike for me
I have one too. Like my 7th bike but it’s not as bad as people say. I haven’t had 1 single “flame out” like all these people stalling the bike claim. That being said…. Throttle is extremely twitchy.
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.
I think the KLR should have been a C. It’s just to dang heavy. Isn’t it like 80lbs heavier than the XR650? DR650 is amazing. The DR650 and XR650 are two reasons the KLR shouldn’t even exist. LOL. Otherwise I 100% agree with your list.
For taller riders, I think, is no better bike then the 701 / 690 / 700 - out of all the DS bikes it is the only one where you don't feel cramped and have actually a bike under you when standing. It also requires nearly no mods to do anything with it. Yes they have a price, but for a good reason.
@@danielyoung2219 if we talk beginner as in just done msf basic class, then maybe DS is not the best way to start in the first place. But if you know how to ride, you can learn it. Maybe even a bit easier because they are geared for street riding and deliver the power linear.
Depends on what kind of beginner they are and what's the objective. Want to learn to ride offroad then get a trials bike and a good quality dirt bike and learn to ride propetly, something like an old EXC (or a newer one) will teach you more than some evil-handling "easy to ride" beginner bike. I can ride a 300 Honda plenty fast enough but only because I know how to cope with it's limitations and ride through them. Suspension is everything and there's no way past it. The hassle is once you drift off dual-sport and into adventure riding (BDR's for example) but that another whole set of motorcycles.
I found a 98 Beta Techno and bought that. 2 months later I bought a KLX300. I use the trials for skills and technique practice. Helps I have 20 years on bicycle trials, but it's all new to me. The trials really helps with my dirt biking and overall KLX skills. Eventually when I feel I'm ready I want a middle size ADV like a Tenere or maybe just keep the KLX and get a new GasGas or Beta trials because trials is awesome.
completely agree, I'm looking forward to upgrade to a klx 300 from my suzuki dr200... gotta say though, I'm not super stoked just because I'm really light, so I'd always rather teh lightest bike avaliable with the most power, at 20hp and only 122 kg wet, the dr is just unbeatable on it's category, I'm more enduro oriented, and while the suspension doesn't have too much travel, the fact that its soooo nimble and low seat (at least for me since I'm 183cm) just makes it sooo much fun and easy to ride, I'm always ahead of my peers the minute we touch dirt, off course Im talking I roll with friends wit BMW800, 300, DR650, Yamaha Xts and so on... so, while I'm lacking power on the road to keep up with them at highway speeds, once I'm in my element, even if they're more experienced riders and have way much more torque, they're just no match (okay, except for the dr650 XD).... also, I commute a lot on my 200and I've learn to enjoy really reving it out and truly maxing it's capacity on road, anyways, lastly in the city it handles like a bike, you can just throw it around so easily.... so, it's one of those things that make me feel like I want to keep it forever, it's beared all of the abuse I've put her through after years and years of all riding styles -including technical terrain-, and other than new seals, I haven't got any major issues after riding it for so long. It's just a rock solid platform, and it's never left me stranding.... hopefully one day I'll be able to get my klx WO getting rid of my bby....I'djust love to hold on to it and find out how long will it last, cause from where I'm standing it just feels like it's gonna last forever after 30k kms of pure daily use and abuse
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.
If you can find one, the Kawasaki Super Sherpa has been great for me since 2000. She’s still running strong and been throughout Utah twice and over most of the Trans Am trail.
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
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
Perhaps it depends on the carbuerator but I've driven at sea level up to 7500 ft and never had to adjust anything. Nor did I notice any performance changes. Always using 91 Octane fuel but perhaps it was just pure luck.
no, no, your S line are new bikes , price is double of used DRZ 400 , DR 650 or CRF 250 . Especially for new rider price for a bike that will get dropped often means a lot .
Good review. I have an Africa Twin and a Honda 250f. Off-road, the smaller Honda is the way to go for me. Picking up a heavy bike on the trail is not a fun way to learn. I think if I sell the AT, my next bike will be a 300 rally.
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! 👍
I would be interested to know your thoughts on a XR150L as a " learner duel sport". Reason why, it will cost 1/3 of a CRF300l, but it learns you the fundamentals in my opinion. It is slow, cheap (even by Honda admitting it hence the price) yet reliable and whilst learning, if you fall won't cost you an arm and a leg for a new mirror and/ir lever. Re-sell after a year and I am guessing you get 75% of your money back.....and then move over to the duel sport you want. Simple introduction to basic maintenance and mechanical skills required etc. In my opinion to get your toe in the water so to speak...before you move on, in live it makes 100% sence. Parents concerned know their kids wont come off at more than say 45 miles an hour ( which is not by any means a safe speed as one can slip on a bar of soap in the shower and thats it...) but still better than coming off something travelling at 75 miles an hour. ????
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.
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.
S tier bikes are the ones the most overpriced ones? Weird. Would think a beginner would want a cheap bike like a DR250, DR350, XR250. Why would a brand new rider want a brand new bike to ride offroad? I mean you could buy a used KTM 500 / 350 for the price of a new 300L and have a universally better bike thats got the scratches and dents already applied... New bikes are never great beginner bikes. If youre a beginner buy used
There's no way I'd want to start on a KLR for offroad. Imagine a beginner wrestling that pig through even a slightly bumpy, uphill, rutted out jeep trail/fire road O_o Then dropping it, having to pick it up. Breaking a leg because it's so damn heavy. I started on a WR250R and that was more than heavy enough, but not bad if you're fit. Better would be DR200, TW, CRF250F if non street legal isn't an issue. The 300L is probably better than the WR was. A trials bike is the best, fastest way to gain offroad skills quickly imo
There may be considerations when choosing a bike that will not be evident to all riders. I choose a KLR650s because I wanted my motorcycle to have excellent wind protection, have less vibration, have a wide comfortable seat and be inexpensive to buy. I could care less about its off-road ability beyond a dirt road, and its adequate power and adventure bike weight are fine with me.
check out SRC Moto for 300L parts there is a outlet in Pendleton Oregon. I bought a rear rack, radiator guard, crash guards, skid plate, and a usb outlet for my 300L Rally. Also check out Seat Concept for a better seat they are located in Idaho.
Great video. I have a 2023 KLX300 and a 2024 TW200. The KLX300 is faster, bigger, with better suspension and it takes off without being warmed up. It’s an overall much more capable bike then the TW200 in just about every way. But for some reason, the TW200 is just as fun to ride. I would never sell the TW200 unless I was broke and even then I would probably sell the KLX300 first because when I start turning into an old man, I’ll need a bike with a lower seat height.
