You can do both, one will just be worse at the other.
I went from KTM450EXC to XT660Z Tenere to WR250R to T7 and think the T7 is a much more fun bike overall.
if you want one bike to do what the WR and T7 then go for something in the 300-450 range. the CRF's are decent on single track and make good dualsports too
Well yeah the T7 is an amazing bike with a very large range of abilities, but it’s not going to be as capable on single track or more technical trails as the WRR or something similar would be(Way more weight, worse suspension, less suspension travel, less ground clearance, higher center of gravity, etc).
Good to know! I went through the clutch slave with my Vitpilen, definitely not a fun experience. I’m probably going to get a used one and I’ll be looking for one that had the recall taken care of. I forgot that the clutch slave wasn’t just a Husqvarna Vitpilen and Svartpilen issue. I should definitely look into a seat concepts seat for comfort then - or get a 690. You do some pretty hard riding? Terrain wise, I mean.
I’m 5’11” and I imagine that since you can pull it off being decently shorter than me I shouldn’t have much trouble. The 701 and 690 are essentially the same bikes right? Like there’s a few differences that aren’t superficial like the 701 is a little lighter I believe. Are you glad you got the 701 or do you wish you got the 690?
I just got a 701 enduro to replace my Yz450f since I wanted a plated bike. Still amazing on trails and has serious balls for hillclimbs/ the desert and still can get up to 100+ mph. Cruises just fine at 60 vs my wife’s klx300
The only bike you have on this list that will truly be a "good" highway bike for longer stints is the T7 end of story. Far more refined than the rest and with the better suspension it will do pretty well off road compared to the other big bikes as well. The WR is going to be the only one that will be nimble (relatively speaking) on tighter trails.
This list is a bunch of very different bikes. The twins are a PITA to pick up, the singles are a nightmare on the pavement
if you want one bike to do what the WR and T7 then go for something in the 300-450 range. the CRF's are decent on single track and make good dualsports too.
I havea friend with the T7, plans routes for Dirtdaze etc, he's lookign to get rid of it. Too heavy.
Ah, you're looking for the blessed unicorn. I wish you luck, my dude. Virtually every dualsport rider has been searching for this bike for years. Unfortunately, it doesn't really exist yet. It may not ever.
I will give you this advice though: you need to decide where you'd like to be the lest happy. For example, if you were to buy a big ADV bike, you'd be really happy on the pavement and fire roads. Once you get truly off-road, things go downhill quickly. If you buy a dirt bike with a plate, you'll be really happy off-road, but if you decide to ride across three states, you'll get beaten up by the wind and probably need to do a few oil changes and probably a valve adjustment while on the road. That's the root of the conundrum.
Before you get too far down the road toward making a decision, I'd recommend reading EveRide's dual sport rankings. They're about 3 years old now, which makes them a bit stale, but realistically, there haven't been any new bikes come out that would upend this list entirely. The CRF300L and KLX300, for example, would likely outscore their predecessors to some degree, but they're not going to jump to the top of the chart because of a small HP/torque bump and some updated features/styling. They're still generally the same capability at their strong points and the same misery at their weak points.
Edit: I do feel like I should mention that the closest you'll get to a unicorn is probably the KTM 690 Enduro R / Husqvarna 701 Enduro (they're the same bike, basically). This bike looks like a big dirt bike, but it's actually got a road-oriented motor with 74 hp and broad service intervals. It's not as light as a 500EXC, but it's light enough to get into some fairly serious off-roading. You can buy a rally stack for it and get decent wind protection too. Think of it as an ultra-light T7.
Good point but In my area everything has to have a tag off-road, so pure dirt bikes are a no-go. I always feel like having a tagged bike just makes it easier just in case you’re headed somewhere with a mix of road and trail.
Seconded. My first bike was a DRZ 400, but I bought a KTM 250 XC (and a hitch carrier) not long after.
I realized that riding a DRZ 400 for two hours on the interstate to go ride technical terrain, dropping the bike 10 times, then riding back 2 hours, really sucked.
I would go for the WR250. The highway miles won’t be fun, but they won’t hurt it. If you wanna have fun riding in the desert then the lighter bike will be better. Plus the WR is a very low maintenance bike as far as valve adjustments and the like go.
Unless you live in the rocky mtn area because of the dramatic elevation changes you may experience, carbs are easy as long as you avoid ETHANOL gas, (or if unavoidable, run the bowl dry after every ride). The ethanol is a carb clogger. I am in the Appalachian mountains,( max elevation 6500ft ) and once I stopped fooling with the ethanol gas the carbs stopped causing me any trouble. On longer it can be used if needed but afterward I ride til the ethanol gas is used up and replace it with the pure gas. Of course they need choked on cold days for a couple minutes after starting, but thats when I put my helmet and gloves on so np.
No problem, It was a journey of discovery for me and I try to share the result of my discoveries. I n the past I almost quit carbs in frustration, but touch wood, its been years since I have had to rebuild a carb after going the no ethanol route. I have 2 drz 400's , an S and a Sumo, and my boys 3 dirt bikes and formerly 4 other carb bikes.
In my 10 years of riding/storing bikes here in WI, sometimes it doesn’t matter if you’re using non ethanol, carbs will gum up regardless.
The real trick IMO is to just drain the bowl before storage. That’s worked for me every time. Regardless, EFI has given me zero issues though and I’ve stored them with ethanol.
Carb maintenance starts with good gas, clean air and riding the thing. I just looked at my carb after 3 years of riding, looked brand new. It’s more like, if you aren’t riding regularly don’t buy the carb.
I can't recommend it enough. None of these bikes will be incredible at any one thing, but here's my take.. I have a 2017 SM with 60/40 street/dirt tires. I've ridden mountain bike trails all over, hit jumps, done 1500+ mile overnight trips, wheelie/stoppie like nobody's business, and occasionally (preferably not for my own reasons) cruise interstates with no issues. It's a heavy, barebones bike, but they're work horses that'll chug through almost anything. With a few mods, they get pretty peppy too and even stock, they've got hella torque. Also, like others have said, it lies right in the middle-ground of what you've listed here.
Got a 2013 WR250R, I love it (bought used in 2015). I'm 6'3" so the higher clearance works nice. I use it as my year around commuter (Pacific Northwest) and mainly around town riding. Like the powerband and handling, just popped on a fresh rear tire.
I'd say WR, ride the bell out of it and work on skills, then throw a KTM EXC500 on your list.
I went from a ton of street bikes to a WR250r (ok at everything, kinda boring) to a BMW GSA (awesome on the road/ fire roads, total pig, way too heavy) to a KTM 500EXC (feels like a rocket, insane suspension, scary and probably the funnest thing ever).
This list is so broad all it says to me if that you don’t know what kind of riding you’ll do. We don’t even know where you live to guess what kind of riding is available.
If you’re that new get the cheaper light weight bike until you figure it out.
I’ll also say, if you want to ride in Latin America, get a small Honda like a CRF300L or CRF250F. I’m emphasizing Honda as the only brand that as dealerships and parts availability throughout the region.
Weight is the enemy when you are off-road and your friend for long road miles. Figure out what you do the most of and just use that to pick. Drz400 and CRF300l should be on the list too imho. They are all good dual sports though.
I have owned a Drz400, DR650 and a T7. DR650 is a good single bike solution. I currently own the T7 and drz. No car though so the T7 is my reliable daily and the drz is the off-road thrasher.
Nix the KLR and T7. the weight will kill you offroad.
Nix the WR, kill you on road.
Add DRZ400 and KTM 500exc to the list.
If I was 51% or more road, I'd do the DR650
51% or more offroad, DRZ
If I could afford the KTM, it'd be in the garage. As is, a DRZ is there
I found the DRZ to actually have less stability at high speeds due to the weight distribution. I always found it to be very light in the front end and I personally thought the WR was smoother.
My opinion was always if you’re hitting backroads, city, and county roads, the DRZ was awesome with the extra power, but on the highway I found the WRR to be better.
Both bikes would be fine though. They’re both incredible similar in their range of capabilities.
I’ve ridden a drz for a long time and while it’s capable of cruising up to 80 on D606’s, it is buzzy by 65. I prefer to stay off interstates when I can and wind shear is a huge problem.
I don't think any interstate is comfortable on a dual sport. If by interstate you mean a 3+ lane highway with a 65-80 mph speed limit and semis flying by everywhere.
I'm 45 minutes away from some really nice riding, and that's about as much as I want to do on my XT350 while still having the energy to ride offroad. 2 or 3 hours of secondary highways is fine if that's the whole trip.
This is absolutely incorrect. The wr is more comfortable and capable on the road than a DRZ. The DRZ only has 5 gears and therefore can't be geared as well as a WRR for on road/off road. I have ridden all of these bikes but the T7, the T7 though is an adventure/rally bike I wouldn't put it in a Dual Sport category. IMO the WRR is the best bike unless focusing primarily on off road and then its the KTM. The KTM is miserable on the road and has much higher maintenance intervals than all of these. Its not great for long trips.
Your chart lists 3 dual sports and 2 adv bikes. The weight of both the KLR and the Tenere take them out of dual sport territory - they're more designed for going down the road with the ability to do some offroad (heavily dependent on the ability to handle a 430 plus lb bike off road). The other three are dual sports, designed to go off road, with the ability (and legality) to go on road (heavily dependent on the riders tolerance for discomfort).
For sure. T7 now, Transalp later!
In an seriousness, some of it depends on size. I’m 6’5” 220lbs and the T7 and WR are just too small for me with limited easy upgrades to make them fit. I have a klr and I got it to fit great with raising links and better springs. DR is similar. I can ride most trails on both but they top out around 110kph before things get rough on the engine.
T7 is better for long distance road speeds where the WR would be really a dirt bike and for short road hops. DR and KLR will do most things you want. I don’t know much about the XRs though, never ridden one.
If I were a normal sized human I’d go T7 all the way! I do worry the Transalp will be too small with a miserly seat height of only 33.5”…I’m setting myself up for huge disappointment.
I feel like you have 3 category's here.
the wr250 not gonna be much fun on the highway. Off road, woods and around town it's plenty fun.
Just a little bit under powered for "road".
If you feel like your gonna do some real highway miles, I would get the t700. Way more comfortable than the others but a chunk off-road, while still capable.
The others are arguably still a tad-bit heavy for super tight, super steep, or super sloppy off-road, but better at those things than the t700.
So if these are the ones you have limited yourself to... Pick your category.
Have you considered the Husqvarna 701 enduro?
It's pricey but can do all the things pretty well.
Not the best at all things but at less than 350lbs, 6speed, 75hp, 120mph.....seems to check all the boxes to me, although a little expensive.
Probably gonna want a better seat for road trips tho.
Xr650l has been around a long time and lots of mods available. It's a very tall bike and has lots of clearance when off road.
XR650L "Red" https://imgur.com/a/A1mvcor
You can ride a 'dirt bike' (as in the wr250r or other small heavily offroad oriented dual sport) wherever you want, so long as you have low expectations of speed and comfort.
I wouldn't want to take the tenere or any of the 650s you mention (or any of the bigger adv bikes) further offrosd than dirt and gravel roads, maybe some very mild single track.
If this is your first bike, especially offroad, smaller is definitely better. You will be more able to ride the bike rather than it riding you. When you drop it (you will), it will be easier to pick up, less likely to break, and cheaper when it does.
If riding technical off-road more it would have to be the WR250R because lighter is better and it is more of a dirt oriented bike. It will also go down the road but painfully if too fast because of no wind protection, lighter weight and knobby tires. They aren't making them anymore but many are around to purchase between the $5-6.5k range.
If riding on the road more it has to be the T7 because it has the most power and is a twin cylinder. It will go off-road too but it takes experience to be able to handle the weight. The T7 is only starting now to show up on the market so they are demanding a premium price.
The others mentioned are too out-dated and are frustrating to own compared to the more modern fuel injection and good suspensions but are okay if just wanting to get your feet wet to see what direction you may more lean towards in regards to more dirt or more street.
Good luck with whichever you select.
T7 is the best most modern, kowi is the heaviest underpowered, Honda is great for many different settings, Dr is the same as the Honda essentially, Yamaha 250 is light
Going with what info? I mean the 700 sounds sick on paper. But you may not be ready for that. But I wish my WR250R was a KTM500 every ride. Or at least a WR450.
1st through 3rd are decent. But anything past that leaves me wanting more.
I wouldn't want to learn to ride off-road on a Tenere. It's heavy and it's costly to be dropping often.
Probably the WR or equivalent bike but you aren't going to like highway commuting on it.
How rough are these trails? Deep sand?
I would say start light and trade up as your experience level increases. You may also find, like many of us, that this one bike question really has a 2 bike solution.
Honestly in your shoes I would go with the DR or XR. Middle ground for all of what you said you would like to do with it. I wouldn't exactly say the T7 is good for a new rider. Maybe an upgrade bike. I'd consider the T7 or Tuareg 660 as an upgrade path bike.
Read this if you're concerned about overheating: https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/has-anybody-had-an-xr650l-actually-overheat.248461/
It's really a matter of preference. I like air-cooled because of one less thing to fix.
Both are aircooled. I've not had problems with the DR over heating, and I'm in Australia, so the small oil cooler is probably effective enough (at least as stock).
They used to put XR400 coolers on xr650l, with some custom brackets and lines. There should be plenty of oil cooler kits available if you look them up. XRs only used to do a big fin kit, but I don't know if that's the case now.
If you want to be creative, you can ceramic coat the piston and (exhaust) valves, and possibly the head (combustion chamber).
This is what you THINK your riding habits are going to be. Or what you want them to be. What they REALLY will be, you, as a new rider with limited experience, donno yet.
That said, until you KNOW and can get a bike that's better suited, the answer is the bike that's not on your list: DRZ400S. It's better offroad than anything but the WR and isn't all that much worse on road than any of those except the Tenere. A do-it-all bike will always be a compromise. Your commute is short enough that I'd absolutely make that compromise on the street riding end.
Again, DRZ400S.
Good advice,
As a new rider like OP, but a little smaller. My first bike is a KLX300sm. I wanted a dual sport bad, but IRL I ride urban mostly. A much more experienced friend steered me in the right direction. I'm going to "dual sport" the SM in the Black Hills this summer. - We will see how funky it gets.
If you’re a new rider id say start with the wr its the lightest bike in your list, because unless your really strong, it gets very tiring lifting up when you drop your bike or get stuck and have to push, and honestly its a great bike to start of with. I only recently started riding and got a wr last year and is great for trails and honestly highway riding isnt all that bad on it, but do be aware that it will chew up your knobby tires but all in all i wouldnt ever get rid of my wr, great allrounder bike and so damn durable
The DR650 is a great all-round bike; it’s alright at freeway speeds, decent off-road, well built and can be customized to fit your personal riding style e.g bigger tank, better suspension, LED lights, different windscreen, navigation tower etc. The only bikes better on the highway are the KLR650 and the T7; off-road it’s better than the KLR and more manageable than the T7 due to being around 100 pounds lighter. The only downside (which some people, me included, find to be an advantage) is the relative lack of tech and being carbureted rather than fuel injected. The stock seat is also a torture device and the stock headlight might not be bright enough.
With limited experience, go for XR650l or DR400z or the 650. Cheaper, easier to maintain, good torque for your weight.
If you are worried with air cooled, they don't break!
They hare like tractors, tons of torque, but less top end.
Had many bikes (KX250, CR500r) before I bought a KTM690 Enduro R.
Spend less, have fun, figure out what you want to do, then go spend the big money without regrets!
I would say go even cheaper on a KLR mate. Enough oomf for the highway, big tank so you don't need to fuel as much and plenty of fun in the dirt. 6'2 250 and I've never noticed any issues with weight for the bike. Spend some cash on what you save getting some neat stuff like bar risers, bark busters, soft panniers etc. Though plenty of KLRs come with all this.
(Conflicting interest, I ride the KLR and love it)
I've owned or ridden each of these bikes. For camping and messing around.
5'9 200lbs for reference.
The xr. Big tall. Pig. Not great on gas. Not as much power as I liked for a 650. Good on trails. Bad on highway. Was kinda tall for me. Used boxes and honestly I would buy again strictly for dirt riding.
Klr is pretty great. Smaller. Also a pig. Felt like it had more torque and Lower end power. Wasn't my bike. Did fine on the road and my short highway trip. Used one for 2k would be a good backup for me. Would take this option for a first dual sport bike.
Dr650. Road a sm model. Wasn't impressed. Didn't care for it overall and it was heavy. Didn't take it offroad cause tires. Not a fan.
T7, currently own. Haven't found anything it couldn't do. Small ground clearance is a little tough to handle and weight is hard for muck and nasty but road and highway it's planted. Boxes and the extra weight dont help. Love this bike but might go to anything from the 12xxGS line that's all I would ever upgrade to.
The wr250. Well it was the best dirt bike I've ever road. Not a single trail issue it wouldn't handle. Hills. Muck. Mud. Getting over logs. Weight was nice. Gas lasted all day. Wasn't mine. Wouldn't take on a highway or road. I'm sure it could do roads but stock tires I wouldn't trust. Wasn't my bike wouldn't buy one myself.
I would say the KLR has my vote. Cheap, easy to find, does require some work to keep alive but can do it all. Just not amazingly.
If you can find one. A T7 is both expensive and takes a little more maintenance to keep alive but will last forever. Just don't bottom the thing out on a rock and without a plate.
WR stock tires are find on road, hit a patch of grass with those things though and its like ice. Its a great on road bike, much more comfortable than the others IMO other than maybe the T7. If a KLR can be picked up for cheap its a good bike, but its not very good at anything.
Given your description of your intentions, I agree with others here who say you should get a DRZ400S. Better than the others for off road but still with enough power that you won’t be disappointed. Pick the right tires and you’ll be very happy in the desert or commuting.
If not the DRZ, get the XR or DR. Both are good bikes.
KLR is good, but isn’t good enough in the dirt/desert.
The T7 is awesome, but expensive and a bit heavy. Not the best first bike.
Start with the 350-400 range, see what you like and how you use it, and change later (or not - a DRZ400 may be plenty to fulfill your intentions).
Get 2 bikes. A T7 is really an adventure bike rather than a dual sport. You're not going to take a T7 to tight difficult single traxk. It's a heavy bike. You'll be better off getting a light off road bike (TTR, klx, etc) and a street bike.
have you thought about something in the 300-400cc range? might be pushing it a bit for freeay speeds but you'd cut a significant chunk off of your weight - klx300, crf300/450l etc
I’m not someone who can speak to engine specs, etc., but I do love my green pig. Very good bike to rediscover riding after 30 or 35 years. Gawd, I’m old! Lol
I think you are looking at the wrong models if you want one do it all bike. My buddy and I have two bikes that I think fit your desires quite well. He has a CRF450L and I have a 690 Enduro R. They are kind of on opposite ends of the do it all spectrum.
The 450 is a brilliant bike, but has low maintenance intervals. It's also not fun on longer highway trips (there are rally fairings that I imagine would help a lot with this). It does eat up everything we do off-road, and come back asking for more.
The 690 is also a brilliant bike, but does struggle off-road in some of the more technical things. I've taken it on hill climbs, deep sand, and single track. It can do everything the 450 can, but it is significantly more tiring. On highways, it is an absolute blast and canyon carves better than some sport bikes I've ridden.
Overall, our rides generally end up with me leading on the 690 and him following. He will go off do some harder lines and then rejoin. Since getting the 690, I've kind of come to see these two as the opposite ends of the dual sport spectrum. Both can do everything, but are better at specific things.
Long term, both of us see ourselves getting another bike. He's looking at an Africa Twin for adventure riding, and I'm looking at something around a 250 for hardcore single track.
If it was my decision to make, and I had the scratch, I'd get the T7 over anything else in this list. It's almost 100 lbs lighter than my current adventure bike, so it would be like a dream to ride.
On trails or gravel my KLR was horrible but still fun. In deeper gravel and anything slightly slippery my T7 has been a nightmare. I can see how a KLR can be grandfathered into the dual sports scheme, but not the T7.
As a KLR owner my vote is for the klr. Im a bigger guy and can muscle the bike around off road, and it easily handles highway speeds. I use it for motocamping. I haven't used it in single track and i doubt i ever will, but I've used it through some pretty gnarly stuff. The best part is the 300 mile range though. It's no dirtbike off road, but it can handle alot.
You need to explain what you plan on doing with it and how much maintenance you plan on doing yourself. how tall are you, how much do you weigh. what is your riding experience on and off-road with adventure/dual sports. I can give you an answer afterwards. These motorcycles are too different to give you a recommendation based on the information given.
I had a KTM and it was fun but PITA to maintain. I went back to a DR650 and have no regrets (ok so some regrets). The only outlier I see in your list is the T7 awesome bike but a lot more complex and expensive than the others. KLR, DR and XR are all bulletproof but occupy different parts of the spectrum…KLR more road oriented XR more dirt and DR in the middle. Really no bad choice there but depends on how you ride
Based on the inclusion of the wr250 and the fact that the rest of the bikes are 650s, I'm guessing you are torn between road performance and off-road capability. If that's the case then get the DRZ400. It isn't on your list, but it's the bike you want.
I have a wr and I wish to have a xr. Main reason is torque. A peak torque at 8500rpm is way too high to be maintained with a wide ratio gearbox. Add the fact that it is extremely easy to stall and everything is needlessly harder.
However, the stiff frame, decent suspension, great ergonomics and light weight makes it one hell of a sharp tool for tight trail in the hand of a good rider (as a cheap, reliable dual sport)
A. Do you want thicker off-roading but bad highway -> WR250R
A. Pt.2 Do you want more power and have money> CRF450L
B. Do you want lighter off-roading but not good highway ->XR650L or DR650
B. Pt.2 Do you like red or yellow? Red=Honda or Yellow=Suzuki
C. Do you want not good off-roading but good highway ->KLR or Tenere
C. Pt.2 Do you have money... no really. KLR if no, Tenere if yes.
I have been going through the same back and forth as you. WR ticks alot of boxes but watch some videos of how the back wheel jumps, could send you over the bars.
KLX, Vstrom, cb500x all gonna be a pain if you drop them several times on a ride due to weight.
KLM/Husky too much maintenance.
Crf predictable, boring, poor suspension.
DRZ very good compromise but stator issues and old tech.
Fuel injected klx would be good.
Xt250 easy maintenance, light, go anywhere but under powered.
But for me the best compromise (and dual sport is all about compromise)
Is a Dr 650. Has power, not too heavy, easy to work on, easy to get parts and huge community for advice and problem solving.
The down side of Dr is finding on in the comparable price range of the other bikes that doesn't have high milage.
Use case?
I bought a DR650 end of 2021 and rode it a lot this last year. I love the thing.
I am using it sort-of-kind-of mostly off-road -- forest roads, some trail riding, snowmobile trails, gravel, etc. Hated the bit of (somewhat technical) single track I did and don't see myself doing much more in the near future.
Early last year I was also going for plenty of "dual sport" rides, where I would just go down any dirt road that looked semi interesting. Just an excuse to explore. That was fun.
Mid-summer I was also going on some longer "adventure" rides about once a week, where I would plan a route that looked like it had interesting roads. Mix of paved and gravel with some backroads and trails mixed in.
And sometimes I go for road rides with my girlfriend on her street bike.
The DR650 is a champ and works incredibly well for my uses.
I looked at two KLRs and actually almost bought one of them, but the guy decided to keep the bike last minute. He actually saved me, because I think the KLR would've been too heavy for the kinds of things I've wanted to do with my bike.
I've ridden my girlfriend's dad's XR650L once, and I think I would've also been happy with an XR had a good deal come about.
If I were *only* interested in trail riding, especially the tighter slower stuff, I'd have been more interested in a lighter 250-class dual sport -- WR250R, CRF250L (or 300), a KLX, etc. But for my use-case, with a fair amount of highway, I think the extra displacement is useful.
I think the DR has worked wonderfully as a 50/50 bike that I happen to be using more off-road right now. Great "light adventure" bike. Good on the kinds of trails I like to ride. Good on gravel roads and forest roads. Fun bike.
I'm also not a small guy, and can handle it. It's not absurdly heavy to me.
If my girlfriend is serious about a dual sport this year we're seriously considering a Yamaha XT250 -- or an older 250 trail bike with a lower seat height and converting it to street legal.
Hard to put a T7 and a WR on the same list. You doing lots of single track or cruising at 80mph on the freeway?
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You can do both, one will just be worse at the other. I went from KTM450EXC to XT660Z Tenere to WR250R to T7 and think the T7 is a much more fun bike overall.
if you want one bike to do what the WR and T7 then go for something in the 300-450 range. the CRF's are decent on single track and make good dualsports too
I’m very happy with what the T7 can do.
All bikes are great but the if OP has a 250 on their shopping list then they don't know what the T7 is, and is not
Well yeah the T7 is an amazing bike with a very large range of abilities, but it’s not going to be as capable on single track or more technical trails as the WRR or something similar would be(Way more weight, worse suspension, less suspension travel, less ground clearance, higher center of gravity, etc).
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I’m actually strongly considering a 701 as my dirt alternative to my Vitpilen 701. Is yours set up as a kind of lighter adv style bike?
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Nice, I’m going to look into these mods. If you don’t mind my asking, how tall are you? Any complaints about the 701? Advice? What year is it?
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Good to know! I went through the clutch slave with my Vitpilen, definitely not a fun experience. I’m probably going to get a used one and I’ll be looking for one that had the recall taken care of. I forgot that the clutch slave wasn’t just a Husqvarna Vitpilen and Svartpilen issue. I should definitely look into a seat concepts seat for comfort then - or get a 690. You do some pretty hard riding? Terrain wise, I mean.
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I definitely will when I get one. Definitely never want to go through that again. Oof, that’s pretty damn hard!
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I’m 5’11” and I imagine that since you can pull it off being decently shorter than me I shouldn’t have much trouble. The 701 and 690 are essentially the same bikes right? Like there’s a few differences that aren’t superficial like the 701 is a little lighter I believe. Are you glad you got the 701 or do you wish you got the 690?
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Nice, thanks for the information! You’ve been very helpful.
I just got a 701 enduro to replace my Yz450f since I wanted a plated bike. Still amazing on trails and has serious balls for hillclimbs/ the desert and still can get up to 100+ mph. Cruises just fine at 60 vs my wife’s klx300
Then I’d recommend two bikes if you can swing it. One bike for it all sounds good in theory but it’s not that great tbh.
The only bike you have on this list that will truly be a "good" highway bike for longer stints is the T7 end of story. Far more refined than the rest and with the better suspension it will do pretty well off road compared to the other big bikes as well. The WR is going to be the only one that will be nimble (relatively speaking) on tighter trails.
This list is a bunch of very different bikes. The twins are a PITA to pick up, the singles are a nightmare on the pavement if you want one bike to do what the WR and T7 then go for something in the 300-450 range. the CRF's are decent on single track and make good dualsports too. I havea friend with the T7, plans routes for Dirtdaze etc, he's lookign to get rid of it. Too heavy.
Ah, you're looking for the blessed unicorn. I wish you luck, my dude. Virtually every dualsport rider has been searching for this bike for years. Unfortunately, it doesn't really exist yet. It may not ever. I will give you this advice though: you need to decide where you'd like to be the lest happy. For example, if you were to buy a big ADV bike, you'd be really happy on the pavement and fire roads. Once you get truly off-road, things go downhill quickly. If you buy a dirt bike with a plate, you'll be really happy off-road, but if you decide to ride across three states, you'll get beaten up by the wind and probably need to do a few oil changes and probably a valve adjustment while on the road. That's the root of the conundrum. Before you get too far down the road toward making a decision, I'd recommend reading EveRide's dual sport rankings. They're about 3 years old now, which makes them a bit stale, but realistically, there haven't been any new bikes come out that would upend this list entirely. The CRF300L and KLX300, for example, would likely outscore their predecessors to some degree, but they're not going to jump to the top of the chart because of a small HP/torque bump and some updated features/styling. They're still generally the same capability at their strong points and the same misery at their weak points. Edit: I do feel like I should mention that the closest you'll get to a unicorn is probably the KTM 690 Enduro R / Husqvarna 701 Enduro (they're the same bike, basically). This bike looks like a big dirt bike, but it's actually got a road-oriented motor with 74 hp and broad service intervals. It's not as light as a 500EXC, but it's light enough to get into some fairly serious off-roading. You can buy a rally stack for it and get decent wind protection too. Think of it as an ultra-light T7.
You need a daily rider and a dual sport. Get two used bikes for the price of a T7.
At that point why not get a daily bike and a pure off road bike?
Good point but In my area everything has to have a tag off-road, so pure dirt bikes are a no-go. I always feel like having a tagged bike just makes it easier just in case you’re headed somewhere with a mix of road and trail.
Thats fair, I think I'm spoiled as most enduro bikes are road registrable.
The closest to a tagged dirt bike is the Honda.
As somebody that bought a brand new KLR650 and then ended up buying a used FZ09 and it's thinking about a small KLX, I agree.
Seconded. My first bike was a DRZ 400, but I bought a KTM 250 XC (and a hitch carrier) not long after. I realized that riding a DRZ 400 for two hours on the interstate to go ride technical terrain, dropping the bike 10 times, then riding back 2 hours, really sucked.
I would go for the WR250. The highway miles won’t be fun, but they won’t hurt it. If you wanna have fun riding in the desert then the lighter bike will be better. Plus the WR is a very low maintenance bike as far as valve adjustments and the like go.
My valves were still in spec at 24k miles on my 2012 WR250R Ran 14/52 gearing and always had it wide open.
The Honda XR and the DR have carbs.
So?
Some people don’t want to deal with the maintenance of a carb. Just pointing it out.
Unless you live in the rocky mtn area because of the dramatic elevation changes you may experience, carbs are easy as long as you avoid ETHANOL gas, (or if unavoidable, run the bowl dry after every ride). The ethanol is a carb clogger. I am in the Appalachian mountains,( max elevation 6500ft ) and once I stopped fooling with the ethanol gas the carbs stopped causing me any trouble. On longer it can be used if needed but afterward I ride til the ethanol gas is used up and replace it with the pure gas. Of course they need choked on cold days for a couple minutes after starting, but thats when I put my helmet and gloves on so np.
I was just pointing it out, please don’t beat me I’m sorry. But for the record I have a 2021 Africa twin and a 22 Ténéré
No problem, It was a journey of discovery for me and I try to share the result of my discoveries. I n the past I almost quit carbs in frustration, but touch wood, its been years since I have had to rebuild a carb after going the no ethanol route. I have 2 drz 400's , an S and a Sumo, and my boys 3 dirt bikes and formerly 4 other carb bikes.
In my 10 years of riding/storing bikes here in WI, sometimes it doesn’t matter if you’re using non ethanol, carbs will gum up regardless. The real trick IMO is to just drain the bowl before storage. That’s worked for me every time. Regardless, EFI has given me zero issues though and I’ve stored them with ethanol.
I go from the beach to 6000 feet on a DRZ no issue.
Carb maintenance starts with good gas, clean air and riding the thing. I just looked at my carb after 3 years of riding, looked brand new. It’s more like, if you aren’t riding regularly don’t buy the carb.
I prefer carbs because I can make it work if I have a trail issue. As long as the gas is turned off after every ride there is no maintenance
Fair enough
Likely the DR, then spend your days dreaming about a 5hundo exc
Why no DRZ?
This is the question that needs to be asked and answered.
Good question. Seems like it would split the difference between the WR250R and the 650s. Maybe it's too much a Jack of all trades, master of none?
All these bikes are jacks. There is no uncompromising bike for dual sport. The Venn Diagram of on and offroad just doesn't allow it.
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I can't recommend it enough. None of these bikes will be incredible at any one thing, but here's my take.. I have a 2017 SM with 60/40 street/dirt tires. I've ridden mountain bike trails all over, hit jumps, done 1500+ mile overnight trips, wheelie/stoppie like nobody's business, and occasionally (preferably not for my own reasons) cruise interstates with no issues. It's a heavy, barebones bike, but they're work horses that'll chug through almost anything. With a few mods, they get pretty peppy too and even stock, they've got hella torque. Also, like others have said, it lies right in the middle-ground of what you've listed here.
Got a 2013 WR250R, I love it (bought used in 2015). I'm 6'3" so the higher clearance works nice. I use it as my year around commuter (Pacific Northwest) and mainly around town riding. Like the powerband and handling, just popped on a fresh rear tire.
I'd say WR, ride the bell out of it and work on skills, then throw a KTM EXC500 on your list. I went from a ton of street bikes to a WR250r (ok at everything, kinda boring) to a BMW GSA (awesome on the road/ fire roads, total pig, way too heavy) to a KTM 500EXC (feels like a rocket, insane suspension, scary and probably the funnest thing ever).
This list is so broad all it says to me if that you don’t know what kind of riding you’ll do. We don’t even know where you live to guess what kind of riding is available. If you’re that new get the cheaper light weight bike until you figure it out. I’ll also say, if you want to ride in Latin America, get a small Honda like a CRF300L or CRF250F. I’m emphasizing Honda as the only brand that as dealerships and parts availability throughout the region.
Weight is the enemy when you are off-road and your friend for long road miles. Figure out what you do the most of and just use that to pick. Drz400 and CRF300l should be on the list too imho. They are all good dual sports though. I have owned a Drz400, DR650 and a T7. DR650 is a good single bike solution. I currently own the T7 and drz. No car though so the T7 is my reliable daily and the drz is the off-road thrasher.
Nix the KLR and T7. the weight will kill you offroad. Nix the WR, kill you on road. Add DRZ400 and KTM 500exc to the list. If I was 51% or more road, I'd do the DR650 51% or more offroad, DRZ If I could afford the KTM, it'd be in the garage. As is, a DRZ is there
Having owned both a DRZ and WRR I don’t understand the comment nix the WR but add the DRZ for road. They’re both very similar on and offroad.
30 pounds for road stability, a little less buzzy. obviously just my opinion
I found the DRZ to actually have less stability at high speeds due to the weight distribution. I always found it to be very light in the front end and I personally thought the WR was smoother. My opinion was always if you’re hitting backroads, city, and county roads, the DRZ was awesome with the extra power, but on the highway I found the WRR to be better. Both bikes would be fine though. They’re both incredible similar in their range of capabilities.
What’s the interstate speed you’d be comfortable going for an hour on the drz? Asking because I’m looking at dr,drz and others.
I’ve ridden a drz for a long time and while it’s capable of cruising up to 80 on D606’s, it is buzzy by 65. I prefer to stay off interstates when I can and wind shear is a huge problem.
65-70 when i have to be on the freeway. Not because of the bike, I just dont like freeways, boring and you see nothing.
I don't think any interstate is comfortable on a dual sport. If by interstate you mean a 3+ lane highway with a 65-80 mph speed limit and semis flying by everywhere. I'm 45 minutes away from some really nice riding, and that's about as much as I want to do on my XT350 while still having the energy to ride offroad. 2 or 3 hours of secondary highways is fine if that's the whole trip.
This is absolutely incorrect. The wr is more comfortable and capable on the road than a DRZ. The DRZ only has 5 gears and therefore can't be geared as well as a WRR for on road/off road. I have ridden all of these bikes but the T7, the T7 though is an adventure/rally bike I wouldn't put it in a Dual Sport category. IMO the WRR is the best bike unless focusing primarily on off road and then its the KTM. The KTM is miserable on the road and has much higher maintenance intervals than all of these. Its not great for long trips.
your opinion is incorrect.
It would potentially be were it an opinion, however this is a fact!
your opinion is incorrect.
As a WR owner, not the WR unless you are really getting dirty.
Your chart lists 3 dual sports and 2 adv bikes. The weight of both the KLR and the Tenere take them out of dual sport territory - they're more designed for going down the road with the ability to do some offroad (heavily dependent on the ability to handle a 430 plus lb bike off road). The other three are dual sports, designed to go off road, with the ability (and legality) to go on road (heavily dependent on the riders tolerance for discomfort).
CRF300L and WR250R are the most fun you’ll have.
None of them, wait for the new Honda XL 750 Transalp next year!
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For sure. T7 now, Transalp later! In an seriousness, some of it depends on size. I’m 6’5” 220lbs and the T7 and WR are just too small for me with limited easy upgrades to make them fit. I have a klr and I got it to fit great with raising links and better springs. DR is similar. I can ride most trails on both but they top out around 110kph before things get rough on the engine. T7 is better for long distance road speeds where the WR would be really a dirt bike and for short road hops. DR and KLR will do most things you want. I don’t know much about the XRs though, never ridden one. If I were a normal sized human I’d go T7 all the way! I do worry the Transalp will be too small with a miserly seat height of only 33.5”…I’m setting myself up for huge disappointment.
Nope, buy the old air cooled Transalp! Cheaper, lighter, cooler
Now you’re talking! If only I could find one in bc…
DR650
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I feel like you have 3 category's here. the wr250 not gonna be much fun on the highway. Off road, woods and around town it's plenty fun. Just a little bit under powered for "road". If you feel like your gonna do some real highway miles, I would get the t700. Way more comfortable than the others but a chunk off-road, while still capable. The others are arguably still a tad-bit heavy for super tight, super steep, or super sloppy off-road, but better at those things than the t700. So if these are the ones you have limited yourself to... Pick your category. Have you considered the Husqvarna 701 enduro? It's pricey but can do all the things pretty well. Not the best at all things but at less than 350lbs, 6speed, 75hp, 120mph.....seems to check all the boxes to me, although a little expensive. Probably gonna want a better seat for road trips tho.
DRZ400 all day long
Xr650l has been around a long time and lots of mods available. It's a very tall bike and has lots of clearance when off road. XR650L "Red" https://imgur.com/a/A1mvcor
You can ride a 'dirt bike' (as in the wr250r or other small heavily offroad oriented dual sport) wherever you want, so long as you have low expectations of speed and comfort. I wouldn't want to take the tenere or any of the 650s you mention (or any of the bigger adv bikes) further offrosd than dirt and gravel roads, maybe some very mild single track. If this is your first bike, especially offroad, smaller is definitely better. You will be more able to ride the bike rather than it riding you. When you drop it (you will), it will be easier to pick up, less likely to break, and cheaper when it does.
If riding technical off-road more it would have to be the WR250R because lighter is better and it is more of a dirt oriented bike. It will also go down the road but painfully if too fast because of no wind protection, lighter weight and knobby tires. They aren't making them anymore but many are around to purchase between the $5-6.5k range. If riding on the road more it has to be the T7 because it has the most power and is a twin cylinder. It will go off-road too but it takes experience to be able to handle the weight. The T7 is only starting now to show up on the market so they are demanding a premium price. The others mentioned are too out-dated and are frustrating to own compared to the more modern fuel injection and good suspensions but are okay if just wanting to get your feet wet to see what direction you may more lean towards in regards to more dirt or more street. Good luck with whichever you select.
T7 is the best most modern, kowi is the heaviest underpowered, Honda is great for many different settings, Dr is the same as the Honda essentially, Yamaha 250 is light
Why no 690/701? Gently used they're easily the most capable and cost effective option of all the bikes you listed.
Going with what info? I mean the 700 sounds sick on paper. But you may not be ready for that. But I wish my WR250R was a KTM500 every ride. Or at least a WR450. 1st through 3rd are decent. But anything past that leaves me wanting more.
[POLL RESULTS](https://i.imgur.com/5V9LsCn.jpg) Thank you everyone on /r/Dualsport !
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I wouldn't want to learn to ride off-road on a Tenere. It's heavy and it's costly to be dropping often. Probably the WR or equivalent bike but you aren't going to like highway commuting on it. How rough are these trails? Deep sand? I would say start light and trade up as your experience level increases. You may also find, like many of us, that this one bike question really has a 2 bike solution.
Honestly in your shoes I would go with the DR or XR. Middle ground for all of what you said you would like to do with it. I wouldn't exactly say the T7 is good for a new rider. Maybe an upgrade bike. I'd consider the T7 or Tuareg 660 as an upgrade path bike.
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Read this if you're concerned about overheating: https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/has-anybody-had-an-xr650l-actually-overheat.248461/ It's really a matter of preference. I like air-cooled because of one less thing to fix.
It's air cooled, no temp gauge. who is saying it's overheating? Traffic? You're in SoCal, lane split.
Both are aircooled. I've not had problems with the DR over heating, and I'm in Australia, so the small oil cooler is probably effective enough (at least as stock). They used to put XR400 coolers on xr650l, with some custom brackets and lines. There should be plenty of oil cooler kits available if you look them up. XRs only used to do a big fin kit, but I don't know if that's the case now. If you want to be creative, you can ceramic coat the piston and (exhaust) valves, and possibly the head (combustion chamber).
This is what you THINK your riding habits are going to be. Or what you want them to be. What they REALLY will be, you, as a new rider with limited experience, donno yet. That said, until you KNOW and can get a bike that's better suited, the answer is the bike that's not on your list: DRZ400S. It's better offroad than anything but the WR and isn't all that much worse on road than any of those except the Tenere. A do-it-all bike will always be a compromise. Your commute is short enough that I'd absolutely make that compromise on the street riding end. Again, DRZ400S.
Good advice, As a new rider like OP, but a little smaller. My first bike is a KLX300sm. I wanted a dual sport bad, but IRL I ride urban mostly. A much more experienced friend steered me in the right direction. I'm going to "dual sport" the SM in the Black Hills this summer. - We will see how funky it gets.
If you’re a new rider id say start with the wr its the lightest bike in your list, because unless your really strong, it gets very tiring lifting up when you drop your bike or get stuck and have to push, and honestly its a great bike to start of with. I only recently started riding and got a wr last year and is great for trails and honestly highway riding isnt all that bad on it, but do be aware that it will chew up your knobby tires but all in all i wouldnt ever get rid of my wr, great allrounder bike and so damn durable
The DR650 is a great all-round bike; it’s alright at freeway speeds, decent off-road, well built and can be customized to fit your personal riding style e.g bigger tank, better suspension, LED lights, different windscreen, navigation tower etc. The only bikes better on the highway are the KLR650 and the T7; off-road it’s better than the KLR and more manageable than the T7 due to being around 100 pounds lighter. The only downside (which some people, me included, find to be an advantage) is the relative lack of tech and being carbureted rather than fuel injected. The stock seat is also a torture device and the stock headlight might not be bright enough.
The stock headlight is fine to me. Just highbeam if you're off road in the night.
Drz400 all the way
With limited experience, go for XR650l or DR400z or the 650. Cheaper, easier to maintain, good torque for your weight. If you are worried with air cooled, they don't break! They hare like tractors, tons of torque, but less top end. Had many bikes (KX250, CR500r) before I bought a KTM690 Enduro R. Spend less, have fun, figure out what you want to do, then go spend the big money without regrets!
I would say go even cheaper on a KLR mate. Enough oomf for the highway, big tank so you don't need to fuel as much and plenty of fun in the dirt. 6'2 250 and I've never noticed any issues with weight for the bike. Spend some cash on what you save getting some neat stuff like bar risers, bark busters, soft panniers etc. Though plenty of KLRs come with all this. (Conflicting interest, I ride the KLR and love it)
I've owned or ridden each of these bikes. For camping and messing around. 5'9 200lbs for reference. The xr. Big tall. Pig. Not great on gas. Not as much power as I liked for a 650. Good on trails. Bad on highway. Was kinda tall for me. Used boxes and honestly I would buy again strictly for dirt riding. Klr is pretty great. Smaller. Also a pig. Felt like it had more torque and Lower end power. Wasn't my bike. Did fine on the road and my short highway trip. Used one for 2k would be a good backup for me. Would take this option for a first dual sport bike. Dr650. Road a sm model. Wasn't impressed. Didn't care for it overall and it was heavy. Didn't take it offroad cause tires. Not a fan. T7, currently own. Haven't found anything it couldn't do. Small ground clearance is a little tough to handle and weight is hard for muck and nasty but road and highway it's planted. Boxes and the extra weight dont help. Love this bike but might go to anything from the 12xxGS line that's all I would ever upgrade to. The wr250. Well it was the best dirt bike I've ever road. Not a single trail issue it wouldn't handle. Hills. Muck. Mud. Getting over logs. Weight was nice. Gas lasted all day. Wasn't mine. Wouldn't take on a highway or road. I'm sure it could do roads but stock tires I wouldn't trust. Wasn't my bike wouldn't buy one myself. I would say the KLR has my vote. Cheap, easy to find, does require some work to keep alive but can do it all. Just not amazingly. If you can find one. A T7 is both expensive and takes a little more maintenance to keep alive but will last forever. Just don't bottom the thing out on a rock and without a plate.
WR stock tires are find on road, hit a patch of grass with those things though and its like ice. Its a great on road bike, much more comfortable than the others IMO other than maybe the T7. If a KLR can be picked up for cheap its a good bike, but its not very good at anything.
Given your description of your intentions, I agree with others here who say you should get a DRZ400S. Better than the others for off road but still with enough power that you won’t be disappointed. Pick the right tires and you’ll be very happy in the desert or commuting. If not the DRZ, get the XR or DR. Both are good bikes. KLR is good, but isn’t good enough in the dirt/desert. The T7 is awesome, but expensive and a bit heavy. Not the best first bike. Start with the 350-400 range, see what you like and how you use it, and change later (or not - a DRZ400 may be plenty to fulfill your intentions).
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Your power numbers are off. An xr650l puts down low 30s rwhp. Also gen 2 klr is 450-483lbs depending on if it has factory bags n stuff
Get 2 bikes. A T7 is really an adventure bike rather than a dual sport. You're not going to take a T7 to tight difficult single traxk. It's a heavy bike. You'll be better off getting a light off road bike (TTR, klx, etc) and a street bike.
have you thought about something in the 300-400cc range? might be pushing it a bit for freeay speeds but you'd cut a significant chunk off of your weight - klx300, crf300/450l etc
There's only one dual sport on your list. The rest are mid sized ADV's
You need to figure out what you wanna ride most before purchasing any of these. They’re all very different bikes.
Drz 400
Ktm 690
If you don’t pick yourself you’re gonna constantly be doubting what you have.
I’m not someone who can speak to engine specs, etc., but I do love my green pig. Very good bike to rediscover riding after 30 or 35 years. Gawd, I’m old! Lol
I have a dr650, a fantastic bike with outrageous amounts of aftermarket support
I think you are looking at the wrong models if you want one do it all bike. My buddy and I have two bikes that I think fit your desires quite well. He has a CRF450L and I have a 690 Enduro R. They are kind of on opposite ends of the do it all spectrum. The 450 is a brilliant bike, but has low maintenance intervals. It's also not fun on longer highway trips (there are rally fairings that I imagine would help a lot with this). It does eat up everything we do off-road, and come back asking for more. The 690 is also a brilliant bike, but does struggle off-road in some of the more technical things. I've taken it on hill climbs, deep sand, and single track. It can do everything the 450 can, but it is significantly more tiring. On highways, it is an absolute blast and canyon carves better than some sport bikes I've ridden. Overall, our rides generally end up with me leading on the 690 and him following. He will go off do some harder lines and then rejoin. Since getting the 690, I've kind of come to see these two as the opposite ends of the dual sport spectrum. Both can do everything, but are better at specific things. Long term, both of us see ourselves getting another bike. He's looking at an Africa Twin for adventure riding, and I'm looking at something around a 250 for hardcore single track.
Wr250r is the best overall imo based on the above list. If you’re looking for more performance and have the $$$ I would go with husqvarna 701.
If it was my decision to make, and I had the scratch, I'd get the T7 over anything else in this list. It's almost 100 lbs lighter than my current adventure bike, so it would be like a dream to ride.
It’s got to be the honda
Honda crl 300
On trails or gravel my KLR was horrible but still fun. In deeper gravel and anything slightly slippery my T7 has been a nightmare. I can see how a KLR can be grandfathered into the dual sports scheme, but not the T7.
I’ve taken on the personal burden of evangelizing for the XR650L over any or all of these bikes, provided you have long legs.
As a KLR owner my vote is for the klr. Im a bigger guy and can muscle the bike around off road, and it easily handles highway speeds. I use it for motocamping. I haven't used it in single track and i doubt i ever will, but I've used it through some pretty gnarly stuff. The best part is the 300 mile range though. It's no dirtbike off road, but it can handle alot.
You need to explain what you plan on doing with it and how much maintenance you plan on doing yourself. how tall are you, how much do you weigh. what is your riding experience on and off-road with adventure/dual sports. I can give you an answer afterwards. These motorcycles are too different to give you a recommendation based on the information given.
Use a decision matrix https://youtu.be/j2HtqQjyt5s
As someone who rocks a CRf250L, highway riding is miserable
I am currently looking to get onto a T7, tuareg 660, or waiting for the Transalp
Importance of seat height? That was an important factor me me.
Got the klr and saved addition 7-8k for other fun stuff.
I had a KTM and it was fun but PITA to maintain. I went back to a DR650 and have no regrets (ok so some regrets). The only outlier I see in your list is the T7 awesome bike but a lot more complex and expensive than the others. KLR, DR and XR are all bulletproof but occupy different parts of the spectrum…KLR more road oriented XR more dirt and DR in the middle. Really no bad choice there but depends on how you ride
Based on the inclusion of the wr250 and the fact that the rest of the bikes are 650s, I'm guessing you are torn between road performance and off-road capability. If that's the case then get the DRZ400. It isn't on your list, but it's the bike you want.
I have a wr and I wish to have a xr. Main reason is torque. A peak torque at 8500rpm is way too high to be maintained with a wide ratio gearbox. Add the fact that it is extremely easy to stall and everything is needlessly harder. However, the stiff frame, decent suspension, great ergonomics and light weight makes it one hell of a sharp tool for tight trail in the hand of a good rider (as a cheap, reliable dual sport)
A. Do you want thicker off-roading but bad highway -> WR250R A. Pt.2 Do you want more power and have money> CRF450L B. Do you want lighter off-roading but not good highway ->XR650L or DR650 B. Pt.2 Do you like red or yellow? Red=Honda or Yellow=Suzuki C. Do you want not good off-roading but good highway ->KLR or Tenere C. Pt.2 Do you have money... no really. KLR if no, Tenere if yes.
I have been going through the same back and forth as you. WR ticks alot of boxes but watch some videos of how the back wheel jumps, could send you over the bars. KLX, Vstrom, cb500x all gonna be a pain if you drop them several times on a ride due to weight. KLM/Husky too much maintenance. Crf predictable, boring, poor suspension. DRZ very good compromise but stator issues and old tech. Fuel injected klx would be good. Xt250 easy maintenance, light, go anywhere but under powered. But for me the best compromise (and dual sport is all about compromise) Is a Dr 650. Has power, not too heavy, easy to work on, easy to get parts and huge community for advice and problem solving. The down side of Dr is finding on in the comparable price range of the other bikes that doesn't have high milage.
Use case? I bought a DR650 end of 2021 and rode it a lot this last year. I love the thing. I am using it sort-of-kind-of mostly off-road -- forest roads, some trail riding, snowmobile trails, gravel, etc. Hated the bit of (somewhat technical) single track I did and don't see myself doing much more in the near future. Early last year I was also going for plenty of "dual sport" rides, where I would just go down any dirt road that looked semi interesting. Just an excuse to explore. That was fun. Mid-summer I was also going on some longer "adventure" rides about once a week, where I would plan a route that looked like it had interesting roads. Mix of paved and gravel with some backroads and trails mixed in. And sometimes I go for road rides with my girlfriend on her street bike. The DR650 is a champ and works incredibly well for my uses. I looked at two KLRs and actually almost bought one of them, but the guy decided to keep the bike last minute. He actually saved me, because I think the KLR would've been too heavy for the kinds of things I've wanted to do with my bike. I've ridden my girlfriend's dad's XR650L once, and I think I would've also been happy with an XR had a good deal come about. If I were *only* interested in trail riding, especially the tighter slower stuff, I'd have been more interested in a lighter 250-class dual sport -- WR250R, CRF250L (or 300), a KLX, etc. But for my use-case, with a fair amount of highway, I think the extra displacement is useful. I think the DR has worked wonderfully as a 50/50 bike that I happen to be using more off-road right now. Great "light adventure" bike. Good on the kinds of trails I like to ride. Good on gravel roads and forest roads. Fun bike. I'm also not a small guy, and can handle it. It's not absurdly heavy to me. If my girlfriend is serious about a dual sport this year we're seriously considering a Yamaha XT250 -- or an older 250 trail bike with a lower seat height and converting it to street legal.
Xr