Buyer's Guide
How to Choose a Dual Sport or Adventure Bike
Every dual sport and adventure bike has been used by someone to ride around the world, ride off-road, and motocamp. Honda Groms have been used to circumnavigate the globe, and small 125cc bikes are used all over India and Africa to traverse the gnarliest of terrains.
So how do you choose?
It all comes down to personal preference, your skill level, and your budget. Ask yourself what you want in a motorcycle.
Decision points
- Do you want to bring all the comforts of home and have a plush ride?
- Maybe you want a BMW R 1300 GS.
- Do you want a lightweight monster that you can carry your camp in saddlebags?
- Maybe you want a KTM 500 or Beta 350.
- Do you want something that has low maintenance and can be serviced anywhere on the planet?
- Maybe that Honda CRF300L or Kawasaki KLR650 is right for you.
- Is seat height a significant factor for you?
- Would you rather have both feet on the ground, or are you comfortable shifting on the saddle to have one foot on the ground?
- Are your gas stops few and far between? Are gas stations plentiful between each trail head?
- Gas tank size might be your main consideration.
- Do you want a bike you can make your own?
- Consider aftermarket support. A bike with a long history will have more options and vendors than a bike model that's in its first or second year.
- Do you want a street bike that can go offroad, or a dirt bike with a tag?
- This is the trade-off at the heart of dual sports and adventure motorcycles, so decide which side of the line you'd rather live on, and which compromises that you can live with.
These are a lot of questions that I can't give you the answers for. It's something you have to decide yourself, and determine what you're going to be using your motorcycle for. Unfortunately, there isn't a “unicorn” bike that does it all perfectly, but you can come close to your own specifications.
Ready to start narrowing it down? Compare specs side by side across the ADV & dual sport, dirt bike, and supermoto lineups.