Dual sport motorcycles have been around for a long time. A few decades ago, they were also called trail bikes: bikes that are as at home on the road as much as they are at home off-road. Generally much lighter and less technologically complicated than full-on adventure bikes, they offer excellent all-round ability and accessibility which is perfect for the beginner rider, while also offering enough to keep experienced riders happy. There is a huge choice of models, some of them are brand-new lightweight ADVs, while others are almost relics from a different era but which still have lots to offer this looking for an inexpensive and reliable all-round motorcycle.
10 Honda CRF300L Rally
The Honda CRF300L Rally is the replacement for the CRF250L Rally and addresses all the criticisms of the earlier bike, which mainly centered around weak performance from the 250cc engine. The CRF300L Rally’s four-stroke single-cylinder engine pushes out 27 horsepower and 19 foot pounds of torque, which doesn’t sound like a lot but, with an all-in weight of 300 pounds, It's enough to give excellent road performance while having enough low-down grunt to make off-road riding easy and yet unintimidating.
The Rally version adds a small screen, larger fuel tank, hand guards and rubber engine mounts to reduce vibration which makes it a really good long-distance motorcycle, if you don’t need to get anywhere in too much of a hurry. Suspension is soft and long-travel and there is a handy button to turn off the ABS for off-road games.
9 Honda XR650L
One of two ‘dinosaurs’ on this list, the Honda XR650L has been around for decades and offers simplicity and ruggedness hard to find today. Since 1992, the XR600 and later XR650 has always been one of those unbreakable dual sport bikes, with huge grunt from the 40 horsepower, 38 foot pounds single-cylinder engine. Sometimes criticized as being a bit heavy at 348 pounds, although the BMW G 310 GS is heavier and less powerful.
The Honda’s trump card is its simplicity with absolutely no electronics other than electric start, making this a simple bike to take off to the middle of nowhere. If the overall height of the bike mitigates against shorter riders enjoying its qualities, it is still a solid, reliable and durable motorcycle that has no vices to catch out the inexperienced, but which will also continue to provide fun long after you have moved on from being a beginner.
8 Yamaha TW200
If you want something a little different but still endlessly beginner-friendly, then the Yamaha TW200 is worth a long, hard look. Those fat tires set it apart from the rest of the crowd and, if it is the smallest-engined bike on this list, then it is also the most playful. The 200cc single cylinder engine puts out 16 horsepower which isn’t going to set the world alight, but when combined with its low seat height and weight, it adds up to the perfect beginner dual sport motorcycle. It has bags of character and not a little off-road capability, despite the short-travel suspension.
7 Kawasaki KLR650 S
Another of the dinosaurs, many are the disappointed populations of countries that can no longer import the KLR650 due to it not meeting emissions regulations. The KLR600 arrived in 1984 and the 650cc version in 1987 and today, is one of the most reliable and tough dual sport bikes you can buy.
The engine is simple and durable, its 42 horsepower and 34 foot pounds delivered low down in the rev-range for stump-pulling ability on any road surface. As with the Honda XR650L, there are no frills whatsoever, and while the performance can’t match a modern 650cc bike, it will never let you down and is almost unstoppable, while being simple to work on, with spares cheap and readily available.
6 Suzuki DR-Z400S
It’s been around since 2000 and the Suzuki DR-Z400S is still one of the better dual sport bikes you can buy. Despite 39 horsepower and 29 foot pounds of torque from the 398cc four-stroke single, it’s just so user-friendly and easy to ride. The power and torque come in a low revs, making it super easy to ride off-road while giving plenty of on-road performance. You can potter around or take off like a scalded cat if the mood takes you: it’s that flexible.
The engine is unstressed in any riding situation, and that, coupled with Suzuki engineering, provides a bike that will last as long as your enthusiasm for riding, even if that is counted in the decades. If you want the dual sport looks but have no intention of ever riding off-road, Suzuki also offers a Supermotard version, the DR-Z400SM, which is endlessly entertaining.
5 BMW G 310 GS
Highly anticipated lightweight ADV from BMW, the company that brought the first ‘adventure’ bike to market in the early 1980s. The G 310 GS is powered by a 313cc four-stroke single cylinder which is notable for having the cylinder head reversed, so the exhaust pipe exits from the rear of the cylinder head, which in turn keeps it tucked away and not easily damaged when tackling technical off-road sections, something it is very capable of doing.
34 horsepower and 20 foot pounds of torque works well with the comfort and ergonomics, meaning that all-day rides are possible without any trouble. Light, nimble and good balance inspires confidence and the build-quality is typical BMW. If it is a little heavy at 385 pounds, then it’s still not excessive and gives an air of solidity and security over any terrain.
4 KTM 390 Adventure
Arriving after the BMW G 310 GS, the KTM 390 Adventure is simply better in every department, even if overall quality might not be quite in the BMW league. Far from being good only for beginners, it is also an excellent motorcycle in its own right which will not only help develop sharp off-road skills, it also offers so much for experienced riders.
Excellent performance from the 373cc four-stroke single, producing 44 horsepower and 27 foot pounds of torque: powerful enough for fast cruising on road and punchy enough for impressive off-road riding. But it’s never intimidating, either in power delivery or physical size and weight, while the WP suspension is every bit as good as that offered on the larger KTM adventure bikes. Perhaps best of all, it doesn’t look like a small-displacement dual sport bike which only adds to its appeal.
3 Kawasaki KLX300
The Kawasaki KLX family is extensive, but our pick is the KLX300, which has the perfect blend of power and weight, wrapped up in quality fit and finish. The 292cc liquid-cooled four stroke single pushes out 23.4 horsepower and 15.6 foot pounds of torque, with a weight of just 302 pounds. That all makes it fast enough to be safe on congested city streets while having enough power to be entertaining off-road.
The chassis is excellent and gives really good feedback, which will teach the novice rider enough that a step up to a larger bike won’t feel too intimidating, whether riding on-road or off. It’s so well-balanced that it is easy to avoid dropping it when the terrain gets rough, and even if you do, it’s light enough to pick up without breaking yourself!
2 Honda Trail 125
If you want to talk long-lived models, then you can’t ignore the Honda CT ‘Trail’ that was in production from 1964 to 2010 and which re-introduced in 2021. An off-road version of the ubiquitous Honda Super Cub was always going to be light, underpowered but huge fun, and add Honda build quality and reliability into the mix with a huge character, almost irresistible.
Slightly longer-travel suspension gives it nominal off-road ability but its rugged and reliable and will take anything you can throw at it, as long as you’re prepared to not go very fast, as 8.7 horsepower is what you’re working with. A four-speed clutchless transmission makes it super user-friendly. Disc brakes front and back and ABS make it appropriate for modern riding conditions.
1 Kawasaki X-300 Versys
A more junior adventure bike in the same vein as the BMW G 310 GS and KTM 390 Adventure than lightweight dual sport but still an excellent choice for the beginner who maybe wants more road ability than off-road prowess. The engine is a 296cc parallel twin, which is unique in this list and which gives a smooth 40 horsepower and 19 foot pounds of torque, enabling 70 mph cruising speed, although it is one of the heavier models in this list at 385 pounds.
Excellent build quality and equipment, while the chassis is stable and entertaining, although the comfort a little compromised by Kawasaki making the seat padding a little too thin to lower the seat height. Apart from that, however, it has the look and feel of a much larger and more expensive bike while being still brilliant for beginners.