What's Your Dualsport Ride?

[The Brain Police]

Me: 2008 Suzuki DR650SE, 1990 Suzuki DR350S.

You?

[Rascus]

Not one now, but hope to pick up a Honda 650

[kman458]

Same here, nothing at the moment but leaning towards a modded wr450 when the time comes and then trying to figure out one for the wife because we will need to get a bike for each of us.

[Gaolee]

1991 Husqvarna 610. It's got a '98 WXC motor in a '91 WXC frame and the whole thing is rattle canned flat black and peeling. The motor was built as some kind of motard racing special, but I am waiting for a magneto. The magneto puked just after I got it, so I've never truly experienced it's awesome Mad Maxness.

[kman458]

Nice. That would suit what I want to do great. I just think that the xr650/klx650/dr650 are all not what I am looking for and the new Huskies and ktms are out of my price range.

[The Brain Police]

Originally Posted by kman458

Nice. That would suit what I want to do great. I just think that the xr650/klx650/dr650 are all not what I am looking for and the new Huskies and ktms are out of my price range.

Of all the 650's, I prefer the DR because of it's rock-solid dependability. It's your basic air-cooled, carbureted big thumper and there's a wide range of aftermarket mods available from suspension to performance. Plus, it makes a great enduro touring machine with a bigger fuel tank, luggage racks, windscreen, etc., which is what I'm going for with mine. TransAm Trail here we come.

If you want something lighter and nimbler on the gnarly stuff and a KTM or Husky is not in your budget, then you might consider a DRz400. They're sorta medicore out of the crate, but with a few suspension upgrades and such it'll run with the hi-dollar Euro iron well enough. You can find used ones for around $2500 all day, and sometimes come with the mods already done.

Or if you wanna go really cheap, try a 90's DR350 or XR400 or even a XT350. I've got less than $1500 into my DR350S and it'll rip through the nasty stuff where the heavier 650 is like a match with a sumo wrestler. It suits my off-road abilities just right, my age and average skills just don't justify spending a hunk of cash for a bike with performance I'll never use.

[Sport Bike Chic]

I have a KTM 625SMC....


and a pitster pro 125 SM'd

[kman458]

Originally Posted by The Brain Police

Of all the 650's, I prefer the DR because of it's rock-solid dependability. It's your basic air-cooled, carbureted big thumper and there's a wide range of aftermarket mods available from suspension to performance. Plus, it makes a great enduro touring machine with a bigger fuel tank, luggage racks, windscreen, etc., which is what I'm going for with mine. TransAm Trail here we come.

If you want something lighter and nimbler on the gnarly stuff and a KTM or Husky is not in your budget, then you might consider a DRz400. They're sorta medicore out of the crate, but with a few suspension upgrades and such it'll run with the hi-dollar Euro iron well enough. You can find used ones for around $2500 all day, and sometimes come with the mods already done.

Or if you wanna go really cheap, try a 90's DR350 or XR400 or even a XT350. I've got less than $1500 into my DR350S and it'll rip through the nasty stuff where the heavier 650 is like a match with a sumo wrestler. It suits my off-road abilities just right, my age and average skills just don't justify spending a hunk of cash for a bike with performance I'll never use.

I may still go with one of the 650's if I don't go with a wr450 its just I can get really good deals from the local Yamaha shop and think a street legal wr would be fun.

[Gaolee]

Originally Posted by kman458

Nice. That would suit what I want to do great. I just think that the xr650/klx650/dr650 are all not what I am looking for and the new Huskies and ktms are out of my price range.

It is a whole lot of fun. It is more of a quadruple sport than dual sport, since it has motard wheels, it's street legal (kinda), it can go flattracking, it can go on the track as an open single/motard, it can play in the dirt, and it can commute. It's only missing some luggage to be a decent touring bike. It's amazingly smooth for such a big thumper, and the seat is comfortable. It's a keeper for sure. It just looks awful and doesn't have a magneto.

[kman458]

even the wife says that doing this looks like fun. Just need to get her some experience on something other than a cruiser on pavement since her current bike is also her first bike.