6 Best Dual Sport Motorcycles in 2025

Dual sport motorcycles are your friend whether you’re on pavement or off-road!

Most motorcycles are designed either for the highway or for dirt, making it tough to switch between the two. Luckily, a dual sport bike combines street and trail capabilities, letting you ride smoothly on pavement and tackle off road trails with ease.

If you often switch from city streets to mountain trails, dual-sport motorcycles offer the perfect balance of performance, fun, and versatility. Manufacturers now build these bikes to be both street legal and adventure-ready, making them ideal for daily commutes, highway cruising, and weekend trail rides alike.

Here’s a list of the best dual sport motorcycles available today, perfect for exploring roads less traveled and busy highways alike. The KTM 690 is considered the most capable big-bore dual sport bike currently available. If you’re looking to upgrade a Harley Davidson, check out this guide to the best true dual exhausts for Harley Davidson.

1. Yamaha WR250R

Yamaha has always been on top of its game regarding motorcycles. The Yamaha WR250R is just one of the many examples of the brand’s dedication to building a well-rounded machine for riders. This motorcycle marries the idea of a WR off-road dirt bike and YZ motocross platforms. That said, you can only expect the best from this powerhouse bike.

The dimensions of this bike are perfect for the off road performance you need. It’s about 85.6 inches long with 48.4 inches in height and a seat height of 36.6 inches. The wet weight of this bike can go up to about 295 lbs.

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that its design is race-oriented. It can handle off-road qualities such as a linkage-mounted shock to the brand’s chassis. Moreover, it comes with a fully adjustable fork and 10.6 inches of travel. With such architecture, you get to enjoy Yamaha’s semi-double-cradle frame and good suspension.

The Yamaha WR250R is the perfect dual sport motorcycle not only for pros but also for many riders looking for a street legal bike with usable power. It has a liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC engine and a displacement of 250cc. The fuel capacity is 2 gallons, and it goes for about 71 miles per gallon. It’s easier to learn off-roading on lighter motorcycles instead of heavy adventure bikes.

2. BETA 500RR-S

Beta has been working hard by putting out great offers for the market to enjoy. The Italian company proves itself a worthy competitor of the entries on our list. Today, we’re taking a look at the BETA 500RR-S, a plenty capable option with more power than most in its class.

This bike implements Sachs ZF suspension, six-speed transmission, as well as fuel injection. As an added feature, it also includes the innovative Trail Tech Voyager GPS to keep you on track wherever you are. It’s especially helpful when tackling challenging dirt trails.

Beta also claims that the 500RR-S is one of the lightest dual sport bikes in the market at just 247 lbs. It features a liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke engine with a displacement of 478cc and a fuel capacity of 2 gallons. The low weight and high ground clearance make it ideal for adventure on or off-road.

3. Kawasaki KLX250

Every beginner needs a great bike that can learn with them. Kawasaki, being one of the leading manufacturers, came up with one of the best dual sport motorcycles for new riders — the KLX250. This street legal motorcycle may not have the biggest displacement, but it delivers fun, good suspension, and reliable street manners.

The KLX250 has a seat height of 35 inches, making it approachable for many riders. Its suspension system offers 10 inches of front travel and 9.1 inches in the rear, while ground clearance stands at 11.2 inches — perfect for hopping between street and trail.

This dual sport bike features a liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke engine with a 249cc displacement, fuel injection, and a 6-speed transmission. Affordable, durable, and low maintenance, it’s an excellent entry-level choice.

4. Zero FX ZF3.6

Some riders want more power, while others want eco-friendliness. If you’re looking for a greener dual sport motorcycle, the Zero FX ZF3.6 is your answer. The Kawasaki KLR 650 is known for its highway comfort and suitability for long-distance touring.

This is a fully electric dual sport bike that still manages impressive performance with instant throttle response and usable power. Thanks to its modular battery system, you can swap packs on the go. It offers different riding modes — commute, performance, or off road — letting you tailor the ride to your needs.

The Zero FX produces 20 kW (27 HP) and features clutchless direct-drive transmission. You can expect a range of 74 km in the city or 45 km on the highway. Its lighter weight and knobby tires make it plenty capable in dirt and town settings.

5. Suzuki DR-Z400S

The Suzuki DR-Z400S has been around for over 15 years, making it one of the most trusted street legal bikes in the dual sport motorcycle category. Known for its durability, this sport motorcycle balances street manners with off road performance. Suzuki is redesigning the DR-Z400, modernizing it with new features after over 20 years of production.

Its 398cc carbureted engine is paired with a strong chassis and SCEM cylinder for heat transfer and low maintenance. With 11.8 inches of ground clearance, a seat height of 36.8 inches, and good suspension, this motorcycle handles both dirt trails and street riding with ease.

The DR-Z400S features an electric start, digital ignition, and lightweight magnesium-alloy components. On the showroom floor, it’s one of the most respected choices for riders seeking a plenty capable machine that’s stood the test of time.

6. Honda CRF300L

A balanced motorcycle is a good motorcycle. The Honda CRF300L is a dual sport bike that builds upon the CRF250L with a new chassis, more torque, and lighter weight. Its low seat option and approachable seat height make it suitable for many riders, while the Honda CRF300L Rally adds a tall windscreen, wind protection for longer rides, and additional fuel capacity.

It uses Programmed fuel injection with a 38 mm throttle body, ensuring smooth throttle response. The liquid-cooled single-cylinder, four-stroke engine has a 286cc displacement, and its fuel capacity sits at 2.1 gallons plus reserve.

The CRF300L offers good suspension, fun handling, and is street legal with turn signals, a license plate, and all necessary road features. For riders who want a versatile bike with more power and a lower weight, the CRF300L is a perfect fit.

Best Dual Sport Motorcycles Guide & FAQs

What Makes Dual Sport Motorcycles Great

Are you evaluating whether or not you want a dual-sport motorcycle? Here are a few things you need to consider.

You can take dual-sport motorcycles anywhere

Dual-sport is exactly what you think it is. It works well for both the streets and a trail. If you typically go between urban settings to trails, you would need something like this. Some of the dual-sport motorcycles, such as the Zero FX ZF3.6, have different modes depending on what road you’re on. Most bikes, however, have great suspension to support off-road rides as much as it does paved roads.

Dual-sport motorcycles are affordable

There are extremely expensive motorcycles in the market and some of them are even dual-sport. However, there are also some models that may even cost you less than 10,000 USD. So, if you’re working on a budget, this is an excellent starting type of motorcycle. You can expect sub-200 cc single-cylinder engines on the most affordable ones. However, manufacturers are slowly changing this by improving engines while keeping the price low.

You’ll surely have a lot of fun with it

Riding a motorcycle is already fun as it is. However, if you do decide to take the road less taken from the streets, you need a bike that can go well with you. This is where dual-sport motorcycles come in. They’re lightweight but come with the right amount of power to work through trails. Not to mention, they’re easy to handle with amazing suspension.

What’s the Difference Between Dual Sport and Enduro Motorcycles

You’ll typically hear people call dual-sport motorcycles enduro bikes. That’s not all wrong. Generally, a dual-sport bike is the younger sibling of an enduro bike. Enduro motorcycles are also dirt or motocross bikes. That means that while they have headlights and taillights, they don’t have brake lights. They also usually have wide ratio tranny.

Enduro bikes are exactly what you think they are — made for endurance competitions. However, they’re not street-legal. You can get serious violations driving it on-road. You can ride them on trails or the mountains, but without brake lights, turn signals, or even a horn, it’s not safe for the street. There are some modifications you can make to an enduro bike to make it street-friendly. That’s when dual-sport motorcycles came to be.

This type of motorcycle lets you ride on and off-road without getting a ticket. Once customization became prominent among riders, manufacturers took it to themselves to mass-produce dual-sport bikes.

In the early days of dual-sport motorcycles, they were just enduro bikes with gauges, a quiet muffler, and license plates. Making it legal for the streets allowed more people to enjoy enduro bikes. Today, dual-sport motorcycles carry the same lightweight agility as enduros with street-ready features that let them easily take off.

The Difference Between Dual Sport Bikes and Adventure Bikes

Many confuse dual sport motorcycles with adventure bikes (ADV bikes). The difference is simple:

Adventure bikes excel at long-distance on road and highway cruising, often with tall windscreens, brembo brakes, and ride by wire throttle.
Dual sport bikes lean toward dirt bike agility, offering lighter weight, good suspension, and usable power for short rides both on and off-road.

Models like the Kawasaki KLR650 and Royal Enfield Himalayan blur these lines, appealing to riders who want plenty capable machines that combine adventure and dual sport qualities.

General Characteristics of a Dual Sport Bike

All that said, here are the features you should be looking for when it comes to dual-sport motorcycles.

A dual-sport motorcycle should have a single-cylinder engine with a 250cc to 650cc displacement.
It also comes with a small gas tank that can reach around 100 miles.
Dual-sport motorcycles don’t have a lot of body parts as well. You won’t get to have any windscreen since the parts are limited only to functions and necessities.
The front wheel of dual-sport bikes typically measures around 21 inches. Moreover, since you can drive it over off-road trails at low speeds, it has spoked wheels.
For easy access, they have high handlebars. The ground clearance for this bike should also be high.
Finally, they should have crash protectors because it’s a bigger risk to drive both on and off-road.

Dual Sport And Adventure Motorcycle Buying Tips

Make sure that you’re buying a motorcycle that you can easily handle both on and off-road. If you’re carrying a bike that weighs around 600 lbs, it would feel different on the pavement and on a trail. So, figuring out whether you actually want a dual-sport bike depends on how long you spend on the road and off the road. If anything, you can decide against buying a dual-sport motorcycle and getting an adventure motorcycle instead.

Moreover, you should know how far your journey will be. Dual-sport motorcycles are not for long-distance rides. There are specific bikes for that. For instance, you can get an adventure motorcycle and, if possible, a cruiser biker. However, if it’s a short-distance ride, a dual-sport bike should work for you just fine.

Aside from this, your experience as a rider is a must-know as well. Do you have experience riding in the dirt, or are you used to paved roads? While there are dual-sport bikes perfect for beginners, there’s no shame in taking baby steps first. Take your time in learning the ropes of off-road riding as well as the know-how of it. With this, you should know how to tip over a motorcycle when it gets stuck in the mud.

A dual-sport bike is definitely a good learning curve if you’re headed for a full-on off-road adventure. However, safety must always come first. Make sure that you’re ready for this type of experience before getting on one!

Final Thoughts

Dual-sport motorcycles are basically the all-arounder of motorcycles. They’re made for the trails as much as they’re made for the streets. Getting a dual-sport bike shouldn’t be that hard. If anything, this is your gateway to even more challenging terrains in the future. When the pavement runs out, the trail is all we have and this is where dual-sports motorcycles become our friend. Read on to figure out what motorcycle size should you get for your height.