Question:
I'm going to buy a motorcycle and am leaning towards a dual-sport type (like a Honda XR600L, for instance) which is basically a dirt bike with plates and lights. Does anyone out there have any experience with these or any input on how well these bikes perform on the road? I don't want, or expect for that matter, for an on and off-road motorcycle to be anywhere near as fast or smooth as the racer or cruiser counterparts but I do at least want it to be safe. Does anyone know if they handle decent with the knobby tires and how they ride on wet roads or in bad weather? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Answers:
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I rode a dual-sport (enduro) 2 years straight - winter, spring, summer, fall, rain storms, snow blizzards (I didn't have a car).---Street
They're fine for back roads and three lane roads.
Get them on a highway or parkway, they're a little to light and get blown around a little. They don't have much top speed. 80mph is pushing it. They don't handle on fast twisty roads.
With the dual-purpose tires, they're the safest thing on two wheels in bad weather!
---Reminds me of a funny story - Got let out of work early because of a snow storm. Couldn't see more than 5 cars ahead of me. I'm stopped at a light with a car next to me. A little girl looking out the window in awe of me. I heard her say "Mommy! Look at that crazy man on a motorcycle!" I was laughing all the way home watching cars slidding off the road.
Get stuck in a traffic jamb, just pull off the road, jump a median, or climb over the debris of an accident.
---Dirt
The tires are crap for deep loose stuff like sand and mud. The suspension isn't very good when trying to do jumps. Besides those faults, they'll go any where a full dirt bike will.
---The best of both worlds
Ride the bike like an every day bike. You see a trail, jump the curb and go for a ride in the woods. Get done with your fun, no hassle about loading it onto a trailer. Just get back on the street and ride home.
---Would I buy another one? Absolutely!
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I never rally understood the attraction to these bikes and here is why.They are not good off road for several reason but one major reason is the have a lot of parts that get broken like turn signals and the tail light. The knobs are not good for dirt because they get rounded on the street and are short. For real MX riding or Cross country its not a good choice, for putting around in the dirt they are ok.
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As for the street they are under powered and the knobs are very poor for traction and they don’t handle corners well with knobies.
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If you used the bike on dirt most of the time for putting around and had to ride on roads too, I guess that would be where the dual sport pays off.
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For example if you lived on a farm and used it as transportation around the farm and to the store. I guess in that situation they would be good. Otherwise they are not good at dirt or street.
Just my opinion.
You should get a CRF450 and a GSXR1000 ;-)
It all comes down to how much you will be on the road vs the dirt. Realize that at best these are a compromise. They are not as good as a dirtbike, or as good as a street bike. The tires will be knobby, but not overly so. They may not ride very smoothly at high speed, but will be ok in the dirt.
I was in the same place as you are in considering a bike, but later made the decision to go with a street bike. My first was a Yamaha XS850 that lasted quite awhile and was a great bike for me. I now have a Harley Softail, and use my Can-Am Outlander ATV in the dirt. I just use my bike a lot more on the street.
As for models of on/off road cycles there are many brands available. I would suggest going to dealers and check them out, and I hope you find the best for you.
I think that the biggest concern would be if you choose to get a dual role bike, is to consider the tire tread. I've had dirt bikes before and their tread was designed for that purpose...off road use. Gripping the loose dirt, etc. Street bike tires are designed similar to car tires, to travel on wet roads. So if you drive a duel purpose bike on the road, you will be sacrificing comfort as well as traction in the dirt, since those tires have to also have a dual purpose. With that in mind, I can recall driving an off road bike on a wet pavement, and having little or no traction, with the rear end fish tailing all over the place. I'd say go one way or the other. Combining them will leave you disappointed in both.
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you'd be better off buying two bikes if you want to go off road and on the street. dual sport bikes suck on and off road.More Questions & Answers ...
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