Budget Dual Sport Review

If you are like me, and likely tens of thousands of others, you crave riding adventure on a budget. Fevered dreams of riding the Canadian Rockies on a Suzuki DL650 V-Strom, touring the outback of Australia on a Kawasaki Versys, ripping up some gravel roads in the US on a BMW F650GS, or doing some South American 'mountain climbing' on a KTM 990 Adventure, comes to a sweaty end when the dreamer sees the price tag.

What is a cash strapped motorcycle adventurer to do? Well, luckily there are some inexpensive new motorcycles out there that fit the bill quite nicely. This collection may not necessarily be commercially classified as "dual sport" but much of that dual sport functionality is there in most respects. All of these bikes are generally available in the US, have a price tag of less than $5,000 USD and should be street legal in North America.

The Buell Blast, one of the least expensive motorcycles from the Harley Davidson company is a fun little bike to tear up the two lane asphalt with. It is relatively inexpensive with a price tag of $4,795 which is great for a new rider determined to iron out a good amount of street muscle for a little cash.

It weighs in at a light 360 pounds dry, and with a rated fuel mileage of nearly 73 Miles per Gallon, that's a lot of two lane riding for the dime. If you are determined to take the Blast off the hard roads, beware. It is capable of a little off road adventuring but the rider should be aware of it's limited ground clearance. Visit the Buell Blast website here.


Honda has always made great little bikes that are a lot of fun on the road and in the dirt. The Honda CRF230L is a great example of that versatility. Its little 223 cc single cylinder air cooled engine provides enough energy through its six gear transmission to the rear wheel that this little motorcycle is comfortable on the single track as well as commuting to work.

Its price tag of $4,549 USD makes this a nice inexpensive choice for new riders as well as seasoned road riders wanting to get their feet dirty in the world of off-roading. Honda also offers a Motard version that is classified as CRF230M. It is a bit more expensive with an MSRP of $4,749 but still is a very reasonable, fun ride. You can view the CRF230F website here, and the CRF230M here.


The Kawasaki Super Sherpa may look like it is simply a street legal dirt bike but it is certainly more. It is a workhorse.

Its simple 249 cc single cylinder air cooled engine makes maintenance a breeze. Weighing in at only about 280 pounds, this bike is capable of some quick maneuvers.

The only drawback to this bike that we can see, is its nearly 33 inch seat height. For height challenged riders, this is not a recommended starter bike.

For more information on the Super Sherpa, browse here to the Kawasaki website. With an MSRP of $4,495, she is worth a look!

Suzuki may have struck pay dirt with this nimble, inexpensive explorer. Equally comfortable on the daily work commute as well as running down a muddy cattle trail to the local fishing hole, this bike really is a utilitarian delight.

With an MSRP of $3,995 this motorcycle is hard to not consider. The tiny 199 cc engine may sound small, but packs plenty of low end torque for a lot of on and off road fun.

But wait... There's more! According to Suzuki, the little DR200SE gets a whopping 105 Miles Per Gallon!Want to know more about this great little motorcycle? Browse on over to the Suzuki website.

Yamaha has a sturdy, some would say 'burly' looking little dual purpose bike called the TW-200. The wide tires may look a bit different but offer great traction and handling in almost any situation.

Its little 196 cc engine is set up and tuned to offer plenty of low and mid-range torque. That makes her a good fit for those who want to go off road a bit. The simple air cooled engine and five gear transmission gives this bike great off-highway commuting abilities. Seat height is only 31 inches which, for many height challenged riders, is a joy.

MSRP on this bike is a reasonable $3,990. Browse over to the Yamaha website for more information on this handy little ride.