Best Dual Sport Bikes That Can Do Both Off-Road & Motocross

The dual sport bikes world is quite a popular niche in the world of motorcycling. They excel in both on-roading and off-roading worlds. What makes them stand out from the rest is that they are not even expensive, unlike adventure bikes. If you want more off-road performance and only decent street performance, dual sports bikes must be your preference.

However, if you are looking for a better road bike and a casual off-road bike, then you should stick to the ADV bikes. However, there are certain dual sport bikes that change these definitions. They blur the lines and exceed their limit when it comes to off-roading.

Finding a single bike to be able to do off-road and motocross? You desire a bike that is street legal, but at the same time, a dirt bike that will do the hard jumps and high-speed motocross races? This is a tough ask. Motocross (MX) is a rough sport involving huge jumps and rough tracks. It involves bikes that take a lot of beating. The majority of dual sport bikes are either too soft or heavy for this task.

But there are dual sport bikes that you can try. The point is to find a bike that retains its heart, which is a dirt bike. This article considers the 4 best dual sport bikes that lie in this category. Off-road riders do not only consider these bikes on trail rides, but also on a real MX track.

The dual sport bike has to be powerful to make MX jumps and strong enough to get through the obstacles.

The bike should be able to go over big jumps and make hard landings. Therefore, it must have long-travel suspensions that are relatively stiff with high damping.

Lightweight bikes are simpler to move, and it is easier for them to change directions rapidly. On an MX track, lightweight bikes shine.

The bike must have the ability to absorb the frequent impacts and shocks of MX racing and hard riding.

The closest one can get to owning a full motocross bike with a license plate is the KTM 500 EXC-F. It is a pure bike to start with, conceived in the same spirit as the championship-winning KTM bikes.

The engine of this dual sport bike is its crown jewel. It performs best on the track. The engine power is quite robust, capable of competing with serious 450cc MX bikes. Such power can make the rider take MX jumps and turns with more efficiency. The chassis is rigid as required for MX riding. Above all, the bike feels light. Such a blend of power and low weight helps MX riders change lanes mid-air and brake late with no issues. The KTM 500 EXC-F is like a pure dirt bike.

Do not assume that this bike is only used on short sprints. In a round-the-world trip, one rider rode a KTM 500 EXC- and crossed more than 55,000 km visiting some of the most hostile spots on the planet. The bike has been tested fully in rural areas and on the toughest off-road tracks.

It is a sign that this MX race-bred bike can be an MX track weapon and a travel partner with the right care. The KTM 500 EXC-F can also be easily serviced, and parts can be easily accessed.

The stock KTM 500 EXC-F is good for off-roading. However, for MX racing, you will need to replace the stock tires. The tires on the stock 500 EXC-F are dual sport-based and will be sliding on a hard-pack MX track. The bike's suspension is not rigid enough to jump big. Therefore, the bike must use stiffer shocks for a better MX performance.

Most riders also switch the sprockets to ensure quicker movements out of the corners. Another good upgrade is a stronger side stand since the stock one could collapse due to the weight of the bike with mods.

The KTM 500 EXC-F is a bike that requires respect and expertise. The power is crisp, quick, and not for novice riders. It is a great bike for a pro or an expert rider. It also needs more regular servicing, such as oil changes every 15-35 hours of riding, depending on the riding conditions and use. However, when you are out to win both off-road and MX, this bike is your best bet.

The Husqvarna FE 501 has a lot of KTM's high-tech DNA. However, it also has the quality of Swedish refinement and a control-based approach. It is not merely about the brute strength, but accuracy, too.

The best thingabout the FE 501 is its chassis and shock setup. The bike is well-balanced and light in the air, and it sticks in turns. Another major upgrade is the WP XACT closed-cage fork that is able to absorb hard hits without losing strength, which is a plus in MX.

Although the engine is restricted by the EPA regulations with its stock form in terms of power, the engine design is basically the same as that of the Husqvarna motocross bikes.

Testers observe that the current FE 501 chassis is so good. It is not that far removed from the bike that was used to win professional Supercross races. It has a six-speed gearbox, handguards, and a strong skid plate that makes it almost ready for extreme off-road. The FE 501 is designed to be used in active riding, where the bodywork allows riders to move freely.

The stock suspension will require more aggressive tuning to be used seriously in MX. The first and most crucial mod is the replacement of the street-based tires with the real knobby ones.

To achieve the full potential of the engine, around 20 hp more, owners often opt for aftermarket fuel mapping and exhaust system mods.

The Husqvarna FE 501 is a bike that is aimed at the thought-provoking MX racers. It may not match the raw ability of the KTM bikes, but its high balance and control can result in higher and more consistent lap times. It is a more recent, high-end option that is very competent. Expect to spend a lot on the initial purchase, and the urge to pay more on alterations.

The Honda CRF450RL is a great and valid dual sport bike for off-roading. Nonetheless, in its stock version, it is not a motocross bike. It is built in such a way that it is clean, silent, and street legal in all 50 states in the US. As a result, this limits its real performance.

Under the exterior, there is a great platform. The engine is based on the CRF450R design, which was used in the championship by Honda. It is also known to be highly reliable. The aluminum twin-spar frame is stiff and jumpy. It can become a powerful and competitive machine as soonas its basic limitations are addressed. It also has a six-speed gearbox that has a wide ratio. This serves as an advantage of connecting trails at highway speeds.

Honda focuses on the fact that the CRF450RL is a street-legal dual sports bike with off-road ability. It has a catalytic converter and lights that allow it to be ready to use on the road. The IRC GP tires are more of a 50/50 compromise. Whether it is about riding on the pavement and hard-pack dirt, these tires work well. This makes it the most suitable bike on this list, where one can use it equally on both terrains without requiring any urgent changes.

This step cannot be omitted if you want to ride the CRF450RL in motocross. This is commonly referred to as derestricting. It includes:

• Changing the exhaust system.

• Eliminating an intake reed valve.

• Above all, changing the engine control unit (ECU), such as Vortex or Athena, to remap the fuel and spark. This brings the power for an MX jump.

• Next, you need to replace the suspension springs and tune the damping to use the bike in the MX.

• The stock tires need to be replaced with proper off-road knobby tires.

Consider the Honda CRF450RL dual sport bike to be a white canvas. It is a great bike to have if you like wrenching and personalizing your bike to your taste. Honda has a long history of making bikes with top-notch reliability and build quality.

However, considering the price of the bike and the cost of required mods, the overall cost can go close to the price of the ready-to-race Austrian bikes.

The Beta 430RR-S stands apart in the off-road department. Other bike makers modify race bikes for the street, while Beta specializes in building pure off-road bikes. One such versatile Beta dual sport bike that can do both trail riding and motocross is the Beta 430RR-S.

The Beta 430RR-S has the best of all features. It is a very light and nimble dual-sport bike. This bike is a delight on a technical MX circuit that has numerous tight turns and rhythmic passages. It moves side-to-side with a minimum of effort.

The 430cc engine is smooth and tractable in its power delivery with a fun surge in the middle range. This is ideal in keeping the momentum and control instead of only brute force. It is pre-equipped with handguards, a skid plate, and even a standard Trail Tech GPS.

The Beta 430RR-S is smaller and can comply with the emissions regulations without suppressing the bike. The barely legal status of this bike means it offers the best and full-potential off-road ability while still having features that make it road-legal. It weighs only 252 lbs without fuel, a lot lighter than the Honda bike and within striking distance of the KTM and Husqvarna.

The suspension is the main concern as far as motocross is concerned. The Sachs ZF fork is simple to adjust. It has an enduro and trail-biased setting and can feel harsh or firm on big MX track impacts. To use it on normal tracks, a re-valve and harder springs are recommended. The seat height may also be too low for some riders to be aggressive and stand up while MX riding.

The Beta 430RR-S is meant for riders whose heart lies in the dirt. On the one hand, you desire a bike that needs no mods at all to become the most capable of conquering the MX trails. It is among the best dual sport bikes that are closest to a true MX bike. As riders also call it a proper trail bike with a license plate that can easily compete at an MX track, especially if you are a hobbyist or a trained rider.

If you are familiar with what a dual sport bike is and have ridden one before, it is best for light on-roading and good off-roading. Usually, dual sport bikes are not pure dirt bikes or enduros. They may not be able to perform the extreme off-road moves, as in motocross MX riding. Motocross is the most extreme off-road track racing with specialized jumps, turns, and obstacles.

However, we have listed down the 4 best dual sports bikes that are actually capable of doing motocross. However, they will require certain tweaks and replacement of parts for that. If you want to have the most fun on dirt trails and MX tracks on a dual sport bike, the above-listed options are the most feasible.