Which Dual Sport Motorcycle is right for you?

For this video I developed a scientific test which will help you figure out which dual sport motorcycle is right for you. It's called the, "Can you kick it over and not want to commit suicide" test. If your going to buy a dual sport bike, and use it like it should be used it's going to fall over. This will help prepare you for when that happens.

Really this is about making a budget, figuring out what cost of ownership will be for your bike and making a decision about how you want to use the motorcycle. Everybody loves shiny flashy motorcycles, but buying a shiny dual sport is probably a mistake. Get something a few years old that you can beat on and not feel bad about dropping. Price will go down, and enjoyment will go way up.

Next: How to properly lift a fallen motorcycle:
Coming soon

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• kawasaki
• klr650
• klr 650
• halfthrottle
• panama
• kick
• slow motion
• crash
• accident
• fall
• motorcycle
• motorcycles
• yamaha
• suzuki
• honda
• davidson
• bike
• round
• scooter
• motorbike

[Mrcritic2525]

Do you have to be a certien age to ride one?

[halfthrottle]

@Mrcritic2525 16 years old you get a drivers license. Probably not the best age to start riding though. In that time of life when you think you're too cool to die.

[southerndeth]

You make an exellent point. I have had my XR650L for 14 years now and I still drop it on every ride. I do not consider the Ducati and BMW bikes dual-sports, they are actually "adventure touring" bikes. Great video.

[halfthrottle]

@southerndeth Yes they are adventure touring bikes, but it drives me crazy the way they are advertised as go anywhere do anything bikes.

[tucano904]

pick-up like girl

[halfthrottle]

@tucano904 Type comment like dumb ass

[halfthrottle]

@Bylga Thumbs up if you are poor and had to buy a bike that you didn't care about getting scratched up.

[PurpleHazeGoofyGrape]

YES! LOL the ultimate test! Roundhouse kick FTW!

[usnixon]

outstanding i do the same thing to my 81 DR500 all the time its a tuff bike

[Crynwolf]

This video reminds me of an old cowboy (long gone, known by many but not by most) that I use to know. Every new pick up truck he bought he would drive in through buck brush to get scratches all over and throw a bucket of water from the horse tank on the interior just so he did not have to worry about protecting his truck. Its a bike use it well

[adibnagui]

@RTDragonCommando thxxxx u were so helpful to me 

[RTDragonCommando]

@adibnagui Forgot to mention, as far as which one is better.

The XR650L is amazing for dual-sport use because of it's engine design, it's had over 30 years to be refined so the engine is incredibly reliable and the bike will never let you down if you take care of it. It's also not too bad on gas, even better with some modifications people have done to boost power and economy.

The XR650R is powerful, but even with a dual sport kit it isn't legal everywhere. So the L is a safer bet, and reliable.

[RTDragonCommando]

@adibnagui The XR650L is the dual-sport road going version of the XR650R, though they are quite different in design these days.

The L model is an air cooled engine design from the 80's that is incredibly reliable but not quite as punchy as it could be. The R model runs a more modern liquid cooled engine and pumps out more power, but lacks any road going features like lights and turn signals. The R also lacks the power robbing emissions equipment, since it is an off road only bike.

[adibnagui]

please could any one help me i want to know what the difference between xr650l and xr650r and witch one is better ???

[southerndeth]

@halfthrottle It drives me crazy also. I believe that calling Adventure Bikes "Dual-sports" is what killed the Honda Transalp here in America twenty years ago. By catagorizing the bike correctly they could of started a whole new market.