Dual Sport Dirt Bike Question

[rivergames]

Back in the day, I used to ride lots of track. I'd still probably ride if Irvine was still open...

Being busy with race boats, I got out of dirt bikes about 12 years ago.

I still have my 05' CR 250 in my garage that I will tune up in a few weeks.

I want to look for a clean Dual Sport CRF 450. I really dig 2 stroked, but want a 4 stroke.

My question is, with the new bikes these days. What is the earliest year you would buy for a used Dual Sport dirt bike?

05's - 08's are around $5K for a clean bike... That right around my price range

Should I spend a little more for a newer bike that is less weight or are the 06's 4 stroke weight fine to ride?

Thanks!

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Back in the day, I used to ride lots of track. I'd still probably ride if Irvine was still open...

Being busy with race boats, I got out of dirt bikes about 12 years ago.

I still have my 05' CR 250 in my garage that I will tune up in a few weeks.

I want to look for a clean Dual Sport CRF 450. I really dig 2 stroked, but want a 4 stroke.

My question is, with the new bikes these days. What is the earliest year you would buy for a used Dual Sport dirt bike?

05's - 08's are around $5K for a clean bike... That right around my price range

Should I spend a little more for a newer bike that is less weight or are the 06's 4 stroke weight fine to ride?

Thanks!

If you're only looking at Honda, I would say avoid the 09-16 450r if you are going to to dual sport it. Those bikes had a much steeper head tube and a bit of stinkbug feel that made them feel unstable at speed (for me). The only issue you will run into with the pre-09 honda's is lack of fuel injection but once you get that stock carb dialed it runs fine.

Also, since you are looking to dual sport, I would try to find a clean 450x so you can get the easy button and a wide ratio trans.

 

[rivergames]

If you're only looking at Honda, I would saw avoid the 09-16 450r if you are going to to dual sport it. Those bikes had a much steeper head tube and a bit of stinkbug feel that made them feel unstable at speed (for me). The only issue you will run into with the pre-09 honda's is lack of fuel injection but once you get that stock carb dialed it runs fine.

Also, since you are looking to dual sport, I would try to find a clean 450x so you can get the easy button and a wide ratio trans.

Thanks for the tips! I've been keeping my eye on a 06' 450X that I might go look at tomorrow!

 

[=River Perfection=]

450x ALL THE WAY. There is other options but keep it simple. Get a CAL plated 450X and forget about it.

 

[brianwhiteboy]

Back in the day, I used to ride lots of track. I'd still probably ride if Irvine was still open...

Being busy with race boats, I got out of dirt bikes about 12 years ago.

I still have my 05' CR 250 in my garage that I will tune up in a few weeks.

I want to look for a clean Dual Sport CRF 450. I really dig 2 stroked, but want a 4 stroke.

My question is, with the new bikes these days. What is the earliest year you would buy for a used Dual Sport dirt bike?

05's - 08's are around $5K for a clean bike... That right around my price range

Should I spend a little more for a newer bike that is less weight or are the 06's 4 stroke weight fine to ride?

Thanks!

Not sure on the dual sports but I have a 2016 CRF 450x and love it. It’ll be my last bike for a long while. I’ve kicked around the idea of getting a street legal 450x but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

Now on a side note, what are you going to sell me that CR250 for lol?? My son and I are looking for a two stroke CR we can make into a little project bike.

 

[sirbob]

I have been spending too much time on the BMW and Ducati web sites rolling over these. These are my idea of a dual sport...

 

[Meaney77]

I know you mentioned used but check out the new Honda lineup, they have that new 450L and its supposed to be a pretty solid set up.

 

[rivergames]

Not sure on the dual sports but I have a 2016 CRF 450x and love it. It’ll be my last bike for a long while. I’ve kicked around the idea of getting a street legal 450x but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

Now on a side note, what are you going to sell me that CR250 for lol?? My son and I are looking for a two stroke CR we can make into a little project bike.

I wouldn't hold you breath! Another 20 years and that bike will be a chunk of gold ;-)

I've grown up on 2 strokes. I can't let her go!

 

[CanyonLakeDave]

450x- they just work plain and simple. I recently sold my Ca Plated 450x and wish I didn’t ... My 2nd favorite was an 08 Wr450.....I also owned 2- KTM 450exc....

 

[Rajobigguy]

Are you looking for a dirt bike with a license or do you want a real dual sport that you can actually ride on the frwy then head off road for adventure riding and a little single tracking?

 

[rivergames]

Well.....Found a BITCHEN Bike out of Tustin On CL. Score!

06' CRF 450X!!!! She purrrrs like a kiten!

Already here at the river ready hit a few trails tomorrow or Sun

 

[brianwhiteboy]

Well.....Found a BITCHEN Bike out of Tustin On CL. Score!

06' CRF 450X!!!! She purrrrs like a kiten!

Already here at the river ready hit a few trails tomorrow or Sun View attachment 725634 View attachment 725635

Nice score Anju. You won’t regret getting X.

Now dump that gas guzzlin’ two stroke! I’ll take it off your hands

 

[ArizonaKevin]

perfect set up. Those 450x's have some easy mods available to pep up the engine feel. Find the pink wire in the loom and cut it, it allows the bike to rev freer. The airbox on these bikes is quite constricting for emissions and waterproofing, as long as you aren't planning on doing river crossings up to the seat, take a razor blade and cut the top of the airbox off. Really helps it breath. After doing that, jet the carb accordingly for more air.

After those 2 things, you are just a cam away from the crf450r with an 18" rear, wide ratio trans, and softer suspension.

 

[HB2Havasu]

If you can find a 2008-2010 Husqvarna TE450 or TE510 those were bulletproof. (The last 3 years they were made in Italy before KTM bought them out). Theyre pretty inexpensive as well

 

[brianwhiteboy]

perfect set up. Those 450x's have some easy mods available to pep up the engine feel. Find the pink wire in the loom and cut it, it allows the bike to rev freer. The airbox on these bikes is quite constricting for emissions and waterproofing, as long as you aren't planning on doing river crossings up to the seat, take a razor blade and cut the top of the airbox off. Really helps it breath. After doing that, jet the carb accordingly for more air.

After those 2 things, you are just a cam away from the crf450r with an 18" rear, wide ratio trans, and softer suspension.

^^ X2 ^^

I have a ‘16 so the pink wire mod wasn’t necessary. But I opened the air box, put a full exhaust system on it and JD jet kit and it runs perfect. I never, I mean have never touched the carb settings once those mods were done. It fires right up at any elevation/any temperature. Idles perfectly.

When I bought it new the thing wouldn’t even idle. CARB rules have them so plugged up it’s ridiculous.

 

[01erionracing]

I have both and still love it Husq 08 TE 510 and 11 TE250 original owner. They both electric start, FI and CA plated.
TE250 over 2000+ dirt miles no issue at all.
TE510 over 4000+ most dirt miles, it has a little issue at the beginning but flawlessly last 6-7 years.
I dig 2 stroke also and looking into Beta, Gasgas, Husq and KTM for a good deal.

 

[Your ad here]

Nice score. I would put some Iron Man sprockets on it before that renthal one let's go. Whatever you do keep that CR.

 

[Your ad here]

I have both and still love it Husq 08 TE 510 and 11 TE250 original owner. They both electric start, FI and CA plated.
TE250 over 2000+ dirt miles no issue at all.
TE510 over 4000+ most dirt miles, it has a little issue at the beginning but flawlessly last 6-7 years.
I dig 2 stroke also and looking into Beta, Gasgas, Husq and KTM for a good deal.
View attachment 725640 View attachment 725641

KX100? I had one with Pro Circuit pipe and reed valves and what a gnarly machine. My SIL has it now.

 

[01erionracing]

KX100? I had one with Pro Circuit pipe and reed valves and what a gnarly machine. My SIL has it now.

I picked that KX100 in Dec from Havasu for my son who outgrown from CRF100. It does has Pro Circuit too.

 

[rivermobster]

Well.....Found a BITCHEN Bike out of Tustin On CL. Score!

06' CRF 450X!!!! She purrrrs like a kiten!

Already here at the river ready hit a few trails tomorrow or Sun View attachment 725634 View attachment 725635

Someone I know has been talking about going for a DS ride....

Maybe you know him?

@Wheeler

 

[Meaney77]

Well.....Found a BITCHEN Bike out of Tustin On CL. Score!

06' CRF 450X!!!! She purrrrs like a kiten!

Already here at the river ready hit a few trails tomorrow or Sun View attachment 725634 View attachment 725635

Nice! Those things are supposed to liven up a bit if you remove the smog.... Also a cam is supposed to make a big difference and make it feel closer to a CRF 450 without compromising any reliability.

 

[Rajobigguy]

Keep me in mind when planing a DS ride

I"m also up for carving canyons.

[GALLERY=][/GALLERY]

 

[Wheeler]

I aint riding with some young gun! Have you any idea what Andrew does for fun? He races boats, drinks like a fish, goes in thedeep blue and wrastles sharks and puts out bon fires with his body!

I'll play it safe and ride with old farts ...when you coming out?

 

[sintax]

Good job on the 450x, as soon as I saw your first post and "450r" I was going to recommend the X. I have one for a desert bike and its just awesome. They are such great bikes.

My dualsport bike is a XR650r though, and thats a whole different beast.

 

[stokerwhore]

+1 in for a DS ride as long as it aint just fire roads and roads.

 

[37 boat]

+1 in for a DS ride as long as it aint just fire roads and roads.

+2...I'm up for a ride anytime.

 

[rivergames]

I aint riding with some young gun! Have you any idea what Andrew does for fun? He races boats, drinks like a fish, goes in thedeep blue and wrastles sharks and puts out bon fires with his body!

I'll play it safe and ride with old farts ...when you coming out?

Hahaha You'd probably jump over me old man!

 

[rivergames]

Took the bike out for a quick trail ride yesterday. Tons of Fun! I was lovin it the whole time. My chick was about ready to rip my head off because I've been saying how much fun it was about 500 times since I got off the bike Bahahaha.

I didn't know, but I REALLY missed getting back on a dirt bike. I'm heading back up this weekend to work a few projects and take them bike back out!

 

[Your ad here]

The 450s are sweet. Lot of torque but kinda go where they want to. When you get back on the 2 stroke after some time on the 4 stroke you'll probably get your head ripped off by your chick. Something about those 2 strokes.

 

[DaveC]

KTM 350.....

I need more $$... LOL

My buddy just got that new Honda 450L. I have not heard what he thinks of it yet?

 

[ArizonaKevin]

The 450s are sweet. Lot of torque but kinda go where they want to. When you get back on the 2 stroke after some time on the 4 stroke you'll probably get your head ripped off by your chick. Something about those 2 strokes.

Agreed, I just went back to an 06 RM250 after 13 years of being on 4 stroke. This is a whole new world I'm living in right now, probably going a lot slower, but the smile on my face is a lot wider!

 

[rivergames]

Now that I am back from the river, the new bike has a few items already done to her!

Someone I know has been talking about going for a DS ride....

Maybe you know him?

@Wheeler

What is the DS ride?

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

KTM 450 6 speed with a plate.

 

[rivermobster]

Now that I am back from the river, the new bike has a few items already done to her!



What is the DS ride?

Dual Sport!

Wheeler and I have been talking about going riding out there. He just got his DS running and I just got my quads running again...

We should put something together.

 

[rivergames]

A f

Dual Sport!

Wheeler and I have been talking about going riding out there. He just got his DS running and I just got my quads running again...

We should put something together.

Hahaha that clearly went right over my head.

Let me know!

 

[Your ad here]

Agreed, I just went back to an 06 RM250 after 13 years of being on 4 stroke. This is a whole new world I'm living in right now, probably going a lot slower, but the smile on my face is a lot wider!

Same here and 13 years as well. I feel like I'm going faster and have better control, more enjoyable ride on the 2 stroke. I also like how cheap a rebuild is.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

The 450s are sweet. Lot of torque but kinda go where they want to. When you get back on the 2 stroke after some time on the 4 stroke you'll probably get your head ripped off by your chick. Something about those 2 strokes.

Same here and 13 years as well. I feel like I'm going faster and have better control, more enjoyable ride on the 2 stroke. I also like how cheap a rebuild is.

I agree. I have jumped on my Dad's plated '06 450x a few times and although it has lots of power.... It just feels like a pig! Likely a lot to do with all the DS shit on it but he doesn't really have THAT much. I just haven't really found a bike worth stepping away from my trusty ol '88 KX500. Yeah she's got a crappy chasis and shitty suspension, but my God the power is ENDLESS and everywhere! That fuel injected KTM 300 has me liking that though as the next bike.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

 

[f12517]

If anyone ever gets up to NorCal I'm happy to play

 

[SLT Kota]

Does anyone have an opinion on the DRZ's? I've got a grom and will probably upgrade to a DS or a supermoto at some point and see a lot of people go from a grom to a DRZ The 450x and yz450 are both on my list as well.

I love my grom but am itching for something with more power and the ability to go off road. I live in the mountains in Tennessee so I feel like a sumo would be perfect.

 

[Rajobigguy]

Does anyone have an opinion on the DRZ's? I've got a grom and will probably upgrade to a DS or a supermoto at some point and see a lot of people go from a grom to a DRZ The 450x and yz450 are both on my list as well.

I love my grom but am itching for something with more power and the ability to go off road. I live in the mountains in Tennessee so I feel like a sumo would be perfect.

DRZs are nice but it depends on what you are going to do with it. They are a perfectly capable trail machine and can handle short hops on the road but they are a little short geared for any distance riding at speed. If all your looking for is a dirt bike that is street legal so you can connect trails then the DRZ is a great choice. If you're looking to do more adventure riding then you should look at something with a little more power and gearing.

 

[rivermobster]

Does anyone have an opinion on the DRZ's? I've got a grom and will probably upgrade to a DS or a supermoto at some point and see a lot of people go from a grom to a DRZ The 450x and yz450 are both on my list as well.

I love my grom but am itching for something with more power and the ability to go off road. I live in the mountains in Tennessee so I feel like a sumo would be perfect.

I do. The DRZ is the same engine that is in my quad. It's tuned way down for regular gas/highway use, but it can easily be tuned back up to the DRZ-E specifications.

This is exactly what I did to my quad. Different base gasket, different cams, new pipe and intake, but I left the stock carb on it. Most people I ride with think its a 450. It makes plenty of power. I beat the shit outa that quad. I've broken pretty much everything on it! lol But the engine keep right on going. Never had an issue with iit.

I just got my Scott's Stabilizer rebuilt for it. I'm itching to go for a ride!!!

 

[Your ad here]

I've always experienced the Honda's and Yamaha's are better thought out on the engineering.

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Does anyone have an opinion on the DRZ's? I've got a grom and will probably upgrade to a DS or a supermoto at some point and see a lot of people go from a grom to a DRZ The 450x and yz450 are both on my list as well.

I love my grom but am itching for something with more power and the ability to go off road. I live in the mountains in Tennessee so I feel like a sumo would be perfect.

I'm a Suzuki guy but I have always struggled with the DRZ models. I would say that in every measurable way, the crf450x and the wr450 are better bikes.

 

[snowhammer]

DRZs are nice but it depends on what you are going to do with it. They are a perfectly capable trail machine and can handle short hops on the road but they are a little short geared for any distance riding at speed. If all your looking for is a dirt bike that is street legal so you can connect trails then the DRZ is a great choice. If you're looking to do more adventure riding then you should look at something with a little more power and gearing.

This^^
I have a drz400 and love it for this reason. I don't ride often, and I'm not a big big air or moto guy. I have taken it on several multi day rides with a backpack on trails ranging from gravel roads to two track, logging roads to single track. The bike just works. I've been thinking of going bigger or newer, but it has been reliable and capable. Here is a pic of a trail ride in northern Ontario, Canada last spring, one week after the ice was gone.

 

[SLT Kota]

Thank you! I'll probably ride mostly on the street and do a good bit of mountain riding but want to start trail riding too, I've taken the grom off road and LOVED it but the groms lack of power means it takes me forever to get anywhere.

Sorry to hijack the thread but thank you everyone for the opinions, all of my riding buddies are street bike that don't know anything about duel sports.

 

[rivergames]

Thank you! I'll probably ride mostly on the street and do a good bit of mountain riding but want to start trail riding too, I've taken the grom off road and LOVED it but the groms lack of power means it takes me forever to get anywhere.

Sorry to hijack the thread but thank you everyone for the opinions, all of my riding buddies are street bike that don't know anything about duel sports.

Hey Man, don't worry about the hijack! I just know track and trails. I'm new to the world of Dual Sport and this thread is for any knowledge we can get!

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Thank you! I'll probably ride mostly on the street and do a good bit of mountain riding but want to start trail riding too, I've taken the grom off road and LOVED it but the groms lack of power means it takes me forever to get anywhere.

Sorry to hijack the thread but thank you everyone for the opinions, all of my riding buddies are street bike that don't know anything about duel sports.

So if you are going to use it mostly on the street, neither the DRZ, the 450x, or the WR are the best options. If you are looking for a more upright riding position like the grom and dirt bikes offer, I would look into the Zuk VStrom 650, Honda NC700, or the KTM enduro 690. All of those options get you on the street safer than a GROM and safer than some rocket, and still somewhat work on fire roads.

If you were going to be riding mostly trails and only on pavement in between trails, then the DRZ, 450x, or WR would be the bike to have.

 

[stokerwhore]

So if you are going to use it mostly on the street, neither the DRZ, the 450x, or the WR are the best options. If you are looking for a more upright riding position like the grom and dirt bikes offer, I would look into the Zuk VStrom 650, Honda NC700, or the KTM enduro 690. All of those options get you on the street safer than a GROM and safer than some rocket, and still somewhat work on fire roads.

If you were going to be riding mostly trails and only on pavement in between trails, then the DRZ, 450x, or WR would be the bike to have.

unless you can afford a Husky FE501 or KTM 500excf. i chose the FE450 it's stupid how nice the thing rides right out of the box.

 

[stokerwhore]

where's inmate "Keithco" at? he's very heavily involved in the local dual sport world last i knew. I'm just a desert guy that bought a bike with a plate to open up more dirt options. no interest in the street at all... well except for riding the bike to the corner store and back lol.

 

[Rajobigguy]

where's inmate "Keithco" at? he's very heavily involved in the local dual sport world last i knew. I'm just a desert guy that bought a bike with a plate to open up more dirt options. no interest in the street at all... well except for riding the bike to the corner store and back lol.

I occasionally ride the Husky to work just for the fun of it. One day I left work to go to lunch (we're right around the corner from Long beach city college) and when I got to the burger stand there were two young girls sitting out front. One of them asked If I was riding a dirt bike on the street and I said yes, it's legal but just barely then she said " what a coincidence, so am I ". It kinda made me want to start riding it on the street more often.