/ Featured Article

Three reasons why you need a dual-sport motorcycle in your garage

Dual-sports are proof that you don’t need big displacement for big fun.

EJ Punsalang EJ Punsalang on Dec 02, 2024
Three reasons why you need a dual-sport motorcycle in your garage

The good old dual-sport motorbike is one of the most adaptable motorcycles on the market. Unsurprisingly, the origins of dual-sports can be traced to the time when people first began riding their street motorcycles off-road.

The dual-sport, which has several colloquial names, is also occasionally called a dirt bike or an enduro. All lightweight off-road capable bikes will be referred to as dual-sports in this article, despite the fact that there are very minute distinctions between these sorts of bikes. Having said that, here are several reasons a dual-sport motorbike is the finest all-arounder, and why you absolutely need one in your garage.

Related:
Should you buy a big bike in the Philippines?

They're light on your wallet

Honda CRF150L

With the exception of the incredibly costly dual sports produced by European manufacturers KTM, Husqvarna, Beta, and Gas Gas, dual sports are almost always quite reasonably priced. For example, a brand-new Honda XR150L costs a measly P89,900. In spite of this, there isn't much of a learning curve for off-road riding. This implies that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, can obtain a bike that will allow them to enjoy the joys of off-road riding.

In addition to being inexpensive to purchase, dual-sport bikes require very little maintenance, and spare parts are typically available in multiple shops. The majority of entry-level dual-sport bikes have single-cylinder, under-200 cc engines. Dual-sport motorcycles often feature relatively basic engines, whether they are carbureted, air-cooled, like those found on the Honda XR150L, or fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, like those found on the Yamaha WR 155R.

Related:
Honda XR150L versus Yamaha XTZ 125 - Head to head

They’re unquestionably the most versatile bikes out there

Honda CRF300L

These motorcycles, as their name implies, put the dual in dual-sport. This simply means that these motorcycles can ride on and off-road. The degree of terrain gnarliness that a given bike can tolerate will ultimately depend on its componentry and, of course, the rider's skill. In spite of this, a beginner dual-sport bike like the Yamaha XTZ125 will be at ease riding on pavement as well as on country roads, light trails, and gravel.

More purpose-built machines enter the fold as you climb the price ladder. The Honda CRF150L, for example, which features an off-road-specific chassis and Showa suspension, demonstrates that it can handle more difficult terrain than the more rudimentarily equipped XR150L. Even more specifically designed bikes, like the KTM EXC-350, raise the bar even further by factoring in things like huge jumps and challenging enduro riding.

Related:
Top 5 best beginner motorcycle upgrades

They deliver unparalleled, unadulterated fun

Honda CRF150L

Unsurprisingly, riding dual-sport motorcycles is a ton of fun on both the road and off-road. This is due to a very straightforward yet successful formula: low weight and sufficient power. When fully fueled, the majority of dual-sport vehicles weigh less than 250 lbs. They are extremely flickable and ready to shift direction in a close-to-telepathic manner thanks to their light weight combined with a high center of gravity.

Dual sports make uneven roads seem like freshly laid asphalt. Off-road, these motorcycles give you the courage to conquer terrain that you normally wouldn't even attempt to cross on any other motorcycle. Bikes like the KTM 690 Enduro R would be a total riot for experienced riders looking to go up the dual-sport ladder. Imagine having a dual-sport that is expressway legal, allowing you to ride all the way out of town, tear through the trails, while having enough power to take you back home before sunset.

Related Articles

Latest Features