Dual Sport
Adventure Motorcycles
Dual sport adventure bikes have been the fastest growing motorcycle segment
for the past few years. As a result, manufacturers have responded with
new and/or updated models.
With all the new choices, which dual sport adventure motorcycle is the best?
The answer is, "there isn't one." That's right, there is no one best
motorcycle. There may be one motorcycle that best meets your needs,
but there is no one motorcycle that is best for everyone's needs.
Different motorcycles excel at different things. Some are best for
those who gravitate to tight wood trails. Others are better choices if
you ride mostly dirt roads. Still others excel at long distance travel
across roads of varied surfaces.
In the end, I think it comes down to accurately figuring out what kind of
riding you are going to be doing most often and then, of the bikes that
handle that type of riding best, selecting the one that most appeals to you.
I've compiled the following to help you compare the technical specifications
and performance data of the most popular dual sport adventure motorcycles.
Hopefully it will prove useful in helping you find the bike that is right
for you.
Graph Notes:
Wet weight = weight of the
motorcycle ready to ride, i.e. the real weight of the motorcycle
Dry weight =
manufacturer's claimed dry weight (whatever that is) of the motorcycle,
usually a much lower weight than the wet weight
Claimed weight =
manufacturer's claimed weight of the motorcycle, but not specified if the
bike is in a ready to ride state at this weight
HP = horsepower to the
rear wheel.
Claimed HP =
manufacturer's claimed horsepower, often significantly higher than the
actual horsepower measured at the rear wheel
Approx HP = my best guess
as to the real, rear wheel horsepower output
Fuel Capacity = fuel tank
capacity in gallons
Transmission = number of
gears
0-60 mph = the amount of
time, in seconds, it takes to accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph
Top Speed = fastest speed
attainable, in miles per hour
