Looking for a Dual Sport for commuting but also desert

[Sweden]

1. What is your skill Level (be honest)?

Novice - Intermediate

2. What's your height & weight? 

6'3", 270lbs

3. What year, make, & model of motorcycle are you coming from? And, what do you want the new bike to do better?

2019 YZ450FX, just need something I can take on the street

4. What's your ballpark budget?

$4000 Cash or Finance via Suzuki

5. What types of terrain will you be riding?

80% street (for commuting), 20% dirt 

6. Will you be racing or just play riding?

Absolutely 0 racing on this bike

 

Hey TT,

I'm looking at purchasing a second bike for some commuting as my 6.2L truck is belligerent on fuel and I'd like to get a second bike to make the gas bill a little easier on the wallet. I currently have a 2019 YZ450FX and can't make this into a street-legal ride due to California being California plus I'd like to keep it my dirt-only specific bike. My commute is 22mi one-way through some solid mountain grades and 55mph 2-lane highway. I've got my eye on a few different bikes at the moment and need some opinions on which may be the best purchase:

2007 KTM 450 EXC: New plastics and graphics, new high compression piston/valves/valve guides, desert tank, owned by a great mechanic (friend of a friend who vouches for their thoroughness and how well they take care of it. $4000 asking price

2009 Yamaha WR450F: Listing says the current owner only rode it twice, purchased from an older guy that took great care of it, but that's about all the info it offers. Asking $4200.

New Suzuki option: I was approved by Suzuki if I wanted to finance and don't know much about what they offer, however some input on possibly their DR650, DRZ400, or V-Strom would be appreciated!

[SilvFx]

Going to have to be an older street legal KTM (525 EXC)...or the newer street legal dirtbikes from KTM, Husky and Beta (EXC-F, FExxxS, RR-S) or a CRF450RL or DRZ400.  Not a CA plating expert, but to my understanding you wont/cant convert an offroad bike and that is driven solely by the VIN number in CA.

The 2009 WR450F you mentioned above....there is no way you are going to get a plate for it in CA.

 

 

[Sweden]

22 minutes ago, SilvFx said:

Going to have to be an older street legal KTM (525 EXC)...or the newer street legal dirtbikes from KTM, Husky and Beta (EXC-F, FExxxS, RR-S) or a CRF450RL or DRZ400.  Not a CA plating expert, but to my understanding you wont/cant convert an offroad bike and that is driven solely by the VIN number in CA.

The 2009 WR450F you mentioned above....there is no way you are going to get a plate for it in CA.

 

 

So the above bikes are plated already which means I won't have to worry about getting them registered for the street. Though, as I'm doing more research, I may be better off just going with a road-only bike and just using my YZ for the dirt. General consensus seems that most dual sports are ass at street and dirt. Also looked at the KTM 690 Enduro but the ones in my budget range seem to have quite a few engine issues. 

[randysoo]

my buddy had a wr450 plated. was a really good bike. those wr's have a rep for being very reliable. the only drawback and the reason he sold was that's it a 5 speed. on dualsports where he had to ride some hiway he was always looking for that 6th gear. since you already have a yz, and looking for something to sometimes commute, maybe look at a 690 enduro.

[firefinch]

I lived in CA for 35 years.  Get a street bike over an enduro.  The amount of $ you'll spend maintaining it (oil changes and valve checks) will add up.  A dirtbike is every few hours, where a 690 Enduro R is 7500 mile maintenance intervals. 

For what you described, I'd look at a 690 Enduro R, Yamaha Tenere 700.  Even a KTM 390 Adventure would be better than a true enduro.  The wind protection, less frequent maintenance intervals and more comfortable seat are worth it.

Edited January 26, 2024 by firefinch

[Sweden]

12 minutes ago, firefinch said:

I lived in CA for 35 years.  Get a street bike over an enduro.  The amount of $ you'll spend maintaining it (oil changes and valve checks) will add up.  A dirtbike is every few hours, where a 690 Enduro R is 7500 mile maintenance intervals. 

For what you described, I'd look at a 690 Enduro R, Yamaha Tenere 700.  Even a KTM 390 Adventure would be better than a true enduro.  The wind protection, less frequent maintenance intervals and more comfortable seat are worth it.

I think that's the general conclusion I've come to, though I'm kind of between a KTM 690 or a Yamaha FJ-09. The 690 would be sick but I've read about quite a few issues with their engines, whereas the FJ-09 seems to be absolutely solid, but will limit me to street only. Mind you, having a YZ450FX already means I can cover that, I'll just be missing out on doing DS trips with friends, but the whole point is commuting moreso, so I guess that's the driving factor.

[randysoo]

2 hours ago, Sweden said:

I'll just be missing out on doing DS trips with friends, but the whole point is commuting moreso, so I guess that's the driving factor.

ktm 500exc. my buddy does bdr's on his. he said it's not as comfortable as my other buds with adventure bikes, but he also does dualsport dirt rides on the same bike

[SilvFx]

On 1/25/2024 at 12:19 PM, Sweden said:

So the above bikes are plated already which means I won't have to worry about getting them registered for the street. Though, as I'm doing more research, I may be better off just going with a road-only bike and just using my YZ for the dirt. General consensus seems that most dual sports are ass at street and dirt. Also looked at the KTM 690 Enduro but the ones in my budget range seem to have quite a few engine issues. 

Again....zero expertise about California plating requirements, but just from my years of reading on this forum and elsewhere, when you to get a new plate for a currently CA plated bike they are going to run your VIN through their database and see that the 09 WR450F was sold as an offroad dirtbike and deny you a new plate.

KTM 690 Enduro bike is basically a dual sport bike albeit more offroad oriented than a KLR650 or DR650, but it wont be great on anything very difficult. Those bikes are about 340-350 lbs. And, I pretty much never see them below $6k and that was pre COVID.  The 4k budget is your limiting factor.  Unfortunately you live in a state whose regulatory requirements are adding a ton of cost to being able to do what you want to do.

Here in Colorado and other places that allow you to convert bikes to plated, you could achieve what you are trying to do for $4k. 

[Sweden]

23 minutes ago, SilvFx said:

Again....zero expertise about California plating requirements, but just from my years of reading on this forum and elsewhere, when you to get a new plate for a currently CA plated bike they are going to run your VIN through their database and see that the 09 WR450F was sold as an offroad dirtbike and deny you a new plate.

KTM 690 Enduro bike is basically a dual sport bike albeit more offroad oriented than a KLR650 or DR650, but it wont be great on anything very difficult. Those bikes are about 340-350 lbs. And, I pretty much never see them below $6k and that was pre COVID.  The 4k budget is your limiting factor.  Unfortunately you live in a state whose regulatory requirements are adding a ton of cost to being able to do what you want to do.

Here in Colorado and other places that allow you to convert bikes to plated, you could achieve what you are trying to do for $4k. 

So I've found a 2009 KTM 690 Enduro R that has had the rocker arms upgraded and valves adjusted, 10k miles with a set of supermoto wheels/tires for $6k which I can do. Also found a 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 with 20k miles plus hard bags for the same price. Kind of at a crossroads right now of which way to go, though I may be on the wrong forum for those two bikes. I know it's an apples and oranges comparison, but I guess I gotta decide which is going to be more reliable and useable both on a daily basis and for out on the weekends. 

[SilvFx]

5 hours ago, Sweden said:

So I've found a 2009 KTM 690 Enduro R that has had the rocker arms upgraded and valves adjusted, 10k miles with a set of supermoto wheels/tires for $6k which I can do. Also found a 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 with 20k miles plus hard bags for the same price. Kind of at a crossroads right now of which way to go, though I may be on the wrong forum for those two bikes. I know it's an apples and oranges comparison, but I guess I gotta decide which is going to be more reliable and useable both on a daily basis and for out on the weekends. 

Not sure I can provide much input here....but if you plan for any offroad including dirt roads....the KTM 690 Enduro is going to be much more capable offroad.  The FJ-09 is going to be more comfortable on the road with multiple cylinders.

Maybe do some reading over at advrider and even KTMTalk

[Dmouse]

 The DRZ400 is an excellent motorcycle, the other bikes you are considering won't be anywhere as easy to ride off-road than the DRZ, except a plated WR. If I were you, I'd consider getting the DRZ SM model, and put more aggressive tires on it... a used one MIGHT be in your budget!  😉

[NORTY]

OP~

I see you want to replace your truck with a bike, for "on-road" use. Since you already have a bike for off-road use, it makes little sense in getting another "on/off-road" bike. Here's why....tires. You'll roast those knobbies in a week at 44 miles per day. So, that's no good. But, since you want a bike that resembles your dirtbike, then an adventure bike would be for you. You mention the KTM 690. Good bike (after MY 2017.) Before that, they had starter/valve train issues. (All the 690's/701's have clutch slave issues. Easily fixed with Oberon.) 

As far as "Suzuki Loans go". Suzuki uses the same finance company as KTM/Husq and also Triumph, so you've got choices. 

Getting a new 690 is great as it has the "full monty" 74hp, instead of the "limp" 67hp model you were looking at. 

Same with the Husq. 701. (This is what I have.) 

There are a few differences. Mostly in rear suspension linkage design. 

One major diff, is that~

The KTM comes with a 1-year, 12000 mile factory warranty.

The Husky 701 comes with a 2-year, 24000 mile factory warranty.

Just something to consider. 

EDIT~ After thinking about it, I suggest you get a more road focused bike than the 690. 

Something like a Triumph Tiger 850 Sport. Those things are mileage eaters. And, since the 850 has been discontinued, dealers have been blowing them out. SoCal Triumph has them at $8999...

Edited January 28, 2024 by NORTY

[Singletrackfoevah]

Walk into your local Kawi dealer and pick up a KLX 300 dualsport. Half the price of a KTM, 300 pounds full of fuel and will do 65 mph all day long. Long service intervals too. Light enough to have fun offroad.

[Dmouse]

35 minutes ago, Singletrackfoevah said:

Walk into your local Kawi dealer and pick up a KLX 300 dualsport. Half the price of a KTM, 300 pounds full of fuel and will do 65 mph all day long. Long service intervals too. Light enough to have fun offroad.

 A local dealer near me just got one in, I'll probably take a look at it this week. If it's anything like the KLX230s I looked at 2weeks ago, it's gonna feel like a tank!

[Singletrackfoevah]

57 minutes ago, Dmouse said:

 A local dealer near me just got one in, I'll probably take a look at it this week. If it's anything like the KLX230s I looked at 2weeks ago, it's gonna feel like a tank!

They don’t ride heavy at all. Rode my klx 300r back to back with my GasGas ec250 yesterday and the 40 pound diff wasn’t even noticeable. Only on the internets…

[76xtdrvr]

For your size, riding needs, and budget, I'd look for something like a Honda xr650l. But I'd stay from any of the older big bore air cooled Japanese bikes with dual carbs.

[Dmouse]

20 minutes ago, Singletrackfoevah said:

They don’t ride heavy at all. Rode my klx 300r back to back with my GasGas ec250 yesterday and the 40 pound diff wasn’t even noticeable. Only on the internets…

 I load my bike in my van often during riding season, between that and picking the bike up if I drop it, I really don't need a bike that heavy...

[Singletrackfoevah]

53 minutes ago, Dmouse said:

 I load my bike in my van often during riding season, between that and picking the bike up if I drop it, I really don't need a bike that heavy...

More red meat and toughen the F up haha. These bikes aren’t heavy.

[Dmouse]

8 minutes ago, Singletrackfoevah said:

More red meat and toughen the F up haha. These bikes aren’t heavy.

 I'm 61 with bad knees and back issues, but thanks for the pep talk coach! 🐭

[Gflo]

If you want a bike that will eat up street miles, is reliable, and still capable as a true dual sport bike, I would look at the DRZ400.  I do organized dual sport rides (not ADV) rides in California.  The majority of bikes are euro true DS bikes, but the DRZ is well represented and can do pretty much anything the euro bikes can do.  Even a 690 is not appropriate for the rides.  If you don’t want to do DS rides with your friends, just buy a street bike.