Motorcycle Advice

[ray1970]

First, I hope you find something you'll love riding.

Second, when you do, be safe and have fun.

Now, you say you want a dual sport but under the stuff you don't want you list dirt bikes. In my mind a dual sport isn't much more than a street legal dirt bike. The KLR650 and the XL600/650 are excellent dual sport bikes. KTM makes some nice dual sports as well. If you think a dual sport is what you're after you might look into some of the supermoto style bikes as well. The DRZ400SM has always intrigued me.

Personally, I've always had dedicated street bikes and dedicated off road bikes. I've never believed in the whole "best of both worlds" philosophy or whatever. I've always felt the dual sports were too much of a street bike to really be good off-road and too much of a dirt bike to be very good on the street. Too much compromise both ways for me.

Anyhow, if I was in the market for an on-road/off-road type of bike I would probably look at the BMW. The GS800 is a smaller bike that might appeal to you. I think they make a 650 as well. Of course you probably won't find one in the price range you mentioned.

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/us/en/...html&notrack=1