Source: MotorcyclistOnline.com
Our list of class-leading dual sport bikes combine advanced off-road performance with street-legal versatility. (Honda/)Google “dual sport bikes” and you’ll get a dizzying list of wannabes that includes everything from the beginner-friendly Kawasaki KLX230 to the adventure-ready Yamaha Ténéré 700 (read/watch our reviews of this model during the 2024 Yamaha Ténéré 700 Review). That’s all fine and well, but for truly high-performance dirt bikes in a street-legal package, you have a lot less options. Hardcore, enduro-quality dual sports are a luxury no matter where you live, but a tapestry of differing regulations around the country mean there are only a handful of bikes that are legal in every state. The bikes we list here are really just cross-country racers with lights, turn signals, and license plates. These machines mean business, but if you think we missed one that should be on this list, give us a holler in the comments below. Looking for the opposite end of this dual sport category? Read the Top 5 Best Cheap Dual Sport Motorcycles 2023 article.Light weight, accessible power, and top-shelf suspension make the Beta 500 RS a top pick. (Beta/)2024 Beta 500 RS | 243 lb. (dry) | 47.0 hp (as tested) | $11,799The Beta 500 RS is the Italian manufacturer’s flagship dual sport bike, and even though the 500′s displacement is actually 478cc, it’s still the largest engine in Beta’s street-legal dirt bike lineup. Formerly called the RR-S, the bike got minor improvements to the fork, seat, and radiator last year when it became the RS, but it carries over the stout molybdenum steel frame. When we ran the RR-S on our dyno, it pumped out 47.0 hp at 8,100 rpm and 32.6 lb.-ft. of torque at 7,200 rpm.The 2024 RS rolls with a 48mm inverted Sachs fork with toolless adjustability and 11.6 inches of travel, while other features like a six-speed transmission, an easy-access air filter box, fold-down mirrors, and the Trail Tech Voyager GPS all come standard. The Trail Tech unit adds a ton of handy info, including GPS with downloadable trail maps, altitude readings, engine temp, outside temp, tripmeter, and more. Another point in the Beta’s favor? Its marginally larger fuel tank, listed at 2.4 gallons.Related: 2021 Honda CRF450RL MC Commute ReviewHonda’s CRF450RL shares components with the excellent CFR450R motocrosser, and is a fantastic all-rounder right out of the box. (Honda/)2024 Honda CRF450RL | 289 lb. (wet) | 38.2 hp (as tested) | $10,099Honda’s most off-road-capable dual sport blends the essence of a dirt bike with a few concessions to street duty (read/watch our official reviews during the 2021 Honda CRF450RL MC Commute Review and Top 5 Features of the 2023 Honda CRF450RL). It’s still basically an off-road racer with a license plate, powered by a lightweight, zippy 449cc Unicam engine hung in an aluminum frame that’s straight off the championship-winning CRF450R motocrosser.With the addition of turn signals and toned-down knobbies, this bike is street legal across all 50 states, yet just as capable off-road, thanks to a whopping 12.6 inches of ground clearance under the skid plate and about a foot of suspension travel front and rear. The wide-ratio six-speed transmission, electric start, and 2-gallon titanium fuel tank make for a lighter, more responsive ride, while LED lighting ensures visibility in all conditions. Although it’s a bit heavier than the others here, the CRF450RL is well suited to riders looking for a do-all motorcycle that’s capable of some serious off-road work. It’s a fantastic bike out of the box for a reasonable price, plus you get access to American Honda’s vast dealer network.Related: Top 5 Features of the 2023 Honda CRF450RLMajor upgrades to the Husqvarna FE 501s this year include a new frame, new engine and upgraded, adjustable WP suspension. (Husqvarna/)2024 Husqvarna FE-501s | 259 lb. (dry) | N/A | $13,049Since Husky was brought under the KTM umbrella back in 2013, you’d expect its four-stroke enduros to have a similar feel, and this year especially, they do, since both the Husky FE 501s and KTM 500 EXC-F received almost the same updates to the frames and engines.On the FE 501s we see a new SOHC 511cc engine for 2024, which is also repositioned in the frame for better mass centralization, just like on the KTM, and to the list of similarities you can also add an updated chromoly steel chassis paired with an all-new aluminum poly subframe. Likewise, the latest WP Xact suspension (fully adjustable, of course) ensures better management across rough terrain with 11.8 inches of travel front and rear and a class-topping 13.5 inches of ground clearance. The FE also comes with two selectable riding maps, a quickshifter, and even traction control, all of which help to make it one of the—if not the—most expensive dual sports in the US market. It’s razor-sharp, but it ain’t cheap.Much like the Husqvarna above, KTM’s 500 EXC-F also receives a new, lighter and more powerful engine, with an upgraded frame and improved suspension for better off-road handling. (KTM/)2024 KTM 500 EXC-F | 254 lb. (dry) | N/A | $12,949KTM’s big thumper has always been a fan favorite in the dual sport arena, but it hadn’t been updated for years. That’s changed this year, with Big Orange’s flagship dual sport having undergone its first ground-up redesign since MY20 (read the 2024 KTM 500 EXC-F Preview article).Key updates include a redesigned 511cc single said to be lighter and more powerful, as well as being positioned further back in the frame to help centralize mass. The chromoly steel double-cradle frame was also completely overhauled for the new model year with a focus on rigidity, and now incorporates a forged steering head as well as a new subframe. The fully adjustable (and tool-free) suspension setup is a boon for off-roaders, with the 48mm WP Xact fork secured by a pair of forged triple clamps; hand-operated clickers front and rear dial in compression, rebound, and preload. Capping things off is the EXC-F’s new Offroad Control Unit, which, like the Husky’s, replaces a traditional fuse and relay system to continuously monitor inputs from both the ECU and voltage regulator.Related: 2024 KTM 500 EXC-F Preview
