Deciding Between a Dirt Bike and Dual Sport Motorcycle

Off-road motorcycles aren’t just about dirt bikes. Dirt bikes can be the perfect choice for some riders, but there’s more to the market. You might be better off with a dual-sport motorcycle. The answer to this conundrum lies in what you need, but the following comparison guide can help.

Benefits of Dirt Bikes

For something lightweight and made exclusively for off-roading, you’ll probably want to get a dirt bike. These are particularly popular among racers, as they’re easy to control and can get you up to high speeds. In fact, professional dirt bike racing has become a majorly popular sport over the years. 

But dirt bikes are also perfect for riders who just want to enjoy some thrills on the weekend or amateur racers who like the competitive spirit. The key here is in their lightweight stature and the fact that they’re exclusively built for off-roading. 

Benefits of Dual Sport Motorcycles

Dual sport motorcycles are uniquely designed to be both road legal and handle the unforgiving terrain of off-roading. Generally speaking, when you’re looking at your options, you’ll probably end up choosing a model that performs better either on the road or off it, but they’ll all be suited to both to a certain extent. That list of priorities will be more important for these bikes since each model has its own nuances. 

Riders who don’t want to be limited by their bike will probably get the most out of these models. It can also be easier to access trails without needing to load up your bike onto the trailer and haul it to your desired location. Simply hop on and hit the road.  

Choosing the Right Bike

Your final decision will come down to the kind of riding you intend to do. This will primarily mean where you plan on taking your bike. Think about how often you’ll need to ride on the road, or if you’ll spend most of your time on the dirt. This can change the model you get.

There are other ways you can narrow down your options, especially once you’ve chosen the type of off-road motorcycle you need to get. 

For example, engine size can change how easy it is to maneuver a bike, how lightweight it is, and how much power you get.

You might also want to look for optional features that could change the way your off-road motorcycle handles the trails. Make a list of some of the most important features and what kind of riding you’ll want to do to make it easier to find the right model. 

Ready to shop for your perfect motorcycle? Windy City Motorcycle Company carries a large number of models to suit all types of adventures. We serve those in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan.