On-Off Road Motorcycles
On-off road, or dual sport motorcycles include the BMW R1200GS Adventure, Kawasaki KLR650, KTM 990 Adventure R, Yamaha Super Ténéré, and Triumph Tiger 800XC.
There are a variety of bikes in this category, often termed Dual-Sport or Dual-Purpose. They look similar in many ways to dirt or MX motorcycles but are built for use on streets and highways in addition to off-road. As public land becomes scarcer and riding areas are less accessible, the street-licensed dual-sport opens up more opportunity for riding locations. As with any machine that is built for disparate purposes, Dual-Sports are always a compromise between light-weight dirt performance and comfortable street abilities. There are also two sub-categories: Adventure-Tourers, which are large dual-sports that can be taken on long trips for riders who don't want to stop riding when the pavement ends; and there are also Supermoto bikes that are hybrids built from a dirt bike platform for racing or riding on pavement. These hooligan machines make excellent city-goers and can dismantle a tight and twisty canyon quicker than pretty much anything out there.
There are a variety of bikes in this category, often termed Dual-Sport or Dual-Purpose. They look similar in many ways to dirt or MX motorcycles but are built for use on streets and highways in addition to off-road. As public land becomes scarcer and riding areas are less accessible, the street-licensed dual-sport opens up more opportunity for riding locations. As with any machine that is built for disparate purposes, Dual-Sports are always a compromise between light-weight dirt performance and comfortable street abilities. There are also two sub-categories: Adventure-Tourers, which are large dual-sports that can be taken on long trips for riders who don't want to stop riding when the pavement ends; and there are also Supermoto bikes that are hybrids built from a dirt bike platform for racing or riding on pavement. These hooligan machines make excellent city-goers and can dismantle a tight and twisty canyon quicker than pretty much anything out there.
View all ReviewsOn-Off Road Motorcycles Reviews
2013 BMW R1250GS Preview
Big news is leaking out from Bavaria. The next BMW GS is undergoing final testing, and the successor to the company’s best-selling model, the R1200GS, will be powered by the first liquid-cooled Boxer-Twin engine ever!
Top 10 Hottest Bikes of 2012
Recession be damned, 2012 looks to be one of the most highly anticipated years in the motorcycle industry in years. From the looks of things it would appear as though the bottom of the economic turmoil is behind us.
2012 BMW G650GS Sertao Review
BMW has amped up the GS portion of the G650GS by creating a more off-road inclined stablemate, the G650GS Sertão. Named after the dry, hot region in Northeastern Brazil, the Sertão aims to take the adventure class to a new place.![2011 BMW G650GS Review [Video]](/images/content/1g650-main1118_rdax_166x83.jpg)
2011 BMW G650GS Review [Video]
BMW’s R1200GS is an icon in the adventure-touring category, but for many it’s big and unwieldy, not to mention expensive. For those shorter of stature and lighter of wallet, BMW offers the G650GS for less than half the price of its big GS brother.
2012 KTM Street Model Lineup Preview
Taking the “Ready To Race” motto to heart, 2012 sees six street models in the KTM lineup, headlined by a heavily revised RC8 R sportbike.- Triumph Unveils Three New Models for 2012 A 1200cc Adventure-Tourer among the highlights
- 2012 Husqvarna Lineup Review Husky's got the dirt world covered, from motocross to dual-sports
- Motorcycle.com Best of 2011 Awards Some of the best motorcycles ever built
- 2011 Triumph Tiger 800 & 800XC Review [Video] 800cc of Grrrrrrrrr!
- 2011 Altius Scimitar Review Going on a Diesel Diet
- Top 10 Hottest Bikes of 2011 The 10 most Interesting new motorcycles you need to know about
- 2011 Yamaha WR250R Review Essentially a street-legal dirtbike
- 2012 Yamaha Super Tenere Review Japan builds a BMW GS competitor
- 2011 Kawasaki KLR650 Review Simple is good!
- 2012 Yamaha Super Tenere Preview Yamaha's GS killer coming to the U.S. in Spring 2011
- 2010 BMW F800GS Review A street bike for dirt bikers
- Motorcycle.com Best of 2010 Awards We select the cream of the crop, including our pick for Motorcycle of the Year
- 2010 Kawasaki Middleweight and Dual-Purpose Roundup Five reasons why Kawasaki is leading the U.S. market
- 2010 BMW R1200GS and GS Adventure Review A globetrotting motorcycle for all seasons
- 2010 Zero S and DS Review The e-bike continues to evolve
- 2010 KTM 530 EXC Review Bringing off-road racing to the street
- 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Preview Details leaked. Think 150-horsepower BMW GS!
- 2010 Moto Morini Granpasso 1200 Review Adventure in the fast lane
- 2009 Honda CRF230M Review Quick ride on Honda’s only supermoto machine
- 2009 QLINK XF200 Review China steps up its motorcycle game
- Best of 2009 - Motorcycles of the Year A sagging economy hasn't stopped the flow of amazing motorcycles
- 2009 Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 NTX ABS Review Stelvio conquers the Dolomites
- 2009 Kawasaki KLX250SF Review More than a street-ready dirt bike
- 2009 Yamaha WR250X Review The most fun you can have at 54 mpg!
- 2009 BMW G650GS Review Enter the GS world at an entry-level price
- 2008 Aprilia SXV 5.5 Review Practicality be damned
- 2009 BMW F650GS Review The little adventurer on a big mission
- 2009 BMW F800GS Review New kid on the Adventure block
- 2009 BMW F800GS Review - First Ride The GS for the rest of us
- 2009 Kawasaki Motorcycles Released First look at the 2009s
On-Off Road Motorcycle Videos
![2011 BMW G650GS Review [Video]](/images/content/1g650-main1118.jpg)
2011 BMW G650GS Review [Video]
BMW’s R1200GS is an icon in the adventure-touring category, but for many it’s big and unwieldy, not to mention expensive. For those shorter of stature and lighter of wallet, BMW offers the G650GS for less than half the price of its big GS brother.-
2009 BMW F800GS Review
BMW saw a hole in the rapidly expanding adventure motorcycle market and knew they had just the bike to fill the gap, or at least had the basic platform of a bike from which to create a new model. The F800GS is the newest adventure machine from BMW.
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2008 Aprilia SXV 5.5 Review
If you're considering an SXV, you won't be much concerned with practicality. Nor should you. This is one of the most grin-inducing scoots available at any price, giving it a stratospheric score in the desirability index.
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2009 BMW G650GS Review
The 650GS returns after a two-year hiatus. Though it's BMW's second least-expensive model, it offers great value and a very affordable way to get aboard a GS model.
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Dual-Sport Shootout: Electric vs. Gasoline!
We hear pretty regularly that electric motorcycles are the wave of the future. What about the present? To find out, we decided to pit the 2010 Zero DS Electric Dual Sport against the 2011 Yamaha WR250R in an electric vs. gasoline shootout.
View all ComparisonsOn-Off Road Motorcycles Comparisons
![2011 Adventure-Touring Shootout: Triumph Tiger 800XC vs. BMW F800GS [Video]](/images/content/1adventure-main0804_rdax_166x83.jpg)
2011 Adventure-Touring Shootout: Triumph Tiger 800XC vs. BMW F800GS [Video]
The BMW F800GS is great adventure-touring bike, and the Triumph Tiger 800XC is as good, if not better depending on your riding preferences. In the end, though, one bike managed to outshine the other, but was it the original or the new kid on the block?
Dual-Sport Shootout: Electric vs. Gasoline!
We hear pretty regularly that electric motorcycles are the wave of the future. What about the present? To find out, we decided to pit the 2010 Zero DS Electric Dual Sport against the 2011 Yamaha WR250R in an electric vs. gasoline shootout.
2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 vs. BMW R1200GS
BMW’s go-anywhere GS has a 30-year history of leading the now-popular adventure-touring segment. But Ducati’s all-new Multistrada 1200 says “Game on!” to the venerable R1200GS. We pit ‘em together to see if the Duc has what it takes to overrule the GS.
2009 Honda CRF230M vs. 2009 QLINK XF200
Depending on your wants and needs, we think you’ll find that comparing trade-offs is a good approach to lining-up the QLINK XF200 and the Honda CRF230M as China takes on Japan in this battle of lightweight, affordable and fun supermoto machines.
Quarter-Liter Supermoto Shootout
Teaser text: There are few things on two wheels as fun as riding a low-powered performance bike to its limits. These bikes appeal to younger riders or less-experienced riders who want a new bike at a relatively low price.
2008 Lightweight Dual-Purpose Shootout
With barely enough collective cubic centimeters to match the weakest of cruisers, the lightweight dual-sport shootout still provided miles of fun for less than $5000. These quarter-liter D-Ps rank high on the bang-for-your-buck scale.
It Ain't The Tool: Revisited
Three very different motorbikes with three very different jokers to ride those bikes and one, timeless principle to guide them. That's probably not exactly what Fred Rau had in mind when he penned his editorial, "It Ain't The Tool."
2005 Adventure Touring Comparo
Looking for an bike that can handle your on- and off-road adventures? We found four bikes we knew you'd be interested in, plus one you should be interested in: the Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom, Triumph Tiger, KTM 950 Adventurer, BMW R1200GS and Kawasaki KLR 650.
1997 Adventure Tourers
Triumph Tiger Vs. BMW R1100GS ABSFind A New On-Off Road Motorcycle
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Featured On-Off Road Motorcycle Specs
 2012 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure Triple Black |  2012 Suzuki DR-Z 400S Base |  2012 Kawasaki KLR 650 |  2012 Triumph Tiger 800 XC ABS |
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On-Off Road Motorcycles Forums
- Aprilia Forum This site is an up-and-coming resource for Aprilia riders and enthusiasts where their can voice their advice and opinions on Aprilia bikes.
- Buell Motorcycle Forum This is an up-and-coming resource for Buell owners and enthusiasts where they can gather and discuss the latest in Buell news, events, tech information, & more.
- KTM Motorcycle Forum This site is dedicated to KTM owners and enthusiasts where they can trade stories on the latest KTM news, tips, tech and performance, & more.
- Kawasaki Forum Kawiforums.com is the leading forum for Kawasaki enthusiasts and owners where they can voice their opinions on all things Kawasaki.
