Reviews

2023 250cc to 400cc Dual Sport Motorcycles for Sale

These are the 2023 dual sport motorcycles you want.

April 14, 2023

We’ve covered the street bikes in the 2023 250cc to 400cc Motorcycles for Sale article but what if your riding extends past pavement? Enter our “2023 250cc to 400cc Dual Sport Motorcycles for Sale” write-up. This list includes 250 to 400cc dual sports from the Big Four (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha) and other dirt bike aficionados like Beta, KTM, and Husqvarna that are available in 2023.

If you’re searching for a dual sport with a smaller engine than the ones listed here, check out do-it-all bikes like Yamaha’s TW200, Honda’s new XR150L, and Kawasaki’s KLX230 and KLX230S. Want a dual sport with a larger engine size instead? You have even more choices then: KTM has the 500 EXC-F/Six Days and 690 Enduro R; Honda has its CRF450RL and XR650L; Beta has the 430 RR-S and 500 RR-S; Husqvarna has the FE 501s and 701 Enduro; GasGas jumps into the ring with its ES 700; then Suzuki has its DR650S and Kawasaki has its extensive KLR650 fleet.

2023 Beta 350 RR-S

The Beta 350 RR-S is equipped with a 15-tooth front sprocket and 48-tooth rear sprocket, but it also comes with a 13-tooth front sprocket for off-road use and better off-the-line acceleration.Beta

Beta’s 350 RR-S roves up and down the trails with a liquid-cooled DOHC 349cc four-stroke engine. This engine is fuel injected and is fired to life with an electric start (with a backup kickstart option). In addition to the “magic button,” there’s also push-button traction control and a Trail Tech Voyager GPS as standard equipment. According to Beta, this GPS system has downloadable trail maps, altitude readings, engine temperature and outside temperature readings, a tripmeter, hourmeter, and much more to help you on your adventures.

Its 48mm Sachs Open Cartridge fork (which has revised internals for 2023) offers 11.6 inches of travel and is adjustable for compression, rebound, and preload. The aluminum-body Sachs shock has an 11.4-inch stroke and has rebound and high/low-speed compression adjustability. The revised fork internals and other changes for 2023 350 RR-S have been thoroughly covered by our sister brand, Dirt Rider, so mosey over to that resource for more info.

2023 Beta 350 RR-S Price: $11,499

2023 Beta 390 RR-S

Stepping up to the 390 RR-S gets you more cubic centimeters, but both the 350 RR-S and 390 RR-S drink from the same sized fuel tank (2.4 gallons).Beta

For only $100 more, there’s the Beta 390 RR-S. The four-stroke’s engine displacement increases to 386cc, which is a unique displacement for the class. Beta’s 390 RR-S has an 88mm bore and 63.4mm stroke and a 12.5:1 compression ratio and, according to Dirt Rider’s 2019 review, they found that this engine made good and consistent torque and smooth power. The engine is electronically fuel injected with a 42mm throttle body with dual injectors, is tuned like the off-road-only RR models in Beta’s lineup, and has two different engine maps. Like the 350 RR-S, the 390 also comes with traction control, a Trail Tech Voyager GPS, and an electric start.

Suspension, wheels, and brakes are the same as the 350 RR-S. Suspension, you have just read about in the 350 RR-S entry, but the Maxxis Enduro tires are looped on 21- and 18-inch wheels (front/rear) and brakes include a 260mm floating front disc and 240mm rear disc. The wheelbase (58.7 inches), seat height (37 inches), ground clearance (12.6 inches), and wet weight without fuel (241 pounds) are the same across the board as well.

2023 Beta 390 RR-S Price: $11,599

2023 Honda CRF300L/LS/Rally

Honda has three dual sports in this category: the CRF300L (top left), the new low-seat-height version, the CRF300LS (top right), and the Dakar-inspired CRF300L Rally (bottom).Honda

The CRF300L Rally and new CRF300LS are variations of the CRF300L. All of these models are reliable dual sports that are equipped with a liquid-cooled 286cc single-cylinder engine. This electronically fuel-injected engine has a 76mm bore by 63mm stroke, 10.7:1 compression ratio, electric starter, and six-speed transmission.

The CRF300LS makes dual sport riding accessible to more riders with its low seat height. Compared to the base model, the LS has a 2-inch shorter seat height, bringing the measurement down to 32.7 inches. The LS also has a lower ground clearance (9.6 inches versus 11.2 inches on the CRF300L) among other shrunken-down dimensions. Suspension is also affected. The inverted 43mm telescopic fork has 9.3 inches of travel and the shock has 9.0 inches of travel versus the CRF300L’s 10.2 inches. The braking package (single 256mm disc/two-piston caliper and single 220mm disc/one-piston caliper) is the same, but the LS only comes in an ABS version whereas the base comes with or without the rider aid.

The Rally is also much like the standard CRF300L, but it includes upgrades such as a larger 3.4-gallon tank, wider 296mm front brake disc, hand guards, and a frame-mounted windscreen. The Rally also has a little more heft at around 330 pounds (claimed wet weight).

The CRF300L and CRF300L Rally models come in red and the LS is available in Swift Gray. You’ll notice the sticker prices are super wallet-friendly.

2023 Honda CRF300L Price: $5,399/$5,699 (ABS)

2023 Honda CRF300LS Price: $5,699

2023 Honda CRF300L Rally Price: $6,149/$6,449 (ABS)

2023 Husqvarna FE 350s

New graphics on the plastics and a new color on the chromoly steel frame spruce up the FE 350s’ appearance for 2023.Husqvarna

The FE 350s is a very enjoyable, smooth-running dual sport from the white, blue, and yellow Austrian brand, and has proven that in past DR testing. The 350cc engine has a 88mm bore, 57.5mm stroke, and 13.5:1 compression ratio. It produced 32.8 hp and 20.5 lb.-ft. of torque at 10,100 rpm and 7,600 rpm, respectively, when it took a turn on our dyno in 2020. Husqvarna says this 350cc engine balances traits seen in the 250 and 450 engine configurations, it has the lightweight handling of a 250 and rivals the power of a 450.

It nimbly picks its way down the trail or around slower traffic with a central double-cradle chromoly steel frame and an adjustable WP Xplor 48mm open-cartridge coil-spring fork and linkage-style WP Xact shock. Both ends have 11.8 inches of travel. It doesn’t have a lot of weight to fling around; the manufacturer claims 243 pounds without fuel in the 2.4-gallon tank.

An impressive 14.2 inches of ground clearance separates the bottom of the machine from potential havoc-wreaking rocks.

2023 Husqvarna FE 350s Price: $12,249

2023 Kawasaki KLX300

The Lime Green KLX300 (shown) has a price tag of $5,899. Because the KLX’s other color, Fragment Camo Gray, is considered a special color and a premium finish, that version is listed at a $6,099 MSRP.Kawasaki

Team Green’s dual sport that meets the requirements for this list is the KLX300. The KLX houses its compact liquid-cooled 292cc within a high-tensile-steel perimeter frame that’s rigid for straight-line stability, a great trait especially if this motorcycle will be used for commuting on long stretches of freeway for the weekday commute. For those curious about power output, you’re in luck because we have the figures handy from a recent dyno run: 23.4 hp at 8,100 rpm and 15.4 lb.-ft. at 8,000 rpm.

To suit off-road riding, 21- and 18-inch spoked rims are fitted with dual purpose tires to provide traction. A 43mm inverted fork offers 10 inches of travel and the Uni-Trak shock has 9.1 inches of travel. Suspension is adjustable in differing degrees: The front has 16-way compression damping adjustment and the rear shock has that as well as rebound and spring preload adjustment. Aside from the wheelsets, other unsprung components include a two-piston caliper and 250mm floating front disc and single-piston caliper paired with a 240mm rear disc.

The KLX has a somewhat low 10.8 inches of ground clearance, which is just above the CRF300LS’ measurement. The KLX’s seat height is 35.2 inches and its curb weight is 302 pounds.

2023 Kawasaki KLX300 Price: $5,899–$6,099

2023 KTM 350 EXC-F

Weighing a claimed 238 pounds without fuel and roughly 36 hp measured at the rear wheel, the KTM 350 EXC-F has a great power-to-weight ratio.KTM

The KTM 350 EXC-F is a versatile machine, not only for its on- and off-road nature, but its capability in competitive racing as well. That’s right! Although modified, the 350 EXC-F was the choice machine of Cody Webb for EnduroCross. See Dirt Rider’s coverage on that here.

KTM’s dual sport uses a liquid-cooled 350cc four-stroke engine to propel it down the road and trail. The power delivered to the rear wheel is 34.74 hp at 8,840 rpm and 22.43 lb.-ft. of torque at 7,250 rpm, according to our dyno records.

KTM makes use of a central double-cradle chromoly steel frame and WP suspension components for the chassis. There’s a 48mm WP Xplor USD fork with adjustability for compression and rebound damping and a WP Xplor PDS (so no linkage) shock with spring preload, high- and low-speed compression damping, and rebound damping adjustability. The front has 11.8 inches of travel and out back it has 12.2 inches of travel. For 2023, the 350 EXC-F is bedecked in white, purple, and orange graphics that are inspired by the Orange Brigade’s ‘90s enduros.

2023 KTM 350 EXC-F Price: $12,149

2023 Suzuki DR-Z400S

The DR-Z400S comes in either Champion Yellow No. 2 or Solid Black. Stock black Excel rims pair well with either color; these rims are equipped with Dunlop D208 dual-purpose tires.Suzuki

The Suzuki DR-Z400S has been around for over 20 years and it was preceded by the DR350S before that. This latest version is powered by a carbureted 398cc single that’s liquid-cooled and has 32 hp at the business end to play with on the dirt or blacktop. The engine is paired with a five-speed transmission that uses a cable-actuated clutch.

Narrowness is key in a dual sport’s chassis, so such is the way with this Suzuki. Its frame is made up of thin chromoly steel tubes for, what Suzuki says, is “exceptional torsional rigidity with minimal weight.” Total curb weight is claimed to be 317 pounds. The 49mm fork is compression, rebound, and spring preload adjustable and the linkage-style shock is adjustable for both compression damping and preload. Travel is 11.3 inches and 11.6 inches, respectively. Ground clearance is 11.8 inches and seat height is 36.8 inches.

If you need to make a trailside repair or simply want to be prepared for the unexpected, the rear fender has a pouch to hold the tool kit and owner’s manual and other small items.

2023 Suzuki DR-Z400S Price: $7,099

2023 Yamaha XT250

The Yamaha is the only 250 dual sport on the market, sitting between the likes of the KLX230 and 300cc Honda and Kawasaki models.Yamaha

While liquid-cooling is seen on all the other dual sports in this list, Yamaha’s XT250 is the only one that’s air-cooled. Its 249cc single-cylinder engine features fuel injection and it has a 74mm bore and 58mm stroke and 9.5:1 compression ratio. Like the Suzuki, its engine is paired with a five-speed gearbox.

Its engine is mounted within a semi-double-cradle steel frame and floats over rocks and potholes alike with a 35mm telescopic fork and preload-adjustable shock. There are 8.9 inches and 7.1 inches of travel, respectively. Although the travel is in the single digits, the XT250 has an impressive 11.2-inch clearance that helps keep the engine out of harm’s way.

With a 2.5-gallon fuel tank (2.2 if you’re in the Golden State) and claimed 76 mpg, the XT250 has the potential to travel about 160 miles per tank. Plus it has a reasonable 32.7-inch seat height, which is the same as the claimed figure for Honda’s CRF300LS.

2023 Yamaha XT250 Price: $5,299