My second bike is a 2007 Honda CRF250X This is an enduro trail bike / woods weapon. In some states it can be changed to a road legal status with brake lights, indicators, mirrors, and road legal tires.

It is a low cost enduro with the the quality of Honda. It got far more use this summer than my strom did.

I have watched riders try to take a DRZ400S on trail rides. They can make it through most single track but when it gets really steep and technical they all struggle. Keeping the weight down and down low is very important.

Many dual sport riders like the KLR250S but this is less trail oriented. Honda has the new CRF250L dual sport. KTM has some serious options at serious prices. Same with Husaberg and Husqvarna.

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08 DL650A
The Amphibious Wee
07 CRF250X
Woods Weapon

If you are really looking at dirt, then IMHO a 200 - 250 class bike is probably the way to go. The WR250R, XT250, CRF250L KLX250, the older 225 / 230 Yammie / Hondas and so on are all good dirt bikes for the average rider, and more than capable of road commuting or even light touring use, as long as you don't expect to do lots of interstate.

The KLR650 is a good bike, but as a real dirt or city commuter, it is at least 100lb too heavy, as well as being too wide.
THey also do not crash well, particularly the 2008 plus model, a drop in the dirt can work out pretty expensive.

A DR400 is a good choice as well, or for an off-the-wall choice, something like the Husky TE610E can be found used very reasonably, has a lot more character and zip than the KLR, has much, much better suspension, and weighs under 330lb fully gassed (KLRs cross 450 lb).
Wide ratio 6 speed box and much more power, and better quality suspension move it ahead of the DRZ, but you need to stay on top of maintenance. Service intervals are 3000 miles, but you really do need to check things like valves and camchain tensioners (BTDT).

Lots of fun older bikes around, like the DR350, XR25/400 (if you can get one plated), XR200 and so on.

For fun in the dirt (or commuting dings and knocks), crash damage resistance is one thing that is often ignored. I high-sided my TE610E on a dirt road at about 30mph, the bike landed on upside down on the front fender and LH handlebar / LH side. I picked it up and rode for the rest of the weekend, with a tweaked handlebar,
Ignoring the scrape in the front fender, and a few other minor marks, it cost me under $150 to put back into riding position. $85 of that was getting the aftermarket HID headlight unit repaired (MR16 'low' beam projector was damaged). A new aluminum handlebar cost $30 at the local ATV shop.

A DRZ400, DR350, DR650, XR650 and so on will probably crash just as well, if not better.
Even

Well Chris, I am lucky and have a number of bikes. I have a KLR 650 which is indestructable, (so far) and a DR 350. I found the KLR too big to ride in the woods on trails and bought a '93 DR 350. It is smaller and so much more flickable on trails and such it is the perfect bike for dirt roads and trails. I geared it down by going up three teeth on the back sprocket and it still gets about 45-50 mpg and has a top speed of around 75. So, imho, if bush bashing is really what you want to do the 350 size is perfect. The only downside to some of the smaller bikes is gas tank size. The limit for my DR is somewhere around 100 miles. If you only want to go dirt roads and well defined, smoother trails, the KLR is awesome and has a huge gas tank. Go to KLR.net, same thing as Stromtroopers only KLR nuts and just as friendly.

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IBA# 33670
Current Stable
2008 Wee
2007 Harley Electra Glide standard
1976 Harley Davidson Wide Glide
2008 KLR 650
2006 Triumph Bonneville
2004 SV 650
1986 BMW R80 cafe racer
1987 BMW R80RT
1993 DR 350

My other bike is a 2004 Bonneville T-100, love that classic look. The bike of my dreams is a Moto Guzzi T-3 like this one, but I haven't found it yet.

Attached Images

T-3.jpg (75.1 KB, 40 views)

I have a 09 Yamaha FZ1 and a 09 Harley XR1200 with the V. Gotta admit that the FZ1 gets used the most, 18k miles this year. The Harley is riden on a Sunday afternon when I feel like tooling around and the V is the go to- do anything machine. When 2 buddies and I went on a 7200 mile trip in June, there was no doubt the V would get packed up with the tent and all the gear.
Never missed a beat.

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Bub
06 V Strom
09 XR1200 Harley
09 FZ1 Yamaha

I have a 2008 Ducati Hypermotard. Great for fn but not so much for long trips. Keeps a smile on your face.

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2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S
2007 Ducati Multistrada 1100 (Wrecked)
2012 Suzuki VStrom DL1000

boy yo guys are dead on about about these bikes.but nobody metioned how good that klr650 wheelis:va r_14::var_ 14:

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81 yam xs1100
92 kaw klr 650
98 honda magna
00 suz 1400 intruder
04 suz 1600 muarader
07 suz wee
07 honda st1300/11 suz wee

And Brad Paisley sings...."I'mmmmmm.....gonna miss her...."

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'92 Honda Z50R
'94 Kawasaki KLX250 modded to 340cc's
'00 Yamaha YZ426F
'94 Yamaha 125 scooter
'05 Vespa E4 scooter
'68 Vespa VBB scooter (restored)
'06 Wee
'03 Honda S2000 roadster

I'm actually considering a Yamaha TW200. There's something about that big rear tire that just makes me smile.

My other bike is a FZ6. Lots of fun with good handling on the twistys. But for a long trip or two up the DL1000 is the way I go.

Mike

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2006 Yamaha FZ-6
2005 Suzuki DL1000
2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 - Sold