Best China dual sport 2025

[Dirtbike2025]

I am looking for the best dual sport option! Please select your choice 1-6. Main riding will be town, highway, some off-road. Please don’t ask any questions just simply pick the best option. I am also willing to add all performance add ons available.

1. Lifan KPX-250
2. Bashan 250
3. CSC TT250
4. Templar x-250
5. Hawk RPS DLX
6. SSR- XF250X

[Thumper]

I am looking for the best dual sport option! Please select your choice 1-6. Main riding will be town, highway, some off-road. Please don’t ask any questions just simply pick the best option. I am also willing to add all performance add ons available.

1. Lifan KPX-250
2. Bashan 250
3. CSC TT250
4. Templar x-250
5. Hawk RPS DLX
6. SSR- XF250X

All of the above! But these bikes are SOooo different, one or two will suit your taste. Yep. Ya gotta decide yourself!

[Dirtbike2025]

No votes???

[Dirtbike2025]

Thumper don’t comment on my post if you aren’t going to pick option 1-6. I simply asked for a vote and yet you made a comment with no vote

[Lbrandon]

It’s pretty obvious which one is the right pick but you should do your own research! That way you won’t blame the forum for a possible mistake.

[XLsior]

If you are doing mostly town and highway then perhaps none of these bikes are the right choice.

[Dirtbike2025]

Brandon please give your vote. Again don’t comment if you don’t vote… how are is that to understand

[XLsior]

you can remove any bike without a counterbalanced 6 speed engine if you want any hope of doing highway speeds comfortably.


In which case your list is either a Templar X or KPX 250


With the Paladin 300 being the talk of town I'd say your list is mostly redundant. Though check your local DMV

[Thumper]

Thumper don’t comment on my post if you aren’t going to pick option 1-6. I simply asked for a vote and yet you made a comment with no vote

My comment is that I can't vote for you. Why would you buy what I want? What's the point?

I wouldn't choose any of them either, because there are a couple of other models that fit what I want. Hey, I like them all, but which one would I buy? None of them. If I could afford a stable of bikes, I might select one or two just for the fun of it.

So make a list of what's important to you, then look at the specs. You will find YOUR winner.

My son owns a Templar X. The new Templar Y is awesome... counterbalanced 5 speed with fully adjustable suspension. With the right sprockets, could work fine for you, but it isn't even on your list! I own a Paladin. Also not on your list. :shrug:

[Dirtbike2025]

Why would someone pick the Templar Y over the X?

[Dirtbike2025]

There is also a new hawk 300cc adventure bike liquid cooler coming out in April

[Dirtbike2025]

https://www.kamaxgroup.com/motorcycle/dirt-bike/kgy300

[Thumper]

Why would someone pick the Templar Y over the X?

No idea. And yet there it is. Look at the specs.

[Thumper]

https://www.kamaxgroup.com/motorcycle/dirt-bike/kgy300

Awesome, Carbed adventure bike. Price? Anyone actually own one?

Does this fit your needs? Then BUY one! And tell us all about it.

[Dirtbike2025]

This is not it. It looks similar to it but it’s a hawk EFI-300 cc adventure bike

[Thumper]

Carbed actually. Nice looking bike though!

32681

[ProDigit]

You forgot number one.
CFmoto Ibex 450 / 450MT.

By far better than any Chinese bike, and most European and even some Japanese bikes.

[XLsior]

I wouldn't class the MT450 Ibex as a dualsport. Yes you can ride it single track and even attempt enduro. But even if you stripped it down to its bare essentials its still too heavy.



Also it costs 3x more than the usual order online china dualsport segment offers.


I'd be more inclined to recommend a RE hunter 350 or scram 411 given the OP rider criteria.


But if I had to choose from the China thumpers I'd probably go with a Paladin 300.

[Davidmk123]

X pect

[blackimaje]

NC 300 -your list is outdated but since you insist -Templar x

[flopsweat]

3 - TT250


(I've only owned one motorcycle, this being it, so there's my vote!)

[ProDigit]

I wouldn't class the MT450 Ibex as a dualsport. Yes you can ride it single track and even attempt enduro. But even if you stripped it down to its bare essentials its still too heavy.



Also it costs 3x more than the usual order online china dualsport segment offers.


I'd be more inclined to recommend a RE hunter 350 or scram 411 given the OP rider criteria.


But if I had to choose from the China thumpers I'd probably go with a Paladin 300.
But it is classified as a dual sport / mini tourer if you add the luggage cases. The scrambler isn't.

Hunter 350 is 20hp, won't even make it to 75mph with a headwind or uphill, and is quite heavy for basically having the same power as a titan or templar.

[XLsior]

Well as an owner of an MT 450 I would call it an ADV not a dual sport.


The hunter 350 will do better in an urban environment but I would probably go up to the Scram 411 if the budget allowed it.



I'd be more inclined to call the RE Himmy 450 a dualsport than the MT450.


You could also consider the Triumph 400x if you want give old timers a semi at gas stations and coffee shops...


How derailed do we want this to get.


there's a difference between can do highway (WOT) and highway cruising (comfortable revs)...


other than a few exceptions I'd class any motorcycle 300cc or less unsuitable for highway use...Dual sports even more so.



I'm surprised you didn't try to shoehorn your NK450 here seeing as it appears in every ADV/dual-sport recommendation list you get involved in Digit.


If the vote list contained the Paladin 300 or NC300 then its would make for a better poll.


Then you got something like the VOGE 300 Rally in the UK/EU which is like the budget CRF300L with decent suspension.


Out of the list the KPX or Templar X depending on budget and warranty concerns.



With tariffs who knows how long the sub $3000USD china dualsport thumper will remain

[slithica]

I am commenting specifically to not vote simple because I don't like how rude dirtbike2025 was about voting despite not making an actual poll.

[Thumper]

I am commenting specifically to not vote simple because I don't like how rude dirtbike2025 was about voting despite not making an actual poll.

Well, rude maybe. But mostly just dumb. :crazy: These motorcycles have specifications, and TONS of comments about them here. All of them are great values, really. But the one that best fits what I wanted did NOT depend on other peoples' opinion. I would never buy a motorcycle, no matter how good of a deal it was, unless it has the features and dimensions I want.

I have tried to tell 2025 that he needs to choose, but he just keeps trying to make the decision based on consensus.

I can rattle off the reasons why I would or would not buy one of the Chinese bikes that we hve access to, but ALL of these things have been discussed all over this website. And as others have stated, they don't want to "vote" for a model that someone else wants.

One more time... OP needs to list his own priorities, examine the bikes that do or do not match his needs, and (as I said many posts gone by) "Go for it"

That is my VOTE

[Dirtbike2025]

The padalin 300 is not a true dual sport! It has no passenger legs, a small gas tank it’s really a dirt bike designed to ride on minimal highway for trail crossings and a tall seat height. The KLX 300 is more of a true dual sport or the Honda 300CRF

[Thumper]

I don't think a 250 is safe for a passenger. Well, I certainly would not get on the back of one!

The Paladin actually is one of the few Chinese 250s that have good enough/stiff enough suspension, and preload on the rear shock to handle the load, but still just too dangerous in my opinion to take a passenger. Call me selfish, but I got it for one up riding.

I agree it could use a larger tank. I've been looking, and I am sure a KTM tank will fit. Not a priority for me now, but eventually, I will.

[Notjoemechanic]

Every bike will have some type of compromise. Pick a bike with most of the specs you want. Then build it exactly the way you want it. You may have to get creative to build your unicorn. If your looking to purchase a unicorn bike you will have to spend some serious cash.

[Weresquatch]

I vote Templar X but use mine 80% off-road and only ride on road to get to/from trailheads. It's a legit trail bike.

[OldGuy]

FWIW, last week up in WNC I actually carried a passenger on the Paladin - a small woman, roughly 100# I would guess. The stiff suspension was quite good, plenty of oomph, and she had no problem balancing heals on the swingarm. While this is NOT an ideal situation, it actually performed quite well.


This bike continues to amaze me with how competent it is at a variety of tasks. Running 30+ miles on the Interstate in traffic (solo) was fine, and with a bit taller gearing would be more comfortable. It won't instantly lift my front wheel like my Husky does, but it has around twice the horsepower. Bargain of the year from my perspective!

[mark hall]

where is the Paladin on your list?? You wanted a 300CC DOHC w/6 spd trans, adjustable shocks and ultra light aluminum at 300 lbs didn't you? I don't think you can beat this one, but I do like me some Lifan KPX too!!

[mark hall]

That CFMOTO 450NK is a beauty.. but here in Maryland comes to $6K plus out the door. Kinda pricey, but nice.

[DSAdventures]

Carbed Hawk 250, simple, tons of parts, 3 gallon tank and they get you there.

[buzz]

Have to agree,simple ,cheap,and good times.

[TommyMac]

I bought some Chinese bikes from a police auction. The SSRXF250X seems to be the best built and getting parts is pretty easy. This has a Suzuki clone engine. That's my vote!

One of the bikes I bought is an Apollo CG250 thunder. I added a higher lift/longer duration cam, took .060" off the head which raised calculated compression to 11.5:1, Ported the head (the ports are super restrictive; removed a LOT of metal), replaced the 28MM carb with a flat slide 30MM. This thing truly barks now. I live in a residential area so I haven't gotten it in the woods yet. Easily pulls the wheel up in 1-2 shift.

I'm planning on turbocharging my SSR Xf250F (which I had before the impound bikes).
I'm also planning on doing all the same mods on the SSR.
I can't seem to find a proper oil cooler kit though. Any suggestions?