Dual purpose market in USA

Hi guys, last week I was thinking about the dual purpose bike market in the europe region. I ask some guys living there about the popularity of this sport in there region. I was surprised to find the enduro, super motard and street bike are more popular, but not the dual sport itself. The off road rules are very restrictive in many areas. My opinion was based more around the dakar rally and the popularity. The fact that they are living near the africa continent confused me. Now, I'm asking me about the U.S market? Are there some numbers or statistic about the dual sport? I know about Harley and sport bikes are good seller, but compare to our nice sport? Thanks for your input!!!

I'm not sure about numbers but I can tell you that cruisers, supersports, ATVs and MX all sell much better than dual sports.

I base that on whats available to buy both new and used. I dealer show rooms they are filled with cruisers and ATVs with a number of MX and supersports thrown in. The craigslist motorcycle adds seem to have a similar theme. Kids bikes also show up alot but I suspect its because these turn over so fast as kids out grow the bikes and want something faster/more capable.

Bikes like the Vstrom and Versys seem to sell pretty well, but I suspect that is more as a street bike as these bikes are inexpensive compared to bigger bikes but offer roomy and comfortable riding positions, unlike other sport oriented bikes of similar size.

Craig

dual sports have never been extremely popular for a couple of reasons.

There is the attitude that anything smaller than a 750 is too small.

There is the attitude that "for that kind of money I can buy a street bike".

There is the fact that some areas of the U.S. are just plain flat and boring so they may as well have a cruiser.

And there is ignorance - ignorance of just how darn fun a dual sport is to ride on any sort of back road regardless of the condition of those roads.

It took us two years to brow beat my one friend into getting a dual sport. He loved it and blamed us for not harassing him bad enough to get on one sooner. He went nuts, ending up with both an XR650L and a supermotoed DRz400 (pre SM). He's now down to just a DRz400SM because he found with Distanzias it would do fine for our kind of riding. He uses it more than he does his other bikes, including a ZX14. As he puts it, it's just way more fun on the DRz. I find the same true on my KLX, well at least when I lived back in eastern Ohio where the road actually have curves.

In the right areas of the U.S. when someone actually gets on a dual sport or SM and hits the dirt/gravel back roads and occasional trails, they are often taken by just how much fun it is. And then they find out how great they are around town.

Here is a link to an article about motorcycle sales in the US

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2/8987/Motorcycle-Article/Motorcycle-Sales-Down-15-8--in-2010.aspx

<TABLE style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt" class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 44pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=59> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>2010 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>2009 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 63.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=85>Change <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 39.2pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=52>%Change<o></o>
</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 1"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 44pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=59>DUAL <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>23,531 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>27,210 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 63.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=85>-3,679 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 39.2pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=52>-13.5%<o></o>
</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 2"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 44pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=59>OFF-HWY <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>80,962 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>105,524 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 63.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=85>-24,562 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 39.2pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=52>-23.3% <o></o>
</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 3"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 44pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=59>ON-HWY <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>306,702 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>357,691 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 63.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=85>-50,989 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 39.2pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=52>-14.3% <o></o>
</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 4"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 44pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=59>SCOOTER <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>28,483 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>31,451 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 63.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=85>-2,968 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 39.2pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=52>-9.4% <o></o>
</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 5"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 44pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=59>TOTAL <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>439,678 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>521,876 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 63.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=85>-82,198 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 39.2pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=52>-15.8% <o></o>
</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 44pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=59>ATV <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>256,750 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 78.35pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=104>321,181 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 63.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=85>-64,431 <o></o>
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; WIDTH: 39.2pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" width=52>-20.1% <o></o>
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Thanks guys, now I have a better picture of our sport!!!

Back in 2006 someone in the Motorcycle industry gave me a copy of exact sales of all the major manufacturers in the US broken down by model and type. Cruisers had the largest numbers by far. Dual sports were a very small percentage behind sportbikes, touring bikes and everything else. Since that time, the percentage of dualsport bikes has gone up quite a bit, but the total numbers are still small. When bike sales first went way down a few years ago, dual sports and scooters where the only ones that didn't. Since then, they have gone down too.

I don't see dual sports ever selling more than cruisers in the US since "image" is everything to so many buyers. Dual sport and adventure bikes sell better in Europe because the "Paris to Dakar" or Adventure image is much stronger over there than the cruiser image.

You forgot the attitude that they are all really fucking ugly.

Ok that's not true some of the KTMs I've seen are pretty sweet looking.

It's all the same game only w/ different titles & lots of sub titles.

Would you rather dress like a pirate, a squid, or Ewan Boorman, thems the options.

That was the first thing Grreatwife said about the LC4.

Geez, that made me remember the other reason:

The riders want to be in a Barcalounger while riding thus the huge cruiser thing. The gynocological stirup position in which many appear to be seated. Giving that "I'm too lazy to care" kind of thing.

Yeah, right... I forgot that. One reason I have the KLX is because back in 97 it was the only dual sport that actually looked a bit like a modern motocrosser. The rest still looked like 1980s dual sport/enduro bikes. Now at least there is the DRz400, KLX250 and WR250 in the Japanese mix that actually almost look like a real current off roader. KTM and the European versions actuall DO look like off roaders for good reason - they are real off roaders with the necessary electrics and EPA crap on them.

Why the Japanese can't seem to at least try to make the XR/DR/XT/KLX 450 or 650 (KLR not here because the KLR is more adventure bike than dual sport) that at least look like they're based on their top shelf enduro/MX bikes is beyond my comprehension. One company made a kit to give the XR650L the look of a CRF450 - damn cool looking. Why not from the factory? All it really takes is bodywork that looks like the MX/enduro bikes, using the actual or similar frames would be a bonus. The KLX like mine (the one pictured is not mine) had the perimeter style frame Kaw used on the KXs back in the 90s, pre-alloy. Oh, I should say I didn't find some of the slab sided KTMs too attractive - they make me think of military minus the olive drab.

Just think what sportbikes would look like with the same approach - The 2011 Ninja 1000 would look like the 1983 GPz1100, the 2011 CBR1000 would look like either the 1000 Hurricane or the VF1000R, the 2011 R1 would look like the early FJ1100, and the 2011 GSXR would look like the GS1000S (maybe all wouldn't be so bad ).

Of course cruisers wouldn't be affected... they all look stinking old... besides when lying in the "Barcalounger" who cares...

Gotta say I don't do costumes on any of the bikes I ride. I wear what I need for what I do, and (all you ATGATT folks close your eyes or skip up a sentence) that is often just a Tee and jeans. I will wear a jacket or enduro type coat if I need a coat, regardless of the type of bike I am on. I will wear either enduro boots or shortie pit bike boots when riding back road/off road type stuff on the dual sport. Gloves are an MX type in leather for the road and actual MX for dual sport. Heck, when the weather is hot I do an MX helmet and goggles on the street bike. I also do the road helmet on the dual sport if it is cold or it is handy and I am too lazy to go get the off road helmet.

But hey - that's just me.

I've had few people comment how ugly the 990 adv is and i have to admit that it does look 'different', even more so, after i took the wind shield off, look's dont count, it's still a very capable 'dual purpose' machine.

Thanks for posting that. Good info, and jives with my anecdotal experience.

I only personally know one other person who owns a dual sport bike, but I know lots of people who owns cruisers, sport bikes and sport tourers.

I think they're kind of slab sided ugly too, but much like my brother and his Ulysses, when you're riding them you feel the beauty and don't have to look at it. Kind of like having a girlfriend/wife that may not be an incredible beauty, but has the rest of the relationship down to perfection! I'll take that over the "hands off trophy" any day.

And they are still ignorant of the incredible fun...

And when I go to AMA dual sport rides over half the riders are gray hairs. Well over half sometimes. At one ride last year I had a couple of younger riders complaining that there were too many old guys.

At least they were until smoked them through a few miles of tough rocks. One of them msaid "we weren't expecting you to be fast when we saw the gray hair." Not sure that was a complimnent.

But old men take compliments wherever they can find them.

Good question, but I know here you can ride a scooter of some certain cc limit without a motorcycle license. So, I figure people that want basic transportation, or "kids" can get a scooter and ride it to work or school for cheap. I bet parents buy scooters for their kids thinking it's a cost-effective way for them to get around town.

Also, just my assumption, but I bet people that think they want dirt oriented bikes buy dirt bikes and people that think they want to ride on the street buy a street bike. So, I think the dual sport crowd is smaller than it might otherwise be because people don't want the compromise of less comfort on the street, or less performance on the dirt.

Dual sports did lose less market share though than any other segment, save scooters.

Yup. Many people in this country seem to have weak self-confidence and/or self-esteem.