New Bike Buyer's Guide: Best Dirt Motorcycles

Triumph has always been acclaimed for its road and adventure bikes – although it did use modified models in the mid-20th century for scrambles, desert racing and reliability trials – but at the turn of the decade it decided to cast its model net even wider into the serious business of enduro and motocross bikes.

It wasn’t on a whim, either: it was a full-scale program that didn’t take any shortcuts – the 250 and 450cc categories are just too brutal to take any other approach than full-blown commitment.

With input from riders such as multiple world enduro champion Ivan Cervantes, the TF 250-E enduro bike is one of the creations – and it’s not a clone of anything else. Instead, it has its own personality, built on the back of premium components and thousands of development hours.

The road-registerable TF 250-E was released in 2025 alongside the TF 450-E, and it costs $17,590 ride away. Premium dollars, but what you get standard is fully adjustable KYB suspension, Brembo brakes, DID wheels, Michelin tyres, multiple engine maps, traction control, launch control and a quickshifter.

The power delivery is – in very much a Triumph tradition – smooth and predictable (and with usable power to spare), the traction control is brilliant, and the chassis sits in a sweet spot between performance and forgiveness. It’s light and nimble – tailor-made for single trail – and less taxing than a 450.

Triumph is in this game for the long haul, and the competitiveness of the TF 250-E proves that.

2026 Triumph TF 250-E at a glance:
Price: $17,590 ride away
Engine: 250cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve single-cylinder
Fuel capacity: 8.3 litres
Seat height: 955mm
Weight (wet): 114kg
Tyres: Michelin Enduro, 90/90-21 front, 140/80-18 rear
Suspension: KYB telescopic fork, KYB monoshock
Rider aids: Traction control, launch control
 

Ducati power in a dirt bike. Who would have thought that a possibility just a few years ago? But here we are and, in a similar vein to its British rival Triumph, Ducati has made an outstanding fist of its first attempt at the genre – in this case the race-developed Desmo450 MX.

But should we really be that surprised? Ducati’s enjoyed enormous success in road racing for many years, and it’s now extended its engineering prowess and boundary-pushing spirit into the dirt scene – not only helping to future-proof the brand, but in a package that’s unique and charismatic.

Ducati’s Desmodromic valve timing system is magic, and in the $16,825 ride away Desmo450 MX it delivers an incredibly useable power curve all the way to the 11,900rpm rev limiter. The engine delivers 47kW (63hp) at 9400rpm and 53.5Nm at 7500rpm.

The comprehensive electronics suite includes traction, launch and engine brake control, a one-way quickshifter and multiple ride modes – further customisable with an accessory Wi-Fi connectivity module.

The Wi-Fi module is a standard feature on the $19,125 ride way Desmo450 MX Factory, which also adds a distinctive Ducati Corse livery, an Akrapovic exhaust system, billet triple clamps and Dark Kashima and TiO (titanium dioxide) coatings on the Showa suspension for improved performance.

The standard Showa suspension isn’t a shortcoming by any stretch though, forming a potent handling combo with the purpose-built aluminium perimeter frame.

Probably the hardest part to get right on a motocross bike is ergonomics, but Ducati has excelled – with particular focus on minimising all the potential spoilers for seamless movement around the bike.

It’s a versatile powerhouse – and not just in motocross, but in other disciplines such as dirt track and desert competition.

2026 Ducati Desmo450 MX at a glance:
Price: $16,800 ride away
Engine: 450cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder Desmodromic
Fuel capacity: 8.3 litres
Seat height: 970mm
Weight (wet): 104.8kg (without fuel)
Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion MX32, 80/100-21 front, 110/90-19 rear
Suspension: Showa fork, Showa shock
Rider aids: Traction control, launch control, fall detection, engine brake control

There’s probably no better feeling than riding a two-stroke enduro bike at ‘full noise’ in the bush. When you’re in the zone, it’s a sublime feeling – and one model that encapsulates that feeling is KTM’s iconic 300 EXC.

The model just keeps on keeping on for one good reason: out of the crate it’s one of the most resourceful and cunning enduro bikes on the market. It’s versatility and longevity speak for themselves, and it’s continued to rack up domestic and world championship victories with dizzying regularity.

The model’s enjoyed more milestones over the years than we can list in this forum, but one of the biggest was the introduction of groundbreaking fuel injection in 2018.

That took throttle response and fuel efficiency to new levels, and in its latest configuration the Euro 5-spec 293cc single-cylinder engine is rated at 36.5kW (49.6hp) and 44Nm.

It’s the seat-of-the-pants buzz from the 300 EXC that really excites, but riding the 300 EXC does require more exacting standards than, say, a four-stroke of the same capacity, thanks to the nearly complete lack of engine braking.

That’s where the razor-sharp chrome-molybdenum steel frame comes into the equation, which keeps the machine on rails.

The 300 EXC, priced at $19,195 ride away, has lots of branded parts such as Neken handlebars, Brembo brakes and hydraulic clutch, a Keihin throttle body and ODI lock-on grips. The 2026 model also features updates to the WP closed-cartridge forks and WP XPLOR PDS (i.e. linkless) rear suspension.

User-friendly features also abound, such as hand-adjustable suspension and an off-road control unit under the seat to instantly troubleshoot electrical issues. The juggernaut lives on, more refined and purposeful than ever.

2026 KTM 300 EXC at a glance:
Price: $19,195 ride away
Engine: 293cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder
Fuel capacity: 9 litres
Seat height: 963mm
Weight (dry): 104.6kg
Tyres: Maxxis MaxxEnduro, 90/90-21 front, 140/80-18 rear
Suspension: WP fork, WP PDS shock
Rider aids: Map switch (optional)

Aussie Jett Lawrence is not only one of the best motocross riders on the planet, but he’s been instrumental in helping to develop Honda’s latest version of the venerable and multiple championship-winning CRF450R.

Feedback from a superstar is one thing, though, but making it work for the masses with real-world characteristics is another. Thankfully, Honda’s engineers back in Japan have successfully blended all that feedback into the production model, and the result is a brilliant motocross racer.

The current version has been beefed-up and ironed out to deliver even more precise power and better handling. A more rigid frame, major suspension changes (the shock is now far easier to remove and install, too) tweaks to the 449cc fuel-injected single (new header pipe, redesigned airbox and revised ECU mapping) are the highlights, and there’s even new bodywork to promote more seamless movement around the bike.

The retail price is a sharp $14,898 ride away.

There’s so much tuning scope on the CRF450R with variable riding modes and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) – traction control in plain speak. Often dismissed as gimmicky in the early days, traction control has now cemented its place in the motocross landscape and the CRF450R is a beautiful exponent of it.

Traction control may not be such a big deal for seasoned pros – their traction control is focussed on the right hand – but it’s all a part of making the CRF450R an accessible machine.

With such a strong pedigree, it’s a bike that really sells itself, and remains the jewel in Honda’s motocross range.

2026 Honda CRF450R at a glance:
Price: $14,898 ride away
Engine: 449cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder
Fuel capacity: 6.3 litres
Seat height: 961mm
Weight (wet): 113kg
Tyres: Dunlop Geomax, 80/100-21 front, 120/80-19 rear
Suspension: Showa fork, Showa shock
Rider aids: Traction control, launch control, map switch

The naming convention says it all. With ‘Race’ in the title, the Italian Beta RR Race range doesn’t suffer from an identity crisis: the models are firmly targeted at riders who are serious about going fast and attacking whatever terrain is thrown at them.

The level of standard equipment across the eight-model range – a quartet of two-strokes and the same number of four-strokes – is commensurate with that aggressive attitude. We’re talking features like KYB suspension, liberal use of CNC components and a wet/dry map switch.

And, in a further nod to the competitive DNA, there’s a quick-release front axle, reinforced handguards and a race seat.

In terms of capacity, the $18,790 ride away, road-registerable RR 390 Race 4T sits one rung from the bottom of the four-stroke family, but for rideability and accessibility it’s probably in the sweetest spot of all.

It has a 386cc, fuel-injected single-cylinder engine, which is extremely strong but also very manageable. The oodles of torque keep the momentum up, so there’s really no need to slip the clutch, even when running taller gears.

It feels solid as soon as you get on it, which isn’t a bouquet often levelled at hard-edged dirt bikes where it can take a while to get a feel for the occasion – especially, where suspension is concerned.

Maybe the fact the suspension is a little softer than what you’d expect from a ‘Race’ model goes some way to explaining why it feels so welcoming from the get-go – but it’s not soft in a negative way.

In fact, the opposite, as it never does anything unpredictable or harsh and really finds traction with some serious intent. It’s easy to ride fast, and builds into a smooth, long pull when you ask more of it. You can be aggressive on the throttle, too, without feeling overwhelmed. Cross-country race, anyone?

2026 Beta RR 390 Race 4T at a glance:
Price: $18,790 ride away
Engine: 386cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder
Fuel capacity: 9 litres
Seat height: 950mm
Weight (dry): 107.5kg
Tyres: Metzeler, 90/90-21 front, 140/80-19 rear
Suspension: KYB fork, KYB shock
Rider aids: Traction control

Need new car buying advice? You're in the right place. Start here

Related: New Bike Buyer's Guide: Best Road Motorcycles
Related: New Bike Buyer's Guide: Best Adventure Motorcycles
Related: New Bike Buyer's Guide: Best Cruiser Motorcycles
Related: New Bike Buyer's Guide: Best LAM Motorcycles
Join the conversation at