The Best Dirt Bikes of 2024 Are the Most Fun You Can Have on Two Wheels
Good times are guaranteed with any two-wheeled vehicle, be it the best motorcycles or UTVs, but no machine is quite as thrilling as the best dirt bikes. You’ll find no posted speed limits or police to enforce them. Wheelies are not only expected but encouraged, and the same rules apply to sliding around corners and turning every random boulder into an impromptu ramp.
Dirt bikes are truly the final frontier of two-wheeled freedom, but getting on the right bike makes all the difference. A newer rider will struggle to enjoy the high-strung engines and sky-high suspension of a dedicated motocross bike, while more experienced race junkies will have little use for recreational two-wheelers.
Below we’ll break down the best dirt bikes of the year in each of the major categories, whether you’re looking for a fire-breathing race bike or an affordable toy to enjoy with family. Our best overall pick is KTM 300XC-W. It combines a new engine, new chassis, and new parts with better throttle response and suspension compared to last's years ripper.
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Best Overall Dirt Bike: KTM 300XC-W
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In the world of serious enduro riding, two-stroke engines remain supreme. If you’ve got any doubt about that, look no further than this year’s FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, which saw two-stroke machinery claim the contest’s top-five finishes. The bike you see here took top honors overall under KTM pro rider Manuel Lettenbichler, making it the clear choice for discerning enduro junkies everywhere.
KTM 300XC-W Dirt Bike is an entirely new bike for 2024, benefitting from a completely new engine, chassis, and approximately 95 percent new parts overall. The single most significant update is a much crisper throttle response from KTM’s new and improved TBI (throttle body injection) system, which was notably missing from the 2023 models much to the disappointment of KTM’s ravenous fanbase.
The other major improvement found on the 2024 model is the switch to a closed-cartridge oil-and-spring fork, which KTM says solves the previous model’s inconsistent front-end feel. Out back the shock has been improved as well, but the 300 retains its enduro-focused linkage-free setup for simplicity and maximum ground clearance.
Engine: 293cc liquid-cooled two-stroke
Weight: 230 pounds (without fuel)
Seat Height: 37.9 inches
Suspension Travel: 11.8 inches
Best Trail Dirt Bike: Yamaha WR250F
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Trail bikes can be a tough category to nail down. Some folks want a hardcore closed-course woods racer, while others want a general-use two-wheeler for performance-minded recreation. With that in mind, we’d recommend Yamaha WR250F as the best all-around option, as it wears both hats better than anything without sacrificing all-around capability.
Our favorite part about WR250F is both its engine and chassis are highly adjustable. The motor benefits from two separate fuel maps that can be swapped on the go from the handlebar controls, but owners can also easily custom-tune the output using Yamaha’s wireless Power Tuner app just like its flagship motocrossers. As for the suspension, Yamaha WR250F Dirt Bike comes equipped with high-quality KYB units, front and rear, which can be softened for casual trail use or cranked extra firm for woods racing or even track duty.
We also appreciate that Yamaha is considerably easier to own than your typical high-performance off-road bike, and most of the owners we know happily report going well over 80 hours in between top ends. Considering many manufacturers recommend a piston change as often as every 15 hours, Yamaha WR250F achieves a rare pairing of outstanding performance and above-average affordability.
Engine: 250cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke
Weight: 254 pounds (wet)
Seat Height: 37.6 inches
Suspension Travel: 12.2 inches
Best Budget Dirt Bike: Honda CRF250F
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While high-performance, highly tuned dirt bikes have their place, power always comes at a premium both in terms of monetary cost and added upkeep. If you’re just looking for a traditional dirt bike to enjoy recreationally, Honda CRF250F delivers full-sized fun at half the cost, and also happens to be much more forgiving and user-friendly for your average rider.
Because CRF isn’t beholden to the high standards of competition, Honda is free to design it around the things most riders can actually use and enjoy. The air-cooled engine is a great example, combining low-down torque and bulletproof reliability with the added convenience of fuel injection and an electric starter.
For your money you’re also getting front and rear disk brakes, a proper 18- and 21-inch set of wheels, and well-tuned Showa suspension that’s better suited to recreation than the rock-solid setups found on race bikes. We also appreciate that Honda equips CRF250F with a more approachable 34.8-inch seat height, so while the bike is clearly a full-sized motorcycle for adults, it’s still about 3 inches shorter than your typical sky-high motocrosser.
Engine: 250cc air-cooled four-stroke
Weight: 265 pounds (wet)
Seat Height: 34.8 inches
Suspension Travel: 8.5 inches
MSRP: $4,999
Best Dual-Sport Dirt Bike: Suzuki DR650
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Reliable, versatile, simple, and capable: These are the hallmarks of a good dual-sport motorcycle, and Suzuki’s DR650 provides them in spades. Yes, there are much lighter, more powerful, and more technologically advanced options out there like Husqvarna 701, KTM 500 EXC-F, and Honda CRF450RL, but they all add unnecessary cost and complexity to a pure form of riding.
DR650 is simply bulletproof, easy to maintain, and endlessly adaptable. It’s got a few shortcomings, most notably its squishy suspension and uncomfortable seat, but with a few inexpensive upgrades from the folks at Procycle, this bike is easily transformed into a turn-key dual sport that’s ready to ride any distance over any terrain. It’s a travel bike, a trail bike, a commuter, and a damn good time on a twisty road—and one that will deliver problem-free service for many years of use and abuse.
Engine: 644cc air-cooled four-stroke
Weight: 366 pounds (wet)
Seat Height: 34.8 inches
Suspension Travel: 10.2 inches
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Best Lightweight Dual-Sport Dirt Bike: Kawasaki KLX 300
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While Suzuki’s big 650 has thoroughly proven its worth over the last three decades, more dirt-focused riders will likely prefer a lighter, more agile machine, especially if they’re interested in the more technical side of dual sport and adventure riding. Kawasaki’s new and improved KLX 300 is our favorite tool for the job because it retains the simplicity and easygoing character we love in a dual sport, but brings 30 years of technological advancements along for the ride as well.
We’ve been riding the KLX for the last few weeks, and overall we’re impressed with it as a versatile all-rounder. Its adjustable suspension works great straight off the showroom floor, and packs enough travel and damping for more aggressive riding and even the odd jump or two. We’re also big fans of its 292cc engine, which delivers solid low-down grunt for technical off-road work while still maintaining some excitement at the top end thanks to the wonders of liquid cooling.
Most importantly, KLX weighs in a full 60 pounds less than the old-school DR, which gives it a more sprightly feel on trails and twisty backroads alike. Despite its modern refinement and improved suspension, Kawasaki still manages to undercut DR by a few hundred dollars on price, leaving you with enough cash left over for mandatory upgrades like aftermarket bars and foot pegs.
Engine: 292cc liquid-cooled four-stroke
Weight: 302 pounds
Seat Height: 35.2 inches
Suspension Travel: 9.1 inches
Best Play Dirt Bike: Yamaha TW200
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Tall, aggressive dirt bikes aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. Sometimes you just want a laid-back machine. Enter Yamaha’s TW200. Fat tires, drum brakes, and an engine that feels like it was pulled straight out of your riding mower, TW200 may lack performance on paper, but it more than makes up for it with oodles of charm and a go-anywhere attitude.
It may not get you anywhere fast, but TW’s torquey little motor is all but impossible to stall and its massive balloon tires simply plow over slick mud, steep hills, and deep sand alike. Yamaha has been building this bike essentially unchanged since it was first introduced in the 1980s, and over the decades the little TW has proven to be both as reliable as an anvil and as useful as a good pocket knife.
It also happens to be dirt cheap to buy, easy to maintain, and it’s even street-legal, so you can quite literally ride it anywhere and everywhere your heart desires year-round. Take it moto camping on the weekends. Take it to the gas station for beer runs. Take it to all your buddy's houses and teach them how to ride. The beloved TW200 deserves a space in every garage.
Engine: 196cc air-cooled four-stroke
Weight: 278 pounds (wet)
Seat Height: 31.1 inches
Suspension Travel: 5.9 inches
More Dirt Bikes We Love
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A fuel-injected, 300cc, two-stroke motocrosser. Need we say more? Two strokes may have fallen out of favor in professional motocross racing, but if you aren’t looking to go pro, KTM 300 SX is arguably the most grin-inducing machine you can bring to the track.
On its face, 300 SX is essentially a bored-out 250 SX, which translates to both bigger and smoother power delivery across the rev range. The SX’s premium WP suspension competes with the best in the business and features the same completely tool-free adjustment as its four-stroke stablemates.
Of course it’s the aforementioned fuel injection system that really sets KTM apart from its competition. Gone are the days of tearing down carburetors and fiddling with jetting to find the sweet spot for power delivery. SX’s EFI, combined with an electronically controlled power valve, means 300SX automatically adapts to elevation to get the most out of your pre-mix wherever you choose to burn it.
- Engine: 293cc liquid-cooled two-stroke
- Weight: 219 pounds (without fuel)
- Seat Height: 37.7 inches
- Suspension Travel: 11.8 inches
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Yamaha’s flagship motocrosser got a ground-up overhaul in 2023. And while graphics are the only thing that’s changed for 2024 (the Bradshaw-era pink, purple, and white are particularly sweet though), it still manages to edge out its rivals in one of the most competitive segments in the dirt. There may be slightly lighter or slighter more powerful options out there (and we do mean slightly), but as an all-around ready-to-race package, the Yamaha YZ450F is still the bike to beat.
The 450 stands out for its telepathic throttle response, incredibly plush KYB suspension, razor-sharp cornering, and rock-solid chassis. It also happens to be one of the most affordable options in the segment somehow, out-priced only by Honda’s CRF450R and a full $1,000 cheaper than its European stablemates.
As for the YZ’s tech package, everything is as modern as it gets including adjustable traction control, launch control for nailing that hole shot, and access to Yamaha’s outstanding Power Tuner App, which allows owners to wirelessly tune their engine mapping from their phone. The big 450 isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for an absolute weapon to rail around the track, you just can’t go wrong with Yamaha YZ450F.
- Engine: 450cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke
- Weight: 240 pounds (wet)
- Seat Height: 38 inches
- Suspension Travel: 12.2 inches
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While the big 450s may get all the headlines, the arms race in performance between 250cc racers is just as cutthroat as their open-class siblings. This year’s 250 of choice goes to the folks at KTM for their outstanding 250 SX-F, which leads the pack in terms of tech, components, and all-around refinement.
The biggest update to this machine for 2024 is the major refinements to its suspension, as both the 48mm WP Xact air fork and shock have been revised for improved comfort, consistency, and performance. Both units also feature KTM’s outstanding tool-free adjusters, allowing riders to tweak settings on the fly with front and rear hand-operated clickers.
As is often the case with KTM machinery, one of the single greatest advantages of the SX-F is the quality of its componentry. For 2024, that package includes an outstanding Brembo brake package, a Brembo hydraulic clutch, and an electronic quick shifter, as well as a class-leading electronics package that includes traction control, selectable engine mapping, and launch control.
- Engine: 249cc liquid-cooled four-stroke
- Weight: 226 pounds (without fuel)
- Seat Height: 37.8 inches
- Suspension Travel: 11.8 inches
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We got to throw a leg over Stark Varg at this year’s TKO Hard Enduro race, and to say it’s unlike anything else on the planet would be an understatement. Yes, it’s fully electric, and, yes, the top version makes an absolutely face-melting 80 horsepower, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
That’s because, while Varg is currently the fastest dirt bike on the planet, it can also be the most user-friendly thanks to its integrated adjustability. The power output (and how it’s delivered) can be dropped as low as just 10 horsepower using Varg’s full-color touchscreen dash (which is also a removable Android smartphone), as can its selectable traction control settings and regenerative braking. You can even choose between different “flywheel” settings to make Varg emulate the feel of a four- or two-stroke engine: The possibilities are nearly endless.
Another feature we’re extremely impressed by is the personalization offered by Stark on every Varg ordered from the factory. Each bike gets either a 60- or 80-hp motor, delivered with suspension that’s been custom-sprung for the owner’s weight, and buyers also get to choose between an 18- or 19-inch rear wheel, as well as whether they want to have a hand brake or a traditional foot brake like a gas-powered machine.
- Engine: 360 volt water-cooled carbon-sleeve electric
- Weight: 242 pounds (wet)
- Seat Height: 37.3 inches
- Suspension Travel: 12.2 inches
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What to Consider Before Buying a Dirt Bike
When picking the right dirt bike for you, consider the following factors:
Intended Use
Determine how you plan to use the dirt bike. Are you primarily interested in motocross racing, trail riding, or a mix of both on- and off-road riding?
Experience Level
Consider your riding experience and skill level. Motocross bikes are more suitable for experienced riders, while trail and dual-sport bikes are suitable for beginners and intermediate riders.
Size and Weight
Ensure the dirt bike's size and weight are suitable for your body type and riding preferences. Motocross bikes tend to be lighter and more compact, while trail and dual sport bikes offer a more relaxed riding position and larger frame.
Maintenance
Consider the maintenance requirements of the dirt bike, including regular servicing, parts availability, and ease of repairs. Dual sport bikes may require less maintenance compared to high-performance motocross bikes.
Budget
Set a budget for purchasing the dirt bike, including initial costs, insurance, gear, and maintenance expenses. Compare prices and features to find the best value for your money.
What Type of Dirt Bike Is Best for You?
Off-road motorcycles come in various types, each designed for specific purposes and riding conditions. Here's an overview of the three major styles to inform your decision.
Motocross
Designed for racing on closed dirt circuits with big and small jumps, jarring whoops, and tight corners
Boast lightweight frames, high-performance engines, and beefed-up suspensions for advanced, aggressive riding
Feature pared-down bodywork, knobby tires, and jacked-up ground clearance to soak up bumps, jumps, and rough terrain
Prioritize agility, speed, and maneuverability for competitive MX racing
Enduro/Trail
Made to ride on a variety of off-road trails, from smooth dirt paths to challenging mountain trails
Feature a balance between performance and comfort, with more relaxed ergonomics
Have softer suspension settings, electric starters, and smoother power delivery for extended rides over varied terrain
Sometimes come equipped, or can be upgraded, with headlights and taillights to make them adept at night riding or become street legal in some areas
Dual Sport
Designed for both on- and off-road riding
Street-legal and can handle a wide range of terrain, from paved roads to dirt trails
Have features from street and dirt bikes, including moderate suspension travel, lighter-weight construction, and a balanced power delivery
Equipped with essentials for legal road use like headlights, taillights, turn signals, mirrors, and speedometers
The right dirt bike for you depends on your individual preferences, riding style, and intended use. Take the time to research and test ride different models to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Why You Should Trust Me
When I’m not writing about motorcycles, I’m either riding them or wrenching on them, and have been for two decades now. When it comes to dirt bikes, I found my love for riding off-road in the deserts of Southern California, but nowadays I ride enduro and dual-sport bikes back home in the mountains around North Georgia. I’ve gone without a car a few times in my life, but I’ve always had at least one bike in the garage. There aren’t many lifelong addictions I can recommend in good conscience, but life as a two-wheeled speed junkie certainly has its perks. As a wise man once said, being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube.
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