The thrill of riding an off-road motorbike is well captured in the 2004 TV mini-series Long Way Round. The series follows Hollywood actor Ewan McGregor and friend Charley Boorman as they ride 32,000km from London to New York City on off-road bikes, touring through Europe, Asia, Alaska and North America.1
No doubt this classic adventure tale has inspired adventure-loving Australians to explore their own vast continent on two wheels of the dirt bike variety.
In 2023 alone, more than 965,000 motorcycles were registered in Australia.2 And the popularity of dirt biking is evident in the fact that the dirt bike market in Australia had an estimated value of US$848.98 million in 2024.3
For those thinking of joining the off-road pack, we’ve pulled together answers to some of the questions you might like to ask yourself before making the jump, including a breakdown of the different types of off-road motorbikes, what to look for when buying, and how to cover your purchase with motorcycle insurance.
What are the different types of off-road motorbikes?
Once you have your motorcycle licence, a good question to ask yourself is what type of off-road riding you’re looking for, suggests Rhys Griffiths, Motorcycle Manager for the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.
“If you’re looking to do adventure riding, there’s a suite of motorcycles for that,” Griffith says. Establish the purpose first. Then, secondly, just find something in your experience range.”
“Quite often people want the latest and greatest but without experience, those bikes may not necessarily be the best for them. In fact, they could be detrimental – too much horsepower, or too highly strung. My advice would be to start smaller and lighter, (rather) than bigger and heavier.”
6 types of off-road motorbike
1. Quad
A quad bike – also known as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is an off-road bike with four wheels instead of two, with a saddle-style seat and often equipped with a roll-over protection cage.4 Popular for work and recreational activities, there are more than 300,000 quad bikes in use around Australia. Although, novices beware – quad bikes are inherently susceptible to rollover. To ride one of these safely requires significant coordination, strength, judgement and experience.5
2. Adventure
Quite substantial in weight and size, adventure bikes are typically suited to long-distance riding on paved roads, while being better able to tackle off-road conditions than the average road-going motorcycle. They are usually equipped with advanced suspension designed to soak up rough terrain and may have features like cruise control, heated grips and heated seats.6
3. Trail bikes
Trail bikes – sometimes known as dual sport motorcycles – are user-friendly bikes built for leisurely off-road riding across a variety of terrains. They are closely related to enduro bikes (see below), but unlike enduro bikes, they are not built for racing.7
4. Electric
If you’re thinking of buying an electric motorbike, your ears might thank you. The electric off-road motorbike represents a quieter alternative to gasoline-powered models. They produce no emissions, require less maintenance and provide instant torque, which can make them suitable for both beginners and experienced riders.8 Some models, such as the Sur-Ron Ultra Bee MX, allow you to recharge a depleted battery on or off the bike.9
5. Motorcross
These light, high-performance bikes are designed for track riding and competition, and cannot be registered for road use.7
6. Enduro
Designed for racing, enduro bikes are usually quieter than motocross bikes with more protection and bigger fuel tanks for long-distance competition.7
Some key features of off-road motorbikes
Despite the many types of off-road motorbikes, some features are consistent across the class. These bikes are typically lightweight, with higher ground clearance to help avoid obstacles such as rocks and logs while riding on rough terrain. Knobbly tyres with deep treads are a given, to support grip on rough, muddy and rocky ground.
What’s the best dirt bike you can buy?
Griffiths says you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to off-road motorbike options, with a price range to suit most budgets.
“In terms of off-road bikes, Yamaha, KTM, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki – they’re the big brands that are selling the big volumes,” he says. “When you start talking about adventure bikes, you’ve got BMW, Triumph, Aprilia, Harley-Davidson – just about all the brands have adventure off-road bikes now.”
Based on awards, reviews and critical reception, here are three off-road motorbike options to consider.
1. Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition – from $28,6959
A finalist at the 2023 bikesales Bike of the Year awards, the Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition is “at home on any road or surface”, according to bikesales. The Husqvarna adventure bike drew praise for its high level of standard equipment and overall versatility.10
2. KTM 390 Adventure – from $11, 24511
With a 373cc single-cylinder engine capacity, the dual-sport KTM 390 Adventure was the “clear winner” of the 2023 bikesales Learner Bike of the Year award. “It is a bike that learner riders will find easy to ride, but still usable and engaging long after they obtain their full licence,” the publication noted in its comments.12
3. Beta RR300 – from $13,94513
The Italian-made Beta RR 300 was crowned winner in an Enduro group test by Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine in 2023. The 300cc two-stroke RR 300 was commended for its engine, suspension and price point. In their concluding review, Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine described it as “one smooth ride that has enough range to keep the majority of (our) test riders smiling”.14
What’s the difference between two-stroke and four-stroke?
In motorbike engines, "strokes" refer to the number of piston movements within the cylinder during a single power cycle. A two-stroke engine, known for its ability to complete the cycle in just two movements, can often produce more power than its four-stroke counterpart.15
Unless you’re a motocross racer, Griffiths recommends opting for a four-stroke off-road motorbike. “There aren’t many two-stroke bikes,” he says. “Very few two-stroke bikes would be used for longer distance or road-style riding. They’re mainly reserved for the motocross track, racing and so on. They tend to be more highly strung.
“Four-stroke is, by far, the most popular and versatile engine out there.”
Where can I legally ride my motorbike off-road?
The answer to this question is jurisdiction dependent, according to Griffiths, with some states and territories having restrictions in place for where you can ride off-road. You’ll also usually need a state-issued motorcycle licence to ride in public areas, so it might be worth checking the restrictions in your state or territory.16
“Check the local government websites and then, secondly, perhaps look at some off-road riding areas, as in parks and places that are designated riding areas,” Griffiths says. “Be very careful not to cross over into biking, horse-riding, (those kinds) of areas.”
Safety considerations for off-road riding
Riding motorcycles off-road can be dangerous. Griffiths stresses the importance of appropriate training, riding within your experience level and to the prevailing conditions, and equipping yourself with the appropriate motorcycle safety gear.
“In off-road riding, you’re up against all sorts of obstacles, unfamiliar terrain and terrain that can be quite challenging,” he says. “That’s half the fun but it’s really important that it’s ‘all gear, all the time’. Obviously, a helmet, boots and gloves, but body armour, knee braces, knee guards, that sort of thing – it’s really important. I couldn’t stress that highly enough, and particularly for the beginner (rider).”
Getting your off-road motorbike insured
“We love motorcycles at Youi and many of our staff enjoy getting out on two wheels,” says Marni Jackson, Youi’s Head of Product for Vehicle, Lifestyle and Leisure. “When it comes to motorcycle insurance, it’s important to choose the level of cover that’s right for you and to know whether there are any limitations when venturing off-road.”17
“With off-road motorcycling, we don’t cover any motorcycle being used on any permanent or temporary racetrack or raceway, or for motocross, racing, trials, speed tests, pacing, contests, rallies, endurance tests or skills tests.”17
Jackon notes that Youi will cover riding gear with its Comprehensive and Third Party Fire & Theft insurance.18
Once you’ve chosen an off-road motorbike for your riding adventures – and perhaps mapped out a Long Way Round-style trip of your own – it might be a good time to consider starting a quote with Youi for motorcycle insurance that suits your situation.
Note: Information in this article is relevant as of March 2025 and by its nature will change over time. Check relevant manufacturer websites for price and specification updates if this information is important to you.
1 Source: Apple TV – Long Way Round
2 Source: Statista – Number of motorcycles on register in Australia as of January 2023, by state
3 Source: Expert Market Research – Australia Dirt Bike Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034
4 Source: NSW Government – Quad bike and all-terrain vehicles: Registration, uses and equipment
5 Source: SA Government – Quad bikes
6 Source: bikesales – 6 reasons to buy an adventure motorcycle, July 2024
7 Source: bikesales – Advice: What is a dirt bike?, May 2021
8 Source: ACT Government – Zero emission motorbikes
9 Source: Husqvarna – Begin your Expedition
10 Source: Bikesales – Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition: bikesales Bike of the Year 2023 finalist, November, 2023
11 Source: KTM – 2024 KTM 390 ADVENTURE
12 Source: Bikesales – KTM 390 Adventure: 2023 bikesales Learner Bike of the Year Winner, December 2023
13 Source: Beta Motorcycles – RR 300
14 Source: Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine – 2023 300 Hard Enduro Shootout, February 2023
15 Red Bull – Different strokes for different folks: The 2-stroke vs 4-stroke debate, December 2022
16 Motorcycling Australia – Recreational Riding
17 For full details, see the Motorcycle PDS.
18 Available with Comprehensive or Third Party Fire & Theft policies. Exclusions, limits and fees apply. For full details, see the Motorcycle PDS.
