In today’s age, the best dirt bike brands of 2023 are so close in performance, it would be impossible to name a single best brand. From Beta to Yamaha, this list will help you to make a decision on which dirt bike is going to complement your riding style the most.
When choosing a dirt bike, there are many factors to consider to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable experience. Things such as engine size, seat height, power/torque, and your skill level should all be taken into consideration.
For an absolute beginner, trail bikes or pit bikes may be a smarter choice due to the lower amount of power and the room for error. If your a seasoned racer or you’d like to move up to something bigger and badder – a motocross bike is what you’ll want.
This list has been compiled using the help of Motocross Action Magazine and Dirt Rider.
Top Dirt Bike Brands
- Yamaha
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Sugi Sugi via Pexels Yamaha has been producing competitive dirt bikes since the 1970s, and they only get better as the years go by. With riders such as Haiden Deegan, Justin Cooper, and Eli Tomac, these bikes are meant to be at the front of the pack.
Yamaha YZ125 Yamaha YZ250 Yamaha YZ250F Yamaha YZ450F Power: 33.5 HP 49 HP 39.5 HP 59 HP Weight: 207 pounds 227 pounds 234 pounds 245 pounds Price: $6,999 MSRP $7,899 MSRP $8,599 MSRP $9,899 MSRP In 2023, the YZ lineup features completely fresh upgrades that take these bikes to a whole new level. Additions to the engine include:
- New forged aluminum piston
- Reshaped exhaust and intake ports with larger diameter titanium intake valves
- Redesigned cylinder body & crankshaft/balancer assembly
- Dry sump lubrication system that outperforms the previous wet sump system
- Honda
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Many riders have favored Honda dirt bikes and ATVs for as long as I can remember. As a teen, I’d race against friends with CRF250R’s and was always a bit jealous due to how well these dirt bikes performed and looked.
Honda CRF150R Honda CRF250R Honda CRF450R Power: 23.5 HP 37 HP 52.5 HP Weight: 185 pounds 229 pounds 245 pounds Price: $5,399 MSRP $8,299 MSRP $9,699 MSRP With revolutionary designs such as the dual exhaust(previously seen on the CRF450R and CRF250R) and steering stabilizers added to improve handling, Honda has earned its reputation as a leader in dirt bike brands. Honda is also one of the most reputable brands when it comes to smaller bikes such as the CRF110F or CRF100F.
- GasGas
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The popularity of GasGas dirt bikes has skyrocketed in America over the past few years. With riders like Justin Barcia and Pierce Brown tearing up the competition on these dirt bikes, there is no doubt about the quality.
GasGas MC125 GasGas MC250 GasGas MC250F GasGas MC350F GasGas MC450F Power: 38 HP 49 HP 39 HP 58 HP 62 HP Weight: 195 pounds 210 pounds 224 pounds 225 pounds 227 pounds Price: $7,349 MSRP $8,349 MSRP $9,199 MSRP $9,899 MSRP $10,199 MSRP Features like a uniquely designed frame and an all-aluminum subframe set these bikes apart, making podium placements a common occurrence. While it is true that the GasGas models seem to be a year or so behind KTM’s models, it works out in the sense that these dirt bikes get the new technology once the bugs have already been worked out. I personally love the way that these bikes look and think that within a few years, this will be one of the most popular dirt bikes in motocross and supercross.
- Stark Varg
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The Stark Varg is the only electric dirt bike that you will see on this list – but don’t let that fool you – these bikes are absolutely insane. With 30% more power than a modern 450 motocross bike, the carbon sleeve motor puts out an incredible 80hp and 275Nm of torque. The Stark Varg dirt bike utilizes the worlds lightest motocross frame which equates to a total bike weight of 118kg/260 pounds.
Power: Weight: Price: Stark Varg 60 HP/80 HP 260 pounds $12,900/$13,900 Now I’m sure you’re already thinking – “Well how long is the battery going to last me?” I personally was curious about this as well after hearing of the Stark Varg, and after some research I was met with a somewhat expected answer. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect roughly 6 hours depending how you are riding. This works out to be around the same amount of riding on a full tank of gas in a modern 450. For a motocross rider who just does a few 30 minute moto’s per day, this may not be an issue. For Enduro or cross country riders, this is another story.
- KTM
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Photo by Tesson Thaliath on Unsplash KTM has been a leader in motocross bikes for longer than I have been alive. At around the age of 8 or 9, I had grew out of my Honda XR50 and needed something in-between the XR and a 65CC to continue racing. My next bike ended up being a KTM 50SX – and wow, was I blown away! As a timid little boy, that was the fastest thing I had ever thrown my leg over. And yes, I will admit – I was quite scared of it at first.
KTM 125SX KTM 250SX KTM 250SX-F KTM 350SX-F KTM 450SX-F Power: 30 HP 49 HP 41 HP 57 HP 59 HP Weight: 216 pounds 219 pounds 223 pounds 225 pounds 239 pounds Price: $8,099 MSRP $9,149 MSRP $10,199 MSRP $10,899 MSRP $12,099 MSRP KTM dirt bikes are Austrian (NOT Australian) and are considered one of, if not the best dirt bikes by many riders. Over 5 AMA Supercross Championships and over 4 outdoor championships have been won on these bikes in the US alone. Among these riders – Grant Langston, Ryan Dungey, Ken Roczen, Cooper Webb, and more.
- Kawasaki
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Kawasaki is among some of the most well known brands across the world. They offer models for all types of riding from trail riding, to motocross, dual sport, street bikes, and even UTVs.
Photo by punlob from Pexels Kawasaki KX250 Kawasaki KX450 Kawasaki KX450SR Power: 40 HP 52 HP 56 HP Weight: 227 pounds 233 pounds 233 pounds Price: $8,799 MSRP $10,399 MSRP $12,699 MSRP For all you old school riders, no – Kawasaki did not start making two-stroke big bikes again, they just dropped the F after the model name. Riders like Ryan Villopoto have made a name for themselves on these dirt bikes. Ryan rode for Kawasaki from 2005 up until 2015, racking up a total of 83 combined wins and 10 championships. Other riders like James ‘Bubba’ Stewart made game-changing breakthroughs in motocross by pulling out techniques such as the “Bubba Scrub” on a Kawasaki dirt bike. On top of this, Kawasaki is a leader in not only motocross bikes, but also trail bikes, side-by-sides, motorcycles, and more.
- Beta
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While Beta has primarily been focused on trial dirt bikes over the years, this brand is expanding their boundaries and getting involved in the motocross scene along with other motorcycle brands(I won’t be mentioning these just yet).
Power: Weight: Price: Beta 300RX 40 HP 220 pounds $9,399 While Beta does have a four-stroke 450RX model in the works, it is currently only a prototype. Beta was founded in 1905 as an Italian bicycle brand. Over the years, this evolved into a dirt bike legacy with the ’70s being the highlight of this change. By forming relationships with KTM and Suzuki, Beta was able to take their dirt bikes to the level of quality that we see today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which dirt bike brand is the best for beginners?
When choosing a dirt bike brand, there is no “best” brand for any specific rider. Consider the factors for your type of riding and make a decision that will give you the most enjoyable riding experience.
My two favorite brands are:
- Kawasaki: Since I was on a 65cc, the majority of my dirt bikes have been Kawasaki’s.
- Husqvarna: With the same impressive features seen on KTMs – plus amazing styling, and top-notch performance – Husqvarna is surely my next go-to brand when looking for a new motocross bike.
What is the most reliable dirt bike brand?
Just like the previous answer, this will depend on what type of riding you do, your skill level, your height and weight, and any other similar factors.
As a general rule of thumb, dirt bikes designed with less power such as trail bikes will be more reliable in the long run due a lesser powerful, lower revving engine.
Be sure to perform proper maintenance on your dirt bike, as neglecting this will compromise the reliability of any dirt bike.
Which dirt bike brand offers the best models?
While this may be personal preference, brands like Yamaha, Honda, or Kawasaki offer the widest range of models to suit the needs of any type of rider.
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