Which would be the best first bike: dual sport or sport bike?

You might try a DR400 Suzuki dual sport. Or the DRZ400 super moto dual sport, but made for the street. Suzuki also makes some smaller sport bikes that look good and have some pop. The SV 650 as really fun and easy to ride. Insurance is low.

Go here and check out the bikes in the Standard and Dual Sport class.

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles...

Suzuki is really the only Company to offer so much variety in Dual Sports and Standard class bikes.

If you are used to riding a KTM 2 stroke you can easily adapt to just about any dual sport or standard bike. In fact thses bikes might not be enough for you after a month or two. You sound like you are going to be a big kid.

I will tell you a few reasons to get a Dual-Sport.

1. You never need to wash them. Its part of the image to keep them dirty.

2. If you drop them you won't have to replace expensive plastic fairing.

3. Plus you can go Off-roading!

4. Plus you look like a BAMF ridin' a Dual-Sport bike wearin' dirt bike gear.

With that being said I'm looking at getting a Yamaha WR250x when I get back to the states. Its a real nice bike you should check it out. I'm about your height I'm 6'2 180lbs and I heard it has a nice seat height and I know its only a 250 but the engine is very peppy. But if you are stuck on KTM you should check out thier KTM SM 690. Its a Dual-sport but a little on the expensive side.

A dual sport is an ideal first bike for the street. I actually sold my 600cc ninja for a DRZ400sm and I have already put more miles on my tard in about 4 months than the 2 years I had the ninja. I just love it that much. And in all honesty, I dont ever see me going back to a sportbike again. My supermoto is easier to ride, funner to ride, rails corners harder...and when Im bored of the street I hit up a fireroad for some kicks.

I never understood why dual-sports are so popular. I see a lot of people riding them, and you can tell to look at them (the bikes, not the people) that most of them never go off-road. I think they get them just for the looks, the image, like 4WD SUVs. Most Hummers never go off-road!

But if you like riding in the dirt, then a dual sport is just what you want. You understand a dual-sport is a compromise, so it can't do everything on-road that a road bike can do and it's not as good in the dirt as a real dirt bike. But what it's missing is mostly stuff you don't need--like a top speed of 180 mph. For all-around fun the dual-sport is probably your best bet.

Dual sport, you won't be disappointed. The KTM's are very fast too. In fact 690 is faster from 0-100-0 than a Ducati 999 and it will corner just as well.

Absolutely prefer a dual sport to a sport bike. If you have the dough, the 450 exc is a splendid choice. Even with knobbies you should be able to spank most sport bike riders in a twisty section. Since you already ride off-road, I don't have to tell you about how much fun that is and the cool places you can go.

My son, a big kid about your size, rode an XR 250 for a season, I got him a KLR 650 to ride now.

Wouldn't dream of getting him a 600 sport bike. The Kaw

will be good for him to ride to school and such. It will be dangerous enough to have him ride the 37 hp Kaw around.

Had so damn many bikes I cant remember them all.

The dual sport will be a much better transition from dirt to street. Sportbikes are extremely fast and most people don't realize just how quickly they can get into trouble on them. Get used to riding on the street and then consider a sportbike.

YES, you should start on a Dual Sport, especially if you are comparing it to a twitchy, tempermental supersport like the R6.

Be sure to check into you state licensing laws. I'm in IL, riders under 18 can only license 150cc and below. Your state may or may not have a similar restriction.