Buying a small dual-sport in America has become a weird exercise in deciding which compromise annoys you the least. You can spend $3,399 on a Honda XR150L, accept its modest performance, and enjoy the mechanical complexity of a garden tool. Or you can step up to something such as the Honda CRF300L, which starts at $5,749 before its $600 destination charge. There’s surprisingly little between those two extremes.
CFMoto may have just built the motorcycle that belongs in that empty space. The company recently introduced the 250 Dual in Malaysia, where it costs RM9,888 (that's around $2,400 USD) and combines a liquid-cooled 249cc single with proper 21-inch and 18-inch spoked wheels. It makes about 24 horsepower and 16.6 pound-feet, while dual-channel ABS, LED lighting, a digital display, and a USB port all come standard.
