These are the best air-cooled motorcycles you can still buy in 2026

[Tom]

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=yammie+noob+best+2026+bikes+air+cooled+bikes&&mid=30BFBA64629FFCCBF87630BFBA64629FFCCBF876&churl=&FORM=VRDGAR

Wait for it! 

[DoubleGuzzi]

I gave up after 2 seconds: don't need a video of a couple of (look at me, me, me) eejits prattling on, when a bit of decent prose will do.
 

[Tom]

Go to the middle of the video and then the end. 

[Perazzimx14]

To save everyone some time I FF'd to the end and here is what are billed as "Best NEW air cooled bikes ranked for 2026"

8. Yamaha V-Star 250
7. BMW R18
6. Ducati Scrambler
5. Kawasaki W800
4. Moto Guzzi V7
3. BMW R12 GS
2. Royal Enfield 650
1.Moto Guzzi V85TT

We all know the list is bollocks as the DR650 is not listed 1 thru 8.

[PeteS]

The DR should be on the list but it would be the only true dual sport. The rest are essentially street bikes. Maybe thats why it wasn’t considered.

Pete

[GuzziNZ]

Apart from America where else can you buy a new DR ?

[bad Chad]

The DR should be on the list but it would be the only true dual sport. The rest are essentially street bikes. Maybe thats why it wasn’t considered.

Pete

So the DR by your thinking is “essentially a dirt bike “?

[SIR REAL ED]

That’t be “bollocks” P.

Wouldn't "that't" be "that'd"?

Enquiring minds want to know!

[SIR REAL ED]

Apart from America where else can you buy a new DR ?

That's a good question.  Still available here as a 2027 model.  31 years is an impressive model run!

[blu guzz]

Somebody with a microphone's stupid list. You can make your own list.

[PeteS]

So the DR by your thinking is “essentially a dirt bike “?

I wouldn’t buy it if I was looking for a street bike. Who really cares about what these guys say anyway?

Pete

[Huzo]

Wouldn't "that't" be "that'd"?

Enquiring minds want to know!

Wonderful..!

[Perazzimx14]

I wouldn’t buy it if I was looking for a street bike. Who really cares about what these guys say anyway?

Pete

In my DR650 phase I had one set up for dirt and another set up as my touring rig. Acerbis 5 gallon tank, re-valves the rear shock and HD spring, added HD springs and gold valves to the forks, seat concepts commuter seat, FCR-39 carb, Happy Trails pannier racks and Pelican cases for panniers. Ran shinko 777 front and a 712 rear and it was a hoot. Then I got motard wheels of rit and being able to run 120/17 from and 140/17 rear it was even more of a hoot. Only issue was you weren't banging out a 1000 mile day but 300 or 400 was doable. Had a lot of fun riding with a buddy in the innards of WV me on the DR him of an F-650.

[michaell32]

I wouldn’t buy it if I was looking for a street bike. Who really cares about what these guys say anyway?

Pete

I can think of better street bikes as well but my DR650 is much more comfortable on long trips than my California.  The only reason I haven't sold the California is I want to keep more aggressive tires on the DR650 and not wear them down on the highway.  For highway trips under two hours I take the Guzzi but all other rides I take the DR650.

[Dirk_S]

I’ve been side-eyeballing the DR650 as a potential bike to get one day. Sure, my V7 III dual-sport conversion is the same dimensional specs (weight, ground clearance, rake & trail) as a KLR and R100 GS with power right in between, but the DR650 has better power-to-weight ratio. It’s significantly lighter and has way less electronics. The U.S., Canada, NZ, and Australia should count ourselves lucky that Suzuki continues to manufacture these bikes for pretty much our markets.

Edited to include the Commonwealths not in Europe.

[DoubleGuzzi]

.. the DR650’s lighter and has better power-to-weight ratio. It’s significantly lighter, and has way less electronics.

That really caught my eye - impressive! I'd need a considerably lower seat though. 

[Turin]

Good Video. Nice to see Guzzi getting lot's of love.

[Perazzimx14]

I’ve been side-eyeballing the DR650 as a potential bike to get one day. Sure, my V7 III dual-sport conversion is the same dimensional specs (weight, ground clearance, rake & trail) as a KLR and R100 GS with power right in between, but the DR650 has better power-to-weight ratio. It’s significantly lighter and has way less electronics. The U.S., , Canada, NZ, and Australia should count ourselves lucky that Suzuki continues to manufacture these bikes for pretty much our markets.

Edited to include the Commonwealths not in Europe.

The DR650 is a fine do all bike but if you weight more than 100lbs plan on some suspension work as the  bike is at a bare minimum woefully undersprung. I will say a Gold valve kits for the rear and Gold Valves or Ricor Intimidators and fork brace in the front along with properly weighted springs went a looooong way in ride quality. The vacuum BST carb is also mediocre at best and a pumper carb like the FCR really goes a long way in instantaneous throttle response.

I have owned 4 DR650's and few years back bought a DRZ400 and honestly preferred it over the DR650. Same basic electronics as the DR650 but lighter, more nimble and was able to install a kick starter kit in conjunction with the factory electric start to make it the ultimate doomsday machine. Both are as reliable as anvils and almost as simple.

[faffi]

I have a 1990 Yamaha XT600Z Tenere waiting in the wings, which is basically another brother from a different mother to the DR650 set up for touring more than offroad.

[Dirk_S]

I have owned 4 DR650's and few years back bought a DRZ400 and honestly preferred it over the DR650. Same basic electronics as the DR650 but lighter, more nimble and was able to install a kick starter kit in conjunction with the factory electric start to make it the ultimate doomsday machine. Both are as reliable as anvils and almost as simple.

But the DRZ isn’t air-cooled ;)

[SIR REAL ED]

I have owned 4 DR650's and few years back bought a DRZ400 and honestly preferred it over the DR650. Same basic electronics as the DR650 but lighter, more nimble and was able to install a kick starter kit in conjunction with the factory electric start to make it the ultimate doomsday machine. Both are as reliable as anvils and almost as simple.

An apt description.  For the financially challenged, a jet kit and a Seat Concepts seat cover are pretty good band-aids.

All motorcyclists should at least test ride both a DR650 & a DRZ400.  They are surprisingly underrated.

Both are versatile, but somewhat different beasts.  The mid range torque of the DR make it a more fun street bike.  But in the dirt, there is often too much torque available.  The lighter weight and better suspension of the DRZ make it the superior bike for off-road.

Depending upon usage of course, either bike is a jack-of-all-trades choice for owning if the situation is "I can only own one motorcycle."

Peter Egan summed it up well many moons ago:

https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/2002/10/01/a-tale-of-two-suzukis

[Perazzimx14]

But the DRZ isn’t air-cooled ;)

Who cares! The liquid cooling on the DRZ is dead reliable and if the argument is radiator related the DR650 also has a oil cooler (radiator) haing off the right side.

If only Suzuki would offer either the DR or DRZ with tubeless wheels I;d probably still one one or both. I can eve accept the lack of 6th gear but the tubeless think is a deal breaker for me.

[Dirk_S]

Who cares! The liquid cooling on the DRZ is dead reliable and if the argument is radiator related the DR650 also has a oil cooler (radiator) haing off the right side.

If only Suzuki would offer either the DR or DRZ with tubeless wheels I;d probably still one one or both. I can eve accept the lack of 6th gear but the tubeless think is a deal breaker for me.

Sorry, was just trying to stay on-topic. I imagine we could go on quite the tangent talking about competing liquid bikes being superior, etc.