The short answer: lighter than you think. The long answer comes down to four criteria.
Key points
- The more dirt on your route, the lighter the bike should be.
- Check the seat height: from 800 to 940 mm (31.5 to 37 in) in our fleet.
- Two-up or heavily loaded, a big adventure tourer makes the difference.
- Your license must cover the engine size of the bike you choose.
If you are used to big touring bikes, the reflex is to book the biggest bike in the fleet. On Costa Rica's roads, that is not always the best choice. Dirt tracks, river fords, steep gravel climbs and U-turns in villages reward lightness far more than power. A bike that is easy to pick up means a day that stays enjoyable even after a tip-over.
Our rule fits in one sentence: the more dirt on your route, the lighter the bike should be. The rest comes down to four criteria.
Criterion 1: how much dirt is in your trip
If your trip is mostly on asphalt, with a few easy dirt roads, all our bikes will do, and the bigger ones offer more comfort on long stages. If you plan to string together dirt tracks, fords and rough trails, go for the light adventure bikes: the bikes under 175 kg (386 lb) in our fleet are made for that.
- Honda CRF 300L : 142 kg
- Honda CRF 250L : 144 kg
- Honda XR 650 : 156 kg
- KTM 390 Adventure : 172 kg
In between, mid-size adventure bikes and twins built for dirt bridge the gap between long paved stages and fast tracks, for riders who have already ridden off-road.
Criterion 2: your build and the seat height
On dirt, being able to put your feet down is reassuring, especially when stopped on a slope or at the edge of a ford. Seat height therefore matters as much as engine size. In our fleet, it ranges from 800 mm on the Royal Enfield Himalayan to 940 mm on the Honda XR 650. If you are not very tall, tell us when you enquire: we will point you to a bike you will be comfortable on.
Criterion 3: solo or two-up, and your luggage
Two-up, with luggage, comfort and torque matter more: the big tourers of the GS range are made for that. All our bikes have a rear rack and an aluminum platform, and we provide the straps to secure your things. And if you would rather not carry anything, a support vehicle can carry the luggage.
Criterion 4: your license
You need a valid motorcycle license that covers the engine size of the bike you choose; the one from your home country is enough for a tourist stay. If you hold an A2 license, these bikes are in your category:
Our fleet at a glance
Our 15 bikes, with what matters when choosing. Each bike page says what it is made for, and what it isn't.
| Bike | Category | Weight | Seat | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CRF 250L | Light adventure bike | 144 kg | 875 mm | $75 |
| Royal Enfield Himalayan | Rough and ready | 199 kg | 800 mm | $80 |
| KTM 390 Adventure | Adventure · A2 | 172 kg | 855 mm | $85 |
| Kawasaki KLR 650 | Road adventure bike | 210 kg | 870 mm | $85 |
| Honda CRF 300L | Light adventure bike | 142 kg | 880 mm | $100 |
| BMW F 700 GS | Road adventure | 209 kg | 820 mm | $100 |
| Honda XR 650 | Pure enduro | 156 kg | 940 mm | $110 |
| CFMoto 450 MT | Adventure · A2 | 185 kg | 840 mm | $110 |
| BMW F 750 GS | Comfort adventure bike | 224 kg | 815 mm | $125 |
| Honda Transalp 750 | Adventure | 208 kg | 850 mm | $135 |
| Yamaha Ténéré 700 | Big adventure bike | 204 kg | 875 mm | $160 |
| Voge 800 Rally | Big adventure bike | 213 kg | 850 mm | $160 |
| BMW F 800 GS | Dirt-ready adventure bike | 214 kg | 880 mm | $160 |
| CFMoto 800 MT-X | All-terrain adventure bike | 220 kg | 870 mm | $160 |
| BMW R 1250 GS | Flagship adventure bike | 249 kg | 850 mm | $210 |
All our rentals include unlimited mileage, compulsory insurance and 24/7 assistance. A deposit of $800 is taken as a card pre-authorization at departure, and released if the bike comes back in the condition it left in.
