Building the Affordable Adventure Motorcycle! | Lifan KPX250 Budget ADV
- Randy Reek, The Great Out There
- Jul 7
- 10 min read
Updated: Nov 3
The Lifan KPX250 is the SLEEPER budget ADV motorcycle – ready for you to customize!
The Lifan KPX250 is a fuel-injected dual sport with a 6-speed transmission. This dual sport motorcycle is the BEST VALUE in its class – and the motorcycle that I chose for this Budget Adventure Motorcycle project.
There are a few requirements that I have for an “adventure motorcycle”.
First, an “ADV” motorcycle is not a pure, offroad motocross bike. I don't need a motorcycle that can make long jumps. An "ADV" motorcycle is also not a refined touring cruiser.
The list of “adventure motorcycle specs” starts with:
Mid-range power. For me, this is a 250cc or 300cc motorcycle.
I know, people have circled the globe on 125cc cycles, but a 250cc is the minimum I consider to be capable of carrying the load for a multi-day adventure AND highway-capable (NOT including freeways!) There are still times when a 250cc will have trouble reaching the speed limit in the mountains or loaded with gear into a stiff headwind.
Fuel economy. A 250cc dual sport offers the best combination of horsepower and miles per gallon.
There are many dual sport and “adventure motorcycles” from 450cc to 1250cc but the added horsepower is unnecessary when you are merrily cruising backroads at 25 to 40 miles per hour.
Lightweight - although adventure motorcycle weight is subjective.
Weightlifters might clean and jerk a 400-pound barbell. But this is NOT the same as lifting a heavy, bulky motorcycle in slippery mud or loose rock with the motorcycle on its side and the wheels uphill!
Many riders have problems just balancing a top-heavy motorcycle in a level, paved parking lot! All bets are off when you are trying to negotiate a series of ledges riding uphill, a deep-water crossing, or a few miles of drifted sand. The saying goes, “NO one ever wished for a HEAVIER motorcycle in the rough stuff!”
A 250cc adventure motorcycle is a happy compromise in WEIGHT, FEATURES and COST of ownership.
At around 300-pounds (unloaded), the small dual sport is heavy enough to face oncoming highway traffic. But it also light enough that I can lever it back on the wheels – using good technique and posture, of course. While I enjoy group rides and welcome a team effort, I mainly ride alone and need the confidence that I can handle anything I might encounter solo.
By definition, the dual sport motorcycle is a street-legal vehicle, accepted on the roads and highways everywhere.
While my 250cc dual sport is capable of hitting 65 miles per hour on the highway, these high speed miles are both hard on the motorcycle and rider! It is more enjoyable and economical to stick to lightly traveled secondary highways. Better yet, I greatly prefer to concentrate on rural gravel roads.
Dual sport ADV motorcycles are equipped with tires that are also a compromise.
The tires have a moderate tread for varied road conditions and are DOT-approved for highway speeds. Most small dual sports have spoked wheels to save weight, typically with a 21” diameter front wheel and 18” rear wheel.
The dual sport versatility also requires taller and stiffer suspension than road cycles. This is not hardcore motocross caliber for long jumps, but with double the travel of most street bikes to negotiate offroad mud, ruts, and rocks. The increased travel provides both comfort over varied conditions and long miles. Long travel suspension, particularly the coil-over rear Uni-shock, also is perfect to support added adventure touring baggage.
How did I select the Lifan KPX250 for my “Budget Adventure Motorcycle”?
I have owned multiple small dual sports and "adventure" motorcycles.
For comparison, years ago I owned a Yamaha DT175, which has since been updated to the current XT250. Yamaha added fuel-injection but still hasn’t modernized the current version with a 6-speed gearbox. It still has an old-fashioned cable speedometer and doesn’t even have a tachometer or fuel gauge. While the XT has earned many fans, it is grossly overpriced compared to the KPX250. With added dealer fees, the XT250 sells for TWICE the price of the KPX250 - and lackluster sales have caused it to be dropped from the line for 2026.
About 10 years ago, I rode the western Trans-American Trail on a Yamaha WR250R. This model was expensive then - and has also been discontinued. To prepare this dual sport for a long adventure, I added over $500 in parts to make the WR250R “ADV-capable”. The WR had a great engine, also found in the 250X motocross version. Unfortunately, the WR shared the same extreme height and hard seat as the offroad model. I logged over 1,000 miserable miles on the WR on the TAT, despite an added seat pad AND sheepskin cover – then sold it as soon as I returned home!
Since then, I also owned two CSC 250cc "adventure" bikes and a CSC 229cc dual sport. The 250's were a little too heavy and the 229cc TT250 was a little to primitive for serious adventure riding.
The remaining dual sport choices were the Honda CRF300L and Kawasaki KLX300. Both motorcycles have loyal owners. Both have been recently upgraded from 250cc motors. Both also share retail prices of $6,500 or more with greedy dealer markups. Both also suffer from a long list of deficiencies that ADV riders overcome with expensive aftermarket parts: larger gas tank, suspension modifications, better gearing, handlebars, foot pegs, saddle, LED lights, and more – all adding to the total expense. Some standard features can’t be overcome, including the mediocre dash and a long list of cheap plastic parts.
I never seriously considered the DRZ400 or KTM390, both of which have fewer standard features than the KPX250 and sell for THREE times the price!!!
I selected the Lifan KPX250 as the Budget Adventure Motorcycle over the competition for the following reasons:
The KPX250 is fuel-injected with a 6-speed transmission: power combined with the low and high gearing for both on and offroad.
The KPX250 is NOT water-cooled. Liquid-cooling is a plus for road bikes but not required for casual touring. The KPX can be outfitted with an oil cooler, but I have not encountered any overheating in my riding.
The Lifan KPX250 is fitted with the standard 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear wheel found on most dual sports - BUT is supplied with high quality ALUMINUM rims instead of cheap steel wheels! I have found the stock 50/50 tires to be perfect for my riding on gravel roads and light "motorbikepacking".
The KPX comes standard with full LED lighting – high and low beam headlights, taillight, and turn signals. It also has a full digital dash with fuel gauge, clock, gear indicator, trip odometer, speedo and tachometer.
The KPX has modern, tapered handlebars with oversized 1.125-inch clamps for durability on the trail.
The KPX250 has a strong, steel, 3-gallon gas tank! Most dual sports do not have adventure tours in mind and only carry 2-gallons of fuel. Combined with an average of over 75 miles per gallon, the KPX exceeds the 200-mile range that other bikes can only match with bulky spare gas cans or expensive plastic replacement tanks. For comparison, the Yamaha and Kawasaki models STILL have 2-gallon gas tanks and NO fuel gauge!
The KPX250 INCLUDES a rear rack. All other models have rear racks available as an accessory – starting at over $100.00.
The KPX250 includes a wide, soft, comfortable saddle! Other dual sports share the same narrow, hard seat as offroad models - and force adventure riders to spend more for aftermarket upgrades.
The only downside to the KPX250 is the current lack of accessories.
There are also fewer Lifan dealers, although the selection of accessories is improving as more fans demand aftermarket parts. The good news is that many dual sport accessories are somewhat generic. For example, I have installed a windshield marketed for the DR650 or XR650. I also adapted an aluminum engine skid plate designed for the WR250R and WR250X.
Maybe the biggest advantage of the Lifan KPX250 was the online ordering from Venom Motorsports, the largest American Lifan distributor. Within a week of placing my order, a pre-delivered KPX250 was delivered to my address.
If you value your time and blood pressure you try to AVOID motorcycle dealers! I did NOT have to endure the aggravation of a motorcycle dealership, salesman, finance manager, and service manager all adding their excessive fees to the inflated MSRP prices.
Bottom line: I purchased the well-equipped, comfortable, and capable Lifan KPX250 budget adventure motorcycle for less than half the price of the competition.
Side Note: Are you unfamiliar with Lifan? The Lifan Group annual production includes over 230,000 automobiles, 1.3 million complete motorcycles, 3.7 million engines, and more than 350,000 general power products. Lifan Group has grown to become the Number One motorcycle and automobile exporter in Chongqing, supplying Lifan branded vehicles, co-branded products, and private-labeled vehicles and machinery to over 110 countries and regions around the globe.
Lifan has been a private-label motor supplier to multiple brands, including Honda. Today, Lifan Group holds over 10,000 manufacturing and design patents. Lifan Group utilizes state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies for design, manufacturing, and quality control. The company employs over 10,000 workers and has consistently been listed in China’s top 500 enterprises, with sales exceeding $4.5 billion USD.
A dual sport motorcycle is a SIMPLE product for the largest manufacturer and exporter! The Lifan KPX250 included features that were only available at an extra cost on other models costing more than twice as much. The KPX also includes a TWO-year warranty – which is DOUBLE that of the more expensive alternatives.
Now that we have selected the KPX250 as the base for the Budget Adventure Motorcycle and selected the KPX250, what are the necessary ADV modifications?
As mentioned earlier, an adventure motorcycle REQUIRES a rear rack. The KPX250 checks this off with a STANDARD steel rack. To make carrying a tail bag duffel more secure, I added a plate cut from HDPE plastic. Secured with web straps, my rear bag is rock solid!
Next, I installed an aluminum skid plate. I don’t ride motocross trails or tracks on the KPX250. The skid plate serves as a shield from the constant slinging of rocks, sand, and mud. This skid plate was designed for the Yamaha WR250 and required that I drill a few holes to match the threaded mounts on the KPX frame. Here is the link for more info: https://amzn.to/4lCIS0p
Riding long miles, day after day on an adventure, means that you are going to be confronting the full gamut of weather conditions. This includes extreme temperature fluctuations. I have woken to frosty conditions in the mountains in mid-July. I have ridden through rain squalls five times in a single day touring Alaska.
You can’t be safe and comfortable with frozen hands! I install heated grips on every adventure motorcycle. My choice is the Heaterz brand and the Premium Adventure model. Here is the link for more info: https://amzn.to/4kRx76z
These grips have a soft, grippy texture. The Premium model includes the “Intelligent Controller” with five heat levels and a sensor that turns the heaters off after you shut off the motorcycle - so the grips cannot drain the battery while you’re stopped for breakfast. I love these grips and have installed at least six sets on various motorcycles over the years. There is nothing like warm hands when you are riding on a cold, rainy day!
I don’t install heated grips without also adding hand guards. I have used many brands over the years. Most clamp to the handlebars inside the levers, then attach to the ends of the bars. The KPX has a closed bar on the throttle side, so I installed a set of hand guards that are open at the outer ends, and these are similar to the guards some brands use as standard equipment.
Hand guards add both protection and warm blocking the wind and brush. They offer some protection for the levers in a fall. Here is the link for more info: https://amzn.to/4k0iNqO
I added a simple windscreen to the stock fairing. This windscreen offers better wind flow over my helmet. The main advantage is deflecting rain and bugs from my body. It also protects the dash and my phone GPS from the elements. Here is the link for more info: https://amzn.to/3Tr6l8T
My phone is connected to a USB outlet on the handlebars. This outlet is wired direct to the battery. Between the battery and handlebars is an SAE connection that allows me to connect a battery tender between rides. USB outlet link: https://amzn.to/4lIN1Ae Battery Tender link: https://amzn.to/4koSwTu
Finally, I replaced the stock mirrors with folding dual sport mirrors. I prefer the shape of these mirrors for added field of view. The strong mounts allow me to fold them in and prevent breakage in the case of a fall. These are the models I have now used on several cycles: https://amzn.to/3TUrmsC
Summary: the Lifan KPX250 Budget Adventure Motorcycle:
I have spent more than DOUBLE for other brands of dual sport motorcycles, all that had cheap components and saddles as comfortable as a 2x4. Then I needed to add $500 to over $1,000 in aftermarket accessories to match the STANDARD equipment on the KPX250!
The KPX250 is comfortable to ride and stable on both the highway and back roads. Best of all, the KPX250 has a butter smooth engine and is backed by a TWO-year, 12,000-mile warranty - that's best in class!
The KPX250 loafs along on back roads at 80 miles per gallon! Why spend TWICE the price and ride in LESS comfort, at the same speed?
This video shows a recent 135-mile dual sport ride on Wisconsin forest roads. The video also shows the accessories I added to the KPX250 Budget Adventure Motorcycle:
List of accessories and modifications to the Budget ADV dual sport KPX250:
Windshield https://amzn.to/3Tr6l8T
Aluminum skid plate https://amzn.to/4lCIS0p
Heaterz grips https://amzn.to/44MMmI5
Hand guards https://amzn.to/4kl8g9R
USB outlet (battery tender and phone changing) https://amzn.to/4lIN1Ae
Battery Tender https://amzn.to/4koSwTu
Dual sport mirrors https://amzn.to/3TUrmsC
Ventilated seat cover https://amzn.to/4ewaj9M
Fabricated HDPE plate over rear rack 30L tail bag (compressed for my tools - with enough room for overnight gear!) https://amzn.to/460Jvwt
As of this video, Venom Motorsports sells the Lifan KPX250 for ONLY $3,299 INCLUDING predelivery assembly and delivery to your address. Don't buy the KPX250 only because it is a fabulous bargain - but buy the Lifan KPX250 because it is the best VALUE!
I'd choose the Lifan KPX250 (buying direct from VenomMotorsports.com) over the Yamaha, Honda, or Kawasaki even if they were the same price! In fact, you can buy the KPX250 for about $2,000 less than the Honda CT125 - which has HALF the horsepower! See VenomMotorsports.com and use the discount code: GreatOutThere for a $50.00 discount!!!
Please leave your comments below! What are the features that you require on YOUR ADV motorcycle?
Love the economy, value, and performance of the KPX250