11 of the best Enduro and Off-road brands

Enduro Bikes are closely related to motocross motorcycles. Enduro bikes have distinctive characteristics that make them a reliable and fast sports vehicle. They have large fuel tanks, an engine which is equally reliable and more advanced and long-lasting parts. Enduro bike has significant suspension resembling to motocross motorcycle and driver is suitable for a long-distance journey. Some of the enduro bikes are allowed on the street because of their unique specialties such as front lights. Enduro bikes have two kinds of engines which include two strokes and four-stroke. 

Several countries decline the registration of enduro bikes for on-road use except they are modified to meet local road-legal terms. However, some enduro bikes, such as the Husqvarna and some Husabergs bikes, are built to meet the conditions with on-track requirements as well. It is somewhat clear-cut to record these vehicles for on-road use. 

MX racing bikes have often been used as platforms for constructing enduro motorcycles. This was to some extent motivated by the conversion of MX from two strokes to four-stroke versions designed to abide by with regulatory trends, as well as the development of hybrid competition races such as Enduro-X. As Compared to MX bikes, enduro and dual-sport bikes, conventionally had more quantity of four-stroke bikes. Although powerful, MX-based off-track motorcycles can encounter problems running full enduro courses. More emphasis on light and high control and power can result in engine operation issues when racing over a long distance. 

There are many popular brands and manufactures in Europe as well as all around the world that makes Enduro brand motorcycles. These Enduro brands include AJP, KTM, Gasgas, Husqvarna, and Beta, Sherco, AJP, TM Racing, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha. These are just a few popular manufacturers that produce Enduro bikes. Some of the details regarding these manufacturers and their history are discussed below. 

AJP Motos 

AJP Motos is a Portuguese producer of Enduro and off-road motorcycles producing single-cylinder bikes that may be seen as a reorganized parallel of Honda's XR motorcycles of the '80s. AJP Motos was founded in 1987 by siblings António Pinto and Jorge Pinto' in Penafiel, Portugal. They started producing off-road bikes, the company later expanded into manufacturing all types of motorcycles. 

The product name "AJP" originated from the Portuguese Enduro Champion António J Pinto. First edition motorcycle had a limited production run, but it included some practical solutions that were used and developed in later models.  

AJP Enduro and off-road range

It produces a wide variety of Enduro bikes and off-road motorcycles: 

PR4 and PR5 are both Enduro Bikes with some upgraded features 

AJP PR7 is a four-stroke, "Adventure" bike. Weight 363 pounds it has completely adaptable frontage and back suspension. The PR7's engine has a stable shaft. 

It also has PR3, PR4, SPR models as well 

KTM AG

KTM AG formerly known as KTM sports motorbikes is an Austrian motorcycle and sports automobile manufacturer owned by KTM Industries AG and Indian producer Bajaj Auto and created in 1992. KTM AG is also the father company of the KTM Group. 

KTM is known for making off-road motorcycles. Since 2012, it remained the significant bike producer in Europe for four years. The company is among the chief adventure motorcycle manufacturers in Europe and produced a wide variety of bikes. 

It originated in 1934 when an Austrian engineer Johann made a repair store. He started producing Motorbikes and Opel cars in 1938. His store was named Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, but the name was not registered. Slowly the company began to expand its horizon, and the first motorcycle was built in 1953. It started all with 15-20 employees. 

KTM Enduro and off-road range

KTM AG produces a wide range of motorcycles ranging from off-road vehicles including motocross, enduro, cross country, and free ride. 

Enduro –Enduro motorbikes produced by KTM AG are street legal. They have broader gear ratio and are supplied with lights as well. It is called KTM'S XC. Another one includes 690cc Dual-purpose Enduro R bikes. Similarly, it produces various models in off-road bike category including SX 105, 125, 150 and 250 cc one-cylinder two-stroke engine. Freeride model includes 250R with a four-stroke engine. It has street-legal models as well. 

Gas Gas 

Gas Gas is a Spanish motorbike, dirt bike off-road manufacturer, specializes in making adventure motorbikes. Gas Gas is widely known for making Enduro bikes, but they also make trail motorcycles. It was founded in Salt, Spain 

The word Gas Gas means to go faster Gas Gas means fast. But this name is confused outside Spain due to its similar words. Gas gas was formed as a result of the economic failure of company Bultaco. It was found by two co-workers named Narcìs Casas and Josep Pibernat. The first Bultaco was a failure, so they started a new business to produce trail bikes. Gas Gas started production in 1985. The Gas Gas factory later shifted in Catalonia, Spain. In 2014 Gas Gas joined hand with another bike producer company named OSSA which is also located in Catalonia. In 2019 Gas Gas was acquired by KTM.

Gas Gas Enduro and Off-road Range 

Gas Gas produces trail bikes, Quad and Enduro. It is mostly known and famous for Quad and trail Bikes Enduro-The FSE and FSR are the four-stroke enduro bikes that resemble the EC models. 

Trials-The TXT models are specially created for trials riding. The Gas Gas Quad model is called Wild HP brand and has a four-stroke engine. 

Husqvarna Motorcycles

Husqvarna Motorcycles Company is manufacturer and producers of enduro, supermoto, street, and motocross motorbikes. It was founded in Sweden but later shifted to Austria. The company first started producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a part of the Husqvarna armament firm. Husqvarna Motorbike Company is now part of KTM AG. It started as an independent manufacturer company. 

It was founded in 1689. Huskvarna first produced bicycles at the start of the 19th century. In 1960 they began manufacturing their motorbikes early; they made lightweight four and two-stroke bikes. Company has won many enduro sports competition which is a testament of its high-quality motorcycle production. 

Husqvarna Enduro and Off-road range

Husqvarna motorcycles create enduro bikes in two-strokes and Four-stroke categories 

Two-stroke bikes include models TX 125 TE 150 TE 250 

Four-stroke categories-Some of famous version in 4 stroke categories include FE 450, FE 501,701 ENDURO 

Husaberg

Husaberg was a producer of Enduro motorbikes ranging from four-stroke and two-strokes. It was based in Sweden and later owned by Austrian company KTM until it stopped in 2014. Husaberg was first established in 1988 when Italian company Cagiva in '80s bought Husqvarna. 2014 was last year of production for Husaberg and CEO sold most of its share to KTM via Husqvarna. The Swedish military also used Husaberg bikes. 

Husaberg Enduro and Off-road range

Recent models released by Husaberg mostly include endure, motocross, and cross-country. The details of different models are 501 cc enduro and motocross450cc enduros, 350cc enduro, 400 cc enduro. The models were offered in both two-strokes and four-stroke categories 

Sherco

Sherco is a renowned French and Spanish manufacturer of motorcycles. They are famous for off-road bikes. Sherco is best recognized for their top-rated trials bikes, although they also build enduro and supermoto bikes. 

The company originated in 1988 and has two manufacturing plants. One in France and the other one are located in Spain. They produced their first trail motorcycles in 1999. Their Enduro and trail bikes are assembled in France. Sherco originated from the fusion of Bultaco and Sherpa. 

Sherco Enduro and Off-road range

Sherco is a more famous brand for trail bikes. They produce a wide array of engine, Including four-stroke and two-strokes. Some of the famous models include 80cc, 125cc, and 250cc. 

Suzuki Motor 

Suzuki Motor Corporation is Japanese all terrain and all types of vehicle production company. It is an automobile manufacturer specializing in locomotives, cars, etc. Suzuki has over 45,000 workers and has 35 assembly plants in more than 20 countries. Suzuki produces an extensive range of motorcycles, and it is third largest in Japan in terms of motorcycles sale. 

In 1909, Michio Suzuki founded Suzuki. Suzuki first made waving machines, and it was focused on waving machine export. Suzuki decided to diversify business and decided to build automobiles. They made their first vehicle in 1937, and they started to grow gradually. 

Suzuki Off-road range

Suzuki produces all kind of off-road motorcycles including Supermoto, crossroad, Enduro, and dual-sport bikes as well. Some of the simplified Enduro versions include PE175, PE400, and PE250. 

Honda 

Honda Motor Company, Ltd. is a Japanese global corporation primarily known for the production of automobiles, motorcycles, and motorcars. Honda is recognized as a world major bike producer since 1959. Honda was founded by Soichiro Honda, who was a mechanic. Soichiro Honda, with the help of his friend, first established a company named that manufacture piston rings. Honda made the first motorcycle in 1949 and in a short period they outgrow some of the renowned competitors. Honda’s Headquarter in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. 

Honda Off-road range

Honda produced a wide variety of off-road motorcycles including dual-purpose models, off-road bikes, and motocross versions. Some of the renowned off-road models include XR250R, XR350R, CRF250X. These trail and dual purposes bike comes in four-stroke and two-stroke engines and offers many features to off-road riders. 

Yamaha 

Yamaha Corporation is Japanese international its motorcycle division was created in 1955. It also one of the largest piano assembling company. It first started in 1887 as paino company founded by Torakusu Yamaha in Hamamatsu. In 1955, the achievement of the YA-1 resulted at the beginning of Yamaha Company and formed a separate motorcycle section of the company. 

Yamaha Off-road range

Yamaha manufacture are specialized in many off-road motorcycles. These include four strokes endure bikes, and four strokes endure motorcycles. Four-stroke Enduro bikes include XT500, TT600R, WR250R, and WR250F while Two-stroke include IT125, IT200, IT250, IT250H. 

Beta  

Beta is an Italian motorcycle brand and known for manufacturing off-road motorcycles. Beta are acknowledged for their well-liked and popular trials motorcycles. In 2005, they introduced a series of Enduro motorcycles which utilizes KTM engines. They also introduce several new series of off-road vehicles. 

Beta started manufacturing bicycles in 1904 they were called "Società Giuseppe Bianchi" at that time. The founder of this company was Bianchi and Arrigo Tosi. It was initially based in Florence, Italy. The company started production of off-road motorcycles in the '70s. Concentrating on two-stroke motorcycles from the 1950s and 1960s, the corporation started focusing on making and producing adventure motorcycles in the 1970s. 

Beta Enduro bikes 

Beta prepared a series of motocross and enduro bikes throughout the '70s, and 90's The Beta Enduro bikes have used KTM engines. 

TM Racing

TM racing is an Italian manufacturer that makes motorcycles and engines established in 1977 in the city of Pesaro. The name TM originated from the first letter of Thomas and Mirko, who were the sons of the founders of TM racing. 

An essential feature of TM motorcycles is the "racing" essence. Their competitive performance is the result of unbending practical and structured choices, using the best mechanism obtainable in the industry. The final result is bikes of brilliant technical intensity and "ready to race." 

Founder of TM racing was Claudio Flenghi, and Francesco Battistelli. Flenghi was experienced with motorcycles, and they started during 1976 when they made the first engine. They were friends and initiated the company after successful creation of bike engine. They named the company TM racing on both of their son’s initials. They attain colossal success in a motor show organized in Milan, Italy from where they started their production at a significant scale 

Final Words 

I hope this article helped you to provide a deep insight on different Enduro motorbike brands, their history, their origin, the struggle of their owners and how they achieve the glory of becoming one of the best in the market. Japanese automotive and motorcycles are dominating every sphere of the motorcycle industry, but to the competitive environment, many new companies are also making their mark and revolutionizing off-road motorcycle industry. 

These manufacturers have taken off-road bike industry to a height of popularity. Its growth and advancement are paving the way for adventurous lifestyle of bikers and riders. Living the life to its fullest potential is impossible without the element of adventure and thrill in your life, and off-road motorcycle provides the experience you are dreaming.