MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2026 HONDA CRF450

What we learned on last year’s CRF450 that can be applied to the identical 2026 version

MXA RACE TEST: TWISTED DEVELOPMENT’S KTM 250SXF RACE BUILD

BY JOSH MOSIMAN Believe it or not, this test didn’t originate with me or Ezra Lewis; it was two of our regular magazine contributors who came up with the idea for this build. Mark Johnson pens the “Suspension Simplified” column every month, and Jamie Ellis is the author of our “Twisted Logic” page. Mark owns […]

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: FIRST YEAR OF THE ALUMINUM YZ250 FRAME

Yamaha spent millions of dollars on the development of the most advanced two-stroke motocross bike in motocross history at the exact moment when two-stroke sales hit the dumpster

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY! 2016 MXA 450 SHOOTOUT

The best shootout you’ll ever see including dyno charts, plus the good, bad and ugly facts

RETRO TWO-STROKE TEST: 1999 SUZUKI RM250 RACE TEST

Suzuki resurrected itself from the ashes of the rather mediocre 1998 engine in 1999. The ‘99 powerband was a KX250 clone

MINI TESTERS REVIEW: 2025 GASGAS 105cc SUPERMINI VS. STOCK 85cc

We took a stock 2025 GasGas MC85 big wheel and put it up against a fully-built MC105 Supermini in this youth test rider review

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: WISECO 2003 HONDA CR139 PROJECT BIKE

We turned this 2003 CR125 two-stroke into a fire breathing CR139. This is one of the fastest ways to big-bore your 125

450 TEST RIDER REPORT CARDS: ALL HAIL THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2025 450s

Without telling tales out of school, we want to present report cards on the 2025 450s. Why? With the 2026 450 motocross bikes coming out now, last year’s bikes are leftover stock, and because of that, they will be offered at a discounted price, Yes, they are already a year old, but that doesn’t mean […]

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE RYAN SIPES’ ROCKSTAR ENERGY 2013 SUZUKI RM-Z250

What Rockstar Energy Suzuki has managed to accomplish in 2013 was a major feat—they built a super-competitive bike, developed one-off parts and hired the best racer and team manager possible

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: THE GOOD, BAD & UGLY OF THE 2001 HONDA CR250:

In 2001, Honda came to its senses and took a step back to the good old days

THIS WEEK IN MXA: FIRST RIDE ON THE 2026 BETA 350RX TWO-STROKE

Can this purpose-built Beta 350RX two-stroke compete against 450 four-strokes? What about 350 four-strokes, CR500s and electric bikes

MXA RETRO TEST: THE 2009 CRF450, THE WORST HONDA EVER MADE

The 2009 Honda CRF450 has taken the lead with its horrible Gyro Gearloose frame geometry. The penalty for this is that Honda isn’t going to pay the consequences; the people who buy a 2009 Honda CRF450 are!

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: BIG BIKE SHOWDOWN — SEAN COLLIER’S KX500 VS. HIS 2015 KX450F NATIONAL BIKE

You don’t prove your manhood by riding a KX500, you do that by turning it wide open for longer than 3 seconds

MXA’S FULL-RACE KTM 250SXF AMA NATIONAL BUILD

We called in the big guns to make sure that we left no stone unturned

MXA RETRO TEST: STRANGE-FOR-THE-TIMES 2011 HUSQVARNA TC449

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Ooops, “Why I don’t love three, let me count the ways.”

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: 2006 KTM 250SX FULL TEST

KTM used to be the smallest of the Big Five, but it didn’t have the massive output in scooters, golf carts, power equipment, automobile engines, oil tankers and airplanes. Small isn’t necessarily a bad thing

MXA VIDEO: WE RIDE THE FASTEST KAWASAKI KX250 YOU CAN BUY

What happens when you ask Pro Circuit for “the whole enchilada” on your KX250 build? This is what you’d get

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2026 KAWASAKI KX450

The 2026 Kawasaki KX450 is here, and in this video, Josh and Josh get into the pros and cons of the bike that finished sixth in our shootout last year

HUSQVARNA USA REVEALS 2026 MOTOCROSS MODELS (FC250/350/450 MISSING)

Husqvarna USA promises that the FC250/350/450 models will be back for 2027, but this year you’ll have to settle for a Factory Edition, or a 2025 model, if you want a new Husky 250 or 450 motocrosser

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO RACE AN AMA 450 NATIONAL WITH JOSH MOSIMAN

“I test motorcycles for a living, which means I ride a lot, and due to MXA’s testing protocols, I get to race a lot too. It’s a lot of fun, but the real test is 30-minute motos against the best riders in the country on the toughest tracks around.

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE COLE SEELY’S 2011 LUCAS/TLD HONDA CRF250

Had Troy listened to his old buddies, his racing gear might have been on the podium for someone else’s team, but he lived his Frank Sinatra dream and did it his way

TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT: PASHA RACING’S YAMAHA YZ150 VS. KTM 150SX

Pasha built up a Yamaha YZ150 two-stroke to go up against his proven KTM 150SX platform. Can a Yamaha compete with a KTM in the 125 class?

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE A $53,000 2016 HONDA CRF250

Enough project bikes have rolled through our pit area for us to realize that simply bolting on parts and slapping stickers on new plastic doesn’t move the needle— this one did

FIRST LOOK! 2026 KTM 50SX PEE-WEES, 65SX JUNIOR CYCLES & 85SX MINICYCLES

There is also a 2026 KTM 50SX Factory Edition model

FIRST LOOK! KTM’S FULL-SIZE TWO-STROKE MOTOCROSS LINE UP INCLUDES THE 125SX, 250SX & 300SX

KTM saved the two-stroke when Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki dropped them, and Yamaha chose benign neglect for the YZ125 and YZ250.

FIRST LOOK! 2026 KTM 250SXF, 350SXF & 450SXF MODELS

Coming to an Authorized KTM dealer near you Starting in September of 2025

WE RIDE A FANTIC 125 FACTORY EDITION FROM UNDERGROUND TO AMERICA

Two American entrepeneurs, Pasha Afshar and Nick Mairose, have single-handedly put Fantic on the American motocross map and while Fantic has opened an American enterprise, Pasha and Nick are still the best promotion they have.

MXA’S TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: THE NAKED 2005 YAMAHA YZ250

The most advanced two-stroke motocross bike of its time was just one step in Yamaha’s drawn out two-stroke plan. It worked. The YZ250 is still in showrooms today

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE NEW 2026 TRIUMPH TF450-E (OFF-ROAD)

MXA’s Josh Fout takes Triumph’s first-ever off-road specific dirt bike and puts it to the test on some high-speed technical trails in the high desert

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: MXA’S 250 TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT: HUSKY, KTM & YAMAHA

The battle of the New Old Japanese Stock Versus the newest and Jazziest European concepts

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 TM 300MX TWO-STROKE

In the 300cc two-stroke category alone, TM offers two motocross models (one carbureted and one fuel-injected), and they offer the same two platforms in enduro models

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: INSIDE SECRETS OF JODY WEISEL’S 2015 KTM 250SX

As a man who has tested motorcycles his whole life, I have a vast reservoir of worthless knowledge that can make any simple task more complicated.

FIRST LOOK! 2026 SUZUKI RM-Z450/RM-Z250

The only visible differences between 2026 and 2025 RM-Z’s are the smaller radiator wing logo, yellow front number plate (instead of white) and the $100 price increase

WE RIDE JACK PHINN’S HONDA CRF450 DIRT TRACKER

With some reasonable modifications, a CR450 can be transformed into a desert racer, enduro bike, supermoto bike, dirt tracker, TT racer, sidecar racer or even a road racer

ASK THE MXPERTS: WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2025 RM-Z250?

The 2025 RM-Z250’s forks are terrible. They are unbelievably stiff in motion. We drop the stock 5.0 N/mm fork springs for 4.8 N/mm springs or lower for smaller or slower riders.

FROM DIRT TO ASPHALT: MXA GOES FROM OFF-ROAD TO ON-ROAD ON THE 2025 KTM 450SMR SUPERMOTO

The KTM 450SMR is built off of the KTM 450SXF platform. It has the same engine, and for 2025 the Supermoto bike has the same frame as well

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 GASGAS MC85 MINICYCLE

The 2025 GasGas MC85 isn’t just a refresh, it is a top-to-bottom reinvention of one of the most important bikes in the youth racing scene.

INNERMOST SECRETS OF MXA’S PERFECT VET MC366 PROJECT RACER

We built it using a 2023 GasGas MC350F as the foundation, Cylinder Works 366 engine kit, shortened Husqvarna Cone Valve forks/shock linkage & lots of love

MXA RACE TEST: LIVING WITH THE 2025 HUSQVARNA TC125 & A 15-YEAR-OLD TEST RIDER

MXA’s aim is to emulate real-world ownership with long-term durability tests. This allows us to give you, the reader, better and more detailed information on how each brand ages.

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: 1991 KX80 CHASSIS WITH KX125 ENGINE

Mark Chilson is a dreamer with the patience and talent to build one-of-a-kind bikes that are super detailed

WHY BONES BACON LOVES THE HONDA TRAIL 90, OOPS TRAIL 110…NO, THE TRAIL 125

We track Bones down at the Pro Circuit Supercross track to hear his history with Honda’s legendary Trail 125

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: WE RIDE RYAN DUNGEY’S 2015 CHAMPIONSHIP KTM 450SXF

“Race teams are always searching for ways to lessen unsprung weight and get their 450 bikes close to 220 pounds; KTM has the opposite problem, thanks to its Factory Edition 450SXF.”

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE2025-1/2 GASGAS MC450F FACTORY EDITION

The Factory Edition of the GasGas MC450F owes more to KTM than the production 2025 GasGas MC450F—most notably in the suspension valving

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE CHAD REED’S 2004 YAMAHA YZ250

In 2004 Team Yamaha invited MXA to ride Chad Reed’s Supercross-winning Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke — That was a day to remember

MXA RACE TEST: 2025 YAMAHA’S LEGACY TWO-STROKES: 2025 YZ125 & YZ250

Today, only Yamaha, the KTM Group and Beta still make competitive motocross two-strokes. Honda gave up in 2007. Suzuki quit in 2008 & Kawasaki’s final run of 250 two-strokes petered out in 2007.

WHEN MONEY IS NO OBJECT: JOHN BASHER’S TRICK YAMAHA YZ125

When money is no object, John Basher is the best at spending it on YZ125s

WE RIDE MX-TECH’S HONDA RESTO-MOD CR125, CR250 & CR500 TWO-STROKE TIME MACHINES

MX-Tech is a small suspension manufacturer out of Bradley, Illinois, and they specialize in making their own high-end A-kit suspension for all brands of bikes—from modern to vintage…and in our cases, Honda two-strokes.

THE EMLER/LAPORTE PROJECT: FMF’S 2018 KX500/KTM 250SX HYBRID

One important caveat in the dream-bike scenario is that the bike cannot have a 450cc four-stroke engine. Why would it? Four-strokes are readily available and thus not dreamy enough.

THE MID-SIZE KTM 380SX TWO-STROKE THAT COULD RUN WITH A YZ400

Why didn’t the unique 2000 KTM 380SX mid-size two-stroke catch on? Because it didn’t have 1999’s engine and suspension on it!

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: 2001 SERVICE HONDA CR134 THAT WE HATED TO RIDE

This is a classic example of all that can go wrong with a hopped-up bike

AUSTRIAN TWO-STROKE SHOWDOWN: TC125 VS. 150SX VS. TC250 VS. 300SX

if you’re a serious racer who is looking to be competitive, we recommend finding a carbureted 125 or 150. KTM and Husky last made carbureted two-strokes in 2022, and GasGas’ last carbureted two-stroke was produced in 2023

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2025 TM 125 TWO-STROKE

We have another Italian bike, this time it’s the electric-starting (but still carbureted) TM 125 two-stroke. This video is brought to you by Maxima Racing Oils

MXA RETRO TEST: 2008 HONDA CRF450

After the errors of the 2002, 2003 and 2004 CRF450 models, the 2006, 2007 and 2008 CRF450s have become industry standards.

FIRST LOOK! DETAILED INFORMATION ON WHAT’S NEW ON THE 2026 YAMAHA YZ450F

The boys in blue have released the details on their new 2026 Yamaha YZ450F and you can see them here

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 18-YEAR-OLD 2025 HONDA CRF150R

When Honda asked MXA if we’d be interested in testing a 2025 Honda CRF150R, we were dumbfounded. We hadn’t tested a CRF150 since it was first introduced in 2007.

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: 2015 MXA 250 TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT

Husqvarna TC250 versus KTM 250SX versus Yamaha YZ250… and the winner is!

WE TEST A MODDED FANTIC XX125 TWO-STROKE WITH SPECIAL EDITION FANTIC PARTS!

Transforming a stock Fantic XX125 into a Fantic XX125 Factory Edition

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: HONDA’S MELLOW 2015 CRF250 TEST

The mantra is “slow and steady wins the race.” The meek shall inherit the earth, but they won’t have any trophies to show for it.

MXA’S FIRST RIDE: 2026 DUCATI DESMO450 MOTOCROSS BIKE

The Ducati Desmo450 dirt bike is officially here. MXA’s Josh Mosiman shares his first ride experience on the brand new Italian Stallion

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 TRIUMPH TF250-X

Is the new 2025 model better than last year’s bike? Yes. However, 2024 TF250-X owners are in luck, thanks to the number of free Triumph upgrades for last year’s model