2015 MXA 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: IF YOU THINK KTM WON, YOU ARE AN IDIOT

The whys and wherefores of 2015 quarter-liter thumpers. What brand were you racing in 2015?

TICK-TOCK: STAPO’S COUNTDOWN TO A RACE-READY 2025 HONDA CRF450

I quickly loaded up the 2025 Honda CRF450 and drove home with a plan to build a top-tier race bike just four weeks before the world Vet Championship. This wasn’t going to be easy; I needed to practice during that same window.

TESTING & RACING THE 2025 YAMAHA YZ250FX AT THE IRONMAN GNCC

The 2025 Yamaha YZ250FX adopted the same changes that its counterpart, the YZ450FX, received in 2024. This motorcycle may look like a motocross YZ250F on the surface, but hidden inside its frame rails are a lot of essential off-road mods.

2025 GASGAS MC450F VIDEO TEST

MXA test riders fell in love with the 2025 GasGas MC450F. Why? It offers goodness without flashiness, turns in without oversteer, doesn’t head shake at speed and has a pleasant powerband

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 GASGAS MC250F

Among the three Austrian 250cc bikes, the Husky stands out the most with its lowered suspension travel and seat height, while the KTM and GasGas share the same suspension, just with slightly different valving. The GasGas offers a softer setup.

MXA’S FIVE BIKE 2025 85cc MINICYCLE SHOOTOUT

It was hard to do an 85cc shootout over the last 10 years because most of the 85cc minicycles were pushing 20 years old. Now, the R&D departments have updated them

FORGOTTEN MOTOCROSS TECH: TESTING THE UPSIDE-DOWN ENGINE 2010 HUSABERG FX450

The 2010 Husaberg FX450 was too heavy, too slow and too weird to be taken seriously by motocross racers, but It was like no other machine on the planet

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: WE TEST THE 1999 KAWASAKI KX125

Interested in the 1999 Kawasaki KX125? Don’t know anything about it? Here is everything you needed to know from 26 years ago

FLASHBACK! THE 125 TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT THAT SHOCKED THE MOTOCROSS INDUSTRY

Take your pick! Two are fuel injected, two are carbureted and one is by far the best 125 two-stroke in the 2023 class. Plus, a word of warning about the future.

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 SUZUKI RM-Z450

And, as it works out, the MXA test is one of only a tiny handful of in depth 2025 Suzuki RM-Z450 tests

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY! 2015 HONDA CRF450 HAD EVERYTHING —EXCEPT THE STUFF THAT EVERYONE ELSE ALREADY HAD

If you are from the school of thought that 450cc motocross bikes are too powerful for mortal man, this is your bike. It is definitely not too powerful for mortal man­­—or woman.

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 HONDA CRF450 WORKS EDITION

Yes, the added $2900 is steep, but the coated suspension components, remapped ECU, Hinson clutch basket, Yoshimura exhaust and polished ports pay for themselves

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE JEREMY McGRATH’S 1992 PEAK HONDA CR125

This was the Porsche Turbo Carrera of the 125 class back in 1992—it revved higher, hit harder and stayed on longer than the stock CR125 and had better bottom to boot

“THIS WEEK IN MXA” WITH JOSH & TREVOR: 2025 HONDA CRF450RX & CRF250RX

While Jody & Josh Mosiman were busy elsewhere, Josh Fout and videographer Trevor Nelson, both veteran off-road racers, took MXA’s 2025 Honda CRF450RX and Honda CRF250RX for a tour of the SoCal high desert

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 HUSQVARNA FC450 FACTORY EDITION

The 2025-1/2 Husqvarna FC450 Factory Edition does not have the shortened suspension of the production FC450? Why not? To meet the need for 2400 sets of suspension to cover all six Factory Edition models. It was prudent to stream line production by making them all the same.

MXA’S CRAZY TRICK TO GET OUR 2021 YAMAHA YZ450F OVER-60 HORSEPOWER

Our goal back in 2021 was to crack 60 horses with no cam, valve, ecu, porting or pipe mods—just a hand-made airbox cover that was ugly, but spawn a movement

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 KAWASAKI KX450 SPECIAL RACER

Yes, the 2025 KX450SR is much better than the 2025 Kawasaki KX450, but it’s not as exciting for us as the 2022 and 2023 KX450SRs were

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

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2025 GASGAS MC450F

Josh Fout and Josh Mosiman explain the differences between the GasGas MC450F and the other Austrian brands

MXA RETRO TEST! INDEPTH, COMPREHENSIVE AND THOROUGH 2014 KAWASAKI KX450F TEST

Back in 2014 the Kawasaki KX450F was a BNG bike that didn’t even get BNG, but the KX450F engine was a thing of beauty. It was smooth down low, rolled on with authority and was the best all-around race engine of 2014.

MXA VIDEO: 2025-1/2 HUSKY FC450 FACTORY EDITION TEST

Essentially, the Husky FC450 Factory Edition is defined by the aftermarket products that come as part of the package

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 HUSQVARNA FC350 HERITAGE

It’s the best all-around motocross bike for a Vet rider, 250 rider wishing to make the move to 450-style power or a short rider who can’t touch the ground on all the other skyscraper tall options

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: THE 2004 CR250 WE BUILT TO KILL THE FOUR-STROKE

A scary fast bike that only the gifted could ride. But was it enough to beat out the four-strokes?

FLASHBACK FRIDAY! THE MID-SIZE KTM 380SX TWO-STROKE

Was the KTM 380SX faster than the KX500 and CR500 of their times? Yes and no. Why didn’t the unique KTM 380SX mid-size two-stroke catch on? It should have

CARSON BROWN’S TRICK KAWASAKI KX125 TWO-STROKE

Why Carson didn’t use an KX250F aluminum frame or a 144cc kit, but did use Showa air forks and an Lectron carb

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2025 BETA 450RX MOTOCROSS BIKE

Beta made a list of changes to their 2025 450 motocrosser. Here’s what we’ve learned after the first few weeks of testing on it

FIRST RIDE: MXA’S MINI TESTER ON THE 2025 YAMAHA YZ65

MXA test rider James Ellis (son of Twisted Development’s Jamie Ellis) shakes down our new 65cc YZinger

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: THE KTM 250SX THAT RAN LIKE A 125

What was wrong with the 2000 KTM 250SX engine? Just about everything

IMPORTANT GASGAS NEWS! ALL 2022-2025 GASGAS OFF-ROAD BIKE’S BRAKTEC BRAKE SYSTEMS RECALLED

GasGas will replace all affected components at no cost to the customer at authorized GasGas dealers

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE TREY CANARD’S 2010 GEICO HONDA CRF250

When we tested Trey Canard’s 2010 Geico Honda he was a dedicated 19-year-old who is a student of racing, a consummate professional, a determined individual and a rider who strives for success.

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 GASGAS MC450F

The marketing plan was simple—buyers could get 90 percent of a KTM 450SXF for $800 less

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE RYAN DUNGEY’S 2009 CHAMPIONSHIP SUZUKI RM-Z250

In 2007, Dungey was the Rookie of the Year, in 2008, Dungey finished second in both the 250 Supercross series and 250 outdoor series and in 2009 he won the 250 West Coast Supercross series and the 250 AMA National Championship

TEN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MXA BIKE TESTS

You can do what we do, but you’ll need $6000 for test bike fuel and access to 66 new bikes

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 GASGAS MC350F

The 2025 GasGas MC350 has an organic frame geometry, which exhibits built-in stability, ease of use and an almost rhythmic tempo from corner to corner.

MINI TESTERS REVIEW: 2025 YAMAHA YZ85 VS. HONDA CRF150

We have some fun with our new mini bike test riders, putting two 2025 models head-to-head

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2001 HONDA CR125

In 2001 Honda took one small step backwards and one giant leap forward with the CR125. This year, Honda is actively trying to return its engine to the glory of the past.

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

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

MXA VIDEO: FIRST RIDE ON THE 2025 GASGAS MC85 TWO-STROKE

For 2025, the GasGas MC85 two-stroke underwent a complete overhaul. This video shows our first ride with Nixyn D’Errico

MXA BUYER’S GUIDE: 2025 WIDE WORLD OF FOUR-STROKES

Let’s get together and go comparison shopping for a 250cc, 350cc or 450cc four-stroke motocross bike

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: WE RIDE 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.

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 HONDA CRF250 WORKS EDITION

Even though it wasn’t light years faster, the Works Edition erased the flaws of the stock bike, making it more fun to race, while reminding us just how good the stock CRF250 can be.

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: MXA’S 2015 YAMAHA YZ450F TEST

What MXA thought about the YZ450F a decade ago. Looking back, we are surprised how much we likedit.

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 KAWASAKI KX250

This year, Kawasaki took two steps forward in the chassis department and one step backward in the engine department. On last year’s KX250, the engine was the highlight and our complaints focused on the chassis; now our opinion has flip-flopped.

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2025 KTM 350SXF

What’s the 2025 KTM 350SXF like? Who’s it best for? Who do we recommend it to?

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2001 KTM 125SX

In 2001 the KTM 125SX made big strides to not only stay with the Japanese brands, but to beat them

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: WE RIDE JASON ANDERSON’S 2015 FACTORY HUSKY FC450

Many 450cc Supercross-spec bikes have super-stiff forks, loads of bottom-end power, a massive front brake and a lowered subframe. Surprisingly, Anderson’s FC450 wasn’t your standard Supercross machine

MXA VIDEO: WE RIDE DANE PAPPAS’ LORETTA LYNN WINNING MC85

We tested the 85 that won Loretta Lynn’s. This video includes a lap time battle, details about the build from Jamie Ellis and berm blasting

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

If the powers-that-be allowed two- and four-strokes to compete at equal displacements in the Pro ranks—it would be a two-stroke world again.

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 KTM 450SXF

There were so many frame changes for 2025 that the whole nature of the 450SXF chassis changed from ultra-stiff to forgiving

2025 MOTOCROSS ACTION 250 SHOOTOUT: SUZUKI, TRIUMPH, KAWASAKI, HONDA, YAMAHA, GASGAS, HUSQVARNA, KTM

You seen all the videos, now is the time to read what they should have told you

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2025 YAMAHA YZ250F

New model updates can be small but mighty; while big changes are often to the swing-and-miss variety. On the 2025 YZ250F the improvements on the track correlated with the updates.

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2025 KAWASAKI KX450SR

MXA’s Josh Mosiman and Josh Fout test the new 2025 Kawasaki KX450SR “Special Racer” model at Glen Helen

TWO-STROKE MEMORIES: FULL TEST OF THE 2003 HONDA CR125

The most modern vintage bike made—with a soon to be final expiration date

JODY’S TRUE STORY OF THE PITIFUL 1992 WATER-COOLED CZ 125MX

MXA knows a lot about the 1992 CZ 125MX, we raced it, tested it and lived with it—well, actually we tolerated it

1992 YAMAHA WR500: HOW THE “AIR HAMMER” BECAME THE “MAYTAG”

Some times a stop gap measure is the only measure that can work when you start too late

WE TEST THE GASGAS MC85 TWO-STROKE THAT WON LORETTA

Dane Pappas started riding in the Spring of 2020 and four years later won the 85cc class at Loretta Lynns on his GasGas MC85

TRUE STORY OF RICKY CARMICHAEL’S 2005 SUZUKI RM250 TWO-STROKE

RC, DeCoster & Goose tell all about the bike that everyone who was anyone in 2005 remembers

THE TRUE STORY BEHIND THE CANNONDALE DISASTER

Why the long dreamed of “Great American Motocross Hope” was a total flop

WE RIDE AIDAN ZINGG’S LORETTA-WINNING KTM 112SX SUPERMINI

How to build your own Loretta Lynn Championship-winning replica — Plus video

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: MYSTERIES OF 2005 KTM 250SX SOLVED

“The worst business decision that KTM ever made was to buy the Dutch-based WP suspension company”