MXA BUYER’S GUIDE TO THE WIDE WORLD OF 2024 FOUR-STROKES

With the 2025 models just peeking over the horizon, it’s a good chance to catch up on the bikes that are still on the showroom floors—the 2024 250, 350 & 450 four-strokes

MXA RETRO TEST: 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—and spending a bundle of money doesn’t always make a bike better

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: 2004 HONDA CR250 VERSUS YAMAHA YZ250

No offense to Kawasaki, Suzuki and KTM, but their combined motocross bike sales didn’t equal one-half of the numbers put up by Yamaha and Honda in 2004

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY | WE TEST THE SLOW BUT STEADY 2004 HONDA CR125

The 2004 CR125 engine made four horsepower less than the KTM 125SX and at 10,500 rpm it was more than a seven horsepower adrift

MXA RACE TEST: 1999 HONDA CR125 TWO-STROKE

The ’99 CR125 powerband is on the short side. This would not be a crime if it weren’t for the YZ125’s broadness. As is, the KTM 125 is a better example of what the Honda should have been

TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2003 HONDA CR125

The most modern bike ever made with a vintage engine

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, harder and longer than the stock CR125 and had better bottom to boot

BIKES YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE: ALOOP XMX 250 FREESTYLE

A special kit designed in 2000 to transform a CR250 motocross bike into a freestyle bike. First step, buy hacksaw

MXA’S 1994 HONDA CR125 RESTORATION DISASTER: WORDS, PHOTOS & VIDEO

They look so lovely under studio lights, but getting them to that point is fraught with peril and imperiled by fraught

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE SCOTT SHEAK’S 2001 PLANO HONDA CR125

Sheak’s high-rpm flyer was perfect for his 125 National speed, but without his talent, it is a demanding bike to ride

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY | 2001 HONDA CR125 | COMPLETE TEST

One small step backwards and one giant leap forward

MXA VIDEO: WE RIDE A 1994 HONDA CR500 TWO-STROKE RESTO-BUILD

Owned by Yarrive Konsky, built by Nathan Alexander (with aid from Jamie Ellis) and tested by MXA

THE QUEST TO BUILD A 2002 WORKS CR250 TWO-STROKE — PLUS VIDEO

One man, one bike, one Honda guru, two strokes and eighteen years of waiting for fruition

EPIC BATTLE OF OLD IRON: 1994 HONDA CR500 VS. 2000 KAWASAKI KX500 VS. DARYL ECKLUND

I’ve made no secret that I feel I was meant to race a KX500, so this is hard for me to say out loud, but the Honda CR500 was the best bike

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE MICHAEL BYRNE’S 2003 HONDA CR125

We wanted to test Michael Byrne’s 2003 CR125 because it, along with the rest of the Factory Connection CR125s, is the only fast CR125 on the track

ON THE RECORD: MXA’S 2004 250 TWO-STROKE MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT

We flashback to when all the Japanese manufactures made two-stroke dirt bikes. This is the complete 2004 RM250 vs. YZ250 vs. CR250 vs. KX250 vs. KTM brawl

ON THE RECORD: INSIDE SECRETS OF THE 1999 HONDA CR250

We get the inside secrets from FMF, Pro Circuit, Factory Honda, Planet Honda and did our own R&D to make the 1999 CR250 as good as it could be

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE MIKE KIEDROWSKI’S 1990 FACTORY HONDA CR125

Roger’s instructions were to tell us anything we wanted to know, keep the bikes running as long as we liked, and help us dial in our own stock 1991 CR125

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 1999 HONDA CR125 TWO-STROKE

When Honda’s aluminum frame was in its teething stages it was jaw breaker rigid. Looking back, was it the way to go?

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF THE SERVICE HONDA 2001 CR500 ENGINE IN A 2008 CRF250 CHASSIS

Various CRs and CRFs parts make 2008 Service Honda CR500AF sound like Frankenstein’s bike, but on the stand it looks like it was meant to be.

ON THE RECORD: 2004 HONDA CR250 VERSUS YAMAHA YZ250

Time has a way of blurring the rear-view vision of motocross fans. What’s better a 2004 Honda or 2004 Yamaha? We not surprised that you don’t know the correct answer

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2005 HONDA CR125

The 2005 CR125 was much faster than the 2004 model. In fact, was competitive with the rest of the 125s. As for the 250Fs, let’s not get too greedy

MXA RIDES TWISTED DEVELOPMENT’S 2005 HONDA CR125 (VIDEO)

Come on Honda, bring back two-strokes! We still love them

WE RIDE TWISTED DEVELOPMENT’S 2005 HONDA CR125

The well traveled history of a 2005 Honda CR125 & what’s planned for it next

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF THE PRO CIRCUIT-BUILT 2004 CR250

A scary fast bike that only the gifted could ride

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2001 HONDA CR125

One small step backwards and one giant leap forward

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2005 HONDA CR250 TWO-STROKE

The 2005 CR250 should have dug a trench at low rpm, but instead of going “braapp” it went “wahhhhh.” On the positive side, it’s no longer a “wah, wah, wah” engine, just one “wah” in ’05

TWO-STROKE TEST: MAKING A 1995 HONDA CR125 BETTER THAN NEW

Once a new bike, then a forgotten relic, then a barn find and now we are are racing it

ON THE RECORD: 2004 125 TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT

The MXA wrecking crew rounded up the five prime contenders and put them through their paces. Here is what we learned about the 2004 tiddlers

MXA RIDES THE KTR500 TWO-STROKE: HONDA CR500 ENGINE IN A MODERN CHASSIS

We ride the KTR500 Two-Stroke, the second bike in our fully-custom 500cc project bike shootout

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2001 HONDA CR250 TWO-STROKE

MXA looks back to the 2001 Honda CR250 two-stroke—that was the years that Honda came to its senses and took a step back to the good old days

BEST TWO-STROKE DIRT BIKES FROM 1980-2000

Did you own any of these 125cc or 250cc winners throughout the two decades?

2000 HONDA CR250 | SETUP GUIDE

These are the must-do fix-it tips to make the 2000 CR250 the best bike it can be

WHAT THE HONDA CR500 COULD HAVE BEEN

This is the ultimate two-stroke project bike that was built in 1998

ONE MAN’S JOURNEY TO CR250 TWO-STROKE NIRVANA

Depending how you feel this could be a How-To-Do-It story or a warning to avoid this addiction while you still have your sanity

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2004 HONDA CR250

Honda made five changes to the 2004 CR250 engine. They needed to make changes as the YZ, RM and KTM barked right by it. Unfortunately, Honda didn’t try hard enough

START THE FOUR-STROKE REVOLUTION WITHOUT ME…BY WILLY MUSGRAVE

Willy Musgrave’s flashback story about returning to his two-stroke roots

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF 2004 HONDA CR125

The CR125 engine in comparison to the KTM 125SX was four horsepower off. At 10,500 rpm there was more than a seven horsepower deficit. What did Honda do about it? Nothing.

2003 HONDA CR125 TRANSFORMED INTO A BIG BORE CR139

In 2006, Kawasaki stopped importing the KX125 and, for 2008, the RM125 and CR125 bit the dust. But that doesn’t mean that MXA can’t keep them alive

ULTRA-TRICK, 3-SPEED HONDA CR250 TWO-STROKE

The most talked about CR250 project bike

MXA TEST: MX-TECH’S TAC-R HONDA CR250 TWO-STROKE

This is more than just a bike; it’s an adventure

MXA BUILDS A FULL-RACE 2006 CR250 TWO-STROKE

We had to build it, because Honda wouldn’t

MXA SMOKE FILES: WHAT MXA DID WITH A $900 2005 HONDA CR125

Half the price of a new one

MXA TESTS A $53,000 HONDA CRF250 PROJECT BIKE

Chocolate is a girl’s best friend — titanium is a motocrosser’s true love.

WE BUILD A 21 YEAR OLD CR125 THAT COULD WIN TODAY

The old dog knows a few new trciks

WE RIDE SERVICE HONDA’S CR250AF TWO-STROKE

Honda could build this CR250, but they won’t

MXA’S 85cc SHOOTOUT: TC85 vs. KX85 vs. 85SX vs. YZ85

Four bike shootout —well 3-1/2

WE RIDE SERVICE HONDA’S CR250AF TWO-STROKE MOTOCROSS BIKE

    Aside from the sampling of aftermarket goodies, the Service Honda has the fit and finish of an OEM bike. It utilizes almost all stock parts and even the stock 2001 pipe will fit.   When four-strokes motocross bikes took over the motocross world—the second time, not the first time—only Yamaha and the European […]

VIDEO: HONDA MOTO MACHINES FROM 1973 TO 2013

https://www.youtube.com/embed/w00l3T8TU4s

HOW TO BUILD AN INEXPENSIVE TWO-STROKE THAT JUNIOR CAN RACE IN THREE CLASSES

At first glance, this machine might make you think that Honda is bringing back two-strokes for 2014, but that isn?t the case. Just looking at this bike, you would never guess that it is a seven-year-old Honda CR85 Expert. Or, that it was bought off of Craigslist for $700. MXA was interested in a cheap, well-used CR85 Big Wheel because we thought that it would be the perfect transition bike for a young rider making the step up from the minicycle class to the big bikes. Imagine Junior getting another year…

2012 250 DYNO SHOOTOUT! HOW MUCH HORSEPOWER DO THE 2012 250s REALLY MAKE: WE REVEAL THE INNER SECRETS OF THE 2012 POWERBANDS

The MXA wrecking crew spends the majority of its test time racing and riding brand-new production motorcycles, but early on in each test session every bike gets its day on the dyno. It really isn?t all that revealing because by the time its strapped down it has already been ridden to break in the engine, seat the muffler packing and get a feel for where it rates. Test riders form their opinions in the saddle and rely on the dyno numbers to reinforce what they already know. When the dyno numbers are spit…

MOTOCROSS ACTION’S TWO-STROKE VERSUS FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: 2004 CRF450 VERSUS 2001 CR500

First, let’s get one myth out of the way up front. It is common for modern critics of the 450cc four-stroke to claim that the AMA 500cc National Championship was terminated because bikes like the CR500 and KX500 were too powerful. Not true. Not even close to true. The reality is that the AMA dropped the 500 National Championships after the 1993 season under political pressure from Suzuki and Yamaha. No surprise there; neither Suzuki nor Yamaha built a competitive 500cc motocross bike. In fact, Suzuki ha…

ASK THE MXPERTS: 2001 HONDA CR125

Dear MXA,     Can you get the rear suspension settings for a 2001 Honda CR125?  I need a good starting point.     For hardcore racing we recommended this shock set-up:     Spring rate: 4.6 kg/mm     Race sag: 100mm     High compression: 1.5 turns out (1 stock)     Low compression: 8 clicks out (9 stock)     Rebound: 20 clicks out (24 stock)     Notes: For faster riders we recommen…

ASK THE MXPERTS: What Are The Best 2003 Honda CR125 Set-Up Tricks?

ASK THE MXPERTS:  2003 HONDA CR125 TRICKS Dear MXA,    I just bought a 2003 CR125 and am interested in what you recommend that I do to it.    Here is what we recommend for the 2003 CR125: Jetting: We ran a 430 main, 40 pilot, 6DGY22-71 needle, the first clip and 1-1/4 turns on the air screw. Pipe: Exhaust pipes were the most effective change that could be made to the 2003 powerband. We ran a Pro Circuit pipe. Head: We ran a 2002 CR125 cylinder head on our 2003 model. This increa…

2006 HONDA CR250 RACE TEST

Of all the major manufacturers, Honda can be forgiven for not throwing the full weight of their engineering prowess behind the 2006 CR250 two-stroke. After all, way back in 1972 Honda vowed that they weren’t interested in building two-strokes

2006 HONDA CR125 TEST

The fate of the 125cc two-stroke has everyone in the motorcycle industry in a conundrum. While they are committed to continue producing 250 two-strokes, largely because unit sales are larger and the machines are still competitive in the AMA 250 Supercross series, the 125 two-stroke isn’t so secure. The ax fell on the Kawasaki KX125 this year, and the nervous Nellies are anxiously looking around to see who might be next on the chopping block.   So who is sitting under Damocles’ sword? We aren’t tell…

ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR 2004 BIKE?

Get Motocross Action’s simple setup tips for your 2004 motocross bikes

HONDA SPECS OF THE 2005 CR125R

An all-new 125cc engine makes the 2005 Honda CR125R the most potent two-stroke in its class. Features & Benefits New for 2005 – New crankcase intake tract and six-petal reed valve for more efficient air flow and improved drivability. – New thicker reed plates for better off-idle response. – Redesigned cylinder and cylinder head for improved power. – New crankshaft design for improved performance. – New piston features single keystone piston ring for improved sealing. – Revised coolant flow for impro…

HONDA SPECS OF THE 2005 CR250R

A completely new engine design and a host of chassis improvements create a brand-new CR250R–a machine destined to be a winner in 2005. Features & Benefits New for 2005 – New cylinder design features RC exhaust valve housed in removable case for improved sealing and performance. – New precision-cut stainless steel cylinder base gasket and revised port timing for improved bottom-end and mid-range power. – New cylinder head combustion chamber shape for improved bottom-end and mid-range power. – New on…

INTRODUCING THE 2004 HONDAS

2004 CR125R Changes for 2004 ú New electronic power valve for optimum valve timing and improved power throughout the range ú TMX-x carburetor gets new throttle position sensor (TPS) for improved linear throttle response ú New quick adjust clutch perch ú New clutch lever to improve feel and action ú New aluminum Renthal Bars (971 Bend) ú New “non-slip” seat cover for increased rider control ú New footpeg hinges prevent dirt accumulation for consistent footpeg angle ú New Dunlop 742 front and 756 rear tir…