Honda tests

The Showa spring forks are far too stiff, and the CRF250 handling issues start there. We appreciate that the new-generation Honda was made lighter, which helps with hopping over bumps and clearing jumps, but the rigid suspension and frame…
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Justin Barcia’s Geico 2012 Honda CRF250 ripped, the brakes were sensitive and the suspension was set up for a 144-pound man-child.
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It might seem odd that Honda would ask another company to build its first electric Pee-Wee, but each manufacturer has to partner with someone, Honda took the path of least resistance.
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We like testing Windham’s race bikes just as much as we like him. Why? Kevin has a real world racing setup that doesn’t take a Greek god to ride
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Every test rider who raced the 2023 CRF450 raved about how easy the power was to use. At low rpm, the throttle worked like a rheostat. The rider could dial in how much power he wanted. No more hyper-60-horsepower craziness.
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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
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A special kit designed in 2000 to transform a CR250 motocross bike into a freestyle bike. First step, buy hacksaw
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They look so lovely under studio lights, but getting them to that point is fraught with peril and imperiled by fraught
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Sheak’s high-rpm flyer was perfect for his 125 National speed, but without his talent, it is a demanding bike to ride
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Even though they know the best bike when they ride it, that doesn’t mean that they choose the winner when it's time to race
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After an aborted attempt to jump from Team Suzuki to Team Honda in the middle of the 1997 season, Mike finally got his wish for the 1998 season
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The 2005 “CR125 Noisemaker” isn’t comparable to a modern 38.5-horsepower 125 , but it’s great for teaching riders how to carry momentum through corners
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Honda's aluminum frame looked cool, but it vibrated like a dentist's drill and, in Honda's hands, didn't shown a single advantage over its chromoly steel competitors
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Short of making it happen at gunpoint, the easiest way to get your hands on a works bike is to be Daytona winner or an MXA test rider
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Nick asked us to ride his CRF450. Long before his San Francisco triumph, Nick wanted us to take his CRF450 out for a test ride. Why? Because he believes it’s good.
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One small step backwards and one giant leap forward
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MXA had asked Honda about testing Ricky Carmichael’s 2004 CRF450, but after RC announced that he was switching to Suzuki for 2005, we crossed it off our list. Surprise! It was about to be crated up sent to the Honda Museum in Japan when…
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A first of its kind from Honda as they partnered with Greenger to build this electric kids bike
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When WORCS went to Lake Havasu, MXA knew it would be the place to test our YZ450FX and CRF450RX cross-country bikes, even if we had to ride through the lake
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One man, one bike, one Honda guru, two strokes and eighteen years of waiting for fruition
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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
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Honda wouldn't give us Sexton's or Roczen's works bikes for the weekend, but Honda's Johnny Campbell gave us one
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If there is one takeaway from the Works Edition for Honda CRF450 owners, it is to spend less time hopping up the CRF450 powerband and more time mellowing it out—it will handle better.
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Honda celebrates their 50th Anniversary Edition
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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
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