Lots of people have asked me to make a list of Honda’s best dirt bikes, and for some reason, I have not found a simple or official site that does so.
For those who do not know, Honda is one of the biggest and most iconic dirt bike brands in the world, and all of its dirt bike models are used by the best racers in the world.
In this post, I will show you the best dirt bike models of Honda but before doing that, let me share you some history about Honda first.
Best Honda dirt bike models on a list
| 1983 Honda CR480R |
| 1986 Honda CR250R |
| 1974 Honda CR125M |
| 2008 HONDA CRF450R |
| Honda XR650L |
| Honda CRF 250X |
| Honda AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORTS ES |
| Honda CR500R |
| Honda CRF250L Rally |
| Honda CRF125F |
| Honda CRF50 |
| Honda CRF150R |
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Honda’s amazing history
Honda has been considered for decades the best dirt bike companies of all time. Honda was founded in the United States in 1959 and has started its journey since the 60s when Suiciro opened a tiny shop of Honda dirt bike in Los Angeles.
Honda began with 50cc and 90cc engine and had some merchants distributing its models, so a lot of people loved it. Honda really made a huge success with CRF XR and CR series all over the world and Honda will continue to be one of the best dirt bike companies in the world.
1983 Honda CR480R
I decided to mention the Honda CR480R first for the simple reason that the CR480R was Honda’s first good dirt bike. Every other model that preceded the CR480R just didn’t really come close while this model is a beast and every real rider will tell you how amazing it feels.
The truth about the CR480R is that it was not the best start for Honda. It came out in 1982, but then, a lot of people did not like it because there were a lot of problems associated with it. Problems such as the suspension, the gearbox which was also not good, and its parts that were not well built. In short, it was a very mediocre machine that did not win much sympathy from most people at first.
But it has its turning point in 1983 when it was already much better off with improvements and got a lot of sympathy from racers. It was amazing and was the first good dirt bike that Honda had at the time, which is why I think the CR480R should come in the first place.
By the way, if you wish to buy a CR480R, it is possible as some people will be happy to sell to you, but it will take a lot of time to find them because it is a rare model.
1986 Honda CR250R
The Honda CR250R was developed by Honda in 1986 and was one of the best dirt bikes of all time. It was the most dominant that year and gave many improvements.
The CR250R introduced a new and improved 249cc HPP (Honda Power Port) engine that really made a huge change in the market. The engine had crazy power runs and was amazing that no one had seen for several years. The CR250R has an amazing design that was much more impressive than the model that came out in 1985. It has gold rims that reached a more striking and impressive gold graphics and much higher positions with the chrome steel poles.
The CR250R, in general, was one of the best dirt bikes that Honda created in those years, and no model really got close to the level the 1986 model introduced. No company in those years really threatened the CR250R, not to even talk about how cheap Honda sold the CR250R which is only $2,600.
1974 Honda CR125M
The CR125M is not officially a dirt bike but more of a motorcycle for off-road racing while still easily earning its place on the list since it was by far the best 125cc model in the 74.
In 1974 when Honda started producing the CR125M, this motorcycle was so much better than other 125cc motorcycles with so much difference. Although Yamaha and Kawasaki had 125cc models, they still could not compete with the CR125M. Everyone liked CR125M because it was very reliable and it sold faster during that time at a very attractive price of $740.
The CR125M introduced an innovative 123cc single-stroke 9,500 rpm air-cooled engine, complex design and a very lightweight of 179 lbs (81.4 kg). Unfortunately in 1975, the CR125M was already becoming less attractive because of Yamaha and other companies that started making 125cc dirt bikes, which in a very short time made the CR125M older and less favorable than its competitors. But the Honda CR125M still deserves the honor because it was much better than the other 125cc models.
In addition, if you are planning to buy the CR125M, know that its price would have increased. If it was once sold for $700, today, people would sell it for around $3,000.
2008 Honda CRF450R
The Honda CRF450R Model 2008 is one of the best 450cc dirt bikes of all time, while many Honda enthusiasts say the 450 of 2008 is much better and more reliable than the CRF450R produced today.
I can really understand why people say that the CRF450R of 2008 is the best dirt bike produced ever. It is simply because it has a powerful engine, amazing design and everything needed in a dirt bike, which makes it perfect and much better than the 2007 model. It was also the best model for every competitor.
Today, you will have a very hard time finding the Honda CRF450R Model 2008, since it is almost a decade, it will be very difficult and rare to find. But who knows, in case you find one for sale, know that it will be expensive.
Honda XR650L
The Honda XR650L is by far one of the best dirt bikes that Honda produced and is considered an icon while there are plenty of opinions about it. Some say the Honda XR650L is the best dirt bike they’ve ridden while some say the XR650L just isn’t good and efficient for off-road riding.
The Honda XR650L journey started in 1993 in the United States and is still sold in huge numbers today. Lots of people love it, and from 1993, Honda has not changed so many things in the XR650L, even in the design, except for some minor changes. This proves that this bike is so good for people to continue buying it even though Honda barely made a change to it.
The XR650L gives good speed with an excellent 664cc engine, single-cylinder, air cooler that delivers around 35 horsepower and works with a 5-speed, with a weight of 346 pounds that gives excellent durability to a steel frame. So, it has a very good specification for dirt bikes and I certainly can understand why people say it is one of the best dual-sport models. The XR650L is also good for road riding or adventuring because it really knows how to cope with any terrain.
If you want the XR650L, you will have to pay a price of just $6,690, which is very cheap and lucrative.
Honda CRF 250X
The Honda CRF 250X is the best dirt bike of all time for novice riders and the most popular to have, and not only suitable for beginner riders but also for medium and even advanced riders who love to ride.
In fact, Honda did not make big changes to the CRF 250X from 2004 to 2017 except for a few noticeable changes. But in recent years, Honda has made many changes that every year, the CRF 250X become more popular among beginner riders, and in my opinion, it is the most effective and popular dirt bike Honda has issued because the CRF 250X is seen almost everywhere.
In any case, the CRF 250X features an excellent 4-stroke, 249cc engine providing smooth riding with a very efficient electric start and excellent design. The CRF 250X will cost you a price of just $2,000, which is nothing and one of the cheapest you can buy in the market.
Honda AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORTS ES
The AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORTS ES is one of the best adventure models in the market that came out in recent years.
The AFRICA ADVENTURE SPORTS ES offers a powerful 1084cc fluid-cooled Unicam® four-stroke 22.5-degree parallel twin power 75.0kW/ 7500min-1 that works with a 6-speed transmission. I must mention that it is one of the most beautiful motorcycles I personally I’ve never seen due to its impressive and beautiful design.
The Honda AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORTS ES is priced at nearly $18,000 and has amazing performance that makes it undoubtedly deserve to be on the list because it is one of the strongest and best motorcycles Honda has to offer.
Honda CR500R
The CR500R is one of the best 2 stroke dirt bikes ever made and is very popular and powerful. In fact, it is a simpler version stronger than its smaller brother 250crf and is designed for very advanced riders. So, it is a very powerful motorcycle.
Honda started producing the CR500R
in 1985, and since then, Honda continued to make a better model each year with
more improvements. But in 2001, Honda stopped investing in the CR500R because
of the stop in the AMA 500 motocross race.
The CR500R had all the things as in the CRF450, except the difference in the cc
(30.0 cu in) air-cooled two-stroke engine that produces 52.8hp, featuring 55
horsepower and amazing design. In my opinion, it is much nicer than the dirt
bikes Honda produces today, and the 1996 and 1998 models also looked amazing
back then.
I personally would like Honda to reproduce the CR500R model because it was so different from the model they produce today, and most importantly, it had a 2 stroke engine that was considered to be the best. Although there are lots of rumors that Honda has started reproducing the CR500R models, who knows if those models will look better than the Honda CR500R 1998 model.
Honda CRF250L Rally
The Honda Rally CRF250L was first created in 2012, and to this day, Honda gives it a different and renewed design every year. Even though the Rally CRF250L is not the fastest or craziest you can find from Honda, it is by far one of the best dirt bikes you can find for road riding and adventure.
The Rally CRF250L features a four-stroke engine with 249.6cc of cooled fluid that produces a modest 24 hp bondage gearbox with 6 speeds in design and a very impressive style.
In my opinion, the Honda CRF250L Rally definitely deserves to be one of the best dirt bikes Honda has for the simple reason that it is among the best 250cc dirt bikes you can find in the market and is perfect for beginners. It is also sold for a very low price of $5,149.
Honda CRF125F
The Honda CRF125F is considered to be the best 125cc dirt bike in the market for novice riders. It also has the best ever 125cc engine that is just amazingly compact and excellent for beginners.
The Honda CRF125F features an excellent 124.9cc air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine, has a very lightweight of 192 pounds, and works excellently in the field. It is also a stretcher that comes in the standard Honda design.
The CRF125F comes in two standard versions. The first is the regular version that costs $3,499, while for the second version with larger wheels, it cost additional $400 and offers mostly larger diameter wheels plus some minor improvements. Both versions are excellent and you won’t be disappointed.
Honda CRF50
The CRF50 is the best dirt bike in the world for kids. If you ask any experienced or professional rider what dirt bike they want for their kids, most of them will immediately say the CRF50F. Although the Yamaha TF50F and CRT50F are also considered the best for kids, the CRF50F is undoubtedly the best of them.
The CRF50F offers an excellent
single-cylinder 4-stroke 49cc engine that reaches maximum speeds of up to 25
mph and is very easy to control. It offers parental control as a kick start and
lots of other good things that give you peace of mind as a parent.
The CRF50 is by far the most popular and recommended dirt bike for kids and is
sold for $1,500, which is not expensive. The CRF50 continues to prove its
tremendous success and is undoubtedly considered to be the best dirt bike Honda
has for kids.
Honda CRF150R
The Honda CRF150R is another dirt bike from the CRF series and the truth is that it is also tailored for children but only with the difference that the CRF150R is more geared towards racing and is more powerful in terms of performance.
The Honda CRF150R offers a liquid-cooled single-cylinder 4-stroke 149cc engine that is optimized for racing and is relatively quick and excellent in a race.
You can buy the CRF150R for $5,099 and you can also find a great deal by buying its used and be sure you will not be disappointed with what the CRF150R offers because it is considered the best dirt bike the kids can have for racing.
Related questions
- Where does Honda manufacture its dirt bikes? Honda has several factories in countries such as Thailand, United States, India, Japan, and others. So, it manufactures its motorcycles in those countries.
- Are Honda dirt bikes good products? Yes, Honda models are one of the best in the world, and many even say they make the best models.
- What is Honda’s fastest dirt bike? The fastest Honda’s dirt bike is the XR650L which reaches a maximum speed of 98 mph and can reach 60 mph in 5.83 seconds. The model is crazy, making it one of the fastest dirt bike models in the world.
Need dirt bike safety gear? Click here to buy safety gear for dirt bike riding on amazon , or go check my sales pages of recommended safety gear page click here to view.
For any questions, you may have or opinion on the article, feel free to write us a comment, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thanks for reading, until the next post.
