1986 Honda XR250R Classic Off-Road review

This is a look back at Honda's all-new XR250R Enduro machine for 1986.
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[@jordanmalone6868]

I had one! it was a great bike. Great video once again!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thanks again!

[@ponowong2054]

Picked up an ‘87 a few weeks ago. Super fun even out here in the desert.

[@YZEtc]

I remember when the 1986 XR250R was announced in the magazines. I thought then and still think it is a smart-looking bike. A riding buddy of mine sold his 1984 Yamaha IT200L that he rode for three seasons and then bought a 1987 XR250R (same machine as the 1986 model shown in this video). The bike looked nice and he rode it for about three seasons, but I soon realized he needed a bike with more CCs because he would never rev this bike up high enough to get into the meat of the XR's power. He needed a bike with more low-end torque in the basement of the revs because that's where he stood most of the time. It's too bad, but it really was a case of someone buying the wrong bike for how he rode. 3:34 This is the XR that I owned, the 1981 XR250R, my second motorcycle bought used in the summer of 1983. My first one was an obsolete 1972 Yamaha AT-2, a typical vintage dual-purpose bike with the street-legal parts removed. That XR was just what the doctor ordered because compared to the 1972 AT-2, a two-year-old XR250R was thoroughly modern as far as I was concerned.

[@gpaull2]

Honda needs to bring back the XR line. Even if it is air cooled. Their current air cooled line up has super cheap components, especially the suspension. My old knees demand a current chassis with half decent adjustable suspension. I don’t need all the power of a high strung (and high maintenance) engine though. I want to ride more than I wrench, but after thirty+ years of riding I do have some speed and will destroy the junk in their current air cooled lineup.

[@thatalaskaguy]

I agree but am waiting for an electric bike option as I think I’d enjoy it more for my type of trail riding.

[@fixitallworkshop]

Would love if you did a Yamaha it series !

[@gpaull2]

Loved my ‘90 XR250! It had ‘87 CR125 suspension components and a 280cc big bore kit by the time I was done with it. It’s the bike that all others are still compared to. 😎👍

[@sunspiral79]

The XR 250 is what most people think of when asked what a dirt bike is

[@troybeattie3843]

Have a 97 xr400r and 07 drz-250 air cooled! Love your channel, nothing else like it out their with such accurate information as yours and well put together. I have been a lifetime enthusiast of dirt bikes all shapes and sizes have a family now so mostly do trail riding on trail bikes. I have watched almost all your content on your channel, would like to thank you for the time you’ve put into making a documentary series on this sport and it’s motorcycles. Will continue to watch and comment on your new content. P.S would love to see a video on the Suzuki drz-250 or ttr250. I share your videos with all my friends. Keep up the great work!

[@raoulduke3770]

Had a 98 xr400, loved the engine but it was a big bike for my size in tight trails. Should have gone with a 250 with the 280 big bore kit

[@deborahchesser7375]

Maybe try an older two stroke enduro bike, they pull like tractors and are way lighter, I miss trail riding I think I’ll try to find another bike. I’d love to find an 85’ XR350.

[@natestapp5573]

I picked up a 1992 XR250R that sat broken down from 2008 until now. I've spent the last 2 years fixing it... Can't believe how fun it is. Comfortable, smooth, quick...Climbs steep trails easily...For exploring and having fun..... It's fantastic...For me it's plenty powerful and it goes anywhere I am capable of riding with ease.

[@leescheeler1503]

Got several l xr 600rs ❤ them just got an 86 250 really fun bike for sure

[@nvmcrider8475]

5 to 5000 kicks when hot- lol

[@thatalaskaguy]

I got a brand new, leftover ‘87 model in ‘88. I really liked the bike for tight trails in the woods, out in the river bed and riding by myself. It kinda sucked for riding with my friends who had 2-strokes and I hated how twitchy it was on high speed trails. It was kinda scary to go fast on in the ditches along the roads. Still, I wish I’d not traded the bike away as I’d love to have it now. I don’t recall having trouble getting it started hot or cold. I didn’t weigh much back then so I don’t remember any negatives about the suspension. The power was great for exploring and trail riding. I didn’t realize it had a 6spd trans but that was a great feature. Kinda makes me want to look seriously at a new CRF 250F but I currently have enough dirt bikes and am waiting for a battery EV model to become mainstream. I’m pretty confident for the majority of riding I do, that I’d enjoy an electric dirt bike more.

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

So, you are two wheels short and the 2 many strokes. But, I still love it. Still hoping for my fourtrax 250r retrospect.........

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

5 to 5000 LMF AO

[@tomcole2608]

???????

[@dale5303]

Have you done a xr400 video?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I did one on the history of the model yes

[@garageassembled4701]

XR anything is awesome. Gas and go! Period

[@chadkimmel8957]

They weren’t too bad in the four stroke class that was ruled by XR 400s Husqvarnas and the few of us on Hüsabergs here in Ohio Harescrambles. A kid I knew was pretty quick on his 99.

[@Jimmy_Watt]

They could hustle. The trick was to not kill it, and if you did, be on the correct side of the off camber hill. Ask me how I know. 😑

[@shaysullivan6029]

Hard to find on the used Market in good shape.

[@TheHypnotstCollector]

Had a 1983 xr250r. I took off the passive smog system, raised the needle with shims (.020" I think) increased the main jet by 2-3 and it did better wheelies in 2nd gear than 1st before the mods! Picked up 3-5 hp! Also had 3 XR200 and a street legal trials bike, the Reflex, it had a xr200 engine with smaller valves and carb, made around 10hp. Fit my 9 year old son just fine.

[@sevendyseven4090]

Must of been a '83 XL250..the 1983 XR250 was discontinued for that one year.

[@TheHypnotstCollector]

@@sevendyseven4090 My bike was the street legal XR250. I would barely do a first gear wheelie but after the mods it was nice. The mods I did were based on some MX magazine article for the XR250 off road. They have groves for adjusting the Needle. I had to use shims, it didn't have clip grooves

[@TheHypnotstCollector]

So if it was street legal it was the L version? It's been 35+ years......

[@sevendyseven4090]

@@TheHypnotstCollector You bet yours was the 'L' version(XL), the R version (XR) didn't have any smog system attached to it. Was strickly the dirt version, the XL, the street legal version. The XL was slightly detuned/heavier flywheel/tad bit smaller carbs/header pipe, metal gas tanks, passenger foot pegs, and of course a lighting/battery/turn signals/horn etc system along with a much bigger headlight, and weighing approx 30 more pounds than the 'R'...also the dead give away you had the 'L' version was that you mention the needle in the carb didn't have clip adjustments, that was so owner's couldn't make it emit more pollution or mess with carb for smog bull crap reasons.

[@TheHypnotstCollector]

@@sevendyseven4090 Ahhh, I'll just leave my error so anyone else can see the issues/errors and remedies. It did increase the HP.

[@democratsaretheDEVIL]

Here in south La. it is impossible to find a 200 or 250 in good shape and decent price. Would love to find a nice late model 200.