Grudge Match: 2013 Kawasaki KX250F vs. 1983 Honda XR200

It has been said that skill on two wheels is decidedly "not about the bike". While this may be partially true, there's always some gray area when it comes to the battle of skill vs. equipment. To put this theory to the test, bike builder Jay Clark conducted a little video experiment where he put an average Joe on a modern KX250F against Dirt Rider test rider Gary Sutherlin aboard a clapped out old bike. The result? You'll have to see for yourself, but we will say this: Gary makes the old XR look pretty dang fast!

[@dalleymd1977]

That XR200R has been through hell and survived in fact good chance that motor hasn't been touched, win or loose the race the little XR is a winner already.

[@andrewtrx500]

33 years from now the little xr will still be runnin

[@RangerRidesAz]

true

[@tysonthewolfe93]

And now it's 37 years old

[@tomcumby1118]

My 1983 xl200 still going strong.

[@loganhubert6563]

Can’t say the same about the Kawasaki!

[@motorcycleguy73]

Great video. Gary was getting everything he could out of that 200. I would rather go fast on a slow bike than go slow on a fast bike. We need to see a rematch.

[@Interactivate007]

i want to see an old xr500r that has a fresh rebuild against a crf450. that would be a badass race

[@redrider2503]

Kai Kirkwood Dude id love to see that!

[@garychoate6323]

As much as it hurts to say I think the 450 would win because a 500 4 stroke from way back when it seems to be to heavy

[@QuoteFarm]

500 has like 40 hp tops. 450 has about 60. The thing about the 500 hundred is it gets most of it's hp at super low rpms instead of the 450s 9000

[@TopRevs]

@@QuoteFarm 450 has about 50 stock.

[@jeffferguson7256]

My 81 xr200r was one of the best bikes I ever owned

[@bloopaexpress]

that introduction was painful

[@theninja001]

FILTH Riding over halfway through the vid, still no race lol

[@markc5015]

Back in 1986 when I was a teenager a friend had an XR 200, and I had an IT 200 - both brand new. The suspension on that XR would bottom and clang so badly over jumps that I thought the bike was going to break in half! I'm astonished that the guy in this video could jump it like that without killing himself. In my experience, the XR reached its limits VERY quickly in the rough stuff. Now the IT 200, that was a fantastic bike - super light, torquey, smooth, dead simple, and fun! I have a YZ 250 now, and often wish I still had a bike as playful and simple as that IT (the YZ feels like a serious race bike that I have to respect or it will kick my ass!).

[@kynanpiercy769]

Get a ttr 230

[@wingadinga4003]

+Kynan Piercy TTRs are for woosies.

[@walterkersting9922]

That it; was it a "sh" model?

[@elitecystuning]

Xr200 and 200 r exactly same only diff is rear shock and most of time that wasn't even the case.

[@patrickmeyer9905]

Same thing happened to me. Had an xr200. Wanted something more powerful and with better suspension. Now I have a cr250 and it keeps me on my toes at ALL TIMES. Definitely not a play bike like my xr was. Really miss it

[@DirtbikeGino]

Should've rebuilt the xr200 first

[@hurstshiftin9873]

Enjoyed this video good times and that old Honda looked great .

[@Braaaap815]

haha.. that was great to watch.. an 80s xr200 was one of the bikes I rode as a kid.. I remember watching my dad killing it on the track with the xr against lots of bigger bikes..

[@ONSCR33N]

Man I have an 82 xr200r and also the 83 as a parts bike. But the 82 still starts in one kick it was really well maintained from it's previous owners

[@kolargol]

if you race long enough the xr will win...

[@zele3372]

absolutely !

[@marcelofg4214]

Im getting a 2002 honda xr200 pretty soon, im 5'8 and i weigh 115 pounds, are these bikes good starter bikes?

[@richardjeffery517]

Perfect for your height

[@BULLOCK1973]

Great video please do more with great riders on old technology it's great to watch!!

[@kageroark5746]

i just recently fixed up my dads old 1983 Honda, looks exactly like the one in the video but it doesn’t have a light in front any idea to what model it is anyone?

[@chevid9015]

XR200R

[@billybobbubbawubba9457]

I'll bet Gary couldn't get off that thing after point was made. Rode a new 83' xr200 in the China Hat ISDE qualifier. A few miles of whoops and the suspension was sayin "uncle". Did a couple endos in that section.

[@joelcr250]

*I had that exact bike as a kid (same year and everything)*

[@eduardoiimontilla2508]

I agree the xr200 is better old bikes have power over looks while modern bike's engine always need rebuilding

[@TheThaughtpeddler]

I didn't even have to watch the entire video to know who won! XR200 FTW

[@adamfortin11]

John Adkins He didn't win..

[@TheThaughtpeddler]

Adam Fortin you mean a 1983 200 didn't beat a 21st century light MX? I was just kidding, the 200 was meant for light trail, the kx was meant to scream. Both have their place.

[@adamfortin11]

Okay. Sorry, Didn't get the sarcasm there. Haha

[@taylorporter4167]

The dude on the xr200 was great in my opinion because he was flying of them jumps with the stock suspension and a completely stock engine and still managed the pass the guy on the kawasaki kx250F that has a big bore kit and the fact of the matter is if he can pass the guy a couple times and hold it for a while the dude on the xr200 won in my opion

[@dirtydigger3218]

I am having the roughest time finding parts for my 85 xr200r. If you can help please reply. Maybe you know something I don't. Please help!!! I'm in desperate need!

[@sloppyoppie]

Ebay. What are you looking for?

[@agentstevehaines9164]

Xrsonly.com Dennis Kirk is also good. Ebay has stuff but alot of it is false advertising by people who dont know that the 84 -85 rfvc bikes are different

[@spandel100]

That XR has iconic status...it is not meant to be ridden on a mx track....

[@Dastardly_X]

🌟🌟🌟

[@heydude76]

I wonder how the 2013 kx250f would do in 2043.

[@donovanmccoy6833]

Man, it's so weird when put that way. I have a 85 200 and I never even thought of it like that. Amazing how much fun these things can be, even in their age.

[@heydude76]

I have a 1992 xr 600r and the are positives and negatives about it, the negatives is the weight, I don't want people too think im a super pussy or anything it just now I have a 2013 crf450r amazing light bike, now the positives about the 600 is it is very low maintenance the bike is 22 years old and I have road the piss out of it and its just oil changes, air filter clean, lube the chain the bike is just like the first day I bought it, now with the 450 has had the values adjusted, the fork seals fixed and I like to change the oil and air filter after every ride or 5 to 6 hours, I understand the new 4 stroke engines have near the same technology as an F1 engine and I love the 450 at every level and am more than happy too fart around keeping the oil clean and the rest of the bike spotless same with the 600, with my XR 600 I have for sure got more fun out of it than I paid for I wont sell it, the 450 I believe money spent and and fun times are equaling out sometimes one is ahead of the other, if we where talking about horses the 600 would be the Clydesdale and the 450 Arabian race horse I will be selling the 450 to get a new one I don't wish to rebuild the engine when its due, oh another comparison the 600 is marijuana and the 450 is cocaine! whatever that drug is that makes people wanna eat other people Im gonna classify the CR500 in that category;)

[@dalelecita3948]

The only reason why the 200cc wone is beacuase the man on the kx doesnt drive agresively.

[@heydude76]

this is a possibility the environmentalists will easily shut dirt bikes down, well they wont shut it down they will just make it so hard for manufactures to make a bike that meets environmental regulations, manufacturers could lose interest, for an example Caterpillar lost interest in building engines for hi way tractors, and hey I could be dead wrong but the trucking industry is soooo huge I am amazed the Cat washed their hands of supplying engines for it, everything I own and have has at one time been on a hi way tractor, totally gone off topic but I cant sleep....... oh and I will be pushing up daisies by 2043:)

[@realstreettuning5359]

heydude76 i laughed my ass off with this comment jajajajajajajajaj

[@ryancleffi6911]

I feel like that's an 84 but I could be wrong

[@JETZcorp]

The bike isn't bad because it's from the 80s. It's bad because it's an XR200. Put the pro on a KX250 from 1983 and it'd be a massacre.

[@loganmailandt8431]

JETZcorp lol don't call it bad because it wasn't meant for moto. it's a light trail bike at best. it's actually a pretty robust platform for what it is and is best used as a swap down engine into a bucket racer.

[@SOLDOZER]

The whole point was a fast guy on a slow bike Vs slow guy on fast bike.....stupid ass.

[@JETZcorp]

Tec 9 You missed my point. I'm not saying the comparison isn't entertaining, I'm saying the reason the slow bike is slow is not because it's old, but because it was crap when it was new.

[@SOLDOZER]

JETZcorp Theres nothing crap about an XR200. Its just not an MX bike. Its a trail bike. It engine can take decades of abuse with almost no maintenance. Try that with you 250F. It will blow up in 6 months.

[@JETZcorp]

Who ever said anything about a 250F? I was talking about a 250 two-stroke from the 80s; they're indestructible as long as they have oil. And if they blow up, any boob can rebuild it in the living room in the time it takes to watch the Lion King. My '82 Husqvarna hasn't needed any engine work in 12 riding seasons and it shows no sign of deterioration. You're right about the 250F's though; they're time bombs.

[@tonmaster4155]

33years old for the XR200R and still alive?thats saying something.......you have to lookhard to see them these days,good old XRs...........

[@dirtydigger3218]

Ton Master I have one I'm trying to rebuild just having issues with finding parts.

[@WVSTORMFOOTBALL]

West Idaho Mountain Man what model is yours

[@tysonthewolfe93]

That was 4 years later its 37 years old

[@johnplayersstandard]

I just picked up that exact bike for part for my 85 200r prolly gunna just use that bike.

[@Axle1007]

D zastre I might be getting a 84 xr200 duel sport for 400 bucks! It has not ran for 9 years but they guy is asking 500. I think i can talk him down.

[@johnplayersstandard]

I actually got a 1990 200r I used the engine from an 82 xr200r so it's a custom!!! Haha...frames a 90 200r shocks and engine are xr200r tanks 90 200r haha

[@njklvdfhasife]

I have a 1978 xr75

[@briannadardanelli4232]

Única la xr200 r te lleva al fin del mundo con poco dinero gracias honda!

[@user-tc9ss6vv6i]

Recently bought a decent. 84 XR 200 RFVC duelcarb 1250$ timeless bike to me looks better than a CRF. A nice playbike

[@thegoldenman54]

Cool vid would like to see more of these

[@turok6969]

I wanna see Xr600r against a kx500

[@StilwellMotovlogger]

Xr600 wouldn't stand a chance.

[@richardjeffery517]

Unless you where going any distance

[@Rusty-Brown_]

i love the xr 200 great bike

[@aldrincydriexluna5559]

The xr200 has a very high rep not to mention it's engine is top class back in it's time. I was always looking for an xr 200 but somehow all i find are the ones in a bad shape due to the owners neglect.

[@BULLOCK1973]

I was a big 2 stroker back in the 80's just because 4 stroke's were week. Now today I am on a 4 stroke cause they have sure come a long, long way!!

[@aldrincydriexluna5559]

classic 2 stroke dirt bikes are hard to come by, i have a KX 250 but i do would love to have at least one classic dirt bike to show around.

[@gunshooter26]

I just got an 81 for $200.. The suspension is all spring and its a little rough.. But the engine is pretty solid... Super reliable.

[@SOLDOZER]

Hey dumbass, todays CRF230 is just and XR with a different name. You can buy them brand new. You must not be looking too hard.

[@aldrincydriexluna5559]

Tec 9. iF you are pertaining to me then you need to read the comment first, as i said a "Classic" dirt bike which means something that is old. I can buy the CRF but it is not a old bike and the engines are very different since the XR 200 is a "Two Stroke bike" .

[@rogerbeginify]

I tried that once on a 1983 xr 200 a step down from the 200r I actually got in 3 place in the race until every spoke in the front wheel broke after a jump.

[@sloppyoppie]

Twin shock?

[@cowsauce9099]

Wow, the pro was salty at the end. Talking smack. Clearly the old man doesn't beat you at eating dust. But who am I kidding, I'm not one to talk. My pig is a concrete cowboy.

[@robertraft]

hammer that xr man!

[@varieze117pj7]

That was the best comparison I've seen in a long time. Still laughing. Thanks. Let me get the XR prepped for you next time. Methanol.

[@bikez7641]

My friends dad shreds that!

[@walterkersting9922]

That xr is one of the funniest bikes ever.

[@leeham273]

Yeah dude, I laugh all the time when I ride it lmaoooooooo

[@Ben546]

Should have put him on an old cr500!! Then we'll see who wins lol

[@realstreettuning5359]

Ben546 or an old 125 2 stroke

[@richardjeffery517]

@@mrriz6658 the 490,s up to 83 had the long shock like the 465 and 400,84 changed to the upright shock,4 speed,the best bike ive had out many,the fastest 2 stroke was a wr400 husky,i little lighter on the bore but torquey,the arly xr 600.s where great,reliable but the tt,s have a better riding position and wake up a bit better,the twin shoks do it for me now,i want an early dt125 small seat edition now im in my 50,s,I like yamaha bikes mainly,a few ktms

[@typicalendurorider8016]

Ben546 YES!

[@Tool19672]

I bet my old 88 XR 250 R would have burnt that KX250F . The XR will be around long after the KX has be scrapped . I mean come on the XR at that point was 30 yrs older that the KX The KX would not last half that unless it has been a collectors item .

[@alexshadel3617]

ive rode a xr 200 same year its a nice bike

[@tysonthewolfe93]

1983

[@elitecystuning]

Damn those headlights are ugly .. Ahh good ole days of tiny cc little bikes and that includes 450's I own a built to the bricks 93 xr600r 650 Bbk FCR pumped power bomb header massaged and polished fire breathing two stroke eating monster 😉 Hands down Xr are most reliable badass built tough bike ever built to this day NOONE can take that from an old Xr period! Enjoyed vid it was great!

[@icanseeyouallfromuphere]

I bet if the XR had had an engine rebuild and shock replacement and full service all those slight losses would've been bar nil, by age of bike, it also should have a big bore kit and upgrade carb and a super trapp, all era correct, there'd been a far difference.

[@howardwalker3424]

LOL awesome guys that looked like a lot of fun :)

[@davebaird4550]

i had a 83- every single nut-bolt- bearing- suspension- was tended to-- forged piston- the cam journals had needle bearings- new crank-clutch- On off the map off the scale deer trails in the cascade mtns of wa- the dry side- this bike would go almost everywhere a trials bike would go-- new gas gas bikes with expert riders. in snow and loose dry dirt -deep pine needles it would ace out a trials bike-- i have found another one- i need another build this winter.-- drop this mount in a rock pile- pick it up and keep plonking-- liquid cooled bikes? not a snowballs chance.

[@marcosaurelio8791]

la xr 2oo que maquina que sonido era especial

[@sorrywhatgetlost]

Yuh but be fair the XR needed some tidying to be at a fair standard, shes a bit ruffed up poor thing and weren't that bad as a comparative whole

[@hugomx5387]

i have an Honda xr350r

[@hugomx5387]

and it's for sale

[@jackjerenore5736]

+Hugo Stam ill buy it

[@hugomx5387]

Were do you live?

[@hugomx5387]

USA? Europe?

[@jackjerenore5736]

Russia $100

[@abrahamstark2944]

I think that this is not a good compare, are very different kind of bike's, the xr200r is enduro bike ... and the Kx is a motocross bike... and the test is in a motocross circuit. ... so ...

[@wheels1014]

The honda xr series are built like tanks just gotta service them every now and then

[@spikespikus1468]

I remember riding on the track with my ttr 125 dumbest shit you can do in the sport of motocross

[@breezyy777]

you are the first ttr owner who doesnt say they hit tripples on their stock ttr125.... good to know not everyone is a keyboard warrior

[@santiagopenaloza9401]

XR💪💪

[@nomasker1360]

Ok so now both go up some tight steep single track

[@yteb08]

1983 Honda XR200 Dyno Test

[@Freshman24727]

That's not a 2013 kx250f

[@borismcgillicutty3042]

84 was better, dual carbs....mine did 75, had a speedometer......but that was 100 lbs ago when i weoghed 140

[@yteb08]

2013 Kawasaki KX250F Dyno Test

[@stevemack389sm]

the xr is heavy old and more for the street n trail's not motocross racing

[@irenetemplanzapastor4863]

Wow

[@gengiz]

at a huge bday enduro weekend bash we had in buladelah nsw i watched a really good racer beat his arch nemesis on a endurocross track they had made for the weekend and the racer was riding a xr600 with adventure gear on it and the dirtbike forum fastest rider was on a ktm450 exc ..we were all stunned when the man with racing experience beat the fast guy with with a xr600 old heap of shit by a big margin...so skills do play a huge part in getting round the track fast

[@sircooper1963]

good fun!

[@dan666mega]

thats fun to see :D

[@TGSP16]

My dad used to race one of those

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

An expert on a XR600 vs me on my CR500.

[@retroheadd7551]

Race? Wasn't even a race

[@riskyfahrumsyah5775]

its not same between SE compare with Enduro bike...

[@Johnyz85]

+jack mahon

[@vincentferrara5032]

If only the xr was built it did good

[@markfisher3543]

Seem like sore loser I'd say he handled up on you bro

[@ryanmarshall295]

thats not a 2013

[@jlrliriano]

La Honda XR200 es una moto de enduro, la kawasaki es una moto para motocross, es una competencia dispareja, no vale

[@nathanwilson9965]

How many times are these spodes gonna call it "motorcross"? You'd think they'd actually know something about the sport...

[@jacobpadgett7347]

That's what it's called though.........

[@nathanwilson9965]

+Jacob Padgett up you're one of the spodes. It's motocross you inbred

[@jacobpadgett7347]

+nathan wilson Oh for God's sakes, you're really going to get torqued off about one letter? And then go off and throw around insults? Really? And by the way, "spodes" isn't a word either, inbred......

[@nathanwilson9965]

+Jacob Padgett if you call it motorcross then you don't know anything about racing. Stfu

[@nathanwilson9965]

+Jacob Padgett I have no life? You commented at me from something a posted a year ago. Shut your fucking mouth. Motorcross isn't a word and anyone who thinks it is doesn't know shit about the sport. You probably ride a ttr 125 in your backyard

[@katfish1234567]

HA.... he would of killed him on a clapped out xr250. This bike looks like a XL 200, even worse

[@rodolsen5317]

xr200 anyday over ya kwakas see which one will still be running without the numerous rebores in the years to come,americans seem to be the only ones that think they can ride a motorbike,

[@theninja001]

Vet Intermediate=Hack lol...........I’m a Vet Intermediate next year.........bummed

[@Johnyz85]

Jack Mahon

[@alariderusa410]

Waist of time this video. You could have gone in the thick woods and made it worthwhile. The xr200 was never a motocross bike.

[@Johnyz85]

Daren kapolis lmao jake on his 200

[@ajl9491]

This could have been an awesome video...but it wasnt......

[@Mr1keykneedeep]

That was funny.

[@tylermarsh9760]

You guys talked too long... had to skip forward to the riding sorry!

[@unclequack5445]

This is stupid, the XR is 30 plus years old 200cc Trail bike, against a modern purposed race bike Why couldn't it at least be an XR 250? or even an 83 KX 250 this is bullshit.

[@jeffpaxton9172]

Yea. F these A holes!!

[@mr.channel6467]

Lol, that’s all

[@helloperson1229]

John 3:3 Ephesians 5:4 in the Bible