If you were asked which motocross bikes were the most popular, how would you answer? You would probably reel off, “Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, KTM, and Suzuki,” not necessarily in that order depending on your personal preference.

The reason for the popularity of these brands is directly related to the quality of the bike. And as you know, quality = high price.

One of Honda’s hottest offering is the Honda CRF450R, which is highly rated for its sheer power and the speed that it delivers. It actually is powered by a 249cc engine that keeps running cool as a cucumber since it’s liquid cooled. You can expect to expend about $6,500 for one. Too rich for your blood? Step down to the HONDA CR 250 Motocross Dirt Bike for about $3,000.

Shopping for a KTM? The KTM 200 EXC is their most popular model. It’s loaded with 200cc but the whole package weighs in at what a 125cc bike would. At $6,000 you get a lot of bang for your buck. If they happen to be sold out (which they might be), consider one of the bikes in their SX series. They’re not too different from the EXC.

Are you a Kawasaki aficionato? The most popular model has been the powerful KAWASAKI KX250. With its release in 1990, came the hefty price tag of $6,000! But if you have your heart set on a Kawa but can’t come up with these clams, why not pick up a used one for about $2,000? If the prior owner is conscientious, you should get a good deal. For a smaller calibre machine, check out the KX125.

Long time manufacturer Suzuki remains in the game as a major player. For about $3,000 you can be riding a choice bike in the $3,000 range. For example, the DR-Z125 and DR-Z125L models will kick butt with a 4-stroke engine and a 5 speed transmission.

If you’re a Yamaha fan, check out the YZ series of bikes. They have come a long way since the Enduro days of ther 1970’s! The least expensive will only run you about 3 to 7 grand. But if you want to spend a bit more, step up to the the 4-stroke, DOHC, 5-valve titanium, liquid-cooled powerhouse YZ450F for about 6,900 dollars.

Article by John Melin at www.MxTrainingJournal.com

Technorati Tags: motocross, dirt bikes

For almost 60 years (Honda produced their first production model in 1949), Honda Motorcycles has remained one of the most popular brands in the business. And for a good reason: they manufacture excellent bikes.

Since those early days of 1949, the company has now expanded to create manufacturing facilities in 21 countries. Today, Honda has one of the largest lines of motorcycles of any manufacturer: half a dozen to a dozen different models in each category – touring, cruiser, street, sport, motocross, off-road, you name it! – In terms of sales, as of 2005, Honda had sold over 150 million motorcycles.

But numbers alone don’t tell the whole story: the real awards come from the millions of riders who worship their Honda motorcycles and that appreciate the tight engines and reliable manufacturing the company is famous for.

Today, you can find Honda motorcycles that will fit all kind of riders and riding styles. Below you’ll find some examples.

Note: before continuing, let me clarify that it’s not my intention to list all the great models Honda has produced over the years – it would be impossible to do it in just a blog post – but only to mention a few ones that have left their mark in motorcycle history and in my memory.

Cruisers…

The Honda Valkyrie is a first-rate example. An inline, liquid-cooled, six cylinder, 1520cc boxer, the Valkyrie engine is a wonder to behold.

Most cruisers use a V-twin design, but the boxer – in which cylinders are arrayed in opposite directions, rather than at 45-60 degree angles – delivers smooth power and plenty of it. Six individual carburetors, one for each cylinder, gave this beauty tons of torque. It would have been the envy of its peers, if it had any. The sound of this baby was unique.

Sadly, the Valkyrie was discontinued with a limited edition ‘Rune’ being the last offered in 2004. But, even with the Valkyrie available as ‘pre-owned’ only, the tradition of great Honda cruisers and tourers continues with the Goldwing and other current models.

Touring bikes…

Considered the first production touring bike, the Honda GoldWing appeared in 1975 and took the public by surprise as touring bikes, as we know them today, didn’t exist by that time. 32 years later this fabulous touring bike is still in production and it is known as the king of the touring class.

Visit Honda Goldwing to learn more.

Street bikes…

The Interceptor, for example, has been named a top street bike 11 years running by a number of major magazines. The Interceptor was one of seven Honda models featured in the Guggenheim Museum’s ‘The Art of the Motorcycle’ exhibit in New York.

Sportbikes…

Honda CBR600F series motorcycles were manufactured from 1987 to 2006 and are considered by many the best all-around middleweight sportbikes in motorcycle history.

In 1987, the CBR600F won each and every one of AMA 600 Supersport races. From 1987 to 2000, CBR600F mounted riders won more than 50% of all major 600 cc Supersport races held around the World. This is a record that no other sportbike in the 600 cc category can match.

But Honda’s CBR600F success wasn’t only due to its victories in the race track, but also from offering to the public a bike with racetrack performance and power adapted to real world riding at an affordable price.

Visit Honda CBR600F to learn more.

Off road motorcycles…

Whether it’s the tiny 49cc CRF50 or the huge (for off-road) 649cc XR650R, these bikes are built to conquer any hill or dirt road around.

The smaller bike is perfect as a training vehicle for younger riders. With a 3-speed automatic transmission, they couldn’t be any easier to drive. And with only a 21-inch seat height, anyone who can’t sit astride it shouldn’t be riding anything bigger than a toy. At just over a hundred pounds, they’re perfect for those who weigh about the same as the bike.

The larger model, despite its displacement, is still a single-cylinder model. So, it will deliver lots of torque at low rpm (revolutions per minute), making it perfect for hill climbing and accelerating out of those hairpin turns on dirt roads.

About the picture: the photo above is a Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin that was designed to stand the most demanding off road situations as the ones found in the Paris-Dakar rally. Another great off road model from Honda Motorcycles.

In summary: whichever style of riding suits your personality, Honda has a model that will deliver years of delightful riding. And, hey, who could resist that classic Honda red?!

Enjoy the ride!

WorldWideMotorcycles.com

P.S. What is your favorite model from Honda? Why? Let our readers know through the comments of this post.

Disclaimer: the logo on this post is copyright and/or trademark of its respective owner. This site is not affiliated in any way with Honda Motor Co.

Technorati Tags: honda motorcycles, valkyrie, goldwing, interceptor, cbr600f, crf50, xr650l