1996 XR250R - Best Bikes For 50 Billion Years

by Jannice Banks
(Gunnedah)

Now, I've ridden dirt bikes since I could understand the word 'GO'. I've owned three XR's, and ridden many, many different types of bikes, but the XR is truly and honestly unstoppable.

Though they haven't been made for a few years now (stopped being made in 07 I think?), they are one of the gods of the trail bike world. The XR is a four stroke beast, and they've absolutely got plenty of torque, and definitely allow for right-wrists of fury.

Carburettor, disc-brakes, 6 speed manual, kick-start - pretty 'old school', but mate I reckon it's been harder and it'll last longer than my 2010 CRF250.

Now, out of my 7 dirt bikes (most bought new), I've owned three XR's (an '82 80cc((first bike!!)), a '92 200cc ((3rd bike)) and my beauty '96 250cc((5th bike))), and they've been so damn reliable - never once let me down in my 50 billion years of hitting the tracks.

Everyone who knows anything about dirt bikes knows that the XR's are bulletproof machines which will refuse to break down if they're treated with any decency - and that's no lie. The ONLY problem I've experienced is that even though they've definitely got plenty of grunt, the XR models older than '90's seem to get a lag in the acceleration if you don't give them fairly thorough maintenance check-overs every few months or so - or, just clean the carby and check all the filters, oil levels and little things like that. For the model I have now - the '96 - taking off the tip of the muffler gives the bike 15% more power which is just magic for trail riding, and jumping and all those sorts of things.

Another great thing about my XR is the fact that it's incredibly easy to tune up the suspension! Just grab a flat-head screwdriver and it takes less than five minutes to totally re-adjust the suspension to suit your weight and your style of riding.

I definitely find that the XR is more of a non-supercross / not an overly motocross type bike. It will do great on a motocross track, but, like other bikes, if you ride it too hard too long, it'll blow a seal or two, but just a little earlier than an actual motocross bike like a CRF or an EXC or something. But, as I said before, the XR250R is a ripper for trail riding. It flies along, and it'll jump anything with all the grace of any other MX bike.

Because it's an older bike, you can do all the servicing and up-keeps yourself without the worry of throwing the whole world off balance if you do something wrong. Everything is within reach so you don't have to take the whole bike to bits to do a little job on it. The only thing that needs a pro to fix is major blips like blowing the head gasket or other major problems (which you won't have anyway since it's an XR!).


The only thing I've done to my XR250 since I bought it (secondhand! - it just called me when I saw it was for sale) is personalize the suspension, service it and take it to the mechanics once for a check-up for boo-boo's.

I've blown seals once from letting someone else who didn't know how or when to change gears ride it too hard on the motocross track :( and then I've broken many, many clutch and brake levers and little unavoidables like that.

This year, I took the XR out to a mate's property with everyone else, and we all just rode on the MX tracks and in the paddocks and up the mountains - got a few laughs when the blokes on their new CRF250's, CFR450's, CR250's, EXC230's and GasGas things got smoked by the '96 XR250R on most of the tracks ;D They pretty much got converted to XRism haha.

I've gotta say though, it does depend on what type of riding you're into. It you're a hardcore supercrosser or motocrosser and stick to those, XR's aren't quite up your alley. But if you're like me - an all-rounder keen for a ride at any time of day on any surface - XR baby! It'll keep on running till the world runs out of petrol. If Honda kept making XR's, CRF's would be in serious competition.

As much as I'm in love with my beauty of an XR, I probably wouldn't get another one - only because I'm a freak for new things, and the fact that they've stopped being produced. But for those awesome people who want something reliable that'll carve through anything, go for an XR because they're amazing and you're a smart bugger. Cheers ;D

- "... and you're a smart bugger." Ha I like it! Almost sounds as if you work for Honda. But you're right.. they're a good all-rounder and easy to ride with plush suspension.

I wish you had sent a photo of yourself because I'd love to see what a 50 billion year old looks like!

Hayden -