Looking to get a Honda dirt bike or just want to know what bikes they have to offer? Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider and want a step-by-step walk-through of their lineup, you’re in the right place!
In this article, I’ll show you the different types & sizes of Honda dirt bikes you can choose from, why it’s important to choose the right bike, and how to pick the best bike for you using my foolproof 3-step method.
Does Honda still make dirt bikes?
Yes, Honda still makes many dirt bikes for all types of riding, from trail riding to motocross, to dual sport. Honda is one of the top brands because they are quality built (reliable & durable), have high performance, and they stand behind their products.
Are Honda’s good dirt bikes?
I’ve had many Honda dirt bikes over the years, and I can tell you that if you’re serious about dirt biking, they’re one of the best motorcycle brands to own and ride. So, yes, almost all of them are very good dirt bikes because they’re competitive in performance, reliability, build quality, and affordability.
How to pick the right Honda dirt bike for your needs
Whether you’re looking for your first dirt bike or your just getting back into riding off-road, it’s important to pick the right bike so that you don’t crash and get hurt right away.
The first step is deciding the type of dirt bike you want for the riding that you’ll be doing. Then you can pick the right size based on your height. Last, but certainly not least, is choosing your budget and whether you want to buy a new or used Honda dirt bike.
What are the different types of Honda dirt bikes?
This is the most important question because if you get it wrong, you’ll be frustrated with the bike that you’re riding.
Why? Because if you choose a race bike for adventure riding then it’s going to be very uncomfortable and simply not practical. You also don’t want a big street legal dirt bike for racing off-road on tight and technical terrain because it’s going to be hard to handle.
So, the different types of Honda dirt bikes are:
If you’re a beginner, then I highly recommend you pick a trail bike because it’s a much safer choice to start out on. It’s also the best choice if you’re just a casual rider or just getting back into riding after 20+ years of not riding.
Choosing a big and powerful dirt bike right away is asking for trouble if you’re riding off-road because it’s hard to control if you don’t have the skill and experience.
With a lightweight dirt bike, you can learn how to stay balanced more easily. This is because because the bike reacts quicker to your input, forcing you to use proper body position.
Having less power also keeps you out of trouble because you won’t whiskey throttle as quickly when you’re physically and mentally exhausted from riding all day.
What’s the right size dirt bike for your height?
Choosing a dirt bike that fits your height is more important as a beginner because it will affect your confidence. If you’ve ridden a dirt bike that’s too tall for you to touch the ground with your feet, then you know it’s a little bit intimidating.
Not only do you have to learn how to control the clutch, throttle, and brakes, but you have to figure out how to balance the bike when you come to a stop. Starting on a smaller dirt bike with a low enough seat height to touch with one foot simply gives you more confidence when you’re learning to ride.
What does CRF stand for in Honda?
The “CRF” letters before the number (size) in Honda dirt bikes simply means that it’s an off-road motorcycle that’s a 4 stroke. Honda changed all of their 4 stroke dirt bikes to start with the letters CRF back in 2002-2005 (depending on the model).
Best Honda trail dirt bikes for beginners
Honda has always been known to have some of the best and most reliable trail motorcycles for beginners and casual riders. Their trail bike lineup has changed quite a few times over the years, but the quality and durability is still just about as good.
None of these dirt bikes are high performance, but that’s not what they’re designed for. If you want a beginner friendly bike that’s going to last a long time, then you’re going to like one of these bikes.
Honda 50cc pit bike
It all begins with the CRF50 as a little kid. That’s where I started (XR50), and that’s where thousands of young boys and girls start their dirt biking journey because it’s the smallest kids dirt bike Honda sells.
It’s a great bike to learn on because it has a low seat height, it’s easy to handle, and the power is smooth and predictable. There’s no clutch to worry about, but your son or daughter will learn how to shift gears and use proper throttle control.
Or maybe you just want to build a pit bike out of it if you’re an adult. There are plenty of mods available to make it faster and safer so that it doesn’t break in half on you…
Honda 110cc pit bike
Moving up to the CRF110, it’s a good transitional bike when your kid is too big for a 50cc but they’re not ready for a dirt bike with a clutch yet. It’s a 110cc trail bike that has an air-cooled engine and is fuel-injected on the 2019+ model years – it’s smooth, reliable, and easy to ride.
It’s a good size dirt bike for kids age 7-10 years old, or if you’re between 4’0″-4’6″ tall. Of course, it’s best if you sit on the dirt bike before buying so that you know it’s the right size – you just want to be able to touch the ground with one foot while sitting on the seat.
The CRF 110 is also a popular pit bike, even though it’s not as fast as the Kawasaki 110. So, if you’re an adult that wants to have a blast in your backyard or race a pit bike class, just throw some stiffer springs on and go!
Honda 125cc
The CRF125F is where it starts for teens and short adult riders that want to ride a dirt bike. There are 2 size options – a 125cc small wheel and big wheel – based on your height.
The CRF125F small wheel is best if you’re under 4’10” in height. The CRF125FB big wheel is best if you’re 4’10” to 5’4″ tall.
You’ll learn how to use the clutch on a bike that’s super easy to ride, and you won’t have to work on it all the time because it’s so reliable.
Honda 250cc
Last, but certainly not least, the CRF250F is the best beginner Honda dirt bike for adults because it can fit a wide range of rider sizes.
The 250cc 4 stroke engine has enough power to have fun and ride 99% of single track trails, but it’s still tame enough if you’re brand new to dirt biking. It replaced the CRF230F, but it’s closer to the older XR250 because of the 4-valve 250 engine, which makes a little more top-end horsepower than the 230.
Here are the best beginner dirt bikes for trail riding from Honda:
- CRF50F
- CRF110F
- CRF125F
- CRF250F
Honda enduro bikes for trail riding & cross-country racing
Are you already a skilled rider and need to upgrade to a high performance trail bike?
These are the enduro dirt bikes available from Honda:
- CRF250RX
- CRF450X
- CRF450RX
CRF250RX
Based off of the current CRF250R MX bike, the CRF250RX is fast, but the suspension and engine are softened up a little bit for riding off-road. The 250F is a good choice if you like to rev the bike out more, ride aggressively and have fun on the trails.
CRF450X
Moving up to a 450 dirt bike, the CRF450X is the least aggressive competition model for trail riding. The gearing, suspension, engine, and handling are designed for more comfort on trails at low speeds. The wide ratio transmission and larger gas tank also allow you to ride at high speeds and more miles in the desert.
CRF450RX
Just want a 450 off-road bike that’s purely for racing? The CRF450RX is an aggressive version of the 450X. With less weight and snappier power, it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Honda motocross bikes for racing
Unfortunately, they doesn’t sell 2 stroke dirt bikes anymore, so all Honda has for motocross bikes are these 4 strokes:
- CRF150R
- CRF150R Expert
- CRF250R
- CRF450R
- CRF450RWE
Honda’s motocross bike for teens is the CRF150R. It’s built for the supermini class for racing, but it’s noticeably heavier than an 85cc 2 stroke MX bike. It’s a totally different bike than the CRF150F trail bike.
The CRF150R Expert (CRF150RB) is basically the same bike but with bigger wheels and slightly stiffer suspension for a bigger rider in the supermini class.
Their 250F continues to get updates over the years. The CRF250R is the ‘entry level’ full size motocross bike, but it’s definitely not for ‘beginners’. This is purely a race bike.
The CRF450R is the ultimate motocross bike for the manliest of men. It’s the premier class bike for racing.
When the CRF450R just isn’t enough, Honda came out with the Works Edition 450R model with a few goodies to make it look more like a factory race team bike.
Honda 2 stroke dirt bikes
Honda doesn’t make any 2 stroke dirt bikes anymore, but these are the most popular ones they made for many years:
- CR80R/Expert
- CR85R/Expert
- CR125R
- CR250R
- CR500R
Honda dual sport bikes
Looking for a street legal dirt bike? These are Honda’s dual sport motorcycles:
- CRF300L
- CRF300L RALLY
- CRF450L
- XR650L
CRF300L
The CRF300L is a good beginner dual sport bike with more torque than the older CRF250L. It can handle some trail riding as well as cruising on the road for many miles.
If you want a lightweight street legal dirt bike, the CRF 300L is a great choice. It’s noticeably heavier than a trail bike, but it has decent power and suspension. It’s very smooth and easy to ride, while being slightly lower than a typical dual sport bike – it can also be lowered more if you’re a short rider like me!
CRF300L Rally
Are you more into adventure or rally type riding? The CRF300L rally edition has some nice upgrades that allow you to ride longer and further with more comfort.
You get longer travel suspension for better comfort and performance riding off-road. This also makes it a little bit taller of a seat height, but that’s a tradeoff you’ll have to accept for more performance.
The gas tank is also larger, so you can ride longer without needing to fill up. That’s really important if you’re riding out in the middle of nowhere and there are not many gas stations.
The windshield is also a nice add-on to help get some wind off your chest, which can get exhausting if you’re riding a lot of miles on the highway at a high cruising speed.
CRF450RL
Need more power? The CRF450L, which is now the CRF450RL is a great dual sport bike as long as you’re not riding tight single track trails. It just becomes a handful in the tight trails or woods especially if you’re a beginner.
XR650L
Looking for a better commuter motorcycle that can still handle some off-road riding? The longstanding XR650L is big, smooth, torquey, reliable, and is one of the best budget adventure bikes you can buy.
Honda Dirt Bikes 2023
With models coming and going every few years, the Honda dirt bike lineup has changed quite a few times in the past 10-20 years. So, whether you’re just getting back into riding off-road or you’re new to dirt biking, this is the current lineup of Honda dirt bikes 2023 and how much they cost:
| Honda CRF Lineup 2023 | How much does it cost? (MSRP from Honda) |
|---|---|
| CRF50F | $1649 |
| CRF110F | $2499 |
| CRF125F | $3249 |
| CRF125FB (Big Wheel) | $3649 |
| CRF150R | $5249 |
| CRF150R Expert | $5449 |
| CRF250F | $4749 |
| CRF250RX | $8499 |
| CRF250R | $8099 |
| CRF300L | $5349 |
| CRF300L RALLY | $6099 |
| CRF450X | $9799 |
| CRF450RX | $9899 |
| CRF450R-S | $8599 |
| CRF450R | $9599 |
| CRF450RWE | $12,399 |
| CRF450RL | $9999 |
| XR650L | $6999 |
What’s the best Honda dirt bike?
The best dirt bike for you really depends on your needs. What type of riding you’ll be doing, your experience, size, and budget are all key factors.
These are the best Honda dirt bikes for adults:
- CRF250F
- CRF250R
- CRF250RX
- CRF300L
- CRF300L Rally
- CRF450X
- CRF450R
- CRF450RX
- CRF450RWE
- XR650L
These are the best Honda dirt bikes for kids or teens:
- CRF50F
- CRF110F
- CRF125F
- CRF125FB
- CRF150R
- CRF150RB
- CRF250F
What is Honda’s best-selling dirt bike?
One of Honda’s best-selling dirt bikes for the past 10+ years is the CRF450R. It’s the premier class motocross bike and is always being refined to be competitive for the top professional MX racers.
I don’t have access to Honda’s actual sales numbers, so this is my best estimate, but I think it’s a good estimate because it’s one of the few models that’s always been near the top since it came out in 2002 – Honda updates their dirt bike lineup every 5 years or so, but the CRF450R is always there.
Best cheap used Honda dirt bikes
Want a bike but can’t afford a new one? These are the best cheap Honda dirt bikes for teens and adults:
- CRF80 – kids trail bike with a clutch
- XR100 – trail bike
- CRF100 – newer model of the XR100
- CRF150F
- XR200
- CRF230F
- XR250L – dual sport
- CRF250L
- XR400 – trail bike
- XR600R
- XR650R
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