The legendary Honda XR400R review! Should Honda bring it back?︱Cross Training Adventure
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ย. 2024
- crosstrainingen... tractionerag.com This was a trip down memory lane, riding a Honda XR400 (more corectly the Honda XR400R) last week for the first time in 20 years. The first Honda XR400 came out in 1996 and it was a great dirt bike in its day. Bulletproof. Heaps of midrange power. Long travel suspension. Relatively light. I had an absolute ball on mine so here is our Honda XR400 review. It was capable on and off road, incredibly reliable. The only real known issue for the Honda XR400R was some could be tricky to kickstart once they were hot but I never had that issue. It was definitely a wheelie machine too. Excuse the old footage, but this was filmed before action cams were even available. Filmed to tape in glorious Technicolor. Plenty of guys were racing the Honda XR400 too, not surprising given the massive popularity of the XR600 in events like Baja. But everything was about to change. The era of the mainstream high performance four stroke was about to kick in, with the Yamaha WR400 in 1998 and KTM 400EXC in 2000. I can still remember riding a friend's brand new 400EXC, one of the first in Australia. I was staggered at how light, smooth and powerful it was. The XR 400R was introduced in 1996. Its frame, plastics and suspension components were similar to those of the XR250R, and it had a similar air-cooled engine with RFVC cylinder head technology. The XR400R had more suspension travel and a longer wheelbase than the XR250R of the same year. Many XR400Rs were heavily modified and raced. The 400 was perhaps the most versatile of the XR line-up; many were raced in amateur motocross and enduro events. Equipped with street-legal lighting it also worked reasonably well as a dual purpose bike. It was simple, reliable and long lasting. Hard to break and easy to fix. In 2004 Honda discontinued the XR400R. And I realised the days of the Honda XR400 being a great dirt bike were over. However, it was still a great dual sport bike and kept selling well. But then the Suzuki DRZ400 emerged, with water cooling, more power and an electric start. It became incredibly popular but instead of updating the XR400 Honda simply gave up in 2004 and discontinued it. Why? Who knows? In 2005 Honda released a motard version with an electric start but they detuned the engine and it never seemed to take off. The Honda XR series is a range of four-stroke off-road motorcycles that were designed in Japan but assembled all over the world. Some of the XR series came in two versions: R and L. The R version bikes were enduro machines designed for off-road competitive riding. They were fitted with knobby off-road tires and were not always street legal. The L version models were dual-sport trailbikes, fitted with lights, indicators, horn, and street-legal tires. The Honda XR400 engine continued to live on in a model called the Honda NX4 Falcon made in Brazil which is actually fuel injected and has an electric start and a big fuel tank. It would probably sell quite well but it's only available in Brazil. Everyone will have different opinions about the Honda XR400, but I wonder if the turn of the century is when Honda really started to lose the plot with their offroad bikes in many respects. Suzuki has sold a huge number of DRZ400s over the past two decades, why didn't Honda update the Honda XR400R and cash in as well? It would be great to be a fly on the wall at the Honda marketing meetings. What do you guys think? Has Honda made some weird decisions over the years? Should the XR range have continued? Keen to hear what you think. Small XR models include the XR50R, XR70R, XR75R, XR80R and XR100R. The sound effects are that of a two-stroke engine for dramatic effect. The XR50 is a small four-stroke 50 cc (3.1 cu in) child's entry level motorcycle, introduced in 1969 and still in production as the CRF50 in 2021. Originally it was called the Z-50, then Trail-50, the XR 50, CRF 50, and the mini dirt bike. They are much smaller in size in comparison to the other bikes in the series, and are designed for children, smaller riders, as pit bikes, or for recreational fun. The XR80R was used in the film Terminator 2: Judgment Day, ridden by a young John Connor ( Edward Furlong ). In some scenes the taller XR100R is used as Furlong's stunt double was an adult man.
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What year is yours? Is 2002 a good year?
Still riding an xr400, it's all I need. Sits for 6 months and starts after a couple kicks.
Same
Same. I’ve had more modern 450s and I still prefer the xr400 for the big seat and comfortable ride with loads of torque
@@rippinmachines the 400 feels nostalgic to ride. It's everything you think a dirt bike should be. I've also owned modern 450s. The first one boiled over constantly, the second one flamed out all the time. I was no longer enjoying riding so thought I'd just buy a cheap xr400 for the odd occasion I wanted to ride, than I realised it wasn't that I no longer enjoyed riding it was I didn't enjoy modern dirt bikes and all the issues and costs associated.
@@Velcrochicken1 I’m into vintage stuff so I’m sure that’s a factor in why I enjoy it. Also grew up on an xr250. Either way, I don’t think of it as an old bike. I love the power delivery and the big comfy seat. Linear opposed to very abrupt power that comes on at higher rpm’s on newer 450s. Maybe I just like to ride like an old man.
I picked one up 6 months back I love it on the trails but not so much on the highway haha
Shutting down the whole XR lineup was a huge mistake. Especially, the smaller bikes which helped so many new riders gain confidence, and get into the sport. I like the XR400 and XR600. I also miss the 2 stroke CR lineup. You can't beat a CR500! That's why I own 3 😁
40+ years ridden all sorts of dirt bikes, XR600R and XR400R, still to this day, simple, bulletproof and best bikes ever made
After almost 20yrs out of the saddle , i only recently got back into riding , to chase the kids around . And what did i buy …… a 2004 xr400 ! Absolutley love it 😁👍
I did the same, the xr400r is perfect, enough power to keep a smile on your face, and not too big to man handle around.
I am chasing my boys around on their dirt bikes and I never owned a dirt bike before. Low and behold, I bought an XR 250 and XR400. So much fun, I just wish I started riding before age 54. Better late than never.
That’s great bro, hope you and the kids are still out there ripping together!
did much the same, used to ride and old Yamaha TT600 so comparatively much lighter and easy to start, plenty of power for what I do now and bulletproof enough to probably outlast me
Im an older rider, do you think this bike would be too much for me? I rode a ton when I was a kid, but its been years since Ive been out.
You hit the nail on the head. Excellent video. I've often wondered what the hell they were thinking. I owned a 2002 XR400 and absolutely loved it. I sold it and bought a brand new 2005 CRF450X and even though the 450X was superior in design and had better suspension and electric start, I always regretted getting rid of the XR. It was simplistic and bulletproof. Fast forward to 2021, I bought a 2001 XR400, completely went over the whole bike and installed all the necessary dual sport mods. It's my go-to bike once again. I will never sell it.
Great to hear you found a good used XR400, Jim. I'm sure that one will be a keeper!
Came back last week from a bike tour in Mongolia with XR400R. Was surprised and really appreciated that bike. Easy repairs, yes kicking could be a bit of a hassle sometimes. But all in all a fantastic offroad bike in those conditions. Met some Canadian riders on KTM's who wished they could find XR400R's back home.
I love my xr. It's no Austrian dirt weapon, but it puts a grin on my face. I still think it's Honda's best bike.
Just bought my 1st ever XR. A 2004/5 XR250R. Now looking at a 2004/5 XR400R that's mint 👌
The Honda XR series are the best dirt bikes ever made. They encompass the beauty of the simplicity of the motorcycle. The XR100R is the best of them all.
my younger brother had the XR100-killer: the Yamaha RT100 two stroke! THat bike was a lot of fun!
XR600
I think he meant 400
I bought a 2001 XR400R back in 2020 and I am now racing it in the local Cross Country series. It is a freakin’ tractor and has tons of torque. I love this thing.
Good choice!
Tractor! That is exactly how I think of my 400. Just roll on the throttle and she keeps on chuggin. Love mine and my XR250R.
Its been said, "old XR's never die, they just get new owners." Had an '84 XR350 it was a great bike, good very useable power, especially the low end torque, i towed many bikes out of the desert with it. Only thing i didnt like was its 17" rear wheel, very limited on tire selection. Suspension was a little soft, thats just an XR. Reliable to its core!! Still kinda miss it.
Agree great trail bike!! I also had one(83mod) great power for off road and could handle short stints on the road easily. I really liked the xr350 86model,disk brake front end and a digital speedo!! 😀
i have a xr 400r but it recently just caught on fire engine is still good so im going to build it back up
@@papigamer1390 hell yeah
I'll keep riding XRs as long as there's parts to make 'em run (and it's not like they need too many).
💯%
I was in my riding hey day in the 90's. Honda's were the the shit. I still think that their reliability is second to none but the r&d remains to be desired. RIP honda dirt bikes.
Yep I had a 90's model 250 with the white plastics, cool looking bike never let me down
I always knew that because of Honda's legendary reliability and quality reputation (I'd say the gold standard), all the other Japanese and even European manufacturers had to improve their reliability/quality just to stay within reach of the Honda standard. Nowadays they all are good, still have there little quirks which is to be expected. I personally have been riding Yamaha's ( for about the last 18 years) and are completely satisfied with there reliability as well, always got there and back.
I have a XR 400 and still ride it alot , love this bike ...put oil n gas in it and goes never an issue . The XR 400 is legendary ! 👍...Cheers 🍺
Well said!
I ride mine at least twice a month for the past 2 years. Love this bike.
Same here
My old reliable in the 90s, was the Suzuki DR 350. Man what a bike it was!
Yea I was just on here talking about my XR but I have a 1992 DR 350 as well ....been riding this bike forever , added a new plastic kit to it ....it's looking good 👍!
I'm still riding a DR350 daily :D
@@michaelnutzel2226 your a beast! Awesome bike. It will last forever IMO
I had a dr350 as well but sold it and bought a Xr 400. the xr has a better suspension but the dr engine delivers smooth. Perfect for trail.
E-start XR400 motor in a modern chassis with modern suspension is my dream bike. Needs to keep the low XR seat height too.
Yeah, the new aged bikes with their super short maintenance intervals are just annoying. They are getting close with the KLX300R.
AJP PR4 with a big bore?
Love my e-start XR400R, I an older rider (61) who got into off road riding about 5 years ago. But I had to put an estart set up from the TRX400/ EX400 ATV into it because when it was hot and Ai dumped it it would flood and take a savage amount of kicking to clear the flooding and get it started again…. Wasn’t fair to my riding buddies to have to sit around and watch that suffer fest two to three times per ride! LOL. Love my E-start XR400R!
I wish the factory estart xr was sold in the US. My buddy is selling his street legal 92 xr250 because he can't kick it over. My 97 xr250 is a breeze but also a totally different engine.
Any resources for the xr400 electric start mod?
@@BeeWhere thumpertalk
Love the old XR bikes. Still got a 250 from 1978 running well.
With the ENORMOUS front wheel 😂😂😂
I love my 1998 Xr400R, in all is life i have rebuilt the engine once (bored, new piston, ring and timing chain etc.) not that it as let me down but was starting to burn little oil. own the bike since 2008, sold the bike to a random guy 3 hour drive from my place just to buy it back 5 year later (the Exact bike!) i was so lucky to be able to buy it back. I will never sell it again.
She's a keeper!
Owned 2. Loved em! East coast enduros until the clubs ran out of ground! Brings back so many fond memories to a 72 year old!👍
Love my xr400 something about these older bike's that you can't beat can't wait to test her out on some enduro day's.
No school like the old school...
Still got mine from new in 1998, I fitted a Corbin seat at the time which improves it further. These bikes are spot on.
I have one right now it’s not tricky to start when it’s hot but there’s a certain method to the coldstart!
HONDA AUSTRALIA TRIED TO RESCUE THE XR400... 😢 Glenn Hoffmann says Honda Australia’s management desperately tried to keep the xr 400 in production, as even in the face of modern water-cooled bikes they still sold well for rural areas for mustering.
Honda Australia built a electric start XR400 simply using available Honda parts from other models. In Japan they said it would happen if 30,000 units could be sold annually.
Australia ordered 4000, the UK 2000... and that was it. 24,000 units short! So it never happened.
Is it possible to get some more information on this electric start for th XR400?
@@pollepost i used to run Xrstuff in the UK and sell electric start kits , the same engine is used in the TRX400EX quad it has a longer crankshaft to bolt the e start bits onto it, you can do the same if you swap the crank from the quad onto your XR400 you need to build a battery box (rear fender) but its easy enough, Some the quads have reverse i always fancied having a XR400 with reverse but never got round to it
I'm an Hondista, I have already an VFR vtec and a crz .
Last year I m was looking for a XR400 to enjoy into some dirty road from my places.... very rare to find one cheap and near to home ... so I saw a DR350 nearest .... I went for it, cheaper than XR, same work , still reliable , bike was 58.000 km , now it's 60K and still great.
I have to say that DR350 it's the best option in this category considering used price and easy availability (more consumption is incredible).
I fell in love with the Honda brand the first time I rode my new CR250R back in the 90's. Lots of power and a plush suspension for trail riding, even though it was an MX bike. I can't for the life of me figure out why Honda gave away there off road domination. For 20+ years no manufacturer could touch the XR650R. And McGrath dominated the MX world on the CR250R. It's similar to the way the USA has given all manufacturing to China. WTF is going on? I still have two Honda Icons, '99 VFR800 and a '75 CB550SS.
Even Honda's CEO says they've lost their mojo 😢
I am a very fortunate rider who works hard to have an 00' XR400, 98' XR600, 01' DRZ-E, 07' KTM 450 and a 07' KTM 525 EXC. When i get to choose which one to ride it is a toss up between the XR400 and 07' 450. Both simply put a grin on. My XR400 cause it is now e-start will likely be the last bike i own. Not really great at anything but good at everything.
Cool, how did you get the e-start? Adapted from the TRX quad or did you manage to buy the short lived motard model?
@@crosstrainingadventure To retain the kickstarter i went with the TRX Quad crank. Wish the Motard was in the USA but unfortunately not.
Yes, Honda should bring it back. The XR400 is the best dirt bike ever made, for various reasons
I owned a 1996 for 10 years. Finally gave it up for a 2 stroke for the trails.
It’s the bike I’d be buying today if it was available in the US. Instead, DR650 is up next as a lighter ADV bike. Had a KTM 690. Don’t need/want 74 HP.
XR650L is taller than I’m comfortable with
Same here, Adam. I bought a KTM 690 years ago but sold it after a few months and just got a DR650 instead. Actually too much power for my liking and not enough reliability.
I've ridden the 690 and 640 I agree more power than you need, and too stiff, not as forgiving. Not only that the plastic fairings tend to fall apart easy.
I had purchased an xr650r in 2006 , i have invested heavily in the bike and including electric start , HRC piston and cam , Edelbrock pumper carb , upgraded suspension , IMS fuel tank ( 17.6 litres ) trail tech Vapor instrumentation , EBC larger rotor for better braking , xr400r CDI for steeper ignition curve , and windscreen , seat concepts seat and many other features , To date I haven’t found a mid size adventure bike that comes in at 165 / 170 kilos fully wet with tool bag etc . I love my Xr and even have a photo with the outgoing MD of Honda Mr Strickland years ago , who begged the Japanese Honda to make an Electric start , but Australia was too small a market for them to focus on . Long Live the Xr650r.
That XR650R sounds brilliant.... just what Honda should be making now! The XR650L would meet your weight limit. The DR650 is 165kg fueled.
I have an 04 xr400. I still ride it for everything off road from aggressive enduro to slow rides with kids. MX track I use a water cooled kx250f but I often think in a pinch the XR could handle vet tracks good enough
The XR was a sportsman's bike. Forgiving and easy to ride. Simple to maintain. Bulletproof reliability. If you pressure washed it the wheel bearings suffered. That was it. The KTM 400/450 was an expert's bike. Very light, fast and high spirited. Darn right tricky at times with sudden power and unexpected head-shake. On tricky, muddy or rocky trails in Derbyshire (England) I often found easy grip where my KTM mounted mates dug holes. Cough-stalling was a no-no though. The only way to re-start was to turn off the fuel and have a ciggy. Leccy start, upside down forks and a better rear shock and it would have been a perfect companion. KTMs were pretty fragile and fussy in comparison. Spares were eye-wateringly expensive too.
We didn’t get a street legal version of the XR400 here in the USA. I almost bought an XR 400 back in ‘00 but instead bought a KDX200 instead which I still have. It’s funny how the bikes of that era are more desirable than current offerings for guys who just want good, reliable, well performing bikes. I have zero interest in any CRF R or X model. One quick look at the maintenance schedules has me pining for the older bikes.
Likewise, I'm not into those constant oil changes. I'd love to see some of those enduro models actually detuned and a bigger oil capacity...
Electric start modded mine.
One sweet bike.
I have a dr350 (similar bike) and it's the best dual sport I've ever swung my leg over.
Greetings from New Zealand.
I have had both XR400r and DR350.
The XR400r was good but I found it a bit nasty in steering with a sharp rake angle and short trail. I also found the five speed gearbox not versatile for all conditions.
The DR350 steered better and the six speed box was magic and power delivery was tame but smooth.
Brakes and suspension were similar.
I am currently rebuilding 1996 DR350 as a special because I have most of one. I plan to keep it.
Cheers.
as a kid i had an xr100 and always dreamed of one day owning an xr400, after owning a few other bike's i went on the hunt for an xr400 but found a 98 dr350 at about a quarter of the price, absolutely love it!!
I have a 96 xr400. It's my 1st bike actually. I dual sport it. I love that thing. It's cushy has torque for days and just does whatever is asked of it. My only complaint is lack of electric start.
eu tenho uma aqui no Brasil ano 1996, que adaptamos partida elétrica e esta funcionando perfeitamente.
the xr400 is all the dirt bike a boy could ask for, especially if the boy don't like conducting maintenance tasks. love the footage of the honda management meeting, i believe the guy with the mickey mouse shirt on is part of an engineer exchange program from kawasaki. cheers lads!
😁
I owned an xr400 for a short time. Great in the bush but in my opinion had bad road manners. It needed a 6th gear.
I preferred my tt350 as it was good in the dirt and could handle the Highway speeds better than the Honda.
I did try different gearing combinations but I didn't find any good compromise
Still riding my 1998 XR400r. Knowing now, i wish had installed a 400L front wheel/hub to see how many miles i have ridden this damn thing. I still ride it regularly on semihard single track. I would love to get my hands on one of those Brazilian 400r and put it into an old school 400 frame. would be a hoot.
XR400R ist the best offroad Bike of all times ! I drive them in southern spain and nobody can follow.
Uh. Yes! Perfect bike for any fella getting back into riding. I love mine. It had been 30 years since I raced motocross as a kid. I'm in love.
I remember reading an article with a famous rider , maybe Jimmy Lewis, and how good it was in the woods. Short wheelbase helped with wheelies too. I followed Jimmy's bike choice and find that interesting.
Usually Brazil makes an odd engine size when it makes it's Honda bikes. There are still quite a few developing commuter bikes undergoing electrification and injection...
Mine was definitely a wheelie beast, Chris. 😂 I've got an old vid floating around on this channel somewhere....
Last year I bought my nx-350 here in Brazil a 1997 machine as it is an NX model it has the characteristics of the africa twin with its bubble and its name is SAHARA, it was the update of the XLX350 we had here with kick starter. Until today it is a great bike and with much more power than the NX-400 you mentioned in the video. A few days ago I was informed that honda had proposals that they would update the bikes in this category from 400 to 300cc, we can only wait for the future
That is great news, at least for Brazil and possibly other countries.
Loved the Honda boardroom meeting. That was hilarious !!! 😂
It was quite easy to sneak our camera in too....
had a 97 xr400r , great bike, so easy to ride, took all of the restrictions out and put in the proper jets and ran high octane fuel and you could do just about anything with it, I'm sorry i sold it back in early 2006 but that's just the way it goes, definitely one of the best bike's i I've ever had. for the last 6. months been looking at the new 2022 crf250f for the same reason as i think that it's a basic fun reasonable price off road bike that's about as close to a old school xr that you can get. i no it's not going to be as powerful but to be honest I'm 25 years older than i was back then and I'd reckon that it would be good enough for me to have fun with.
I rode the crf250f quite a bit in Canada and loved it. In rough terrain the shorter suspension travel could be an issue but everywhere else it was a hoot. It definitely has an 'XR' feel to it.
Fantastic video, I had a drz 400 and sold it for my xr250, not enough dual sport riding near me and when shopping for the replacement I had a heck of a time starting the few xr400 I tried. I got a great deal on my 97 XR250 and even though it sat unloved for 6 years I got it back up and running with a carb clean, oil change and fork rebuild. Kicks 2nd try every time. I've considered the crf250f, but my bike works for what I need and I'd rather build my skills with a grin on my face.
Have the xr50 and xr70 for my kids. But that are only 8 weeks and 18 months so I have another maybe 2 years to wait...
YES! Even though I also have a 2021 GASGAS EC 300 I love to ride the XR. Different experience and sometimes superior, for me.
I miss the old xrs the were build as just a dirt bike for riding local trails. Modern bikes feel like you are buying a super car they must be rebuild every ride it and many newer bikes feel like mx bikes so they only work well on the track. I just want a cheap dirt bike that works and can do the trails.
Still have my XR650R. Riding it on snow and ice this time of year 👍
Why Honda did what they did is from a western perspective very strange. As you said, when other competitors introduced themselves it seems Honda just gave up. Thanks for the upload, thumbs u and subscribed!
Love my XR400. It has been through unbelievable amounts of abuse in Cambodia and it just…won’t…die! I also had a 400 exc and I agree it was a much lighter, funner bike to ride!
I've had a few XR400's, think I'll keep the one I have now indefinitely. It's a bit dated and a little heavy (I call her "Big Nasty") but bullet proof and reliable as the coming day. Def one of big red's finest.
Sweet bike , we didn't have a xr400 that was street legal from the factory in the USA
I too had an xr400 that I used for trail riding, enduros and dule sport rides. I rode the wheels off that thing. I realize that time and corporate strategy moves on. However if that bike was still available I would kept on buying them. I rode the DRZ400 and owned a KTM exc300 and they were clearly superior but the thing that made the XR so wonderful was the absence of things that could go wrong like a cooling system. If you were a racer that was trying to win your class it was time for a change. For a guy like me the XR400 was perfect.
My favorite bike I’ve ever had
I've owned many bikes the only one I'm keeping is the xr400r. Why don't Honda re release it, new suspension , e start etc...they are mad. People still like nice simple well built things.
same here
Simple well built is why I bought one. I wanna ride not do maintenance or push my bike because I broke a radiator. I ride in East TN and there are LOTS of radiator eatin' rocks here.
I had a 1996 model in 2005. Was a great bush bike, pretty heavy, but still fun. If they still made them, they would still sell.
Love my 2002 xr400 street legal in California.
Just got a xr400m, going to put on 21/18s and see how it goes.....the electric start is nice
I just wish all the bike models they produce were available for import/purchase everywhere. Living in Japan for a little bit, I saw so many awesome bikes that I will never see here in the states. I recently learned of a vintage Honda Z50 line that was only sold in Scandinavia (I think it was) with a 4 speed manual clutch. They are so cool! Then there are current bikes like the Kawasaki KSR110 or Yamaha Tricker that I would love to have, or at least I think I would. I'll never know! Visiting 2 years ago, I saw brand new model XR250s (no, not CRFs. It was all black--not sure how I felt about that), and a baja XR250 that said it was a 2018 model, but my mind just couldn't believe it because it looked just like a mid 90s one. Then again, I saw some brand new Suzuki road bikes that had that nice looking vintage look, so who knows!
i own a 96 xr250r was riding today i love it honestly
Honda continued with the engine in the CB400SS and CL400, initially kick start only, later kick and electric leg. Today, both the XR400 and XR650 engines are still in production under various names, the most common being MASH from Mash Motors. They make both classically styled bikes in shape of a Bonneville etc, plus scramblers looking a bit like the old XT500.
Interesting! I hadn't heard of Mash. It seems to be a French company importing Chinese made bikes. I wonder if they've paid Honda to use the designs or if the patents have lapsed....
Best bike ever imo. I have an 02 that still starts within 3 kicks and I imagine it will still be running in another 10 years. Anyone else remember people doing the 400ex engine case swaps on their xr's to get the e-start? Why Honda? Why?
I had the 1st year XR-350. Fun bike, heavy & if you dropped it you were exhausted before you got it running again.
No water radiator, no fan, no complicated electrics, no battery, no sensors....the less probability of breaking down out there, the better and if you do and you have the spares, easy fix with a hammer. We are returning to South Sahara next year and my XR4 is taking me there. My pals KTM engine requires maintenance on the way :) and 3 times the "just in case it breaks" spares to carry with him. Excellent video , thank you. Hope Honda gets a hold of it. I think new climate laws are the reason why the model was ceased.
No school like the old school, Chris! For some of us at least.
The XR400 is the perfect adventure bike if you're not stressed about breaking the speed limit on the highway. I've done 20,000+ miles on mine around the Western U.S.
Great to hear, Kevin. Any mods?
@@crosstrainingadventure Lots of subframe gusseting, nothing else.
XR400R or 440 overbore(?) available in some places, coupled with Mikuni slider "pump" carburetor can still surprise. Obviously it's age shows in about everything: brakes (or rather decelerators), suspension, not-so-rigid frame, kerosene-lamp-strenght headlight... But I love it!!! It is always there, it always starts, it is afraid of nothing and has nothing that can break. And by virtue of having (almost) no electronics it has no electronic problems, hahaha
As to Honda dropping the XR line... along with Africa Twin, etc. I've heard from a Honda dealer that it was due to new emissions regulations. Aparently they decided it would be not economical to rework the 30 years old constructions... But then why they kept the TransAlp??? A mystery!
Re: the Transalp, I was reading the other day a twin typically has about the half the emissions of a single so maybe it was much easier to get it to pass emission laws?
I got to drive a 2002 to xr400 the other day for the first time I absolutely loved it it is truly a Wheely King it had a ton of torque and Power. The guy that owned it bought it from someone that headed blue plated originally so it is street legal which is amazing and fun I could only touch barely on one leg leaning the bike over on its side the guy that owned it said he would sell it to me I don't know if I feel confident driving a bike I could barely touch you but it was just so much fun.
If they released an e start version i would buy it tomorrow
Very easy for them to do the e-start. They did it with the TRX quad. And I think they worked it into the short lived XR400 motard model too.
Just bought an xr last weekend I’ve got to put a new timing chain it it but I absolutely love the thing it’s been bored out to a 440, it looks exactly like the one in this awesome video same bark busters and bash plate
The XR400r Engine was carried on in the Honda TRX400ex 4 Wheeler which debuted in 1999 ...
Before I uncorked my 17 US FE 350, it was comparable to my XR 400 in power.
Stock the XR has an electric powerband in comparison to the the FE.
The XRs engine noise is about 1/20th of the clackaty KTM motor too.
I got a 1982 honda xl500r old but reliable fun fast can't beat it just like the xr400 but it comes street legal little more Enduro with another 100cc of 4 stroke power
I remember riding mates xr600 stump puller big heavy bike in the tight stuff but on the open big balls had exeptional front brake nice and strong some had the big fin heads for better cooling and mild cams and jetting for Thumper nats great machine
Barry you knock me out at times and this is one of them, my mates ride DR650's and love them and have done all your described mods and love them and that's cool, I've been ragging about on my XR400SM super motard for years now and I am unwilling to give it up, it's nimbleness, handling and ability to be sent and then easily retrieved from the brush is over whemingly easy (I am now over 50 and weight plays a BIG part in picking bikes up on my own, I always ride with my mates and almost never ride on my own) there is nothing new on the market today that is better than it that I can buy unless I am willing to give up several things like 10K oil changes and military reliability super cheap replacement parts and I can go on but I won't, yes it has a 17 inch front wheel and rear but I say to you the fun you can have on dirt roads is unbelievable, no berms needed, you simply steer with the rear wheel anyway because the rear wants to overtake the front wheel all the time so why the hang ups with 17 inch front wheel ? it's got me rooted ? just man up and and WOT the mother and guess what? while you are on the streets and getting to the dirt? everyone else has knobbys and I am the only one who can actually hold this thing pinned through the bends hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
I have tried to kill this bike to no avail it wont die, when I first got it it had a knock in the engine so I haggled for a great deal and so i bought a new crank, rod and piston kit and put it under the work bench just waiting for that moment to push that bike home after killing it whilst at wide open throttle and I will add that moment never came, in the end I was forced to disassemble a good running engine with a little rattle and much to my surprise it ended up being the little end bearing and it still held on after all that ragging about.
NUH I am a true believer and yes there are much more attractive better lookin bikes with more power out there but they simply cannot take the constant beating the XR does take every time we hit the bush (it has been now 6 or 7 years we've been riding together now and its every weekend every Saturday morning) sorry for the extra long crap story mate but now its off my chest. Thank you Barry, I am a long time admirer of your work and you keep on hitting goals, good on you mate.
She's a keeper Steve! It was so good getting to ride my mate's XR, brought back so many memories...
I found a super clean XR 400 R 2003 year with 8000 miles for 3000 us. Garage kept. Upgraded pipe, tank carb, wiith original tank, arb, and original pipe,, extra set of rims. Do you think this would make a good first motorcycle for a 6 foot tall mature man? Thank you. Happy trails from Irvine California.
I live in Brazil the NX4 Falcon has been sold for over a decade here. However, it was never an off-road motorcycle like the XR400, having more urban characteristics, such as a low front fender. for a 400cc motorcycle, and consumption was considered too high. In the final years of its life it won a version with electronic injection, consumption improved a lot, but the power dropped to only 28cv of power. Currently this bike is no longer sold in Brazil for a few years now.
South American countries seem to get some very interesting bikes. It can’t be all about emissions.
The 400 segment is one that Honda have toyed with for decades - I mean back to the 80s with their XR & XL 350. It is a necessary segment and domestically, there is a license limit at 400cc in Japan, so there is added incentive to develop engines in this class.
These days, I see very few off-road motorcycles in Japan (albeit the TW200 has a cult modding and customisation following in Japan for the past 2 or more decades), but few have a hope straddling any off road bikes let alone an XR of any description.
Honda needs to bring back the XL/NX range. The NV is lackluster and is not ok for more than a poorly maintained road.
It would be great to see those return, Mark! I grew up on Hondas.... QA50, XR75, XL100, XL125, XL175.
I loved my 96 XR400 I bought in 1998. In 2009 I bought a CRF450R. I beat the hell out of both bikes and both bikes took the beating like a champ but I do miss my old XR400. Hardcore reliability.
Miss my 02 xr250r, love my 00 650r. Really no need for 400 but if I didn't have mine I'd want one.
My 13 drz has way more power than xr400 and elec but the chassis is nothing like a Honda, over weight, front heavy.
Might disagree with you on the DRZ. Yes, water cooled and maybe a tad more power, but heavier (even the e model of which I owned 2) and felt a lot heavier with the higher cg. But, yes, they were the new kid in town and no mods necessary for DSing. Also owned a 400EXC and it was good as well but more mx required.
"The era of the mainstream high performance 4 stroke" ruined it all for those who DON'T have a factory team ready to strip and rebuild the motor after every ride.....
Bring on the EFI and oil injected 2 strokes !! (Sorry Euro Greenies, but you brought this on yourselves...)
Yes!
There are no bikes out there in todays age that replace any of the XR range.
They were fantastic when they came out. Yes they outdated quick, but for their time they really came into their own..
Honda have dropped the ball. The crf450x was a flop in my eyes, high revving valve bending mess. The days of reliable, trouble free solid Japanese made bikes were done for Honda. They still don't have any redemption with road models either, only being the Africa Twin, but Honda is notorious for letting legacy only be war stories now days.
If want to own, build or race a meticulous xr machine, it's probably too late. If you want to enjoy what is left, go out there and hop on. There is a huge cult following like myself who still collects and rides these to this day.
I preferred the XL's, lower but still fairly competent off road. Tall bikes catch more wind when road riding.
Well said, Eddie. I can't really see Honda becoming a leader in the offroad segment again. 😢
Ooh YEAH BABY!!!! Good old XRS are hard to beat for having fun Barry just as low maintenance as an anvil give me a Kickstart any day in over a push button I just like the old school bikes better I rode mine yesterday and I'll probably ride it again today !!!!
😁👍
Great to hear! If I had a big enough garage it would be great to have one in there and drag it out occasionally....
I think even Honda have admitted, they lost their mojo. The problem is, they don’t seem to be willing to do something about it. I bought a CRF 450L hoping it would be like the XR250 I remembered from my youth, but it just wasn’t. Still a good bike, but not what I was after and I’m not the rider I was in my teens and early 20s. I now have a T700 and yes I am avoiding single track and I am conscious of the weight when things get tight, especially as I am older and not as fit as I should be. But I am enjoying exploring dirt roads. Sometimes the bike we want and the bike we actually need are not the same. Mind you, if they revived the XR 400 or 600 I would seriously consider it.
A very good point, Chris.... Sometimes the bike we want and the bike we actually need are not the same
Great video, here in europe the old XR400s are going for silly money now, the CRF450L could be good but costs way too much, I'm as bemused as you lot that Honda can't see what I think a LOT of people would just love to buy.... but hey, I'm getting on too, what do I know!
I think Honda get more excited about selling generators and lawn mowers nowadays. 😢
I recently sold my mint condition 82 XL500R and like always I regret doing so, it was a torque monster and was a blast to ride, I will be aquiring 2 old Hondas soon , one an 82 XR200 and a 79 XR 185, both in mint condition, can't wait.
Right on!
This video popped up as I’m searching the web for parts for my old xr400 and They are getting tougher to find. If Honda put these back into production, and offer a dual sport version I would buy one today. Many of us want a simple, bullet proof , reliable motorcycle that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to buy and maintain. I personally won’t buy any of the high tech offerings now due to the cost mostly but also the simple fun factor of riding a motorcycle just isn’t there with the $12000 rockets imo. At least for me….my motocross days ended in the late 80s and I’m content with a slow bike I can ride fast vs a fast bike I can ride slow.
'a slow bike I can ride fast vs a fast bike I can ride slow.' Great philosophy. I know guys who used to race who now ride 125 two strokes so they can still hit that powerband but without killing themselves...
Early 2000s the Golden age of motorcycles.
I have a 2003 400. It has very low hours but I know it fires up on a kick or 2. I can ride it all day and then some.
There’s no need to make more XR400Rs - just pick one up with 500 hours on the top end and keep riding it. Probably has a big bore kit in it too. Keep the chain clean and fresh oil in it and they’ll last forever.
As new dual sport type dirt bikes got heavier, more complicated and obviously much more expensive, I opted to return to my roots of sorts. I found a 99 DR350 dirt model. Carbureted, air cooled, and the sixth gear all DRZ and DR650 owners wish they had. Not to mention, this bike weighs in less than the DRZ and much less than the DR650. With the cartridge fork on the 98/99 I have a much better stock suspension than the 650 and the ability to revalve to my liking which I have done. While this bike is obviously in a different class than my Beta, I find I enjoy it just as much if not more. The XR 400 is another one of those bikes like the DR350 that many people appreciate for what they are and what they offer.
So they CAN put a sixth gear in a bike bigger than 250cc!!!!
@@crosstrainingadventure
Apparently it must take some sort of Jedi mind trickery to convince them that six gears should be the norm.
Very sad. I had two xr r, but 250.1995 and 2006,both are fantastic bikes,tood sad I couldn't ride these super bikes, any longer, dye to my age, 70 now, but these very powerful and strong bikes are always on my mind the suspension and the bulletproof engine.
Picked up another xr400 red model blowing smoke guys up Richmond top end kit 440 piston new valves seats no more smoke cleaned up header pipe air box opened up jets bit of bling chain and sprockets rotors Total spend 7 Kay love it fly's
Honda has a long history of giving us what we want and then telling us that we don't need it anymore. In this new age of the duel-sport an electric start XR400r with fuel injection and a decent generator would sell in huge numbers. They are light, versatile and a fresh motor is a gem.
Honda Falcon NX400 had good sales in Brazil. There was carbureted version too. Then they launched the fuel injection version. After that they had discontinued its manufacturing
😢
Started on a 94 XR100!!! Bulletproof bikes
I really love the CRF450L/RL bike released in 2019.
We got the falcon nx 400 in Paraguay too but not one got fuel injected. And only 30hp
DRZ was the supermoto version n our country, it came in 400cc... you could still get a suzuki DR 400 or 650 for pure dual purpose. The 650 was amazing. My doctor had one.