Motocross and Off-Road Motorcycle Reviews, Tests, and Comparisons https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/riding-style/off-road-motocross/motocross-off-road-motorcycle-reviews/ Motorcycle Reviews, News on Motorcycles, Specs, Test & Race Results Mon, 02 Oct 2023 21:29:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cropped-UMC_LOGO_512x512-140x140.jpg Motocross and Off-Road Motorcycle Reviews, Tests, and Comparisons https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/riding-style/off-road-motocross/motocross-off-road-motorcycle-reviews/ 32 32 2024 Suzuki RM-Z250 First Ride Review [Pro Circuit Equipped] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/30/2024-suzuki-rm-z250-first-ride-review-pro-circuit-equipped/ Sat, 30 Sep 2023 07:44:12 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=270186 The media convened at Southern California’s world-renowned Fox Raceway for the Suzuki RM-Z Media Ride Day for our first ride aboard the 2024 RM-Z250. You are probably wondering what is new this year, right? Well, (almost) nothing—the RM-Z250 platform remains the same. The model year 2024 marks another unchanged continuance of Suzuki’s RM-Z platform. The […]

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]]> GasGas Spice It Up Festival – Two Days of Riding and Rockin’ https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/17/gasgas-spice-it-up-festival-two-days-of-riding-and-rockin/ Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:23:45 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269008 GasGas turned up the heat with the first-ever Spice It Up Festival to reveal an all-new generation of motocross, enduro, and cross-country motorcycles. Over 60 motorcycle journalists and influencers from around the globe arrived in Città di Castello, Italy, for the official launch of the 2024 GasGas off-road motorcycle product line, and it was an […]

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]]> 2024 KTM XC-W Lineup Test [300, 250, and 150 Reviewed] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/07/21/2024-ktm-xc-w-lineup-test-300-250-and-150-reviewed/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:04:10 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268299 After getting my foot in the dirt bike door with my early-1960s Honda C100 (aka the Super Cub 50) beater that featured a knobby rear tire and a hard-as-rock ribbed front tire, the larger world of off-road motorcycles opened up to me. All of a sudden, I noticed that there was a Husqvarna and Penton […]

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]]> 2023 Honda CRF250R Review [Long-Term MX Tested] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/06/10/2023-honda-crf250r-review-long-term-mx-tested/ Sat, 10 Jun 2023 08:15:26 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=266972 The 2023 Honda CRF250R is a continuation of the company’s latest-generation motocross bike introduced in 2022. With an all-new motor and chassis package, this generation of the CRF250Rs shares its frame with the CRF450R, which is said to add rigidity. Along with suspension updates of the new CRF250R era, we have a lot to focus […]

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]]> 2024 KTM 450 XCF-W Review [15 Fast Facts; GNCC Tested] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/06/05/2024-ktm-450-xcf-w-review-15-fast-facts/ Mon, 05 Jun 2023 22:03:02 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=266685 The 2024 KTM 450 XCF-W features an all-new chassis and electronics updates, and it is now the lone four-stroke in the enduro-friendly headlighted off-road lineup. We provided an exhaustive rundown about what’s new on the latest 450 XCF-W, so we won’t be repeating ourselves in this test. Instead, we took it to Millfield, Ohio, to […]

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]]> 2023 Beta Xtrainer Review (18 Fast Facts From The Trails) https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/03/28/2023-beta-xtrainer-review-18-fast-facts-from-the-trails/ Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:21:45 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=265013 Introduced eight years ago, the Beta Xtrainer has always been the red-headed stepchild of the boutique Italian brand’s dirt bike lineup. Designed as something between a trials bike and an enduro bike, featuring a more compact frame and lower seat height, the Xtrainer never lived up to its potential as a novice-friendly trail bike capable […]

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]]> 2023 Beta 300 RR Review [Single-Track to Desert Test] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/03/11/2023-beta-300-rr-review-single-track-to-desert-test/ Sat, 11 Mar 2023 10:07:37 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=264576 If there’s ever been a cheater motor for trail riding, it’s a modern 300-class two-stroke. Rather than being rip snorting beasts, they are torque monsters that make it easy to ride anywhere at a wide variety of speeds. Updates are few for the 2023 Beta 300 RR, limited to new fork internals and narrower radiator […]

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]]> 2023 Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Edition YZ450F Review https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/02/10/2023-monster-energy-yamaha-racing-edition-yz450f-review/ Sat, 11 Feb 2023 06:39:01 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=263809 Without an initial deep dive into the technical specs of the all-new 2023 Yamaha YZ450F, I walked up to the bike for the first time with great anticipation and excitement to see what this new platform has to offer. We met Yamaha at Glen Helen Raceway, and they surprised us with the very sharp-looking 2023 […]

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]]> 2023 Kawasaki KX250X Review [16 Trail-Tested Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/01/23/2023-kawasaki-kx250x-review-16-trail-tested-fast-facts/ Tue, 24 Jan 2023 06:37:03 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=263466 Yes, we know the Kawasaki KX250X is designed to be a cross-country racer. However, we do what many demanding trail riders do—buy a high-performance dirt bike and go riding for the pure fun of it. So, we loaded up the updated 2023 Kawasaki KX250X—read our coverage of the improvements here—and rode it on everything from […]

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]]> 2023 GasGas MC 250F Review [Red Bull A Day In The Dirt Tested] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/12/30/2023-gasgas-mc-250f-review-red-bull-a-day-in-the-dirt-tested/ Fri, 30 Dec 2022 10:11:25 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=262796 To sum up the 2023 GasGas MC 250F in two words, I would say “fun bike.” Of course, all dirt bikes are fun to ride—no doubt. That’s why we do what we do. But what makes me call the MC 250F the “fun bike” is that this 250 machine is so comfortable and offers such […]

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]]> 2022 Beta 200 RR Review [Off-Road Motorcycle Test] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/12/10/2022-beta-200-rr-review-off-road-motorcycle-test/ Sun, 11 Dec 2022 02:56:05 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=262366 I guess I’m a tweener, and that makes it hard for me to settle on the kind of dirt bike I think works best for me. I enjoy the power of DOHC 250cc four-strokes, yet milder 250 and 300 four-stroke trail bikes are so much fun to ride hard. However, in both cases, the four-strokes […]

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]]> 2023 GasGas MC Factory Edition Lineup First Look [13 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/12/01/2023-gasgas-mc-factory-edition-lineup-first-look-13-fast-facts/ Fri, 02 Dec 2022 07:51:59 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=262212 Fans of the GasGas brand will soon be able to get Factory Editions of the 2023 GasGas MC 450F and MC 250F motocross bikes. There is an impressive list of high-end goodies on the Factory Editions, so let’s roll up to the gate and let it drop. The frame is all-new. The main frame is […]

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]]> 2022 Yamaha TT-R50E Review [Youth Off-Road Motorcycle Test] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/11/30/2022-yamaha-tt-r50e-review-youth-off-road-motorcycle-test/ Wed, 30 Nov 2022 09:26:34 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=262170 There is nothing like a youngster’s first motorcycle. Although youth motorcycles don’t get much in the way of development, and that’s because they don’t need it. Although the demands for experienced riders evolve, beginners remain beginners. The 2022 Yamaha TT-R50E is pretty much the same motorcycle it was when introduced 16 years ago, yet it […]

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]]> 2023 Suzuki RM-Z450 and RM-Z250 Ride Day Review https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/11/17/2023-suzuki-rm-z450-and-rm-z250-ride-day-review/ Thu, 17 Nov 2022 22:25:36 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=261753 As the Suzuki RM-Z250 and RM-Z450 remain unchanged for 2023, we wanted to rediscover the suspension and power characteristics of the RM-Zs and how they serve different rider styles. We gathered to test the 2023 RM-Z250 and RM-Z450 at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino. Easily one of the roughest tracks in Southern California, Glen […]

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]]> 2023 Kawasaki KX250 Review [20 Fast Facts From the MX Track] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/09/14/2023-kawasaki-kx250-review-20-fast-facts-from-the-mx-track/ Thu, 15 Sep 2022 01:31:55 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=253401 Hot on the heels of Jo Shimoda’s run of moto wins and podium in the 250MX class at this year’s AMA Nationals on a Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki KX250 comes the 2023 Kawasaki KX250. We ripped some hot laps at historic Perris Raceway in California’s broiling Island Empire to check out the latest version of this […]

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]]> 2023 Honda CRF450R Review [Glen Helen Raceway Track Test] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/09/09/2023-honda-crf450r-review-glen-helen-raceway-track-test/ Sat, 10 Sep 2022 01:06:39 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=247603 Fifty years of history flashes before your eyes as you throw a leg over this 2023 Honda CRF450R 50th Anniversary Edition motocross machine. The pioneers of our sport persevered through air-cooled, carbureted, piston port, two-stroke motors in chassis with four inches of suspension travel. Modern dirt bike riders are spoiled with luxuries such as electric […]

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]]> 2022 Suzuki RM-Z250 Review [The Playful Motocross Racebike] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/08/10/2022-suzuki-rm-z250-review-the-playful-motocross-racebike/ Thu, 11 Aug 2022 01:28:23 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=241087 At first glance, the 2022 Suzuki RM-Z250 is beautiful. The Suzuki Champion Yellow No. 2 pairs well with blue accents for a unique, eye-catching appearance. As soon as you throw a leg over the RM-Z250, you notice the narrow chassis and slim bodywork. The RM-Z250 has always set the standard for one of the best, […]

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]]> 2022 Kawasaki KX450X Review [From the Mountains to the Desert] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/07/01/2022-kawasaki-kx450x-review-from-the-mountains-to-the-desert/ Sat, 02 Jul 2022 00:47:51 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=240231 A close relative of the KX450 motocrosser, the 2022 Kawasaki KX450X is designed for cross-country competition. When we got our hands on it, however, we had fun on our minds, not racing. So, we tested the KX450X as a high-performance off-road playbike, and it didn’t seem to mind a bit. Kawasaki didn’t do much in […]

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]]> 2022 Honda CRF-E2 Review [15 Fast Facts: Electric Motorcycle Test] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/06/29/2022-honda-crf-e2-review-15-fast-facts-electric-motorcycle-test/ Wed, 29 Jun 2022 20:07:28 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=240196 The first electric motorcycle from Honda is here, and it might not be what you expected—the new 2022 Honda CRF-E2 is a trail bike for kids. The CRF-E2 is manufactured and designed by Greenger Powersports, with Honda helping with the setup of the final version. The result is described as a Honda Official Licensed Product, […]

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]]> 2022 Kawasaki KX112 Review [6 Fast Facts From the Track] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/06/06/2022-kawasaki-kx112-review-6-fast-facts-from-the-track/ Tue, 07 Jun 2022 01:26:06 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=239751 Kawasaki moves up the supermini world with the 2022 Kawasaki KX112. This youth motorcycle helps bridge the gap between 85cc and 125cc two-stroke motocross bikes. The KX112 features the same chassis as the KX100, but with a stroked motor adding 13cc. We enlisted young 85cc racer Grant Schafer—five foot even, 88 pounds—to let us know […]

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]]> 2022 Honda CRF450X Review: Trail Bike Extraordinaire https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/05/31/2022-honda-crf450x-review-trail-bike-extraordinaire/ Tue, 31 May 2022 23:32:48 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=239621 Although Honda boasts the Baja-winning capabilities of a highly modified CRF450X, the true calling card of the stock Honda CRF450X is its EPA-friendly emissions equipment that keeps it trail-legal in California—the most restrictive state in the union for off-road vehicles. The off-road-only 2022 Honda CRF450X sits between the CRF450RX competition-only racer and the CRF450RL dual-sport […]

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]]> 2022 Yamaha YZ85 Review [8 Fast Facts From The MX Track] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/03/21/2022-yamaha-yz85-review-8-fast-facts-from-the-mx-track/ Mon, 21 Mar 2022 06:20:24 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=238095 With the addition of the new Yamaha YZ85LW, it was a good time for Yamaha to also update the standard YZ85. The chassis got most of the attention, though there’s plenty to talk about. We drafted Fasthouse-sponsored Anthony Keasey as a test and photo rider, as everyone on the staff is too big for minis. […]

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]]> 2022 GasGas EX 350F Review [Mojave Desert Fun Motorcycle Test] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/03/08/2022-gasgas-ex-350f-review-mojave-desert-fun-motorcycle-test/ Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:49:11 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=237706 The 2022 GasGas EX 350F landed in our garage just as the snow started falling on our favorite mountain single-track, prompting the nannies at the United States Forest Service to close them down for the winter. That moved the venue of our review to the Mojave Desert, and we certainly can’t complain about that. Despite […]

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]]> 2022 Yamaha YZ85LW Review [10 Fast Facts from Glen Helen Raceway] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/02/24/2022-yamaha-yz85lw-review-10-fast-facts-from-glen-helen-raceway/ Thu, 24 Feb 2022 23:51:31 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=237422 Yamaha enters the supermini class this year with the YZ85LW, based on YZ85, which was upgraded this year. We brought supermini racer Hudson Zeber to the legendary Glen Helen Raceway to put in countless laps on the new 2022 Yamaha YZ85LW. Here’s what we found out. The 2022 Yamaha YZ85LW is designed to help growing […]

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]]> 2022 Yamaha PW50 Review [Plus Thor Youth Riding Gear] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/02/02/2022-yamaha-pw50-review-plus-thor-youth-riding-gear/ Wed, 02 Feb 2022 06:48:43 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=236860 It is impossible to calculate how many motorcycle riding careers started on the Yamaha PW50. The minute two-stroke kids bike was introduced in 1981 and has had precious few updates during the intervening 41 years—faux liquid-cooling shrouds on the tank in 1984 are the main change, other than colors and graphics. Fortunately, new motorcycle-riding kids […]

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