No more 2 strokes for Honda!

[mx428]

bye bye 85, 125, and 250!


While much of the news from Honda's Las Vegas dealer show revolved around the introduction of new models, including the new CRF150R, one of the more interesting news bits was something that was announced to their dealers in attendance…that the CR85R, CR125R and CR250R, will not return for 2008.

Several years ago, Honda announced that as part of a green initiative that they wanted to eliminate two strokes. At the time, they were producing millions of 50cc two-stroke scooters for world markets, and were keenly interested in eliminating those from production. In the years since, they've been replaced with small four-stroke models.

At the time, production of two-stroke bikes for closed-course racing was still relatively safe, since there wasn't a full line of four-strokes offered, and keeping the two-strokes around still made sense. Obviously it's a different landscape now. Everyone on Honda's roster of MX riders is on a four-stroke, and the market has had a nearly complete turnover from two-stroke to four-stroke. Combine that with reduced customer demand, the desire to eliminate the two-strokes for environmental reasons, and you're where we're at now…looking at the last production year of the Honda two-strokes.

If you're a die-hard two-stroke fan, freestyler, or Schoolboy racer, we might suggest picking up your two-stroke machine before they're all gone.

[juanki]

sad news, i love pingers...

[CHEVYZ]

At the same time I don't mind because I am mostly into 4-strokes, it is saddening to think that they won't be on the market any more. :grr:

I wish that either

A: I had enought dough that I could go get a new CR125

B: I had a job so i could go buy a CR125 and be able to make payments on it.....being 14 does not help me at all in this world....

:( ...this sucks because i love the smell of two-strokes in the morning....and the powerbands are out of this world too!

[Mxjunkie]

Bummer!

I wonder how long till we wont even be able to run 2 strokes anymore :(

[MotoX3]

The retirement of the CR125..about time

thats the worst news i heard in a long time, it is such a shame that things like this happen, they should just have a pinger class and a thumper class for the races and it would help the sport grow even more....it makes me sick to hear people talk and i knw some kids that have never rode a 2 stroke at all...i knew a kid that had a 450 and he never even rode a 250r or any 2 stroke for that matter, its just a shame... i wonder how much longer yamaha will hold out, they help their own on the banshee and blaster for years...i hate change!

:D :D :D :D

[HB416EX]

Its actually not that bad because us 2 stroke lovers can now buy used bikes for cheaper when everyone "upgrades"

[Quad Boy 660r]

Well, the good news is that from what I have heard, Yamaha has no plans to kill the 2 smokes in the near future. I also doubt that KTM will either, considering that they have completly redone the 250SX from the ground up for 2007. I myself am not a 2 stroke guy, but still dread the day 2 strokes are eliminated.:(

[TANNER250r]

dont do it 2 strokes are the best they took the 250R like 18
years ago why stop makeing them its the only good thing left:mad:

[LTR450_#67]

Actually this is the last year for the Banshee.......

[Jakeyracer]

well accually yamaha is keeping the 2 strokes for as long as they can but are not updating the technology i know cuz my friend races a 05 yz125 and said he was gunna get an 06 but all they did was change the graphics so he is going to 250f (i think this is a good move for him) he hates 4-strokes and hondas so you can imagine what he thinks of me on my 400ex:p :D :D

[CRich[814]]

everything for '08 sucks.

[trick250r]

Originally posted by exrider13
everything for '08 sucks.
at least its not getting switched to that stupid electric bike.

[450rdude]

i ride a 450r and have never rode a 2 stroke. Kind of saddens me, i want to know how it feels and compare with all the 4 strokes ive ridden. oh well i guess if ive never ridden one i wont miss it but i feel for all you 2 stroke diehards out there, i couldnt live w/o my 450.

[Tom TRX250R]

Alot of kids on here haven't even ridden a 2 stroke, but they sure know how to talk **** on them!!! This is a sad day in off road history once all 4 big companies discontinue them. If they would only realize the huge potential in 2 strokes and put some more money into future technology for emissions. NO 4 STROKE will ever duplicate a 2 strokes arm wrenching powerband!!!

[ShiftFMX]

Originally posted by Tom TRX250R
Alot of kids on here haven't even ridden a 2 stroke, but they sure know how to talk **** on them!!! This is a sad day in off road history once all 4 big companies discontinue them. If they would only realize the huge potential in 2 strokes and put some more money into future technology for emissions. NO 4 STROKE will ever duplicate a 2 strokes arm wrenching powerband!!!

I hear ya man, I LOOOVVEE the power of my 330!

[trick250r]

Originally posted by ShiftFMX
I hear ya man, I LOOOVVEE the power of my 330!

haha, i hear ya, the first time i really got on my old 250 (it was a 310cc) it damn near knocked me off the back. :D

yeah i know a kid that has a raptor and a yfz 450 and i rode my 250r with him and he didnt even know what it was cuz it just has plastic, no graphics or anything...pretty sad when kids dont know how great they are and what they have done for the sport :rolleyes:

[EX lvr]

thats sucks, but i know ill always have a 2 stroke. everyones right they r dyin out but there will always be die hards that will own them.

and im never sellin my banshee:D

[Quadracer#83]

This is some sad news man. I grew up on 2 strokes... I grew up on a Honda 85 and then moved on to a blaster. I'll have to buy me a CR125 next year or so just to have a piece of history in my garage.

Only good thing is that they will sell for pretty cheap once everyone moves to the 4 strokes.

[Honda400exrox]

Whoever owns a two stroke now, should hold onto, in 50 years they will be worth alot

[deathman53]

there is some people who have never seen or ridden a 250r. I read a thread on ********* about how he rode a track in ny and none of the people there ever saw a 2 stroke atv!!!! Where I ride, very few had or have a 250r, even fewer have 2 stroke trikes. I think in about 5 years, people are gonna look at 250rs like they do at my trikes, "dinosaurs(sp)", "relics", "old technology".
We have a whole generation now that probably have never ridden a 2 stroke or saw one. My friend works at a honda dealer, he told me "its been awhile since we sold a 2 stroke dirtbike". Kawasaki doesn't sell a kx500, kx125 anymore, they still sell a kx250, and mini models. It will be a sad day when all of them stop selling 2 strokes. I will still have my 3 and 4 wheeled 250r's. I don't plan on getting rid of them. I am collecting motors, frames and parts as they are disappearing quickly.

[deathman53]

Originally posted by Honda400exrox
Whoever owns a two stroke now, should hold onto, in 50 years they will be worth alot

yeah, look at the value that trikes pull now, its hard to get a nice liquid atc250r for under 2g's now. I seen 250r, 350x and 200x oem fenders selling for $500 and up recently.

[ckasper18]

From what i am told this is the last year for the banshee as well not sure bout the blaster.........Chris

[deathman53]

blaster, any polaris 2 stroke, basically any 2 stroke atv

[265RGUY]

Originally posted by Tom TRX250R
Alot of kids on here haven't even ridden a 2 stroke, but they sure know how to talk **** on them!!! This is a sad day in off road history once all 4 big companies discontinue them. If they would only realize the huge potential in 2 strokes and put some more money into future technology for emissions. NO 4 STROKE will ever duplicate a 2 strokes arm wrenching powerband!!!

exactly. the thought of getting rid of a good thing breaks my heart. but they tried before to the 250R and there faster now then they have ever been no 4 stroke can ever give me the satisfaction my R gives me. i"ll be baried with mine.
f***ing politics!