If you go to Honda's web site (http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/), there are 05 listings for everything EXCEPT the XR400 and XR250! Is this their last year? Are they intending that these off-road bikes be replaced by the CRF450X and CRF250X??? (Note that they mistakenly have listed the CRF450X, in with the motocross bikes, when it clearly is an off-road machine.) I know the CRF250's have a very short interval for doing top ends, which isn't going to cut it off-road.

Also, why don't the manufacturers offer descent dual-sport bikes. Yamaha has a couple of pathetic little 200 class machines, and all Honda offers is the 650L. The Suzuki DRZ-400E is about the only one of the lot that I would consider owning. Unfortunately here in The Peoples Republic of Kalifornia, the environmantalists decided that we should no longer be able to convert those dirty off-road bikes for dual-sport! (Hope we can get this repealed in the future!) There is going to be a big market for from-the-factory dual sports!

 

Before I owned my EX I owned a 1991 Honda XR250R. This bike was a tank. I drowned it, put it through everything one can put it through..and it started everytime. The bike was powerful, light enough for me, and the most reliable machine I have ever ridden. If Honda is thinking about getting rid of it and the 400, then we as riders can really tell that they are changing their "audience" for women(no offence, but look at those XR200's of today and look at the 15 year old ones, those were beasts, the new ones are for "the family")...If they get rid of the 250 and 400 I think they will loose alot of business. Even though the CRF is a Honda, it still doesn't have the reputation of an XR. AND not everyone wants 55hp for trail!!!