Still unchanged since 1986.

Power: Honda’s 4-stroke XR 250 engine produced smooth electric feeling power. It didn't have any weird power surges or quirks. Don't expect snappy 2-stroke performance from this engine.

Suspension: The XR 250 forks and rear suspension were set up for trail speeds. Anyone that rode faster wanted beefier fork springs. The forks legs were larger and stronger 41mm Kayaba forks. The XR 250’s rear shock required revalving and a heavier shock spring before it hit the trail. Any speeds faster than novice trail riding speeds made the rear suspension jar the rider horrendously and create rear wheel hop over rough terrain.

Handling: The ‘88 XR 250 was a super sharp turning bike. It got busy at high speeds. Firming the suspension helped stabilize the XR for fast riding.

Reliability: If the engine oil was changed often and the air filter kept clean, the XR ran well for a long, long, long time.

Odds & Ends: This was an outstanding bike in wet, slippery, and tight situations. The front wheel had a disc brake and the brakes were very good units. The machines detailing was excellent. Honda XR 250’s are very popular trail/play bikes. Except for updated decals, the Honda XR 250 remained unchanged until 1990.