2007: Last of the Honda Two-Strokes

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.