I got a 1995 Honda xr 200 r am just getting the top end rebuilt done tomorrow just waiting on the cam chain tomorrow morning then time to hit the trails this has been my favourite bike I have ever owned definitely worth buying I got mine for 1300$ so pretty reasonable price for a decent bike for sure
Great Video! Can't go wrong with either bike. I bought a 2008 CRF230F early this spring. It has been a great bike for trail riding. It came with a recent BBR Big Bore Hi-Compression top end, cylinder was professionally bored out to 240cc. At first I was worried about losing the "Honda reliability" or overheating with the "aftermarket" rebuild, but it has been amazing. It starts like it is fuel injected. Doesn't need to be choked unless it is left outside overnight and the temp drops below 10C or 50F at time of starting. Zero Smoke. It has the BBR cam, Power Up Carb Kit, Un-Corked Exhaust (still quiet). Electric Start is great to have, especially on slow, technical trails where stopping for a break to think about your next move occurs. It came with brand new grips, battery, new tires, Uni Air Filter, plastics and a head light/tail light kit. Not street legal, but Alberta Trail registerable. I changed the engine oil after my 2nd ride for peace of mind and found it very clean, no metal in the strainer. The previous owner also just spent $700 getting the front forks rebuilt at the Honda dealership with heavier oil and springs than stock. I'm satisfied with the performance of the front shocks so far, the rear shock could use a heavier spring for riders over 190 lbs. Its a little sacked out when I sit on it. I don't really want to invest +$700 on a rear shock on a bike that only cost me $3100 Canadian ($2350 USD). The other thing I don't like is the location of the foot pegs. They need to be located an inch back and half an inch down. I know I can drop a couple hundred on the relocate kits and a set of CRF250X pegs. Also the rear drum brake is not great. I guess I could upgrade that as well. The seat height works for me at 5'11". Its nice on technical trails when you might be putting a foot down often. The bike does lack some ground clearance compared to the bigger bikes, so hopping logs, etc is more challenging. I've put this bike through the ringer this spring, it never fails to impress me what it goes through and just keeps chugging along. I ride alone 95% of the time, sometimes miles away from anyone, so reliability is key for me. All in all, I'm super happy with my CRF"240", the extra 6-8HP than stock is a perfect amount of power, and the reliability/drivability are still perfect for beginners and experienced riders.
Definitely a Lotta good points here. Appreciate your insight. I have driven the big bore 230 and it certainly helps. With a few tweaks like you mentioned really helps bring the bike up another level!
Is there a direct swap to a better shock for 2000-2002 bikes, that you know of? Great videos, very informative for us xr200 guys who don't have a clue 🙌
Thanks for watching we appreciate it! Direct swap years would be 1986-89 xr250r shock. Or you can do the 1985-91 xr200r shock swap in. Both bolt on but you need to make a mount for the canister
I put the same graphics on my 200 and they had no bubbles for a week then just started to bubble like crazy, no gas spilled on them to. My 2001 is a 6 speed though
Had both. (For my 5'2" wife) She loved the XR-200, but could hardly start it. We got her a real good priced CRF230, I re-did the bike over, added a linkage lowering link kit (Same one as yours) and a Gore Tex Tuff seat with gel foam. Red did suspension and re-valved rear shock. Put a rev limiter on, BBR exhaust, and it's been about 10 years and the thing runs AWESOME! (But she still misses her XR)
2:18 "The 200 is a bit more torquey". Same size piston, 230 has a longer stroke, which also means more displacement. Unlikely that the 200 is somehow more torquey. I have owned both, and the 230 has a midrange that the 200 never dreamed of. Sadly the extra power of the 230 is pretty much canceled out by the extra weight of the 230. As far as I know, the XR185 and all XR200s have 6 speed gearboxes.
Thanks for your comment. I have owned a plethora of 230’s and your right the extra weight definitely slows the power increase. The gearing on the 200 is much more torquey in my opinion. The 230 does feel faster with the 6th gear. The 200 only has 5 gears 85 and up.
I got a 1995 Honda xr 200 r am just getting the top end rebuilt done tomorrow just waiting on the cam chain tomorrow morning then time to hit the trails this has been my favourite bike I have ever owned definitely worth buying I got mine for 1300$ so pretty reasonable price for a decent bike for sure
That’s great to hear! Enjoy the riding!
Great Video! Can't go wrong with either bike. I bought a 2008 CRF230F early this spring. It has been a great bike for trail riding. It came with a recent BBR Big Bore Hi-Compression top end, cylinder was professionally bored out to 240cc. At first I was worried about losing the "Honda reliability" or overheating with the "aftermarket" rebuild, but it has been amazing. It starts like it is fuel injected. Doesn't need to be choked unless it is left outside overnight and the temp drops below 10C or 50F at time of starting. Zero Smoke. It has the BBR cam, Power Up Carb Kit, Un-Corked Exhaust (still quiet). Electric Start is great to have, especially on slow, technical trails where stopping for a break to think about your next move occurs. It came with brand new grips, battery, new tires, Uni Air Filter, plastics and a head light/tail light kit. Not street legal, but Alberta Trail registerable. I changed the engine oil after my 2nd ride for peace of mind and found it very clean, no metal in the strainer. The previous owner also just spent $700 getting the front forks rebuilt at the Honda dealership with heavier oil and springs than stock. I'm satisfied with the performance of the front shocks so far, the rear shock could use a heavier spring for riders over 190 lbs. Its a little sacked out when I sit on it. I don't really want to invest +$700 on a rear shock on a bike that only cost me $3100 Canadian ($2350 USD). The other thing I don't like is the location of the foot pegs. They need to be located an inch back and half an inch down. I know I can drop a couple hundred on the relocate kits and a set of CRF250X pegs. Also the rear drum brake is not great. I guess I could upgrade that as well. The seat height works for me at 5'11". Its nice on technical trails when you might be putting a foot down often. The bike does lack some ground clearance compared to the bigger bikes, so hopping logs, etc is more challenging. I've put this bike through the ringer this spring, it never fails to impress me what it goes through and just keeps chugging along. I ride alone 95% of the time, sometimes miles away from anyone, so reliability is key for me.
All in all, I'm super happy with my CRF"240", the extra 6-8HP than stock is a perfect amount of power, and the reliability/drivability are still perfect for beginners and experienced riders.
Definitely a Lotta good points here. Appreciate your insight. I have driven the big bore 230 and it certainly helps. With a few tweaks like you mentioned really helps bring the bike up another level!
I have never heard of an XR200 coming with a 5 speed. Maybe an XL200 or an atc200, but not an XR.
5 speed on xr200 from 84-02 and 81-83 6 speed
Yep, I have an '02 XR200 and '05 CRF230 and both have 6 gears. Also had an 86 with 6 gears.
Have a 84 XR200 RFVC. Bought in fair cond runs smokey on startup
cleaned up okay. Getting harder to find. Later models went back to 2 valves
Love XR 200s for the woods. Both are 6 speed.
The newer xr200r 1D 4UP after 1990 are 5 speed the 230 is 6 speed.
@@SubscibeBikeGiveaway I have a 86 and a 93 and a 02, all at 6 speed.
Yep - all XR200R's are six speed through 2002- at least NA spec.
Our choice for the woods, for màny years.
Both nice trail bikes, keep the content coming!
Thanks man we appreciate your support!
the xr200 is forever the king of motorcycles. there is no valid argument.
A perfect trail bike out of the box
Is there a direct swap to a better shock for 2000-2002 bikes, that you know of? Great videos, very informative for us xr200 guys who don't have a clue 🙌
Thanks for watching we appreciate it! Direct swap years would be 1986-89 xr250r shock. Or you can do the 1985-91 xr200r shock swap in. Both bolt on but you need to make a mount for the canister
I put the same graphics on my 200 and they had no bubbles for a week then just started to bubble like crazy, no gas spilled on them to. My 2001 is a 6 speed though
This stocker is a fx and it had precut slots to keep it from bubbling. I suppose neutral counts as a gear I always just counted the driving gears.
Had both. (For my 5'2" wife) She loved the XR-200, but could hardly start it. We got her a real good priced CRF230, I re-did the bike over, added a linkage lowering link kit (Same one as yours) and a Gore Tex Tuff seat with gel foam. Red did suspension and re-valved rear shock. Put a rev limiter on, BBR exhaust, and it's been about 10 years and the thing runs AWESOME! (But she still misses her XR)
Heck yeah man great bikes all around
2:18 "The 200 is a bit more torquey". Same size piston, 230 has a longer stroke, which also means more displacement. Unlikely that the 200 is somehow more torquey.
I have owned both, and the 230 has a midrange that the 200 never dreamed of. Sadly the extra power of the 230 is pretty much canceled out by the extra weight of the 230.
As far as I know, the XR185 and all XR200s have 6 speed gearboxes.
Thanks for your comment. I have owned a plethora of 230’s and your right the extra weight definitely slows the power increase. The gearing on the 200 is much more torquey in my opinion. The 230 does feel faster with the 6th gear. The 200 only has 5 gears 85 and up.
The difference in weight between the two is 15 lbs does that really make a noticeable difference?
The XR200r is a 6 speed. Always was from 1979 to 2002. Not sure why you say it isn't?
If you count neutral I suppose
@@SubscibeBikeGiveaway It has 6 forward gears + neutral. A 5 speed ATC trans can be swapped in though, that's the only way yours would be a five speed