Honda’s large-displacement open-class motocrosser was introduced for the 1984 model year and became one of the most iconic two-stroke dirt bikes of its era. It was developed as the company’s flagship production motocross machine, positioned above the smaller CR models and aimed at riders who wanted the hardest-hitting machine in Honda’s off-road lineup. The 1984 debut used an air-cooled engine, but Honda quickly moved to a water-cooled design for 1985, which became the form most enthusiasts remember and the basis for the bike’s long-running identity.
From there, the nameplate continued through a steady series of evolutionary updates rather than repeated reinventions. Honda refined the chassis, suspension, and engine package over the years while keeping the model true to its old-school big-bore two-stroke character. By the 1990s it had become a cult favorite: prized for its raw power delivery, simple mechanical layout, and unmistakable presence on the track. It remained especially significant as one of the last major production open-class two-stroke motocrossers from a Japanese manufacturer.
The nameplate remained on sale through the 2001 model year, after which Honda moved fully into the four-stroke motocross era with the CRF line. That ending helped cement this machine’s reputation as the final chapter of Honda’s classic big-bore CR two-stroke lineage and a touchstone for vintage motocross fans.