Maybe you didn’t spend hours and hours watching motocross videos in the 1990s like my family did, including Terrafirma 2. Many of the videos showed great motocross racers, like Jeremy McGrath and Ryan Hughes, riding in open fields … creating a sense of freedom that is difficult to describe. McGrath was one of the stars of the original Terrafirma 2 video from that era.
Now, Honda’s Ken Roczen, who has just finished winning the first two rounds of the 2017 Monster Energy/AMA Supercross Series, has been working on a new video with Red Bull in which he rides McGrath’s 1996 CR250 two-stroke, recreating portions of the original Terrafirma 2 video at the Castillo Ranch here in California.
Dirck with Mike Metzger in 2002.
The last time MD tested a Honda CR250 two-stroke was in 2002. We tested the 2003 Honda CRF450R four-stroke at the same time we tested the production CR250R two-stroke for the same model year. To test the two bikes simultaniously, we called on friend Mike Metzger to help out. Dirck still has very fond memories from riding and racing 250cc two-strokes.
Here is the new Red Bull video featuring Ken Roczen:
See more of MD’s great photography:
That was the last of the great ones. Last of the Honda steel frames and future riders used the ’96 engines for years. I’ve had a number of ’96’s. I had one ’97 aluminum framer… for about 2 weeks.
For some reason, a 1996 CR250 seems like a modern bike to me.
I’d sure rather hear some two stroke music than that drum up excitement out of nothing music/noise. It sure is good to see a younger fella tear it up on a fast revvin’ two smoker.
My thoughts exactly.
In the woods / enduro’s where I ride… the 2 stroke is just awesome… mostly due to the lack of weight and easy transitions back and forth. Speed is less an issue.
I don’t want anything but my 2-S. 🙂
WOW what those guys do mid air with bikes these days, and we used to think a cross up was trick.
Sounded like a soundtrack from the movie American Pie
I bought a 2017 two stroke and they will take my two strokes when they pry my cold dead fingers from around the throttle grip.
Am I clear on that?
They’re hard to beat aren’t they. Still ride my 2 strokes(trials & trails). Picked up an old 250SX (RSU forks) last year, makes me want to finish it.
Q: Am I clear on that?
A: crystal.
My favorite 90s vids were Crustys 1, 2, and 3.
As will all such fast paced moto videos I usually come away wishing they showed more of the complete jump. Rather than just the launch and flying through the air I’d like to also see it through to the landing and then the setup for the next turn where they turn the rheostat to high and blast off to the next jump or turn.
Agree.
+1. The CMRC (Canadian Motocross) nationals use fewer cameras in more stationary positions, so you get a better sense of speed and elevation change. They don’t follow the battles on track as closely, but overall, I feel like it makes everything the riders do on track seem way more impressive.
Always been my complaint about how MotoGP is filmed. They are going up to 217 mph, but you get no sense of that speed by watching the coverage, they could just as well be going 70 or 80 mph.
we know they are going extremely fast, but ask someone who doean’t know to watch the race with you, and ask them how fast they think they are going.
No doubt, the four strokes are much easier to ride than the two strokes, but the two strokes are a lot more fun to ride. BTW, I think Roczen will win his first of many SX championships. The guy has talent, drive and desire. That’s a winning combination.
Re. the music sound track: next time, please…
1. Less bass
2. More mid-range grunge
3. More dynamic compression
/sarc off
Still plenty fast on that ‘old school’ technology. Honda needs to bring back the cr125 and 250. Four strokes are faster in a lot of cases, but they don’t come close to matching the smiles/dollar ratio of the smokers.
Bring back the CR500 engine, add fuel injection, put it in a modern frame, and then smoke the 450s. Then do a top-end rebuild on each bike. Once the CR500 is done, start beating the CEO of each company whose 450 lost and don’t stop until the rebuild is done.
Butbutbutbutbutbut!! WHAT ABOUT THE POLAR BEARS! ? 🙂 FI 500cc twostrokes would rule the world.