Quick Ride

HONDA XR70R

ROUNDUP

Quick Ride

Reinventing the Mini-Trail

IF YOU WERE TO ASK A roomful of adult motorcyclists how many of them got their start on a Honda Mini-Trail 50, no doubt a bunch of hands would shoot up. But were you to do so 20 years from now, you might have to rephrase the question using the bike shown here, Honda’s new XR70R.

Filling the gap between the current Z50 and XR80, the newest, smallest XR is a perfect match-up of size, styling and simplistic operation. Where did it come from? Seemingly everywhere: In order to keep the price down, most parts were sourced from existing Honda models. Take the engine, derived from the timeless CT70. Or the fenders, cut down from a CR80. Or the drum-brake hubs, borrowed from a Japanese domestic-model streetbike. The gas tank and front numberplate were lifted straight off the XR80. The XR70’s singleshock “hanger” chassis, though, is all-new, and supports the en-

gine from above, with no downtubes or engine cradle.

With its low, 26-inch-high seat and styling that mimics its bigger brothers, the XR70 has much in common with its competition, Yamaha’s PW80 and Suzuki’s DS80. The most significant difference is the Honda’s use of a low-maintenance, two-valve four-stroke engine; the others are equipped with two-strokes.

Our dinky testers, who normally ride Yamaha PW50s,

loved the XR70, though they initially found the seat too tall and had trouble kickstarting the engine. Yet in mere minutes, they had mastered that task, plus familiarized themselves with the XR’s motorcycle-style rear brake pedal (their PWs employ handlebar levers). The added fun of a full 70cc of snappy Thumper power was evident on their faces. Shifting gears was the next skill to be conquered, but thanks to the engine’s wide spread of power, our testers were able to leave the tranny in first or second gear and power along. Indeed, with the smooth engagement of the automatic clutch, taking off in second gear is possible, though the XR won’t climb steep grades from a standing start.

The XR70’s handling is up to any task asked of it, and its suspension, while a bit stiff for smaller kids in the 55-pound range, is perfectly plush for the intended 70-pounders. Larger youths who have reached the jumping stage may find the rear shock a little soft, but by then, it’s time for them to move on to an XR80, anyway.

With a suggested retail of $1599, the XR70R is priced competitively with other minicycles. And while it’s durable enough to serve as an adult pit bike, its most common usage undoubtedly will be to ease a beginner’s entry into the world of motorcycling. Two decades from now, many of today’s kids will recall their XR70s as fondly as we do our old Mini-Trails. Who’d blame them? -Jimmy Lewis