Why I Keep My 1984 Honda XR350R Motorcycle

Seven years ago at the https://forums.4WDmechanix.com, dirt and dual-sport motorcycles became a hot topic. The magazine's dirt bike fleet consists of three Honda XRs. My wife and many forum members are curious why I hold onto a 1984 Honda XR350R when the magazine has a top flight Honda XR650R and a 1984 XR500R. It's pointless to compare the air-cooled Honda XR350R to the XR650R, the latest CRF450X or a KTM 350. The vintage dual-carbureted XR350R four-valve thumper has nowhere near the power hit of an XR500R, XR600R or the liquid cooled XR650R. However, for many riders, the XR350R can be the weekend desert enduro bike with a modest initial purchase price and far less maintenance cost if in good condition with a traceable history. These cycles perform without trouble for decades, and they wear slowly and predictably. I ride my XR350R to stay in good physical condition, stay reasonably agile and maintain reflexes for both dirt and asphalt motorcycling. An easier to throw around four-stroke on dirt than heavier "adventure" machines, the bike provides excellent terrain feedback while I'm continuously working all five muscle groups! A 2014 "workout" on the XR350R while testing an Enerpulse Pulstar PlasmaCore spark plug became this video. I filmed my ride with a GoPro Hero3 mounted in a Chesty harness. This motorcycle has a unique history, originally set up by the late Rick Sorensen, an aircraft A&P specialist and flight instructor who operated an independent motorcycle shop at Yerington, Nevada. Rick built the Honda XR350R for his daughter Tasha to compete at local 'hare & hound' desert racing. College bound, Tasha sold us the "blueprinted" motorcycle in the mid-nineties with zero signs of abuse or damage. It operated flawlessly, and I have maintained the bike to that standard since that time. Take a break and ride with me as we ascend through wild horse country from high desert at 4,000 feet elevation to mountains over 6,000 feet. See why this nearly four decades old "friend" has remained my recreational dirt bike and exercise outlet for over a quarter century now. If you are a dirt and adventure motorcycle enthusiast and like this kind of coverage, subscribe to my YouTube channel devoted strictly to dirt, dual-sport and adventure motorcycles. "Motorcycle Tech and Travel" features riding routes, technology, in depth how-to, tools, gear, upgrades, readiness for back country travel, safety tips, motorcycle reviews and the latest news. A subscription at @MotorcycleTechandTravel will keep you up to date. Keep your motorcycle ready for those "100 miles from nowhere" rides!