Voted most helpful review
Reviewed on March 30, 2004
I've had an XR 100 for over a year now. I bought it used from a boy who did not treat it well, and from the looks of it crashed it a few times. Having not much experience (in other words none) with dirt bikes, I shifted the whole first day using the rear brake! Since then I've added a FMF exhaust...
read more
I've had an XR 100 for over a year now. I bought it used from a boy who did not treat it well, and from the looks of it crashed it a few times. Having not much experience (in other words none) with dirt bikes, I shifted the whole first day using the rear brake! Since then I've added a FMF exhaust and new, LOWER handle bars. The exhaust adds about a 6 % top speed increase, so it is definitely worth the price. Adding parts is extremely easy with the XR, even though they urge you not to in the manual. Yet, at the dealership, they have every after market part imaginable. The engine has easy access for repairs as well, not that you will need much more than a spark plug and oil change every half year. In fact, I can't imagine a bike being more reliable and consistent. Before the 100 I had the 'pleasure' of owning a two-stroke ATV, which was in the shop every month (until the warranty ran out). Performance is awesome with an after market exhaust. I can easily keep up with my neighbor's Ozark, and with the pipe I top out at about 50mph (compared to 45 without). I can travel through mud pretty well with the stock tires, and even took it out in the snow once. The engines can be a little tricky to start, as with all kicks. This is the ideal trail bike. It hops over logs even though the shocks are very stiff at slow speeds. Comfort is iffy, the shocks don't give an inch when crossing rough terrain unless an extremely large obstacle it presented. I would recommend jumping more than a few feet because the front end can dangerously nose dive. As for the CRFs, the XR has .3 inch more travel in the front compared to the 100F!
Show less
