Baja Born: Honda’s Desert Dynasty
Baja Born: Honda’s Desert Dynasty
Dual-sport motorcycles—those two-wheeled rebels that scoff at the line between pavement and dirt—owe a massive debt to Honda’s relentless grit. From the unassuming CL72 Scrambler of the 1960s to the Baja-crushing XR650R of the 2000s, this is a 40-year saga of innovation, desert triumphs, and pure motorcycle mojo. Strap in—here’s how Honda Turned a scrambler into a legend.
The CL72 Scrambler: A Humble Hero (1962-1965)
Picture 1962: Honda rolls out the CL72 Scrambler, a bike that looked like a street cruiser but dreamed of dirt. Built on the CB72 Hawk’s frame, it boasted a 247cc four-stroke parallel-twin engine, kicking out 24 horsepower at 9,000 rpm. Weighing 407 pounds wet, it wasn’t exactly nimble, but its high-rise exhaust, braced handlebars, and semi-knobby tires hinted at bigger ambitions. Street-legal with a trail-ready smirk, it was a dual-sport pioneer before the term even existed.
The CL72’s real breakout came in 1967 during the first Baja 1000—a 1,000-mile torture test across Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Honda modded one with a lighter tank, beefier suspension, and a fearless rider, Larry Berquist, who’d later become a desert racing legend. Against pure off-road rigs, the CL72 didn’t just compete—it won the motorcycle class, crossing the line caked in dust and glory. That victory wasn’t just a trophy; it was a wake-up call. A bike you could ride to work could also rule the wild? Honda’s engineers scribbled furiously.
The XR Series Takes Root: Baja’s Proving Ground (Late 1970s)
The CL72’s Baja upset lit a fire, and by 1979, Honda’s XR series was born. Models like the XR250 and XR500 ditched the twin-cylinder complexity for single-cylinder four-strokes—thumpers built for torque and simplicity. The XR500, with its 497cc engine pushing 36 horsepower, was a dirt-first machine, but its rugged heart echoed the CL72’s versatility. Weighing under 300 pounds dry, it was a Baja-ready brawler from day one.
Honda didn’t stop there. The XL series—like the 1983 XL600R—brought dual-sport vibes back with headlights, turn signals, and a 583cc mill pumping out 45 horsepower. These bikes were street-legal cousins to the XRs, proving the CL72’s road-to-trail vision still had legs. Baja became the ultimate test lab—every rut, rock, and sand dune pushing Honda to refine their formula. The XR line wasn’t just evolving; it was forging a legacy.
XR Grows Claws: The 1980s and 1990s
Fast forward to 1985, and the XR600R roared in—583cc, air-cooled, 45 horsepower, and a svelte 300 pounds dry. This was the CL72’s grandson with attitude. It dominated Baja, snagging wins in ’85, ’87, and more, thanks to upgrades like radial four-valve combustion chamber heads (RFVC) for better breathing and a dry-sump oil system to survive the desert’s wild angles. At 9.6 inches of front suspension travel, it ate whoops for breakfast.
The XR600R wasn’t stock street-legal—Honda leaned hard into off-road supremacy—but its bones screamed dual-sport potential. Riders slapped on lighting kits and mirrors, keeping the CL72’s do-it-all spirit alive. By the ’90s, it was a cult favorite, blending Baja-proven toughness with a minimalist ethos. Honda wasn’t done dreaming, though. The desert demanded more.
The XR650R: Crowning the Desert King (2000)
In 2000, Honda unleashed the XR650R—the "Big Red Pig." This 644cc liquid-cooled monster cranked out 61 horsepower and tipped the scales at 277 pounds dry. Built to own Baja (and it did, winning seven straight titles from 2000-2007), it was the XR line’s magnum opus. Liquid cooling kept it from melting in 110-degree heat, while a beefy aluminum subframe laughed at rock gardens. With 11.6 inches of front travel and a 37.5-inch seat height, it was a tall, lean, mean machine.
Unlike the CL72, the XR650R came off-road only—no turn signals or DOT tires here. Honda doubled down on performance, but enthusiasts didn’t care. They bolted on dual-sport kits, echoing the Scrambler’s original hustle. From that 1967 Baja win to the XR650R’s reign, the lineage shines: the CL72 proved a lightweight, versatile bike could hang anywhere, and the XR650R turned that proof into a desert dynasty.
The Legacy: From Spark to Firestorm
Rewind to the CL72’s 24 horsepower tearing up Baja in ’67, then fast-forward to the XR650R’s 61 horsepower steamrolling the same sands in the 2000s. The journey’s wild—40 years of Honda chasing a vision born in a single race. The CL72 showed the world what dual-sport could mean: a bike that didn’t pick sides. The XR series ran with it, surviving decades of desert punishment to deliver the XR650R—a Baja king that bowed out in 2007 but never left the spotlight.
Today, XR650Rs fetch premiums on the used market, and CL72s are vintage gold. They’re more than bikes—they’re chapters in a story of grit and glory.