2004 XR250 DR-Z250 KLX300R Photo Gallery

We took possession of the Honda XR250R, the Kawasaki KLX300, and the Suzuki DR250 to see if it was possible these bikes that are seemingly undersized, underpowered, and under the radar would function in an era where aluminum perimeter frames and titanium valves dominate the headlines.

The hill climb episode left us scratching our heads even further when we got the dyno numbers on the little Thumpers.

Even though this trio is designed for the same general purpose, each bike has its own particular strengths.

The Suzuki is extremely happy ripping on the trails and still performing when it's bogged down low in the rpm range.

The XR hits hard off the bottom so it was no surprise when we saw that it pumped out 12 ft.-lbs. of torque at 3600 rpm and maintains or exceeds that number all the way to 6800.

The XR250 came in second in the dyno wars, cranking out 19.6 horsepower at 8100 rpm.

The DR-Z is a trail-eating machine. Even though it is the most docile of the bunch, the DR-Z has a smooth power delivery and seemingly revs to the moon.

Once up and running, the Kawasaki and Honda emit deep throaty exhaust notes that lead us to believe the listed displacement might be a clerical error.

The KLX is actually surprisingly easy to start and kicks over on the second or third time when cold or hot.

The Suzuki, on the other hand, sounds more like a Singer sewing machine than a motorcycle.

The XR felt as though it had the most torque thanks to low gearing and respectable dyno numbers.

The DR-Z went everywhere we asked it to and a few places we never expected it to go.

The KLX has more high-tech features than the other two bikes, like liquid-cooling and an inverted fork.

Don't let the 240 pounds fool you. The XR can overcome gravity with ease.

The Kawasaki is a bike that is something of a motocross wannabe with a few features the others don't have, most notably more

If you had $4,700 bucks to buy one of these three bikes, on which one would you plop down your hard-earned cash?

The DR-Z doesn't possess as many ponies as the other two, but it's plenty fast and has a smooth power delivery. The magic starting button adds weight to make the DR the heaviest, but the convenience is well worth it.

Whether you are a beginner or a vet, any of these three will put a smile on your face and extra cash in your pocket.

The KLX is clear winner of the horsepower war, due in large part to 50 extra cubic centimeters of displacement.

The KLX was the lightest bike of the bunch. Weighing in at 231 pounds, it could almost float on water.

The Honda was less of a motocrosser, but is an excellent way to join the off-road experience.

Starting troubles aside, they believed the Honda was the best bike for the money.