Ever wonder how a legendary motorcycle brand like Harley-Davidson could stumble? The story of the MX250 dirt bike is a fascinating tale of missteps, market misunderstanding, and a whole lot of bad timing. Let's dive into this unusual chapter of Harley's history.
To understand the MX250's failure, we need to rewind to 1969, when the iconic American motorcycle company was acquired by AMF (American Machine and Foundry), a bowling ball manufacturer. While AMF saved Harley-Davidson from bankruptcy, it was a rescue with a catch.
The 1970s were a period of chaos for Harley. AMF experimented with various ideas while simultaneously cutting costs by using lower-quality materials and reducing build quality. This resulted in bikes with reliability issues. One of these experiments was venturing into the dirt bike market.
Interestingly, Harley-Davidson wasn't entirely new to off-road bikes. In 1947, they released the S-125, a scrambler-style motorcycle. Moreover, Harley acquired a 50% stake in Aermacchi in 1961, later increasing it to 100% in 1973. Aermacchi's Baja and Sprint were successful small-displacement motorcycles, including off-road versions. Harley-Davidson rebadged these bikes for the American market, starting with the 250cc version of the Sprint, which they oddly renamed the "Wisconsin."
There was also the XR750 flat track racer, which, after some initial hiccups, became nearly unbeatable. However, these weren't true motocross bikes, which were gaining popularity in the early '70s. So, in 1975, the AMF-era Harley-Davidson produced 65 prototype MX250s. To increase rear suspension travel, they modified front suspension forks, shortening them and attaching them to the rear hub. The MX250's journey didn't start well.
If at first you don't succeed, strong-arm your dealer network.
Almost none of Harley-Davidson's dealers wanted the MX250. Harley and Aermacchi collaborated to create a proper dirt bike. It featured a 242cc two-stroke single engine that produced 32.4 horsepower. But here's where it gets controversial... the engine's power delivery was incredibly narrow, with little power below 7,000 rpm and running out of breath over 9,000 rpm. Add a clutch that was grabby when cold and slipped when hot, and you had a bike that actively frustrated the rider.
As soon as the bike was as ready as Harley and Aermacchi were willing to make it, it was sent to dealers. Harley essentially told the dealers they had to sell the bike, regardless of their reluctance. This didn't sit well with dealers or customers accustomed to Harley's traditional offerings.
Harley-Davidson manufactured around 900 MX250s in 1977 for the 1978 model year. Unfortunately, they produced about 900 more than they could sell. After realizing the bike's lack of appeal, Harley stopped producing the MX250 and sold Aermacchi. The buyers were Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni, who renamed Aermacchi to Cagiva. In 1981, AMF sold Harley-Davidson to Willie G. Davidson (grandson of Harley's founder), who, along with a group of enthusiasts and investors, regained control and restored the brand.
Naturally, the MX250 is a collector's item now.
The MX250 did see some racing action. Harley enlisted riders like Rocket Rex Staten, Marty Tripes, Mickey Boone, and Rich Eierstedt for its motocross team. Despite the bikes' struggles, the riders achieved respectable finishes. Staten finished fifth at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1976, and Tripes placed fourth overall at Hangtown in 1977.
Later in 1977, after increasing the displacement to 350cc to enter the American Motorcycle Association's 500cc Motocross Nationals, Harley achieved its only podium finish at the Unadilla race, where Staten finished third, ultimately finishing the season in eighth place overall. It's a bit bittersweet that just before Harley pulled the plug, Staten said, "It's great for the team to finally give them a result like this. They've been working so hard and we've finally got a bike that's competitive."
While the MX250 didn't dominate motocross, its dismal market reception sealed its fate. The hardcore motocross crowd found it too heavy and outdated. To Harley-Davidson's regular customers, it was a strange, underpowered machine.
And this is the part most people miss... Due to its unique history and rarity, the MX250 is now a collector's item. In 1978, a new MX250 cost $1,695, which is equivalent to $8,426 today. J.D. Power estimates that an excellent-condition MX250 is now worth nearly $20,000, and a mint-condition example sold for $23,000 in June 2024.
What do you think? Do you think Harley-Davidson should revisit the dirt bike market? Would you have bought an MX250 back in the day? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
