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1972 HONDA XL250

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Honda

1972 HONDA XL250

Name: 1972 HONDA XL250
Brand: Honda
Price: 10500.0 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

SOLD

THIS UNIT HAS SOLD AND IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

Call or text Jr. (860) 471-0192

Description

1972 HONDA XL250 MOTOSPORT K0

FIRST MODEL YEAR

All ORIGINAL SURVIVOR WITH LOW MILES

THE BIKE THAT CREATED THE DUAL-SPORT INDUSTRY

This is the holy grail of Honda dual-sports

the first year ever produced, widely recognized as the first true modern dual-sport motorcycle.

This isn’t a scrambler.
This isn’t a converted street bike.
This is where it ALL started.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

First mass-produced 4-valve motorcycle engine
Purpose-built dual sport — street legal AND true off-road capable
Predecessor to the entire Honda off-road lineup:

XL → XR → CRF → Africa Twin

Featured on the cover of Motorcyclist Magazine, April 1972
Winner of the Baja 500 — proving durability and real off-road performance

This bike didn’t just enter a market… it created a multi-billion-dollar category.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE

248cc OHC four-stroke single
4-valve cylinder head — revolutionary for its time
Revved to 8,000+ RPM
Smooth, torquey, and incredibly reliable
Tractor-like power delivery with excellent traction

Compared to the heavy, compromised scramblers of the era, the XL250 was a game changer:
✔ Less shifting
✔ More usable torque
✔ Far greater reliability
✔ True trail capability

TRUE OFF-ROAD DNA

Honda built this specifically for the American market—and they nailed it:

High-mount upswept exhaust
21” front wheel
Long-travel suspension (for the era)
Lightweight, narrow chassis (~12” at the pegs)
High fenders, wide bars, dual shocks

This is a dirt bike you can ride on the street — not the other way around.

CONDITION – ULTRA RARE ORIGINAL SURVIVOR

Most of these bikes were:

Stripped for off-road use
Modified with aftermarket exhausts
Gauges and lights removed

Finding a complete, original example like this is EXTREMELY rare

Highlights:

Original paint tank (excellent condition with minor touch-up on stripe)
Original bars, grips, gauges, headlight bucket
Original saddle, chrome, and factory details
Original warning decals still intact
Matching factory-correct color scheme
No signs of crash damage

This bike presents exactly as it did in 1972 — a true time capsule.

$10,000+ PROFESSIONAL SERVICE & ROTISSERIE DETAILING

This Bike Was Just Carefully and Professionally Preserved By Kaplan Cycles

✔ 57 hours of professional service
✔ By 40-year master technician (Mark Olsen)
✔ 100-point inspection completed

Major Work Includes:

Full fork rebuild (New seals, New oil, Pro Polished)
Complete carb rebuild (ultrasonic cleaned, new internals)
Valve adjustment & cam chain service
Full ignition system service (points, timing, advance unit)
Electrical system fully restored (25+ connections cleaned/repaired)
New OEM cables, New Battery, New Fuel Lines & fuel system components
Tank professionally cleaned internally
Wheels removed, hubs vapor honed, brakes serviced
New tires, chain, air filter, and more

Total investment: Over $9,600 in service + shipping (not including the purchase price)

INVESTMENT GRADE COLLECTIBLE

Recent auction comps:

$13,750 – Mecum
$14,500 – Mecum

Values are rising rapidly as collectors recognize:

First-year significance (K0)
Industry-defining design
Increasing rarity of original examples

First-year bikes ALWAYS lead the market
(Corvette, Porsche, CR500… same story here)

PROVENANCE

From the Roy Thacker Collection (93 bikes) – Texas
Hand-selected original core
Professionally recommissioned to the highest standard

THE BOTTOM LINE

This isn’t just a motorcycle.

It’s the birth of the dual-sport movement
A museum-worthy, investment-grade piece
A 54-year-old survivor you can ride today

You will not find another like this easily.

SHIPPING & TERMS

Nationwide door-to-door shipping available
Financing options available
Clean, turnkey, ready to ride or display

WHY BUY FROM KAPLAN CYCLES?

We don’t cut corners. Period.

Every bike we sell is:
✔ Fully serviced by veteran technicians
✔ Accurately represented
✔ Backed by decades of experience
✔ Delivered with concierge-level support

We stand behind everything we sell.

CALL US

Have questions? Want a walkaround video?

Call Kaplan Cycles — we’re happy to help.

If you’ve been waiting for the right XL250… this is it.
Don’t miss your chance to own one of the most important motorcycles ever built.

WHY SHOULD YOU BUY FROM KAPLAN? WHAT DO YOU GET?

“You are buying from the Kaplan Cycles Family. We are not just another big auction house. We are family-owned and operated and have been buying, servicing, and selling motorcycles since 1975. You will work directly with Ken Jr., Ken Sr., and/or one of the 30+ experts on our team. We provide museum-quality, white-glove concierge service from start to finish. Every motorcycle we sell is inspected, serviced, and supported by our team, and we stand behind it after the sale. You’re not on your own — we back what we build and what we sell.

With over 17,000 units sold and still 100% positive feedback, we are the best stress-free buying experience you can have. From the first call to delivery at your door, we will handle it all — because vintage motorcycles deserve support, and so do you.

With every bike we curate you get:
• museum-level inspection & preservation services
• every machine is professionally evaluated, serviced, & rotisserie detailed
• all critical systems are checked, adjusted, or renewed
• you get professional setup, tuning, and delivery prep
• done by the best experts in the industry — we ride and restore every day
• you get post-sale phone support
• you get white-glove, insured, always-enclosed shipping to your door anywhere in the country

You’re buying from Kaplan Cycles at the New England Motorcycle Museum, one of the largest vintage motorcycle collections in North America. Free museum tours and tickets are included with every bike sold. With every bike you purchase, a portion of the proceeds is used to support, continue, and improve the 501(c)(3) nonprofit New England Motorcycle Museum.

You don’t just win an auction — YOU are creating & helping to preserve motorcycle history, and you become part of our family, a Kaplan Cycles client for life.

We do not take new clients off the street.
We do not service bikes purchased elsewhere.
We only take new exclusive clients who purchase a motorcycle from us.

You get a guided purchase experience with, and from, the experts who care about the bike as much as you do. If there’s a problem, you don’t get ghosted. You call us — you will have our cell phone numbers — we will answer your call on weekends, and we will help make it right.

Auction platforms = listing only. No support. No accountability.

Kaplan Cycles = we stand behind what we sell.

You are buying museum-curated provenance. That means:
• expert evaluation
• documented condition
• professional presentation
• long-term preservation mindset

You’re not just buying a motorcycle — you’re buying a curated piece of motorcycling history.

From the #1 family in this business — Kaplan Cycles & the New England Motorcycle Museum.

Sincerely,

Ken Kaplan Sr.
12/28/2025”

AUCTION TERMS:

All motorcycles & vehicles are sold as-is where-is.

Kaplan Cycles guarantees all motorcycles are as-described. Please read the entire description and watch the entire video before bidding.

A non-refundable deposit is due immediately on purchase. PayPal or Credit Card is accepted for the deposit.

Cash (In-Person), Card (+3% fee), or Wire Transfer are our only accepted forms of final payment.

Full payment must be made within 7 days of auction close.

Your motorcycle must be picked up within 30 days of auction close.

Exceptions are made only for international buyers OR buyers who have ALREADY made transport arrangements with a third party.

If a motorcycle is purchased and left here for longer than 30 days without written permission from Kaplan Cycles it will be resold. In the case of a re-sale, the owner will be entitled to a refund less storage fees ($25/ day beginning 30 days from auction close) ONLY if the motorcycle was paid in full on-time within the auction terms.

We always describe our motorcycles as accurately as possible.

You are purchasing a classic motorcycle. Even in cases where a bike may be in good running/ operating condition, new problems & idiosyncrasies can arise over-time from sitting or regular use.

If you have an issue with the motorcycle you’ve received, contact us within 24 hours of delivery and before leaving feedback so that we can address your concerns.

It is important you have at least a basic mechanical knowledge before purchasing and operating a classic motorcycle.

Due to our backlog, we cannot perform any additional service work or modifications on your motorcycle after the sale (ie; adding a light kit, different tires, etc.)

We respond quickly between the hours of 9am and 5pm EST, Monday - Friday

For our fastest service please call Ken Kaplan Jr directly at 860-471-0192

We will not charge out-of-state buyers sales tax.
Out of state residents will pay sales tax with their DMV.

We are not a registering dealership. You will receive only the documents required to register your vehicle in your state.

In our listings, title status is always listed directly below the main description.

In some cases we will sell motorcycles without title or registration. In these cases we guarantee all motorcycles sold are free and clear. We will always provide a route to obtaining title. Generally in these cases, the motorcycle will be sold at a discount to accommodate expenses involved.

Documents are mailed via USPS priority mail with a tracking number. Please allow up to 14 days after payment in full for your documents to be processed and mailed.

Keys will be shipped with the motorcycle.

Warranty:

All Motorcycles sold "as is, where is" and Kaplan Cycles does not warranty any motorcycle sold. No express warranty and/or implied warranty are made by Kaplan Cycles. No statements by us give an implied warranty.

SHIPPING:

SEND US YOUR ZIP FOR A SHIPPING QUOTE!
WE WILL MAKE ALL ARRANGEMENTS!

We have the best shipping contacts in the nation who will provide the FASTEST transport times, have a perfect track record, and are always insured and ENCLOSED! All motorcycles are shipped WHOLE (roll-on, roll-off). We do not offer a pallet or crate service.

International shipping specialist contacts are available! They will assist in ground freight, customs clearance, and ocean freight to your country. International buyers will be required to work directly with our third party shipping contacts.

We strongly recommend you insure your motorcycle at the time of purchase.

PICKUP:

We require a 24 hour notice prior to pick-up. Please call us at 860-454-7024 during office hours Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm EST.

We will provide ramps, a dock for loading, and assistance to load for free.

Wheels