Baja Bikes: Built to Impress

Baja Motorsports 49cc Dirt Bike
Baja Warrior 90cc Dirt Bike
Baja Motorsports 90cc ATV

Minibike collectors tend to be in the know about the bike models that are classified as "must-haves," and Baja bikes are among them. Baja minibikes can boast of a long history of exceptional performance, which dates back to the creation of the original Honda motorcycles from which they were derived.

Baja bikes - the pocket version - take their roots from the Baja line of Honda, one of the world's finest motorcycle manufacturers. The Honda Baja is a favorite vehicle of cross-country biking tour services in many countries, as it is perfect for traveling in rough terrains. The single-cylinder engine is built especially for withstanding offroad conditions.

When one says "Baja," one also brings to mind the Baja 1000, an offroad race that takes place in the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico. This race is held every fall. The tournament includes a wide variety of vehicles, not just bikes - you find trucks, buggies, production vehicles and even stock volkswagens entering the respective competitions for their vehicle builds. There are usually two types of races, which have remained the same through the years: point-to-point from Ensenada to La Paz, or a loop race that starts and ends in Ensenada.

In the beginning, the tournament was called the NORRA Mexico Rally 1000. NORRA stands for National Off Road Racing Association. The first timed run in the tournament was conducted to test the reliability of a new Honda model, the CL72 Scrambler. Dave Ekins performed the run for American Honda, and clocked in at 39 hours 56 minutes. The total distance of the run was 952.7 miles. This run was so highly-publicized that it earned Honda, as well as the competition itself, national respect.

Ironically, however, most Honda Bajas were not made for racing. Rather, they were made for trailing and touring, and for this they have gained their own following among true motorbike enthusiasts. And since this bike line has gained so much prestige, genuine Baja bikes could come at a pretty penny. Even real Baja minibikes may end up costing more, if only for the sterling Honda engine. But collectors will agree: the price is worth it.