Is There a Harley Dirt Bike? The Story of Harley Davidson MX250

Even if you are a die-heart Harley Davidson fan, you must not have heard about the Harley dirt bike. This is something very unusual, especially for Harley-Davidson when making a dirt bike; those who have a keen eye on the rich history of Harley Davidson may know that the company once produced a Harley dirt bike.

There is nothing that comes to your mind except big cruisers and large touring bikes when you think about Harley Davidson. Undoubtedly, Harleys are the most classic, big, powerful, torquey, and loud, with loads of chrome on classic models.

Harley motorbikes are ideally designed for cruising down winding roads and long-distance motorcycle trips. However, there was a time in history when Harley started experimenting to produce an off-road dirt bike.

The Harley Davidson MX250 is the one and only Harley dirt bike of the 1970s. It was the company’s first and last attempt to make a dirt bike. For those who don’t know, it is a lesser-known gem in the Harley Davidson's rich history. Continue reading this article to learn more about the story of the Harley dirt bike, the MX250.

The 1970s was one of the toughest periods for Harley Davidson. The sales were down, and there was a lot of criticism from all directions regarding its production and branding strategy. The company lost its shares, and American Machine and Foundry (AMF) purchased Harley in 1969. This is the reason why certain Harley models produced during this era are known to be AMF Harley motorbikes.

To fight this tough time, Harley thought of making a comeback with an experiment. This time, the company built an off-road dirt bike, considering the dirt bike segment was on the rise. The Harley dirt bike, MX250, didn’t come out soon. It took Harley a good number of years to plan and execute its new strategy under AMF ownership.

The major reason behind entering the dirt bikes and motocross scene is the acquisition of Aermacchi by Harley Davidson. Harley acquired almost 50% of Aermacchi’s shares in 1960. Later, in 1973, AMF also acquired the rest of the 50% shares of Aermacchi.

Both Harley Davidson and Aermachhi started working on producing the Harley dirt bike. The first Harley dirt bike, the Harley-Davidson MX250, was built in collaboration between both companies.

Both Harley and Aermacchi, owned by AMF, produced the Harley MX250 in 1978, Harley’s first motocross-style dirt bike.

The first Harley dirt bike was built during the AMF Harley Davidson era, due to which it is also referred to as the AMF Harley dirt bike. AMF owned Harley-Davidson from 1969 to 1981. Many revolutionary steps were taken during this tenure.

One thing special about the Harley Davidson MX250 dirt bike was the Harley emblem on it. It was something unexpected for Harley-Davidson as the company was never into motocross bikes.

• The Harley Davidson MX250 featured a 242 cc two-stroke, single-cylinder engine capable of producing a horsepower of 32.4 hp.

• The engine was perfectly suited for off-road adventures.

• The 250 cc engine was decently powerful, ensuring a thrilling off-road riding experience.

• Unlike usual Harley Davidson bikes, this Harley dirt bike weighed only 233 lbs without the fuel.

• Due to being built for off-roading, the Harley dirt bike was quite nimble and lightweight, making it easy to handle.

• This Harley Davidson dirt bike was ideally built for motocross racing and trail riding.

• Unlike modern motocross (MX) and dirt bikes, the Harley Davidson MX250 had the typical classic dirt bike look.

• Being built by Harley Davidson, it featured a bit of Harley flair. The Harley orange, along with the black touch-ups, made it look quite unique.

• Riders could buy the 1978 AMF Harley Davidson dirt bike at a price of $1,695.

• This Harley dirt bike was primarily aimed at young riders who wanted a lightweight, affordable, and different Harley bike for dirt riding.

When the first Harley dirt bike, the MX250, was released, it was a surprise for Harley Davidson fans. It initially got some attention from those who love to ride dirt bikes, but they were stuck with their typical road-biased Harley motorbikes.

The Harley MX250 raised a bit of curiosity among riders. The motorcycling community was unsure about what Harley could do in this completely new sphere. However, the Harley dirt bike made a decent start, especially among the new off-road riders.

After the slow beginning of the Harley MX250, the Harley dirt bike couldn’t take off well and failed to make a mark in the competitive motocross market at that time.

Soon after a year of production, Harley Davidson decided to continue focussing on what it does best. After all, the core business and products have always remained the Harley cruisers and touring bikes.

Only after a year, in 1979, was the Harley dirt bike discontinued, and the company gave up on experimenting in this category. The 1970s Harley Davidson dirt bike became just a collectible item and a part of Harley’s history.

Though the Harley dirt bike didn’t last longer than a year, it was not the company’s unwanted child. The Harley Davidson MX250 became a collector item for Harley and motorcycling fans who were interested in vintage dirt bikes. The time during which the Harley dirt bike came made it special for those who love motorcycle history.

The Harley Davidson MX250 is a reminder for the company that it once broke the barrier of doing something unusual. Harley is capable of doing experiments with its production strategies. It is always good to try something different and explore different possibilities as a motorcycle brand.

If you are deeply interested in Harley-Davidson's history, you must look for a Harley dirt bike for sale. You may be able to find this antique Harley dirt bike at auctions or at specialty shops. The Harley MX250 is a major part of the Harley Davidson dirt bike history.

The Harley Davidson MX250 may not be as successful as other Harley cruisers. However, it is still a symbol of innovation and experimentation. It was probably the first time when Harley Davidson stepped out of its comfort zone in the 1970s. The Harley dirt bike signifies that Harley Davidson is more than just a symbol of freedom and the feel of an open road; it is also about the spirit of adventure.

The major question that arises from this discussion is: Would the motorcycling community and Harley fans love a modern Harley dirt bike? Answering this question in the current time is most likely a ‘Yes’.

Considering Harley Davidson has been open to experiments and incorporating innovations in its design and production strategies, the possibility of success is greater now.

If Harley Davidson plans to make a modern Harley dirt bike today, it is most likely to work. We witnessed the Harley Davidson LiveWire electric Harleys in the last decade. The pace of progress may be slow, but it is working.

There are many modern electric dirt bikes that are perfect for off-roading, including the Starc Varg, KTM Free Ride E-XC, Zero FX, Razor Dirt Rocket MX350 Electric Bike, Segway Dirt eBike X260, Beta Explorer, and many more.

The future is all about electric motorcycles as people have started realizing the need for change and a shift towards clean energy resources.

The Harley Davidson Sportsters were also something unusual for Harley Davidson at the time of their introduction. The Sportster bikes were different from the original and traditional Harley designs. They were a bit sporty and lightweight, ideal for city traveling.

Harley Davidson Sportster bikes are the best beginner Harleys to date. Another very important feature that makes Harley Sportsters stand out is their superior customizability. Almost every Harley Sportster model is highly customizable.

There are many custom bike builders who have successfully converted a Harley Sportster into an off-road bike, especially a Scrambler. A Harley Sportster dirt bike would be a great idea.

On the other hand, the adventure motorcycling trend is in full swing. More and more bike riders are shifting towards ADV bikes and adventure-style riding.

The trend became so popular that even Harley Davidson couldn’t resist producing a top-of-the-line ADV bike, the Harley Pan America 1250. It is not just another ADV bike; the H-D Pan America 1250 Special is a top-rated, fully equipped, and innovative ADV bike.

On top of being a Harley, powerful, premium, luxurious, comfortable, and expensive, the Pan America 1250 Special is still very different from conventional Harleys. It is considered to be the Harley Davidson’s most successful attempt at experimenting with something very new.

Considering all these successful experiments by Harley Davidson, a modern Harley dirt bike can be a hit. The growing interest in adventure and dirt riding, especially in the US, is a plus point. It would be great to see a modern Harley dirt bike that has both tech features and Harley’s class.

For those who don’t know whether there is a Harley dirt bike. Yes, there was a Harley dirt bike known as the Harley Davidson MX250. This AMF Harley Davidson dirt bike was not a success in the market, but it is still a memorable collector’s item.

The Harley MX250 reminds us of the fact that Harley Davidson can be versatile and produce more than just cruisers and touring bikes. Who knows? Maybe one day soon, we will get to see a modern Harley dirt bike.