Baja-Style Weapon: Honda XR400R

Time Machine with a Modern Twist: Prutti’s XR400R…

In 1996, Honda introduced the XR400R — a 266-lb four-stroke destined to become a legend among multiple generations of dirt riders, garnering a cult following. While Yamaha and KTM continued to update and redesign their four-strokes, the XR400R kept cooking along virtually unchanged during its entire eight-year production run.

The reason was simple: it simply worked. The XR400 might not be as powerful as a competition race bike, but it could tractor through near anything and never let you down. Dirt Rider was still praising the bike half a decade after production ended.

“The XR remains a slim, nimble bike with outstanding steering, proven reliability and affordability, no pesky radiators to squish and all the equipment needed to be legal anywhere, anytime… The XR is the choice of 90 percent of adventure tour/off-road rental companies for a reason: It is dead reliable…” –Dirt Rider, 2009

Our new friend Prutti — an Australian bike builder, free rider, and content creator — has created what might be the ultimate middleweight XR: stylish, nostalgic, and most importantly, highly functional.

“The inspiration was a Baja-style weapon, but still versatile enough for multi-day outback missions. I love that classic dual-headlight desert look, but wanted to modernize it slightly — while still holding onto the rugged XR soul. This build had to be practical, tough, and still carry that old-school nostalgia.”

The donor was a plain-Jane red model with little of the old-school XR style — perfect for a transformation. The bike was stripped to the frame and powder-coated white. Prutti had the suspension revalved and outfitted the bike with a DC conversion so he could run modern LED lightning.

An oversized tank makes for greater range over multi-day outback rides, while black rims wrapped in aggressive Pirelli rubber keep the beast motoring through any terrain. Other highlights include larger footpegs, a gripper seat cover, RK chain, ODI bars and grips, handguards, Rival Ink graphics, and those signature Baja-style dual headlights.

The finished product pushes all our nostalgia buttons, but it’s no show pony — Prutti rides the hell out of it, and has done some things on the old workhorse that would impress XR legend Scott Summers himself.

“It’s like riding a time machine with a modern twist. Still has that unmistakable XR grunt and old-school character, but with the upgrades, it’s far more capable and comfortable. Perfect for chewing through gnarly terrain, sand, rocky climbs — you name it. It just keeps chugging… It’s a build I’m proud to ride hard.”

Well done, Prutti. Thank you for breathing new life into a legend, and riding it like it was meant to be ridden.

Honda XR400R Baja: Builder Interview

• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

My name’s Prutti — I’m a content creator, bike builder, and free-rider based in Australia. I grew up around bikes and have been wrenching ever since I was old enough to hold a spanner. These days I document bike builds, ride adventures, and everything in between across YouTube and socials. I don’t work out of a massive pro shop—just a solid little home setup where passion meets purpose.

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

It’s a 2001 Honda XR400R — a total classic that I reckon still holds up as one of the most capable trail bikes ever built.

• Why was this bike built?

This one was purely a personal build. I wanted to create the ultimate go-anywhere XR400 — a machine that could take on Aussie terrain, from tight single track to wide-open desert runs. I just took it on a full Cape York trip and it didn’t skip a beat.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

The inspiration was a Baja-style weapon, but still versatile enough for multi-day outback missions. I love that classic dual-headlight desert look, but wanted to modernize it slightly — while still holding onto the rugged XR soul. This build had to be practical, tough, and still carry that old-school nostalgia.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

Quite a bit! The frame was stripped and powder-coated white. Suspension was revalved, and I fitted a DC conversion to run upgraded LED lighting. There’s an oversized tank for longer rides, black rims, and Pirelli tyres for all-terrain grip. I added bigger footpegs, custom Baja-style dual headlights, a gripper seat cover, RK chain, ODI bars and grips, handguards, and a fresh set of Rival Ink graphics to tie it all together.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

No official nickname… but I’ve definitely called her a few names mid-ride. She’s just the XR to me—simple, strong, and reliable.

• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?

She’s still pretty true to stock in terms of power, but what makes the XR shine is that tractor-like torque. The custom headlights do add a bit of weight, but overall, she still feels well-balanced—especially with the suspension dialed in.

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

It’s like riding a time machine with a modern twist. Still has that unmistakable XR grunt and old-school character, but with the upgrades, it’s far more capable and comfortable. Perfect for chewing through gnarly terrain, sand, rocky climbs — you name it. It just keeps chugging.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

Honestly, just how well everything came together. I didn’t overcomplicate it — I kept it practical, clean, and true to what makes the XR400 such a cult favourite. It’s a build I’m proud to ride hard.

• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

Massive thanks to all my amazing brand partners who support the builds and the rides: Troy Lee Designs, Pedal Commander, ODI, Maxima, Pirelli, JTR, RK Chains, Rival Ink, RNDM Goggles, Funnel Web Filters, Albek, Ethika, Etnies — you guys are legends.