I'm old enough to remember on Sundays the only honda in the 125 class was stripped down SL's. Untill late 73 when these little monsters instantly "CRUSHED"every 125 on the track🏆🇯🇵
I went from a 73 sl125 to a 74 Elsinore The first time I rode that 74 I had the crossbar staring me in the face Love the smell of castor oil two-stroke oil
This is where it all began for me and my love for two strokes. I was 10 years old and heard one ringing through the woods on the dirt road I live on. I thought it was Godzilla! It came by with front-wheel in the air and throwing a rooster tail like I had never seen in my life. And the lingering smell of castor oil put a smile on my face. Years later I would finally own a 1976 Honda CR125. And I had forgot about high school Motocross! Seems like I remember reading about it in motorcyclist magazine. I love this video and this iconic badass dirt bike. I remember one Christmas Honda was getting rid of their 1975 Elsinore for $450!
I raced the same exact bike in 75 right down to the color only change were bogemohaland shocks fmf pipe and head, 32 mikuni carb, being 62 now seems like yesterday, best days ever.
Don't make me cry. That was my first motorcycle. Should have never sold it. I've had lots of bikes since but no bike has captured my heart like the 125 Elsinore.
I started racing Flat-track with the "Bultaco" in 1972-Loved that Rush of never stopping.. Still have it today..Got that same Honda Elsinore Silver right out of the wooden crate brand new..Then went to the Yamaha YZ-250 and then the Suzuki RM- 400..Still have them all the only one I sold was the Suzuki 400..I still can take them completely apart and rebuild them with no problem..I changed out to a lot of Mikuni carburetors different Jets always tricking them out to make them faster..Now an old man don't take them out as much as I used to I basically stick to the streets with my Harley-Davidson 1200..Love that year Honda was crazy fast.👍🛵💨
The Bultaco I paid $500- the 74-Honda Elsinore New was $740- the 1976 YZ-125 was a lot faster than the Elsinore I think I paid $1,000 right out of the wooden crate..The RM-400 definitely a beast don't remember what I paid for that Sold it for $700-dollars..Just saw 1974 Honda Elsinore 125 for sale Total Restoration $7,000-OBO..Little High his price..Still sounds Great..👍
I bought one of these new in December 73 & so began a killer two years of flat out hauling ass! Went to Honda school in New Jersey & worked on some factory 125’s & 250’s & got some trick part numbers & built a fire breather! Miss that bike!
I bought one new in late 1973 for 675 dollars. First bike I raced, Pepperill MA, interesting novice class story. Rubber band start I was advise to go the instant I saw the band even vibrate, which I promptly did. Turns out someone jumped the start (Suzuki) and made it more than just vibrate, the band got stuck in my orange Bell Star helmet opening and when it released in 2nd gear hit me in the nose. Hard. It became obvious we jumped the start, were called back, and placed in the 5th row at opposite ends. Facing f’n backwards. As I heard the thundering roar of those about to restart I recalled the kid on a Greeves being held up by his father (couldn’t reach the ground) and a girl in my class on a Penton. I said to myself please dear God at least let me beat those two! There was little reason to worry as I was one of a few with the “ultimate 125” weapon that day, finishing 8th place, and yes I beat the Greeves dude and the young lady, passing both in the first corner. Both grip ends were ripped off from hitting the snow fencing while passing others. I later went on to much better finishes but that day, that race, was my most memorable by far. Second moto saw a hard 1st corner berm shot loading up the engine and, of course, anyone familiar with the CR125 knows what that was like to clear. Finished 19th for that moto going home empty handed but with a swollen nose the size of Chicago. Mid 60’s now and longing for those wonderful days of my youth where my only concern was where my next tank of premix was coming from. Thanks for the memories guys!!! Ciao.
When Honda came out with the Elsinores , I wanted this one so bad. I worked, saved and begged my parents. I can still hear my Step father ," your not getting one." Life's full of disappointment. Lol Later I did take a friend to pick his up brand new. He let me ride all I wanted too. Last laughs on you step daddy. Ken thats a classic precious.... man tears ... Beautiful bike.
as fourteen year old owning the same bike in Australia the bike was a hand full back in the day easy ripping a hole in the dirt on take off with front wheel in the air hitting powerband easy throughout the gears ...quick bike for its time......then i got into the early rm Suzuki s bring back the late seventys what a blast
That was my second bike and my first race bike. I was 14 and went from a Kawasaki KE90 to this thing and the difference was like getting off a Sears mini bike and getting on a CZ400 at first 😂. The KE was real mellow all through the power band and Elsinore was either idle or 10 zillion RPM and nothing in-between. This was the first of many CR's I've had. ❤️
Senior’s right, these bikes really got the ball rolling here . DG and FMF made a good portion of their reputations making after market parts for these bikes and the other Japanese bikes.
First Elsinore I owned, bought from a friend it was kinda tired, and well ridden, great bike , learned me to ride bikes! Then graduated to the 79 Red Rocket Elsinore! Which was a whole different animal! Nice restoration! Ride on!🇺🇲
I was 20 years old then and got my hands on the 3rd 125 that found it’s way into New England. The dealers kids got the first two. I went from middle of the pack novice to front of the pack and made amateur that very season riding the Honda. It gave me my first win. It was a confidence inspiring machine.
🤤 My uncle had one of these darlings. I used to sit in front and hold the gas cap when I was small, loved it and started my bike addiction. Also watched him flip it backwards and rip the rear fender off on the grass hahaha
A good friend Casey Ciere won the Canadian JR. 125 National Championship in 1973. He got the bike in August one of the first two in Canada. He kept the bike in my parents garage and appointed me as his mechanic. After a race I would wash the bike and go for a test ride. Really a very good friend.
I dig your channel man my dad and uncle gave me a DT250 when I was 13. I have to send you a pic of my uncle's two engine two stroke go kart he was national champion '74
It was easy to work on. I'm a terrible mechanic and even I could change the rings on this bike when I owned one. This bike change the world in moto X and I had so much fun on this 1974 model here in Australia. Watching this today I can't believe how lucky I was to own one.
my man what a bike i had one the same exhaust pipe on the left side cucumber style muffler Australian model wish i still had the C.R. thankyou so much for the memory
13. Went to live with my dad in Albuquerque. My uncles were into racing heavy. They had this bike fixed it up. Got it going for me. Went riding many times and to make you jealous desert free riding plus an oval track with the dirt bike track in the center. God what memories now I'm 52 and live on the couch. I suck
Oh man those were the days! I Remember when that first came out nobody could believe Honda built a two-stroke. The Elsinore totally changed the motocross game.
First motorcycle bought brand new use to race cr 500 in later years now that I am62 just rebuilt an 87 cr 125 haven't ridden a 125 since I had that 74 love your videos by the way remember always ride red D.h sunny fla
It's crazy how little rear travel they had and how hard we thrashed them. Sad that the greens don't match. Coolest bike ever. Mine cost just over $600 in 1973.
That was my first MX bike. It was made for the tracks in the early 70s. I bought one decades later and restored it . But it was so obsolete for modern tracks that you would get hurt trying to ride on bigger jumps. It had only 6 inch travel on the suspension. There were aftermarket shocks that would give to a little more rear travel but it would beat you to death on modern tracks. It was fun for the era but feels like a thin stiff bicycle with a bad as motor mounted to it. The bike bottoms out on most every jump. It’s a great bike for a collector for sure. I lived the beginning of motocross and the Elsinore was won of the finest bikes of that time. My brother had a 250. It was fast as hell also.
And all that screaming power back in those days was done with no techno wizardry..No reed valves..no power valves..no boost bottles..and the little beast still won many races.
They were built and designed by pop yoshimura who a couple of years before won all the Japanese Grand Prix motocross races with it... I know this for a fact as I hired on at a Honda shop in 1975 and went to Honda school and met pop yoshimura myself.. and the introduction to our instructor we were told by a Honda representative that you are about to meet a man who can tell you what you had for breakfast by reading your spark plug color... All the high tech that came later with Reed valves and exhaust port valves was all designed in for better lower end ... These little 125s were either on or off and I always wanted to put a thumb button throttle on them cuz that's all you really need... If they ain't screaming on the pipe they don't pull all ... But this particular one ken is riding ,someone has done some serious yoshimura style tuning and have put it on the razor's edge as it sounds like a 250 when he first fires it up must be that pipe
Kaplan got your ears on ⁉️ I would like to take this moment to making something about the sound of two strokes on TH-cam... It's got to be the hardest thing to do to sell a two-stroke on TH-cam from their sound quality of TH-cam's broadcasting.. and then add the fact that you don't know if I'm listening to it on a 5.0 creative lab sound blaster hook to my super gaining computer or if I'm listening to it on my smart dumb phone from T-Mobile which I am.. and you hear things that really aren't there like certain vibrations in the motor.... And this motor you're riding today here is extremely tight it's fresh it's brand new beyond it out set to Honda specs and probably someone's zeroed out the crank at the same time which takes Honda too long so they don't do it... Now off the subject for a moment you have seen the old Suzuki Enduro Street legal 250cc 2 strokes and if you look closely on an original one there are little rubber blocks stuffed in between the fins of the engine cylinder.. I think it's like every other pair has a rubber block stuffed in two or three places around the cooling fins... Those actually help damping The tuning fork like sound that will come off those cooling fins without the rubber dampers... Hint hint I've never tried it on any other bike but it's got to work if you want to play around with that stuff ... And if you compare the cooling fins on the early Elsinore were much longer than Suzuki's
My 1st bike.. '76 MR 175 in 1978. I remember a farmer ran out to at me and threw a HUGE rock at me, denting my gas tank. I stopped to converse. Allegedly other riders were tearing up his vegetable fields. We were just riding on trails. Moved up to 84 XR250R in 90 . Still have it!
One of my friends had one back in the day and he would tell me, now Tony you have to get on it or u will ruin my pipe. Of course, he was lying just to get me to ride it hard. The bike was incredible, Fast and handled fantastic. I jumped many hills with this bike.
I appreciate what you guys do with the vintage bikes I'm 44 and started on a 1977 Honda XL 75. My dad always told me about the old Honda elsanors how fast they were. Never actually got to see them myself until I started watching your show a few months ago. So thank you. They are awesome.
Riding schoolboy MX in the UK at the time, i was riding a Hodaka which i was told could of been the only one?. May of been one or two in a collection somewhere but mine was up against Huskys & Bultaco Pursang Mk5s. Saw the Elsinore in MCN & fell in love! Never got my ass on one but enjoyed seeing a few screamed round a track. The start of the Japanese dominance.
I bought me a 1977 model in 1981..it was brand new leftover...paid like $700 bucks for it...huge step up from my xr75..the only thing I hated was that down pipe..but I thought it was pretty fast for a 125..back then..
I had to look to make sure I did not write this! I bought a 1976 model in 1979 and it replaced my xr75. And it was a huge step up but my God I had some great times on that Gray tank xr75 that was bored out and had a racing pipe. Everybody else had a bigger bike so I had to learn to compensate with riding skills. While they were trying to manhandle their bikes I was able to put that xr75 wherever I wanted! Wide open and relentless. I eventually broke the frame right below the steering head. Was able to ride back home with the motor bouncing up and down like a spring because the frame broke completely. It was a long slow ride. But my neighbor was a welder and fixed it quickly! After two years of harsh abuse it was time for an upgrade. Looking back I'm surprised my motorcycles last any longer than they did. I knew very little about maintenance but that would change when I began studying diesel mechanics at The Vocational Technical School and started my career as a diesel mechanic.
My friend and I both had Pursangs in '74. They were fast but not as light and agile. Still remember the first CR125 showing up at the local track in Idaho! 💥💖
Back in the day, I raced both the Elsinore 125 and 250. The only one who ever beat me on my stock 125 was Marty Smith on his Honda factory 125. That thing would pull me just like the stock 250's would. Win some, lose some. I miss those days----and I sure as hell miss those bikes! They were way ahead of their time.
The Hodaka Super Combat was the hottest 125MX for a few weeks. Then this bike came out and it was a whole new ball game. Lots of love to that bike but Im a Hodaka kinda guy. lol
If that had a stock pipe, it would be close to priceless. I bought 1 new. They changed the sport. Within 2 years everything was different. Crazy times.
Ken when you first fired this CR125 up , that pipe must have did it cuz on you tube here sounded like a 250 ...it's got a deeper sound than a 125 ..Bob Hannah had a yz125 at St Louis international one day that sounded like a 250 when he squared off the berms... Besides sounding great that pipe on there looks bitching... And the stinger muffler just adds to it... Now the tears are starting to roll that is the bike that pop yoshimura taught us in Honda School all about this two-stroke that he designed. It was pop yoshimura's first 125 that he built for Honda and race them himself in Japan and won all their championships with it
I'm old enough to remember on Sundays the only honda in the 125 class was stripped down SL's. Untill late 73 when these little monsters instantly "CRUSHED"every 125 on the track🏆🇯🇵
I went from a 73 sl125 to a 74 Elsinore
The first time I rode that 74 I had the crossbar staring me in the face
Love the smell of castor oil two-stroke oil
i always wanted this bike. i got a 1976 but it wasnt very good .
@@wadeadkins8393 I run that new Klotz in the weedeater. No one in the neighborhood recognizes the smell but I know.
I went to high school with Marty Smith. Those were the days.
This is where it all began for me and my love for two strokes. I was 10 years old and heard one ringing through the woods on the dirt road I live on. I thought it was Godzilla! It came by with front-wheel in the air and throwing a rooster tail like I had never seen in my life. And the lingering smell of castor oil put a smile on my face. Years later I would finally own a 1976 Honda CR125. And I had forgot about high school Motocross! Seems like I remember reading about it in motorcyclist magazine. I love this video and this iconic badass dirt bike. I remember one Christmas Honda was getting rid of their 1975 Elsinore for $450!
You just described my entire life as a kid …..Dirt Bike Mag. Motocross Action Mag….Best Bikes EVER!
crying
That is probably the best-looking vintage dirt bike I've ever seen in my life I would take that over any Supercar any day
I raced the same exact bike in 75 right down to the color only change were bogemohaland shocks fmf pipe and head, 32 mikuni carb, being 62 now seems like yesterday, best days ever.
Oh my God. That thing is incredible. My heart skipped beats when it drive by. It sounds like angels singing. Thanks guys.
I don't know what it is, maybe I'm just old. But I absolutely love a downswept pipe there are the sexiest things on a vintage MX bike.🤙
I learned to ride on 74 CR125, graduated to CR500 40 years later lol
Don't make me cry. That was my first motorcycle. Should have never sold it. I've had lots of bikes since but no bike has captured my heart like the 125 Elsinore.
I'm crying now,,,,,,wildwood nj,,,,,,,1975 highschool
@@rushgeddy8375 thanks for that. Yeah all my trophies say 1974 and 75
I started racing Flat-track with the "Bultaco" in 1972-Loved that Rush of never stopping.. Still have it today..Got that same Honda Elsinore Silver right out of the wooden crate brand new..Then went to the Yamaha YZ-250 and then the Suzuki RM- 400..Still have them all the only one I sold was the Suzuki 400..I still can take them completely apart and rebuild them with no problem..I changed out to a lot of Mikuni carburetors different Jets always tricking them out to make them faster..Now an old man don't take them out as much as I used to I basically stick to the streets with my Harley-Davidson 1200..Love that year Honda was crazy fast.👍🛵💨
The Bultaco I paid $500- the 74-Honda Elsinore New was $740- the 1976 YZ-125 was a lot faster than the Elsinore I think I paid $1,000 right out of the wooden crate..The RM-400 definitely a beast don't remember what I paid for that Sold it for $700-dollars..Just saw 1974 Honda Elsinore 125 for sale Total Restoration $7,000-OBO..Little High his price..Still sounds Great..👍
One of my best friends raced one of these in 1974 right here in New England NESC 👍🏻👍🏻
I bought one of these new in December 73 & so began a killer two years of flat out hauling ass! Went to Honda school in New Jersey & worked on some factory 125’s & 250’s & got some trick part numbers & built a fire breather! Miss that bike!
I had an Elsinore 250 I bought from a neighbor when they moved I rode it back and forth to high school, a 74 green and silver tank.
a monster
I bought one new in late 1973 for 675 dollars. First bike I raced, Pepperill MA, interesting novice class story. Rubber band start I was advise to go the instant I saw the band even vibrate, which I promptly did. Turns out someone jumped the start (Suzuki) and made it more than just vibrate, the band got stuck in my orange Bell Star helmet opening and when it released in 2nd gear hit me in the nose. Hard. It became obvious we jumped the start, were called back, and placed in the 5th row at opposite ends. Facing f’n backwards. As I heard the thundering roar of those about to restart I recalled the kid on a Greeves being held up by his father (couldn’t reach the ground) and a girl in my class on a Penton. I said to myself please dear God at least let me beat those two! There was little reason to worry as I was one of a few with the “ultimate 125” weapon that day, finishing 8th place, and yes I beat the Greeves dude and the young lady, passing both in the first corner. Both grip ends were ripped off from hitting the snow fencing while passing others. I later went on to much better finishes but that day, that race, was my most memorable by far. Second moto saw a hard 1st corner berm shot loading up the engine and, of course, anyone familiar with the CR125 knows what that was like to clear. Finished 19th for that moto going home empty handed but with a swollen nose the size of Chicago. Mid 60’s now and longing for those wonderful days of my youth where my only concern was where my next tank of premix was coming from. Thanks for the memories guys!!! Ciao.
Fun times..now I feel all the fun. Lol 🤣
When Honda came out with the Elsinores , I wanted this one so bad. I worked, saved and begged my parents. I can still hear my Step father ," your not getting one." Life's full of disappointment. Lol
Later I did take a friend to pick his up brand new. He let me ride all I wanted too. Last laughs on you step daddy.
Ken thats a classic precious.... man tears ...
Beautiful bike.
as fourteen year old owning the same bike in Australia the bike was a hand full back in the day easy ripping a hole in the dirt on take off with front wheel in the air hitting powerband easy throughout the gears ...quick bike for its time......then i got into the early rm Suzuki s bring back the late seventys what a blast
Yep that’s why I love these Videos takes you back in time!
Ditto
I loved my 74 Elsinore. Wore it out by 79!
Absolutely beautiful!!! Honda Elsinore CR125M. Thank you.
That was my second bike and my first race bike. I was 14 and went from a Kawasaki KE90 to this thing and the difference was like getting off a Sears mini bike and getting on a CZ400 at first 😂. The KE was real mellow all through the power band and Elsinore was either idle or 10 zillion RPM and nothing in-between. This was the first of many CR's I've had. ❤️
Senior’s right, these bikes really got the ball rolling here . DG and FMF made a good portion of their reputations making after market parts for these bikes and the other Japanese bikes.
Bought one of these when I was 14 - so much fun!!!
First Elsinore I owned, bought from a friend it was kinda tired, and well ridden, great bike , learned me to ride bikes! Then graduated to the 79 Red Rocket Elsinore! Which was a whole different animal! Nice restoration! Ride on!🇺🇲
These bikes were the talk of the town when I was growing up, one guy had one➡ it was fast🔥
WOW super clean! sounds great too! way different form todays 125's
You share So many details, love this channel.
I was 20 years old then and got my hands on the 3rd 125 that found it’s way into New England. The dealers kids got the first two. I went from middle of the pack novice to front of the pack and made amateur that very season riding the Honda. It gave me my first win. It was a confidence inspiring machine.
🤤 My uncle had one of these darlings. I used to sit in front and hold the gas cap when I was small, loved it and started my bike addiction. Also watched him flip it backwards and rip the rear fender off on the grass hahaha
Pipy little sucker!!..those bikes were a bog&zap delight..beautiful bike ken!!..great job!!
Beautiful example and I believe the rear shocks are the original showa shocks.
A good friend Casey Ciere won the Canadian JR. 125 National Championship in 1973. He got the bike in August one of the first two in Canada. He kept the bike in my parents garage and appointed me as his mechanic. After a race I would wash the bike and go for a test ride. Really a very good friend.
My first bike ! Brings back so many good memories. I bought it used in 77 for 200 bucks.
Honestly !!! The most beautiful machine I have ever seen in my life , and the little devil packs a punch too ! ❤️
This may be the best looking 74 I have seen .I love the color scheme on that thing. Hope it will bring top $$ for the museum man.
My brother raced one of these back in the day. Had to have the best.
Niiiicccce.. Takes me back to high school.. That 2 stroker sounds right..
A1976 my dad had a race-ready 250 Elsinore 2-stroke
I dig your channel man my dad and uncle gave me a DT250 when I was 13. I have to send you a pic of my uncle's two engine two stroke go kart he was national champion '74
My heart is RACIN'! YOU LUCKY BUGGER!
Ive had a woodie since i rode one of those in 1977.
Reminds me of high school days and being envious of a friend who was lucky enough to own one ! Think sounds tight mint!
It was easy to work on. I'm a terrible mechanic and even I could change the rings on this bike when I owned one. This bike change the world in moto X and I had so much fun on this 1974 model here in Australia. Watching this today I can't believe how lucky I was to own one.
I learned to ride on this mogel! Finished my riding days on a 1995 CR500.
Loved mine! Best motocross bike ever!
I had a '75, with the red and silver tank and a "Protopipe" upswept exhaust that came out right by my left boot. It was a rocket!
my man what a bike i had one the same exhaust pipe on the left side cucumber style muffler Australian model wish i still had the C.R. thankyou so much for the memory
My cousin had a CR125, I had a Yama DT175. Those bikes went everywhere.
wow now that was the boss in 74 incredible bike thanks for the memories on these beauties 🤗👍👍
The years of fun thanks for sharing your fun bikes
My first MX'er, coming from an SL125 it was a wake up call !
13. Went to live with my dad in Albuquerque. My uncles were into racing heavy. They had this bike fixed it up. Got it going for me. Went riding many times and to make you jealous desert free riding plus an oval track with the dirt bike track in the center. God what memories now I'm 52 and live on the couch. I suck
Loved seeing these bikes in 1970`s , fast and loved that sound , screamers .
Oh man those were the days!
I Remember when that first came out nobody could believe Honda built a two-stroke. The Elsinore totally changed the motocross game.
First motorcycle bought brand new use to race cr 500 in later years now that I am62 just rebuilt an 87 cr 125 haven't ridden a 125 since I had that 74 love your videos by the way remember always ride red D.h sunny fla
You do some lovely work sir keep it up
It's crazy how little rear travel they had and how hard we thrashed them. Sad that the greens don't match. Coolest bike ever. Mine cost just over $600 in 1973.
That was my first MX bike. It was made for the tracks in the early 70s. I bought one decades later and restored it . But it was so obsolete for modern tracks that you would get hurt trying to ride on bigger jumps. It had only 6 inch travel on the suspension. There were aftermarket shocks that would give to a little more rear travel but it would beat you to death on modern tracks. It was fun for the era but feels like a thin stiff bicycle with a bad as motor mounted to it. The bike bottoms out on most every jump. It’s a great bike for a collector for sure. I lived the beginning of motocross and the Elsinore was won of the finest bikes of that time. My brother had a 250. It was fast as hell also.
And all that screaming power back in those days was done with no techno wizardry..No reed valves..no power valves..no boost bottles..and the little beast still won many races.
They were built and designed by pop yoshimura who a couple of years before won all the Japanese Grand Prix motocross races with it... I know this for a fact as I hired on at a Honda shop in 1975 and went to Honda school and met pop yoshimura myself.. and the introduction to our instructor we were told by a Honda representative that you are about to meet a man who can tell you what you had for breakfast by reading your spark plug color... All the high tech that came later with Reed valves and exhaust port valves was all designed in for better lower end
... These little 125s were either on or off and I always wanted to put a thumb button throttle on them cuz that's all you really need... If they ain't screaming on the pipe they don't pull all ... But this particular one ken is riding ,someone has done some serious yoshimura style tuning and have put it on the razor's edge as it sounds like a 250 when he first fires it up must be that pipe
Kaplan got your ears on ⁉️ I would like to take this moment to making something about the sound of two strokes on TH-cam... It's got to be the hardest thing to do to sell a two-stroke on TH-cam from their sound quality of TH-cam's broadcasting.. and then add the fact that you don't know if I'm listening to it on a 5.0 creative lab sound blaster hook to my super gaining computer or if I'm listening to it on my smart dumb phone from T-Mobile which I am.. and you hear things that really aren't there like certain vibrations in the motor.... And this motor you're riding today here is extremely tight it's fresh it's brand new beyond it out set to Honda specs and probably someone's zeroed out the crank at the same time which takes Honda too long so they don't do it... Now off the subject for a moment you have seen the old Suzuki Enduro Street legal 250cc 2 strokes and if you look closely on an original one there are little rubber blocks stuffed in between the fins of the engine cylinder.. I think it's like every other pair has a rubber block stuffed in two or three places around the cooling fins... Those actually help damping The tuning fork like sound that will come off those cooling fins without the rubber dampers... Hint hint I've never tried it on any other bike but it's got to work if you want to play around with that stuff ... And if you compare the cooling fins on the early Elsinore were much longer than Suzuki's
Super cool bike. Awesome to think that this would later evolve over 30 years later into my current bike
A lot of people don’t realize that was a Suzuki TM motor
My 1st bike.. '76 MR 175 in 1978. I remember a farmer ran out to at me and threw a HUGE rock at me, denting my gas tank. I stopped to converse. Allegedly other riders were tearing up his vegetable fields. We were just riding on trails. Moved up to 84 XR250R in 90 . Still have it!
One day I will visit your museum , I will travel from England U.K. to visit
I cannot wait
Man those bikes are awesome
One of my friends had one back in the day and he would tell me, now Tony you have to get on it or u will ruin my pipe. Of course, he was lying just to get me to ride it hard. The bike was incredible, Fast and handled fantastic. I jumped many hills with this bike.
I bought a 1975 125 Elsinore off the showroom floor. All you need is premix and it's ready to race.
Sweet bike I had 1 it was a old used one when I got it ,did Alot of work on it , when it was on the Pipe it Screamed !!!
I had a '75 CR 125 M Elsinore new in 1975 (Silver/Red) and YES it got up for 1975. ✊😁
Between this and the rd 350.... I had a buddy that had the Elsinore and his dad had the RD....as fifteen years olds, we played hard
ive said it 100 times it never gets old love the pipes on these bikes
Absolutely beautiful. Very hard to find for sale in Australia 🇦🇺 now.
I appreciate what you guys do with the vintage bikes I'm 44 and started on a 1977 Honda XL 75. My dad always told me about the old Honda elsanors how fast they were. Never actually got to see them myself until I started watching your show a few months ago. So thank you. They are awesome.
XR75
Thats a crispy sounding 125! very nice
Dam, I love that bike.
First moto bike I rode.
Elsinore kid, if you're out there contact me.
Riding schoolboy MX in the UK at the time, i was riding a Hodaka which i was told could of been the only one?. May of been one or two in a collection somewhere but mine was up against Huskys & Bultaco Pursang Mk5s. Saw the Elsinore in MCN & fell in love! Never got my ass on one but enjoyed seeing a few screamed round a track. The start of the Japanese dominance.
I bought me a 1977 model in 1981..it was brand new leftover...paid like $700 bucks for it...huge step up from my xr75..the only thing I hated was that down pipe..but I thought it was pretty fast for a 125..back then..
I had to look to make sure I did not write this! I bought a 1976 model in 1979 and it replaced my xr75. And it was a huge step up but my God I had some great times on that Gray tank xr75 that was bored out and had a racing pipe. Everybody else had a bigger bike so I had to learn to compensate with riding skills. While they were trying to manhandle their bikes I was able to put that xr75 wherever I wanted! Wide open and relentless. I eventually broke the frame right below the steering head. Was able to ride back home with the motor bouncing up and down like a spring because the frame broke completely. It was a long slow ride. But my neighbor was a welder and fixed it quickly! After two years of harsh abuse it was time for an upgrade. Looking back I'm surprised my motorcycles last any longer than they did. I knew very little about maintenance but that would change when I began studying diesel mechanics at The Vocational Technical School and started my career as a diesel mechanic.
My friend and I both had Pursangs in '74. They were fast but not as light and agile. Still remember the first CR125 showing up at the local track in Idaho! 💥💖
Absolutely amazing. Flawless work guys. A+
Back in the day, I raced both the Elsinore 125 and 250. The only one who ever beat me on my stock 125 was Marty Smith on his Honda factory 125. That thing would pull me just like the stock 250's would. Win some, lose some. I miss those days----and I sure as hell miss those bikes! They were way ahead of their time.
That was my dream bike in 74!
Nothing was quicker, lighter and handled better. If you didn't have an Elsinore, you lost the race. No I wouldn't race this one, way too nice
100%agreed..I had one low pipe red 1978.the only two stroke that last like Four stroke.and handles marvelous.
Nice, I have a Honda mtx 125, gonna do a restoration of it. Thanks for the video Ken man
Love the vintage Mx racers I picked up my 79 rm 250 and it’s simple and hauls ass 🤘🏼
Love this channel! Great work guys!
Barry Franciss Honda dealer in Hamilton, Vic Australia has one of these in original condition sitting on the showroom floor right now.
The Hodaka Super Combat was the hottest 125MX for a few weeks. Then this bike came out and it was a whole new ball game. Lots of love to that bike but Im a Hodaka kinda guy. lol
I had a new one in 1974. The green paint on the tank had a matte finish- not gloss.
Beautiful and simple.
Oh. That is the holy grail! I loved that bike from Day One…..at 12 years old. I want one. BBBBAAADDD!
my TM 250 ate Elsinores up.
Those bikes were gorgeous
Still have my 75
You lucky man.
I am happy to see this fine bike.but I am sad because I sold mine a few years ago. I had the 125m Elsinore in a red and silver tank...😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪
A thing of beauty. I want one.
Oh yea! The only guy faster than us Honda boys was Ricky Rudd on his well financed Yamaha! He was great way back then!
Absolutely beutiful bike
Buddy had the 250 sometime in the mid 70s. It was a brut back in the day.
This bike sounds good
If that had a stock pipe, it would be close to priceless. I bought 1 new. They changed the sport. Within 2 years everything was different. Crazy times.
What a gorgeous bike! Way too much bike for my 13 year old self back then. I had the XR75
Your team does great work!
Ken when you first fired this CR125 up , that pipe must have did it cuz on you tube here sounded like a 250 ...it's got a deeper sound than a 125 ..Bob Hannah had a yz125 at St Louis international one day that sounded like a 250 when he squared off the berms... Besides sounding great that pipe on there looks bitching... And the stinger muffler just adds to it... Now the tears are starting to roll that is the bike that pop yoshimura taught us in Honda School all about this two-stroke that he designed. It was pop yoshimura's first 125 that he built for Honda and race them himself in Japan and won all their championships with it
Beautiful
Color💚It
& Raw Power