Back in 1981 at the age of 15, I bought a 76 CR125M for $300 from Penton Honda in Amherst, Ohio. I'm friends with John Penton and his son Jack. My mom and dad paid $150, and I paid $150. I still have it in restored condition today. Great bike and great memories.
Hey brother I'm responding to an old post but hey check out vintage motocross it's about the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I'm 60yrs old and have a ball.
A 1973 Elenore MT 250 was my Mother's first motorcycle. My Father bought himself a 74 TM 400 Suzuki, the MT 250 for my Mom, and I got a 74 MR 50 Honda for my first bike. Life was great back then. We rode the trails as a family and had a blast.
I was riding flat trackers (Bultacos) and a 250 Montesa MXer when the Honda Elsinore came out. I traded in my days old Montesa... You are 100% correct - this Elsinore CR250 changed the motorcycling world. But, then we had a World GP MX at our track, and I saw Factory Bikes for the first time! I fell in love with the Yamaha Monoshock bikes that nobody had ever seen before...and the next year, I was riding Yamahas... Every single year, leaps and bounds were being made throughout all of motorcycling. It was the most exciting time to be riding and racing motorcycles! Back then, we were all just looking forward to the next faster thing. Looking back now, I believe the DT-1 Yamaha I started riding on in '69 was the most important dual purpose ever, and the Elsinore 250 was the most important MX bike ever. I was fortunate to have enjoyed them both.
But the 70 Honda sl350k1 twin was the best looking dual purpose .. especially in the candy red. I have one of every sl made. 70cc -350cc. They were Hondas first real dirt bikes. I have 78 vintage bikes. The sl lines is by far my favorite.. and the sl350 are not slow. And I still ride my Sl70. 53 mph hunched down wind to my back. The sl line up is very important to Hondas dirt history. It started the xl / Xr line ups.. also I have a mint 79 cr125r. Still has the original tires on it.
I'm blessed and lucky, I still have my 75 silver tanked Elsinore, I got back in 76, I added lay down shocks, d.i.d. aluminum rims, and ported the jug, added a better expansion chamber, it was and still is brutal, it runs and ride it in senior class events , what a blast!
I had one when I was young. I used it to kick Jeff Wards butt in San Diego. I was 17 and he was a 15 year old spoiled brat. So when I won the race his daddy petitioned the organizers to disqualify me. His excuse, I wasn't a club member and that a day race pass doesn't count. So his dad lost too. Thanks Elsinore. I need to say, my 1974 Elsinore had weak transmission cases and gears. The front hub was weak too. It would crack and spokes would go flying. I also had to loosen the triple clamps and turn the fork tubes 180 degrees every so often. They would bend inwards after riding hard. I learned how to fix the transmission and how to re-spoke and true rims among other things. Still, pretty reliable, I guess.
I had a 1976 Elsinore when I was 13 years old and it was like being handed a rocket ship! The power band was so intoxicating I am a forever 0-60 in a few seconds kinda guy. At 60 years old now I recently straddled a two stroke vintage Suzuki and hit the track with it all coming back to me in moments. The smell of the Klotz 2 stroke ushered me back in the day and I was suddenly catching air with that teenage “ no sense of mortality”. After the third go round I cooled off counted my blessings and quit while I had a shred of common sense left. I realize how fortunate I was to have had that Elsinore. Now I have to go find another and tinker. This was a fantastic video. Tyvm
First bike was an old '80 CR250...death wish much. I couldn't keep the front tire in very tight rutted turns. Same ruts on my friends '89 CR125..stick your boot out and it fell right in. ASAP I gave that beast to my brother and he asked how I ran my pace. He seriously cheated death and grafted the engine into a 125 Cagiva! Hongiva was born!
I was 11 when I jumped from my XR-75 to the CR-125! What a shock!....when it came on the pipe it was an EXPLOSION of power and a Roost of 20ft shooting out as it hauled my 90 lbs up through the gears! At 13 I went to the CR-250 and got blown away again!
For real. My story was similar. Started with a Z50, fun, fun. Then went to a CT70. That was exciting. Then to an XR75, and that was mind blowing. All 4-stroke so far. Then I got a RM100. Never felt anything put that much fear in me. Then I got a YZ125, and that was like going to the stratosphere. Today, I ride a YZ250f and that is enough for me these days. Thank for sharing your story.
As someone whose motocross career (as a hobbyist:) extended from 1971-76, at tracks such as Indian Dunes (my primary), Saddleback and Bay Mare, I can tell you that this documentary is 100% spot on. Within 6 months of its introduction, the 125 Elsinore constituted 80% of the bikes in the 125 class. There were Friday night races at the Dunes where every 125 was an Elsinore. It was light, fast, less costly, reliable, and ready to race out of the box. Nothing else compared.
It is a bot channel. A caught a couple things wrong, as historians always make mistakes. But when the bot could not pronounce Maico correctly, I knew it was a bot. I don't like to give bots any credit. Credit belongs to humans who achieve IMO.
The respect you put into your productions is unmatched. It would be criminal if this weren’t available in Japanese, and/or sent to Shiro’s…hopefully remaining family. “When it came to the Elsinore, nothing became more American than a Japanese motorcycle.” Even as a white blooded American Husky rider, you bring a tear to my eye. Hats off, born A goon. Once again.
I'm very proud Honda owner from my car to my Motorcycle even to my power washer. These machines always work regardless if they sit for months on end or used daily, extremely reliable!!!!!! Great video, it embodies what I'm experiencing now.
The first time i ever seen a 1979 cr125 honda,with the red engine,it was instant love.when i felt the powerband and realized it was meant to be revved like it was,i was just amazed by that machine
I know it's a four stroke, but the 1973 Honda XR-75 was a breakthrough in the motocross sector. I was lucky to have one, my dad bought brand new in 1973 for $350. I grew out of it in about two years, and my dad gave my his XL-250, which was fun, but I really wanted the Elsinore at that point.... good times either way, no complaints.
When I was in high school a buddy of mine had a 1978 cr250 Elsinore and that bike was a beast... hands down the fastest bike I've ever riden could not keep the front wheel on the ground
@@bananabrooks3836 I may be mistaken about the year.. but either way it was a beast!! And I do specifically remember the chain was on the right side not the left side
That final shot is priceless. My first bike was a Honda Elsinore....50. Yep, best Christmas present ever! I was the fastest 8-year old in my neighborhood. Great work on the edit! Lots of memories.
I've stumbled upon your channel recently, and I love the format. I love the topics you choose to talk about. You've become one of my top 5 yt channels and I hope you continue to make videos, so I can continue to consume lol
I am about to be 26 and still ride! All thanks to my dad hooking me up with a Elsinore 50 when I was 4. 3rd gear on that Honda back then was Ludacris speed lmao!
As a teen I had a 1976 CR125-Elsinore,,,, Purchased it in 1978 , used, for $600 and put another $600 into it to get it running great. Had many good times in Miami, FL with that bike. Wish I had stored it for the future instead of trading it for an RD400. But the RD400 was fun too,
Had a 1979 CR 125. I entered the lake Elsinore race for fun late 70s. Man what a jump from riding a SL. I Still ride a 2001 XR650R I purchased near new. Been riding since 1966. And still have never owned a bike with starter botton. It helps keep my 64 Y/0 Body going. I've always been an adrenaline junkie. And the XR in Arizona enables me to avoid traffic jams most of the time.
I was There THIS is 100% SPOT ON! had a taste of all. RACED AMA Dist 37 and B to V mid 80's rode from age 11, about 1975 with a Paper Route and a Job to pay! I Did My Research! Before Investments and watched my Good older brother.
Great Video, the silver tanked Elsinore's were in my opinion one of the most beautiful bikes ever built. I was still a kid when they came out riding my Suzuki enduro's but in 1975 raced against them with a Suzuki TM250 (which I still have) and did ok, but the tables turned in 1976 with Suzuki releasing the dominate RM series.
As much as I loved the silver (first bike was a 73 XR75), I absolutely loved the red Elsinore. By the time I was 16 I bought a 1982 RM250, that bike was awesome!! Sure wish I could have kept it, but every bike I sold bought me a bigger and better one...
Those original Elsinore’s were definitely “ Game changers “ for Honda & Moto-Cross, that was for sure . Great time to be a young kid with places to ride & race all over California, but in my Southern half here in San Diego , with Carlsbad & Corona & Speedway 117 all pretty much in my backyard , it was EPIC!! So many great memories for me from that Era . I’m an El Cajon native now for almost 1/2my life , prior to this calling Lemon Grove home . Palm Ave , “ Rice Canyon” & Proctor Valley areas were all wide open training grounds for the race courses . And those Honda’s ruled 😎👍
Back then, I was a teenager racing MX on what was then probably the best bike in the 125 class: Penton. Those first 125 Elsinores instantly made my Penton obsolete. It had competitive power, was probably 25lbs lighter, and actually shifted gears properly.
Not mentioned here but noteworthy is that the Elsinore was the bike that spawned an entire aftermarket industry that made names for a lot of companies that are still around today. There wasn’t any aspect of the CR that you couldn’t upgrade with aftermarket parts. That bike must have made fortunes for those spin off companies thanks to Honda.
You said no honda problem horror stories but the early CRF450 had some real valve issues going on in those heads. BTW these videos are awesome keep em coming
Ha ha I was one of those that destroyed all comers on my 73’ CR250M. Me and a buddy bought the two first examples in the state. (Ks). It took me straight to the podium. It out classed the Husky, Penton, Ossa, Bultaco and CZ that were bikes I could get my hands on. Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Hodaka were no way near the machine a Honda CR was. I for a period of time was KING. I LOVED THAT BIKE.
BSA and Triumph used 4 stroke engines for motocross back in the '70s, the Triumph 125 Tiger, the factory 441 BSA Victor and the B50 BSA were very competitive.
My first bike in 1983 was in 1976 red 175 Elsinore. Then I found another for a parts bike. For it. The cops used to chase me. I used to take it to high school. Park it in the woods .This was in Long Island. No plates , insurance etc, great times . I was jealous of the rm and yz bikes , but it was lotsa fun , I was 15 years old,
Smithtown LI here, I bought a 1975 CR125 Elsinore in 1981 from an older neighbor for $200. I was 14 and rode that thing all over the place. Back then you could ride from neighborhood to neighborhood through various trails and backstreets. Suffolk LI was a great place to grow up back then.
@@mikeborrelli193 , I went to John Glenn. I would ride up Elwood . and then go through the back of the school. Then end up in the sandpits on Jericho Turnpike near the border of Huntington. I think you know the one., there was always a bunch of bikes there, the cops would never bother us . But just getting back to your house was dodgy. Back then they had to actually catch you. No cameras in cars it was wonderful.
@@MrChopemup I went to Wilson Tech right near your HS.. We occasionally rode the Sand pits near the Smithtown Landfill on Old Northport Rd. Mostly rode the old Colony Hill in Haupauge (land that became Computer Associates) and the land adjacent to back of Smithhaven Mall off the 347 and Moriches Rd in what is today Hamlet Estates. Was all woods and trails back in the eighties.
@@mikeborrelli193 . We used to drag Our bikes up to the high tension wires. I forget where they were. Somewhere near Commack..and Brentwood , I live in the Canary Islands , Spain now. I left the US. Years ago. I saw all that bullshit coming. I ride a street bike. Actually took a Harley all over the world. Plus other countries with other bikes., India , Australia, Europe, etc , owning piece of shit motorcycles. When I was a kid. And always looking over my shoulder from the cops. Trained me to be a world traveler on a motorcycle. . Miss The old 80s keg parties.
@@mikeborrelli193 . We used to drag Our bikes up to the high tension wires. I forget where they were. Somewhere near Commack..and Brentwood , I live in the Canary Islands , Spain now. I left the US. Years ago. I saw all that bullshit coming. I ride a street bike. Actually took a Harley all over the world. Plus other countries with other bikes., India , Australia, Europe, etc , owning piece of shit motorcycles. When I was a kid. And always looking over my shoulder from the cops. Trained me to be a world traveler on a motorcycle. . I Miss The old 80s keg parties.
Great video! Some awesome vintage footage I hadn't seen before. Back in the mid 70's only one person in our riding group had a CR125 and he was the ENVY of all the rest of us! (RIP Jim) The CR125 set the standard for motocrossers until the long-travel RM125 came out.
I had and so wish I still did a 77 elsinore CR125m! I years later bought a parts one to put together but never did and sold it too. Im such an idiot! Both had less then $400 into and awesome memories! I dont care about the money thing I wish I never sold it as being a memory of my first bike!
Funny how history repeats itself. The Europeans are selling two strokes in droves these days and the Japanese are nowhere to be found on the off road enduro scene.
I got one in 1973 when i was 16..$1100, i believe. Loved it. Even though i lived through that time, I lost track of the sport after having kids and a wife hostile to my death, at least at that point. I remember first seeing and hearing about KTM in the mid-1990s. And i bought a drz400S in 2019, with no idea where it fit into the history since i lost track. That was a great filler-inner. Thanks
Yup. Reliability. My history has 4 Hondas, 1 Yamaha, 1 Kawasaki and I'm currently looking at a new (to me) Honda. As I am older now and wish to just ride and not wrench... really liking my next Honda.
I knew a teenager in the late seventies who had an Elsinore, at time when most of his peers were still riding used SL175s and the ubiquitous XL 125. He seemed to have a lot of trouble keeping the front wheel on the ground.
Best birthday present I ever got was a 76 MR175 Elsinore Enduro at 14! You didn't really mention how good they handled. I could smoke or at least stay with bigger/radder(this was mid 80s)bikes on that alone,😂🤓 plus the bike almost NEVER broke! I got shit for the bike being older but once I out rode them or they couldn't go ride cuz theirs was broken again that stopped.😂😂😂
The only car I still regret selling is my 97 Civic it wasn’t even much just an lx sedan with a manual but it was the most reliable car I owned and over the time I owned. Now I won’t make that mistake with my Honda motorcycles
Very enjoyable. My memory of the Sl70 is different. Coming off of a CT70 I though the SL was fantastic. Just like the CR125 after a Hodaka B+. Keep up the good work.
I think the next “game-changer” is gonna be a bike that isn’t $10,000 that most guys can’t possibly afford. Suzuki is close to being that bike. If they marketed their bikes as the reasonably priced alternative to the overpriced competitors and continued to drive the price down as far as possible, they might be able to take over and force the other brands to cut costs a bit. But regardless of who is able to do it (maybe someone from China?) I think (and hope) that the next game changer is whoever can build a bike that’s fast enough and reliable and fun and also can be bought on a blue-collar budget. Let’s face it, most guys (90+%?) can’t ride a modern 450 anywhere near the limit. Even the pros say they’re too fast. So stop trying to make them faster and lighter and make them cheaper and more robust so they don’t need $1500 rebuilds twice a season. Anyone else agree?
Yup, China is the new Japan. Of course there's backlash in this regard. Not sure why US riders are so patriotic about Japanese product. Anywho, China has fairly recent KTM clones and KTM is OK with that it seems. The same companies are producing not only KTM product/parts, BTW. They are even producing air cooled 2 and 4 stoke models in KTM like chassis. The catch is, parts. China is a throw-away culture, so some importers resort to buying extra units for parts scavenging. The solution is to use likely Chinese produced Japanese, KTM and Aftermarket parts where possible. Kove has released a decent 450 ADV and is soon to release a serious MX 450 and Stark like models.
Too bad the Chinese KTM clone is so expensive. I ride a KTM 525 right now. Soon, I plan to add a 250 to my garage. The 525 is my go-to for sand, hills, and long dirt road rides. I was something smaller for track riding
I love my Triumph TR25W Enduro. It's light enough for dirt trails and fast enough for fire roads. I can put her on a milk crate for chain maintenance. I tell guys on their water cooled wonders I'll wave to you as the paramedics peel you off a 🌲 🌴 tree. My bike is almost as old as l am. I am sure it will be ridden 60 years from now. Everyone rides stadium 🏟️ bikes now.
@@ottokirk2325not sure why? It’s their reliability. I had a Honda I didn’t change oil on for like 5 years when I was a teen and never had a single issue and I still have the bike to this day. I’ve had Yamaha dirt and street bikes. No issues. China will never make anything near the quality that Japan does
MY first bike was the SL70 at age 8. When I was 13 I bought the 74 CR125. I loved it! I didnt do much to it but get a DG pipe because the stock one broke. I switched to Yamahas in 77 (Because of Hannah) and went back to Honda in 1980
First bike I had in 1990 was a 1975 Elsinore Mr 50, clutch w 3 gears. We had it hanging in my garage but the garage burnt down in 99. Next bike was an 84 cr60… needless to say we were Honda guys
18:10 Michigan, once a hotbed for American Motocross with no shortage of riders in the pro ranks. Kelly Smith was the last factory rider out of Michigan, and the tracks we rode on with his father are all grown in, gone. The end.
Yes I saw what you did there at the end with the electric bike. But for me I don't think bouncing a battery pack around a motocross track sounds like a great idea too me. Nor do I think taking a EV 4 wheel drive off-roading is a good idea either. Due the chance of causing or have a thermal runaway of the battery pack. But I guess it could help sales. If you survive the fire and toxic smoke and still have a house.
I had a 73 cr125 in early 80s up from xr75. When that cr hit powerband in second gear, I swear I thought it was peeling my eyelids back and pulling my arms out of socket. I also lost part of my left index finger because I thought I would do a carburetor adjustment while riding that bike. I knew better at 12 years old and did it anyway. Some things don't change 😊
I got a 78 yz 125 and rode it around the farm for two days without getting into the powerband. Then as I was riding up a gravel road, the powerband hit. Felt like a rocket launch I remember to this day.
I lived on a large ranch/farm in S. Idaho and since it was like 30 miles to town, I did have $hit to do as a kid but work. Parents bought me my first dirt bike when I was like 9 years old…a Hodaka Super Rat…this was like 1970 or so. Started riding all the time and my step dad would use the bulldozer or tractor with a blade attached and make my tracks. Got pretty good and began racing. Was getting my @ss kicked by the Elsinores, RM’s and YZ’s. Then he took me to a larger town and I bought a 250 KX. The days of losing were over. From a Super Rat to the KX was awesome and terrifying at the same time. As time went by and each fall I bought the next years KX (would build tracks inside our huge potato sheds and ride all winter) lived too far from town to take organized athletics but, I became pretty d@mn good on a dirt bike. Finally made it to 250 expert class and then came graduation and moving on to college. Skip forward a few decades and now ride a KTM300XCW. I loved ‘that’ part about being a kid! 🤙🤙🤙
The fact that Honda has left the 2 strokes in the past is so sad… I don’t understand why they didn’t just do what Yamaha did with the YZ250/125 and churn them out. They would be selling like crazy still. Even Suzuki hasn’t changed they’re DRZ400 since 2004… Because they sell the heck out of em as they are. I don’t ride Hondas anymore because they dropped the CR and refuse to bring them back. Now they’re slapping the CR badge on an electric bike and that proves just how tone deaf Honda really is. Bring back the 2 strokes Honda! Stop being stubborn!
Another banger man! Been riding Honda my whole life! Love em but I just switched to a Beta and it’s amazing! Could you do a video on the history of beta?
The '24 300SX is my solution to the big thumpers. A '22 KX450 feels like a tank in comparison. Riding back to back, I can't understand how anybody would choose the 450. The 300 doesn't rev as quickly as a 250 and the electronic power-valve, fuel/timing mapping create a 3 stroke. I don't want the tech and weight, but handling wise, it feels like a magnet holds it to the ground. A modified and upgraded 200SX is my all-time favorite.
My neighbor had a 125cc . It was loud , fast and kinda fragile. I’m pretty sure it was the first year they came out, maybe the second year. Early 70s .
Some of this is BS. The 1974 CR125 was too light to legally enter into a GP (The 250, not true, but I remember it being the lightest). For the 1st 9+ months there was not much discounting happening. It was so head-and-shoulders better than any other 125. It probably has the distinction of the largest all-time "better than anything in its class" margin when it came out.
Another excellent history lesson! I remember the mass extinction of four strokes when the relatively light two strokes killed them off. Then for many years the two strokes ruled with a vengeance until Yamaha released the first modern race four stroke. Slowly the very advanced four strokes improved and finally took over in mx. Two strokes still have the advantage in hard enduro because they are lighter. Will E-bikes take over? it seems very likely in time.
The four strokes didn't replace the two strokes because they were better but because of pressure from Governments to stop using engines that pollute so much. Of course, after many years of working on the 4 strokes, they are pretty good compared to the 2 strokes of the now ancient 70's.
@BornAGoon I believe you've proven yourself more than capable to fill those proverbial race boots. I am seriously enthralled with the unique topics you choose, and how well they are presented. Thanks! English was the only class I didn't absolutely flunk other than Art, glad my eloquence is paying off in RUclips comments😎😎 lmao
I get that with the younger generation being all in with technology that e bikes might take over the sport but for me if that happens I'll find something else to watch for entertainment. It just seems unnatural to watch a silent race. Long live the combustion engine. I hope.
The biggest dealership in my town in New Zealand sold Suzukis. So everyone rode the TM's. The tracks were a sea of yellow. Then along came the Honda CR's. Some people bought them and they won everything. But most people still rode TM's. Marketing... Then along came the Suzuki RM series. The CR's just couldn't compete. But even when CR's got better, the Suzuki marketing was better. They held onto their very loyal customers...... then the 4 strokes ruined motocross forever. I used to race a highly modified MT 125 ( CR parts ) and had heaps of fun. I so miss the white noise at the start line and the smell of Castrol R.... But I have a couple of issues with what you have said. The European riders were the best in the world. They proved that every time they bothered to come to the USA. The CR 125 was definately the fastest MX bike of it's time. It wasn't just Marty Smith. Plus you totally ignored the Suzuki TM series, an out of the box motocross bike, which most European riders used. People like Roger DeCoster of Belgium who was 6 times World Open class champion on a TM. Suzuki really pushed that fact, especially when he moved to the USA. This from a dedicated Honda MT/CR fan....
AWWWWWW YEAH SON!!! Goon is coming in hot to rep the Goon's of the world. Seriously Smort would love a History loving Rep. Hmu if you ride Smort! Lol keep it up. Awesome channel
I'm sorry but I have to... MASS EXTINCTION. ok wheres this guy going. I had a bad day at work I just want some Motorcycle vids. Next minute "fiery lake of financial purgatory". then it all ties into a seriously gripping well articulated historical video. Seriously man your editing, foreshadowing and story telling. top shelf, your linguistic expression is fantastic Kudos my man!
At least try to get your facts straight. The motorcycle that revolutionized motocross were the Suzukis ridden by Roger DeCoster and Joel Robert. I rode both in Japan as DeCoster won the first of his many 500 cc (Open Class) World Championships. Same for Joel Robert. The famous Honda Cr125 was the first production motocross bike and dominated a few years later...just sayin'.
And just think, It would never have existed without Honda purchasing a 1973 and a 1974 Maico and copying the entire design into their own bikes. The most obvious was it's dimensions, it's expansion chambered muffler, it's gearbox and the rear swingarm's rake and mount. Everyone else followed it too.
This vide😊o says it wasnt thexlightest bike at its time..I was in high school then.. which bike was lighter? Dirt bike magazine prsented iit as the lightest at that time if i remember correctly.
Not just Honda. Yamaha with their YZ introduced mono shock rear suspension , Suzuki with their RM series & later Kawasaki joined in. All four Japanese brands kept improving their bikes & made low cost, reliable, & great performing machines available to the masses.
Back in 1981 at the age of 15, I bought a 76 CR125M for $300 from Penton Honda in Amherst, Ohio. I'm friends with John Penton and his son Jack. My mom and dad paid $150, and I paid $150. I still have it in restored condition today. Great bike and great memories.
How much now? 😮❤
To sell, I mean😂
You can't buy memories
@@michaelearley8852 I will own that bike until I die and it will go to my daughter or grandson.
damn 300 bucks
I’m 62 and lived this era , what a time to have been alive
I was 62 in Dec.
I owned a 75' Elsinore 125. I loved that bike.
I still have a 99' YZ 250 I ride "carefully" in my later years. lol
Hey brother I'm responding to an old post but hey check out vintage motocross it's about the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I'm 60yrs old and have a ball.
A 1973 Elenore MT 250 was my Mother's first motorcycle. My Father bought himself a 74 TM 400 Suzuki, the MT 250 for my Mom, and I got a 74 MR 50 Honda for my first bike. Life was great back then. We rode the trails as a family and had a blast.
wow you had an Elsinore and the widowmaker
I rode a TM(terror machine) 😆 that was my first and last time, what a scary ass bike it was.
Poor mum. Getting a gutless MT 250. They needed a CR 250 top end.
I was riding flat trackers (Bultacos) and a 250 Montesa MXer when the Honda Elsinore came out. I traded in my days old Montesa... You are 100% correct - this Elsinore CR250 changed the motorcycling world. But, then we had a World GP MX at our track, and I saw Factory Bikes for the first time! I fell in love with the Yamaha Monoshock bikes that nobody had ever seen before...and the next year, I was riding Yamahas... Every single year, leaps and bounds were being made throughout all of motorcycling. It was the most exciting time to be riding and racing motorcycles! Back then, we were all just looking forward to the next faster thing. Looking back now, I believe the DT-1 Yamaha I started riding on in '69 was the most important dual purpose ever, and the Elsinore 250 was the most important MX bike ever. I was fortunate to have enjoyed them both.
Nice story
But the 70 Honda sl350k1 twin was the best looking dual purpose .. especially in the candy red. I have one of every sl made. 70cc -350cc. They were Hondas first real dirt bikes. I have 78 vintage bikes. The sl lines is by far my favorite.. and the sl350 are not slow. And I still ride my Sl70. 53 mph hunched down wind to my back. The sl line up is very important to Hondas dirt history. It started the xl / Xr line ups.. also I have a mint 79 cr125r. Still has the original tires on it.
I'm blessed and lucky, I still have my 75 silver tanked Elsinore, I got back in 76, I added lay down shocks, d.i.d. aluminum rims, and ported the jug, added a better expansion chamber, it was and still is brutal, it runs and ride it in senior class events , what a blast!
Right on
Isn't it the 125 that had the magic dust, especially modified?
I had one when I was young. I used it to kick Jeff Wards butt in San Diego. I was 17 and he was a 15 year old spoiled brat. So when I won the race his daddy petitioned the organizers to disqualify me. His excuse, I wasn't a club member and that a day race pass doesn't count. So his dad lost too. Thanks Elsinore. I need to say, my 1974 Elsinore had weak transmission cases and gears. The front hub was weak too. It would crack and spokes would go flying. I also had to loosen the triple clamps and turn the fork tubes 180 degrees every so often. They would bend inwards after riding hard. I learned how to fix the transmission and how to re-spoke and true rims among other things. Still, pretty reliable, I guess.
anytime you beat Jeff Ward at anything is a time to remember
I was a Jeff ward fan as a kid and Derral Hanna ... I road a 89 KX 125 in the 80s , my friend had a CR500 and it was ...... TITS !
@@BornAGoon I know. I always wished I was spoiled then I could have money to continue to race.
Jeff Ward sounds like Danica Patrick.
What year did you kick Jeff Ward's butt?
I had a 1976 Elsinore when I was 13 years old and it was like being handed a rocket ship! The power band was so intoxicating I am a forever 0-60 in a few seconds kinda guy. At 60 years old now I recently straddled a two stroke vintage Suzuki and hit the track with it all coming back to me in moments. The smell of the Klotz 2 stroke ushered me back in the day and I was suddenly catching air with that teenage “ no sense of mortality”. After the third go round I cooled off counted my blessings and quit while I had a shred of common sense left. I realize how fortunate I was to have had that Elsinore. Now I have to go find another and tinker. This was a fantastic video. Tyvm
First bike was an old '80 CR250...death wish much. I couldn't keep the front tire in very tight rutted turns. Same ruts on my friends '89 CR125..stick your boot out and it fell right in. ASAP I gave that beast to my brother and he asked how I ran my pace. He seriously cheated death and grafted the engine into a 125 Cagiva! Hongiva was born!
I was 11 when I jumped from my XR-75 to the CR-125! What a shock!....when it came on the pipe it was an EXPLOSION of power and a Roost of 20ft shooting out as it hauled my 90 lbs up through the gears! At 13 I went to the CR-250 and got blown away again!
For real. My story was similar. Started with a Z50, fun, fun. Then went to a CT70. That was exciting. Then to an XR75, and that was mind blowing. All 4-stroke so far. Then I got a RM100. Never felt anything put that much fear in me. Then I got a YZ125, and that was like going to the stratosphere. Today, I ride a YZ250f and that is enough for me these days. Thank for sharing your story.
As someone whose motocross career (as a hobbyist:) extended from 1971-76, at tracks such as Indian Dunes (my primary), Saddleback and Bay Mare, I can tell you that this documentary is 100% spot on. Within 6 months of its introduction, the 125 Elsinore constituted 80% of the bikes in the 125 class. There were Friday night races at the Dunes where every 125 was an Elsinore. It was light, fast, less costly, reliable, and ready to race out of the box. Nothing else compared.
That's an amazing story. Sounds like you had some good times 🍻.
It is a bot channel. A caught a couple things wrong, as historians always make mistakes. But when the bot could not pronounce Maico correctly, I knew it was a bot.
I don't like to give bots any credit. Credit belongs to humans who achieve IMO.
@@EarthSurferUSAIt’s pronounced correctly. Or at least colloquially so. I’m almost 50, and I always heard it pronounced “May-co”
The respect you put into your productions is unmatched. It would be criminal if this weren’t available in Japanese, and/or sent to Shiro’s…hopefully remaining family.
“When it came to the Elsinore, nothing became more American than a Japanese motorcycle.”
Even as a white blooded American Husky rider, you bring a tear to my eye.
Hats off, born A goon. Once again.
Thank you for the kind words
Riding was the most peaceful and comfortable place I ever found in my life.
You can't ignore one of the Elsinore's best selling points, Steve McQueen
no doubt
I'm very proud Honda owner from my car to my Motorcycle even to my power washer. These machines always work regardless if they sit for months on end or used daily, extremely reliable!!!!!! Great video, it embodies what I'm experiencing now.
For sure Honda makes good stuff.
The first time i ever seen a 1979 cr125 honda,with the red engine,it was instant love.when i felt the powerband and realized it was meant to be revved like it was,i was just amazed by that machine
I know it's a four stroke, but the 1973 Honda XR-75 was a breakthrough in the motocross sector. I was lucky to have one, my dad bought brand new in 1973 for $350. I grew out of it in about two years, and my dad gave my his XL-250, which was fun, but I really wanted the Elsinore at that point.... good times either way, no complaints.
When I was in high school a buddy of mine had a 1978 cr250 Elsinore and that bike was a beast... hands down the fastest bike I've ever riden could not keep the front wheel on the ground
it was a beast
@@BornAGoonI believe it's was the first or second year with a mono shock swing arm
Not in '78. '81 was the first Pro-link.
@@bananabrooks3836 I may be mistaken about the year.. but either way it was a beast!! And I do specifically remember the chain was on the right side not the left side
in high school i went with my buddy to go buy his new red rocket april 1978 batavia honda
Mate you should have millions views. Great video
thank you
That final shot is priceless.
My first bike was a Honda Elsinore....50. Yep, best Christmas present ever! I was the fastest 8-year old in my neighborhood.
Great work on the edit! Lots of memories.
Yes it was my whole world
I've stumbled upon your channel recently, and I love the format. I love the topics you choose to talk about. You've become one of my top 5 yt channels and I hope you continue to make videos, so I can continue to consume lol
Have the silver n' green Elsinore 125 sitting in my garage right now right beside my 450RL. 🤙
Does it run?
Nice!!
@@beachbarlouie Yup, just flashed it up for chuckles the other night. Carb definitely needs a clean, but otherwise she's in alright shape
@@Liam40 All right! Burrap
I am about to be 26 and still ride! All thanks to my dad hooking me up with a Elsinore 50 when I was 4. 3rd gear on that Honda back then was Ludacris speed lmao!
I had a 1983 honda cr 480r..best bike i ever had.
I Saw a 450 El Sinore, That Had a Sticker from The80's Film *"TheGATE"* on TheRacePlate, & That Sticker *DESERVED* To Be There!
As a teen I had a 1976 CR125-Elsinore,,,, Purchased it in 1978 , used, for $600 and put another $600 into it to get it running great.
Had many good times in Miami, FL with that bike. Wish I had stored it for the future instead of trading it for an RD400.
But the RD400 was fun too,
Had a 1979 CR 125. I entered the lake Elsinore race for fun late 70s. Man what a jump from riding a SL.
I Still ride a 2001 XR650R I purchased near new. Been riding since 1966. And still have never owned a bike with starter botton. It helps keep my 64 Y/0 Body going.
I've always been an adrenaline junkie. And the XR in Arizona enables me to avoid traffic jams most of the time.
I was There THIS is 100% SPOT ON! had a taste of all. RACED AMA Dist 37 and B to V mid 80's rode from age 11, about 1975 with a Paper Route and a Job to pay! I Did My Research! Before Investments and watched my Good older brother.
Just amazing , what an athlete, he used to create so much tension, you could even feel it through the tv screens
Great Video, the silver tanked Elsinore's were in my opinion one of the most beautiful bikes ever built. I was still a kid when they came out riding my Suzuki enduro's but in 1975 raced against them with a Suzuki TM250 (which I still have) and did ok, but the tables turned in 1976 with Suzuki releasing the dominate RM series.
Couldn't agree more!
I had a 77 RM 125.
As much as I loved the silver (first bike was a 73 XR75), I absolutely loved the red Elsinore. By the time I was 16 I bought a 1982 RM250, that bike was awesome!! Sure wish I could have kept it, but every bike I sold bought me a bigger and better one...
@@beachbarlouie Easily the best 125cc MX bike that year
Those original Elsinore’s were definitely “ Game changers “ for Honda & Moto-Cross, that was for sure . Great time to be a young kid with places to ride & race all over California, but in my Southern half here in San Diego , with Carlsbad & Corona & Speedway 117 all pretty much in my backyard , it was EPIC!! So many great memories for me from that Era . I’m an El Cajon native now for almost 1/2my life , prior to this calling Lemon Grove home . Palm Ave , “ Rice Canyon” & Proctor Valley areas were all wide open training grounds for the race courses . And those Honda’s ruled 😎👍
the El Cajon Zone Lived there for 25 years I remember the days of Palm Ave
Back then, I was a teenager racing MX on what was then probably the best bike in the 125 class: Penton. Those first 125 Elsinores instantly made my Penton obsolete. It had competitive power, was probably 25lbs lighter, and actually shifted gears properly.
Not mentioned here but noteworthy is that the Elsinore was the bike that spawned an entire aftermarket industry that made names for a lot of companies that are still around today. There wasn’t any aspect of the CR that you couldn’t upgrade with aftermarket parts. That bike must have made fortunes for those spin off companies thanks to Honda.
You said no honda problem horror stories but the early CRF450 had some real valve issues going on in those heads.
BTW these videos are awesome keep em coming
I still have my 1979 CR125R ELSINORE and will never let go of it and pass it down if ever I'll have grandchildren.
Ha ha I was one of those that destroyed all comers on my 73’ CR250M. Me and a buddy bought the two first examples in the state. (Ks). It took me straight to the podium. It out classed the Husky, Penton, Ossa, Bultaco and CZ that were bikes I could get my hands on. Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Hodaka were no way near the machine a Honda CR was. I for a period of time was KING. I LOVED THAT BIKE.
Good times
that 1976 red 100 looks so cool
I’d give anything to be back in those days as a kid on the sidelines in complete awe. They were the golden days of dirt bikes.
BSA and Triumph used 4 stroke engines for motocross back in the '70s, the Triumph 125 Tiger, the factory 441 BSA Victor and the B50 BSA were very competitive.
Bought a brand new 74 Elsinore 125 right off the showroom floor started winning races… bone stock.. game changer for sure 😎👍
My first bike in 1983 was in 1976 red 175 Elsinore. Then I found another for a parts bike. For it. The cops used to chase me. I used to take it to high school. Park it in the woods .This was in Long Island. No plates , insurance etc, great times . I was jealous of the rm and yz bikes , but it was lotsa fun , I was 15 years old,
Smithtown LI here, I bought a 1975 CR125 Elsinore in 1981 from an older neighbor for $200. I was 14 and rode that thing all over the place. Back then you could ride from neighborhood to neighborhood through various trails and backstreets. Suffolk LI was a great place to grow up back then.
@@mikeborrelli193 , I went to John Glenn. I would ride up Elwood . and then go through the back of the school. Then end up in the sandpits on Jericho Turnpike near the border of Huntington. I think you know the one., there was always a bunch of bikes there, the cops would never bother us . But just getting back to your house was dodgy. Back then they had to actually catch you. No cameras in cars it was wonderful.
@@MrChopemup I went to Wilson Tech right near your HS.. We occasionally rode the Sand pits near the Smithtown Landfill on Old Northport Rd. Mostly rode the old Colony Hill in Haupauge (land that became Computer Associates) and the land adjacent to back of Smithhaven Mall off the 347 and Moriches Rd in what is today Hamlet Estates. Was all woods and trails back in the eighties.
@@mikeborrelli193 . We used to drag Our bikes up to the high tension wires. I forget where they were. Somewhere near Commack..and Brentwood ,
I live in the Canary Islands , Spain now. I left the US. Years ago. I saw all that bullshit coming. I ride a street bike. Actually took a Harley all over the world. Plus other countries with other bikes., India , Australia, Europe, etc ,
owning piece of shit motorcycles. When I was a kid. And always looking over my shoulder from the cops. Trained me to be a world traveler on a motorcycle. . Miss The old 80s keg parties.
@@mikeborrelli193 . We used to drag Our bikes up to the high tension wires. I forget where they were. Somewhere near Commack..and Brentwood ,
I live in the Canary Islands , Spain now. I left the US. Years ago. I saw all that bullshit coming. I ride a street bike. Actually took a Harley all over the world. Plus other countries with other bikes., India , Australia, Europe, etc ,
owning piece of shit motorcycles. When I was a kid. And always looking over my shoulder from the cops. Trained me to be a world traveler on a motorcycle. . I Miss The old 80s keg parties.
Great video! Some awesome vintage footage I hadn't seen before.
Back in the mid 70's only one person in our riding group had a CR125 and he was the ENVY of all the rest of us! (RIP Jim)
The CR125 set the standard for motocrossers until the long-travel RM125 came out.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I had and so wish I still did a 77 elsinore CR125m! I years later bought a parts one to put together but never did and sold it too. Im such an idiot! Both had less then $400 into and awesome memories! I dont care about the money thing I wish I never sold it as being a memory of my first bike!
Funny how history repeats itself. The Europeans are selling two strokes in droves these days and the Japanese are nowhere to be found on the off road enduro scene.
I got one in 1973 when i was 16..$1100, i believe. Loved it. Even though i lived through that time, I lost track of the sport after having kids and a wife hostile to my death, at least at that point. I remember first seeing and hearing about KTM in the mid-1990s. And i bought a drz400S in 2019, with no idea where it fit into the history since i lost track. That was a great filler-inner. Thanks
wife and kids often dim our conection to motorcycles
Awesome job. You have real talent.
Always been a Honda guy simply due to the reliability factor.
Id love to see you make a video about CZ dirtbikes. You have such a way with words, that is really unique. Thank you, greetings from Czechia🇨🇿
Yup. Reliability. My history has 4 Hondas, 1 Yamaha, 1 Kawasaki and I'm currently looking at a new (to me) Honda. As I am older now and wish to just ride and not wrench... really liking my next Honda.
I knew a teenager in the late seventies who had an Elsinore, at time when most of his peers were still riding used SL175s and the ubiquitous XL 125. He seemed to have a lot of trouble keeping the front wheel on the ground.
Best birthday present I ever got was a 76 MR175 Elsinore Enduro at 14! You didn't really mention how good they handled. I could smoke or at least stay with bigger/radder(this was mid 80s)bikes on that alone,😂🤓 plus the bike almost NEVER broke! I got shit for the bike being older but once I out rode them or they couldn't go ride cuz theirs was broken again that stopped.😂😂😂
They were great bikes in the day
The only car I still regret selling is my 97 Civic it wasn’t even much just an lx sedan with a manual but it was the most reliable car I owned and over the time I owned. Now I won’t make that mistake with my Honda motorcycles
Ive got a mugen 360 engine for a 82 atc250r. Iam excited
Very enjoyable. My memory of the Sl70 is different. Coming off of a CT70 I though the SL was fantastic. Just like the CR125 after a Hodaka B+. Keep up the good work.
Glad you enjoyed it
Coming off a ct70, I too, thought the sl70 was the king daddy!
I think the next “game-changer” is gonna be a bike that isn’t $10,000 that most guys can’t possibly afford. Suzuki is close to being that bike. If they marketed their bikes as the reasonably priced alternative to the overpriced competitors and continued to drive the price down as far as possible, they might be able to take over and force the other brands to cut costs a bit. But regardless of who is able to do it (maybe someone from China?) I think (and hope) that the next game changer is whoever can build a bike that’s fast enough and reliable and fun and also can be bought on a blue-collar budget. Let’s face it, most guys (90+%?) can’t ride a modern 450 anywhere near the limit. Even the pros say they’re too fast. So stop trying to make them faster and lighter and make them cheaper and more robust so they don’t need $1500 rebuilds twice a season. Anyone else agree?
Yup, China is the new Japan. Of course there's backlash in this regard. Not sure why US riders are so patriotic about Japanese product.
Anywho, China has fairly recent KTM clones and KTM is OK with that it seems. The same companies are producing not only KTM product/parts, BTW. They are even producing air cooled 2 and 4 stoke models in KTM like chassis. The catch is, parts. China is a throw-away culture, so some importers resort to buying extra units for parts scavenging. The solution is to use likely Chinese produced Japanese, KTM and Aftermarket parts where possible. Kove has released a decent 450 ADV and is soon to release a serious MX 450 and Stark like models.
Too bad the Chinese KTM clone is so expensive. I ride a KTM 525 right now. Soon, I plan to add a 250 to my garage. The 525 is my go-to for sand, hills, and long dirt road rides. I was something smaller for track riding
I love my Triumph TR25W Enduro. It's light enough for dirt trails and fast enough for fire roads. I can put her on a milk crate for chain maintenance. I tell guys on their water cooled wonders I'll wave to you as the paramedics peel you off a 🌲 🌴 tree. My bike is almost as old as l am. I am sure it will be ridden 60 years from now. Everyone rides stadium 🏟️ bikes now.
@@ottokirk2325not sure why? It’s their reliability. I had a Honda I didn’t change oil on for like 5 years when I was a teen and never had a single issue and I still have the bike to this day. I’ve had Yamaha dirt and street bikes. No issues. China will never make anything near the quality that Japan does
Yeeees! Honda Elsinore, great video, great day. 👍🏾
Thanks! You too!
MY first bike was the SL70 at age 8. When I was 13 I bought the 74 CR125. I loved it! I didnt do much to it but get a DG pipe because the stock one broke. I switched to Yamahas in 77 (Because of Hannah) and went back to Honda in 1980
Great video, i have 1 of these early legends tucked away & a YZ 125 1977.
Your video’s are some of the best i’ve ever seen. 👍
thank you for the kind words
And you got that complimentary "mud flap". lol
I was a proud owner of a 75' 125 Elsinore when I was a teenager.
First year of a 6 speed, I think.
Another Awesome video!
thank you Randall
I had a CR 125 when I was 14. It was the baddest, coolest thing I had ever seen in my life. The only reason I sold it was to upgrade to the 250.
First bike I had in 1990 was a 1975 Elsinore Mr 50, clutch w 3 gears. We had it hanging in my garage but the garage burnt down in 99. Next bike was an 84 cr60… needless to say we were Honda guys
This intro is 🏅
18:10 Michigan, once a hotbed for American Motocross with no shortage of riders in the pro ranks.
Kelly Smith was the last factory rider out of Michigan, and the tracks we rode on with his father are all grown in, gone. The end.
Yes I saw what you did there at the end with the electric bike. But for me I don't think bouncing a battery pack around a motocross track sounds like a great idea too me. Nor do I think taking a EV 4 wheel drive off-roading is a good idea either. Due the chance of causing or have a thermal runaway of the battery pack. But I guess it could help sales. If you survive the fire and toxic smoke and still have a house.
I had a 73 cr125 in early 80s up from xr75. When that cr hit powerband in second gear, I swear I thought it was peeling my eyelids back and pulling my arms out of socket. I also lost part of my left index finger because I thought I would do a carburetor adjustment while riding that bike. I knew better at 12 years old and did it anyway. Some things don't change 😊
I got a 78 yz 125 and rode it around the farm for two days without getting into the powerband. Then as I was riding up a gravel road, the powerband hit. Felt like a rocket launch I remember to this day.
@@irvhh143lol
Wow. No kidding? How? On the chain?
Because sticking hand over carb shuts off the engine.
I lived on a large ranch/farm in S. Idaho and since it was like 30 miles to town, I did have $hit to do as a kid but work. Parents bought me my first dirt bike when I was like 9 years old…a Hodaka Super Rat…this was like 1970 or so. Started riding all the time and my step dad would use the bulldozer or tractor with a blade attached and make my tracks. Got pretty good and began racing. Was getting my @ss kicked by the Elsinores, RM’s and YZ’s. Then he took me to a larger town and I bought a 250 KX. The days of losing were over. From a Super Rat to the KX was awesome and terrifying at the same time. As time went by and each fall I bought the next years KX (would build tracks inside our huge potato sheds and ride all winter) lived too far from town to take organized athletics but, I became pretty d@mn good on a dirt bike. Finally made it to 250 expert class and then came graduation and moving on to college. Skip forward a few decades and now ride a KTM300XCW. I loved ‘that’ part about being a kid! 🤙🤙🤙
Please make a video on can am dirt bikes next !
The fact that Honda has left the 2 strokes in the past is so sad… I don’t understand why they didn’t just do what Yamaha did with the YZ250/125 and churn them out. They would be selling like crazy still. Even Suzuki hasn’t changed they’re DRZ400 since 2004… Because they sell the heck out of em as they are. I don’t ride Hondas anymore because they dropped the CR and refuse to bring them back. Now they’re slapping the CR badge on an electric bike and that proves just how tone deaf Honda really is. Bring back the 2 strokes Honda! Stop being stubborn!
they should bring them back
When your on an old Elsinore it doesn’t feel old !
Another banger man! Been riding Honda my whole life! Love em but I just switched to a Beta and it’s amazing! Could you do a video on the history of beta?
Thank you I appreciate the view
I got to see Marty Smith race against Gaston Rahier at Monte Negro near Livorno Italy. It was an amazing race!!
Yes he was and when I moved to San Diego he was my neighbor I was like are you Marty Smith!
I saw Gaston too, around Montreal in 75, we had a national Molson Series race, he was riding RM-125, what a rider
The '24 300SX is my solution to the big thumpers. A '22 KX450 feels like a tank in comparison. Riding back to back, I can't understand how anybody would choose the 450. The 300 doesn't rev as quickly as a 250 and the electronic power-valve, fuel/timing mapping create a 3 stroke. I don't want the tech and weight, but handling wise, it feels like a magnet holds it to the ground. A modified and upgraded 200SX is my all-time favorite.
i had a 79 cr125 elsinore, but i lost it in a fire... i will forever remember her
My neighbor had a 125cc . It was loud , fast and kinda fragile. I’m pretty sure it was the first year they came out, maybe the second year. Early 70s .
Some of this is BS. The 1974 CR125 was too light to legally enter into a GP (The 250, not true, but I remember it being the lightest). For the 1st 9+ months there was not much discounting happening. It was so head-and-shoulders better than any other 125. It probably has the distinction of the largest all-time "better than anything in its class" margin when it came out.
Best bike content on Lube -Tube ( imo ) Thanx Goon !!
Thanks for watching
Another excellent history lesson!
I remember the mass extinction of four strokes when the relatively light two strokes killed them off.
Then for many years the two strokes ruled with a vengeance until Yamaha released the first modern race four stroke.
Slowly the very advanced four strokes improved and finally took over in mx. Two strokes still have the advantage in hard enduro because they are lighter. Will E-bikes take over? it seems very likely in time.
thank you very much
Yes e bikes are popular now but Enduro bikes might be gas for long rides
The four strokes didn't replace the two strokes because they were better but because of pressure from Governments to stop using engines that pollute so much. Of course, after many years of working on the 4 strokes, they are pretty good compared to the 2 strokes of the now ancient 70's.
my first Handa, is Elsinore, beautiful work Honda
How did the Elsenour influence the other japanese brands at the time?
Someone had to step up since F9 went full corporate. You are the anointed one, the messiah of motorcycle essays.
damn big shoes to fill there Thanks for the complement
" messiah of motorcycle essays " I love that wordage
@BornAGoon I believe you've proven yourself more than capable to fill those proverbial race boots. I am seriously enthralled with the unique topics you choose, and how well they are presented.
Thanks! English was the only class I didn't absolutely flunk other than Art, glad my eloquence is paying off in RUclips comments😎😎 lmao
I get that with the younger generation being all in with technology that e bikes might take over the sport but for me if that happens I'll find something else to watch for entertainment. It just seems unnatural to watch a silent race. Long live the combustion engine. I hope.
The biggest dealership in my town in New Zealand sold Suzukis. So everyone rode the TM's. The tracks were a sea of yellow. Then along came the Honda CR's. Some people bought them and they won everything. But most people still rode TM's. Marketing... Then along came the Suzuki RM series. The CR's just couldn't compete. But even when CR's got better, the Suzuki marketing was better. They held onto their very loyal customers...... then the 4 strokes ruined motocross forever. I used to race a highly modified MT 125 ( CR parts ) and had heaps of fun. I so miss the white noise at the start line and the smell of Castrol R.... But I have a couple of issues with what you have said. The European riders were the best in the world. They proved that every time they bothered to come to the USA. The CR 125 was definately the fastest MX bike of it's time. It wasn't just Marty Smith. Plus you totally ignored the Suzuki TM series, an out of the box motocross bike, which most European riders used. People like Roger DeCoster of Belgium who was 6 times World Open class champion on a TM. Suzuki really pushed that fact, especially when he moved to the USA. This from a dedicated Honda MT/CR fan....
AWWWWWW YEAH SON!!! Goon is coming in hot to rep the Goon's of the world. Seriously Smort would love a History loving Rep. Hmu if you ride Smort! Lol keep it up. Awesome channel
thanks for watching
Yo Bro why is the Marquez documentary not available anymore? It was pretty good
Seeing Gary Jones reminded me of his Cooper bikes. Any chance you can do a documentary on them?
My brother has two of them. Cool bikes.
Can you do a video over the world superbike story, honda rvt vs ducati? 2000's 2002 please
I would love to do that been trying for a while but most footage is copyrighted
If any auto manufacturers ever got ahold of this video and decided to follow this business plan....
I'm sorry but I have to... MASS EXTINCTION. ok wheres this guy going. I had a bad day at work I just want some Motorcycle vids. Next minute "fiery lake of financial purgatory". then it all ties into a seriously gripping well articulated historical video. Seriously man your editing, foreshadowing and story telling. top shelf, your linguistic expression is fantastic Kudos my man!
Thank you I appreciate that
I’m still amazed all the engineering in the United States no competitive motorcycles .
6:54 Cool! Ayrton Senna
so good, loved it.
At least try to get your facts straight. The motorcycle that revolutionized motocross were the Suzukis ridden by Roger DeCoster and Joel Robert. I rode both in Japan as DeCoster won the first of his many 500 cc (Open Class) World Championships. Same for Joel Robert. The famous Honda Cr125 was the first production motocross bike and dominated a few years later...just sayin'.
My favorite......the 1979 Honda CR - 250 Elsinore
Still miss my cr500.
Me too!
Wish they still made those
My xr600 has forced me to slow down.
It would be cool to see you do an episode on Hodaka.
ruclips.net/video/mJPdPKj39Eg/видео.htmlsi=KJTGSG4IqEan0Pyo
Rumors have it Honda is working on a sort of Elsinore for 2025, but I'd assume it'll just be a livery
And just think, It would never have existed without Honda purchasing a 1973 and a 1974 Maico and copying the entire design into their own bikes. The most obvious was it's dimensions, it's expansion chambered muffler, it's gearbox and the rear swingarm's rake and mount. Everyone else followed it too.
awsume vid!!!
This vide😊o says it wasnt thexlightest bike at its time..I was in high school then.. which bike was lighter? Dirt bike magazine prsented iit as the lightest at that time if i remember correctly.
it could be Im too old to remember
Idk whos better at tellin stories...you or Mr. Ballen
wow that is rarefied air Hope my channel becomes a 1/3rd of his
Not just Honda. Yamaha with their YZ introduced mono shock rear suspension , Suzuki with their RM series & later Kawasaki joined in. All four Japanese brands kept improving their bikes & made low cost, reliable, & great performing machines available to the masses.
Until they decided to build 4 strokes...🙄💀👎💩