Beautiful restoration. Wish mine looked that good. My first real bike was a brand new 1974 Elsinore MT125. Now, I'm riding a 1974 Elsinore MT250. Love these bikes.
Looks great! My younger brother had a 1976 cr125. I am the original owner of a 1970 ct70, that I use as a pit bike when I vintage race my 1975 Elsinore cr250m1 that I bought new in 1975. In 1974 I watched a cr125 race in the open class against big bore Maico's, CZ's and Husky's, he beat them all. Poor Monark, they came out at the same time but $700.00 for an Elsinore vs $1300. For the Monark. We would be at the races in 1974 and the entire 125 class would be Elsinore 125's. For Honda, it was like printing money.
I had a 74' 125 Elsinore and rode it at Indian Dunes in Valencia CA. No one had one and when I rode in the Shadow Glen track everyone wanted to talk to me because I was passing everyone. What a blast it was!!!
I bought one for $805 out the door using paper route and lawn mowing money. I was 14 years old with the fastest bike for many blocks around. I'd go riding with my buddy on his "Noguchi" Yamaha 250. What a blast.
We got one crate of these 120 fives, 2 bikes to a crate. I assembled it. I was just a teenager, went to the race track that weekend and over the jump, I was landing 25 feet beyond everybody else during the race way ahead. I landed off the jump. And the front wheel collapsed, I didn't adjust the spokes, they all came loose, what a bike awesome
that's what I thought too when I first saw the silencer, I still have a whole bunch of old dirtbike magazines from the early 70s I bought when I was a teenager and they had a sexy looking lady holding that trap silencer against her stomach.
I raced in 1975 till 1991...had a 1973 TM Suzuki 125.... and raced a CR 125 think it was a 73 ? long time. was my friend's bike and raced it a few times for fun.....lol..had a new 75 KX 125 later in 75...busted my right elbow on my 18th birthday in 75 ...oww still hurts... then i had Yamaha's and another Honda later in 80's ...then a 86 Kawasaki when i " retired " .. had 125's ( about 7 or 8 ) 250's ( 3 of those ) 465/490's ( 4 of those ).. remember alot of bikes of every brand... lots many never heard of...4 strokes were being replaced in the early 70's by 2 Strokes...now they are back ( i heard they were working on them in the years before i retired.... you need to use " Castrol R " to be authentic on that bike... wasn't the first Japanese brand but yes they were a great bike and all the Japanese bikes made the sport grow by their products....not just Honda lined up...i was there to see it all... 🇨🇦🤓✌️
Ah yes the TM 125 the trick with them was the first model RM 125 with the low pipe, Well that RM 125 pipe bolted on to a TM 125 and worked a treat more over rev more torque just all round better but so few back in the day knew things like that
very nice restoration, I had a 74 125 Elsinore. Wish I still had it the head doesn't look stock on that one though. Not sure what make that is. before the Elsinore came out, my dream was to have a 125 Maico, they were all different European brands they had 125s. Bull taco Sherpa S then they came out with the 125 pursang then there was a 125 CZ. then Husqvarna came out with a 125. List goes on and on .
It absolutely was NOT the first MX bike...true or otherwise. My God man there were Yamaha MX's, Bultaco Pursangs, Husky "Cross" and CR's, Suzuki TM, CZ's, and more way before 1974 for God sakes. Damn dude if anything Honda was very late to the party. And they really didn't start winning championships for a few years after the Elsinores came out. Can Am was totally new to the whole motorcycle game and the won the first 3 places in the 1974 250 Championship. I would say that since Honda had been building motorcycles for 20 years and Can Am for one I'd say it sounds to me like Can Am started a revolution way before Honda. What revolution did Honda start??? None that I can remember. You must be very young...
Now now, let's not let the truth get in the way of a good story.. vintco knows all.. and we're just here to sit back and let them believe we don't know sh*t.. kindof like talking to 99% of vintage racers.. they know more about our bikes than we do! 😅
Elsinore won first year with Marty Smith and Gary Jones, are you senile or suffering dementia? Racer since 1970 here. Agree with the not the first mx bike though.
The first MX bike? Tell that to anyone who rode a Husqvarna, Bultaco, Ossa, Suzuki TM, Yamaha MX and even the Hodaka Super Rat! Roger Decoster was winning motocross races well before the 1974 Honda Elsinore was released. You might call it Honda's first good MX bike, because they refused to build a two-stroke for so long. But, no way is it the first motocrosser!
This guy's recollection of what real motocross bike that were available prior to the 125 Elsinore is laughable. I mean okay I acknowledge you did a great restoration on this 125. Talk about what you know about the Elsinore program but to say everything else available at the time was stripped down Enduro bikes is just a real lack of Motocross history. The European and Japanese brands that were making ready to race motocross models is what motivated Honda to start the Elsinore program. Also, the 250 Elsinore was Honda's " FIRST MX BIKE"
Beautiful restoration. Wish mine looked that good. My first real bike was a brand new 1974 Elsinore MT125. Now, I'm riding a 1974 Elsinore MT250. Love these bikes.
Looks great! My younger brother had a 1976 cr125. I am the original owner of a 1970 ct70, that I use as a pit bike when I vintage race my 1975 Elsinore cr250m1 that I bought new in 1975. In 1974 I watched a cr125 race in the open class against big bore Maico's, CZ's and Husky's, he beat them all. Poor Monark, they came out at the same time but $700.00 for an Elsinore vs $1300. For the Monark. We would be at the races in 1974 and the entire 125 class would be Elsinore 125's. For Honda, it was like printing money.
I still have my new spares in crates. 1974 CR125 & CR250. And my old race bikes plus a ton of spares.
I wish I still my 1974 Honda Elsinore 125M. It was my first motocross bike. Great restoration.👍
I had a 74' 125 Elsinore and rode it at Indian Dunes in Valencia CA. No one had one and when I rode in the Shadow Glen track everyone wanted to talk to me because I was passing everyone. What a blast it was!!!
Glory days. What a leap forward that bike was.
I bought one for $805 out the door using paper route and lawn mowing money. I was 14 years old with the fastest bike for many blocks around. I'd go riding with my buddy on his "Noguchi" Yamaha 250. What a blast.
Had one in 74
Have one to day 2024.
Sold my high school graduation present from my grandfather (1973 Yamaha DT 250 Enduro) to buy a used 74 CR125. Best looking dirt bike ever made IMO.
I love this bike when I was a kid. It took me till 1976 to get a new 1976 model. Love it.
Have been waiting for a long time for you to come across a 74 CR125. This bike brings back so many memories. Thanks for the review!
We got one crate of these 120 fives, 2 bikes to a crate. I assembled it. I was just a teenager, went to the race track that weekend and over the jump, I was landing 25 feet beyond everybody else during the race way ahead. I landed off the jump. And the front wheel collapsed, I didn't adjust the spokes, they all came loose, what a bike awesome
Man, this brings back memories.
Bad ass bike back in the 70s.
I can smell the klotz 2 cycle burning.
That was a crazy looking muffler attached when they got - like a supertrapp on a right angle - ah, the 'X-ducer' .
that's what I thought too when I first saw the silencer, I still have a whole bunch of old dirtbike magazines from the early 70s I bought when I was a teenager and they had a sexy looking lady holding that trap silencer against her stomach.
Looks like a Webco head. Had the head and barrel on my Hodaka back when.
First!? My friend had a 74 Yamaha MX-125, that thing was crazy quick!.
In its day… I remember when… my buddy’s dad owned the local Honda shop. It didn’t get any better.
Cool bike
Had one when i was 13
I raced in 1975 till 1991...had a 1973 TM Suzuki 125.... and raced a CR 125 think it was a 73 ? long time. was my friend's bike and raced it a few times for fun.....lol..had a new 75 KX 125 later in 75...busted my right elbow on my 18th birthday in 75 ...oww still hurts... then i had Yamaha's and another Honda later in 80's ...then a 86 Kawasaki when i " retired " .. had 125's ( about 7 or 8 ) 250's ( 3 of those ) 465/490's ( 4 of those ).. remember alot of bikes of every brand... lots many never heard of...4 strokes were being replaced in the early 70's by 2 Strokes...now they are back ( i heard they were working on them in the years before i retired.... you need to use " Castrol R " to be authentic on that bike... wasn't the first Japanese brand but yes they were a great bike and all the Japanese bikes made the sport grow by their products....not just Honda lined up...i was there to see it all...
🇨🇦🤓✌️
Ah yes the TM 125 the trick with them was the first model RM 125 with the low pipe, Well that RM 125 pipe bolted on to a TM 125 and worked a treat more over rev more torque just all round better but so few back in the day knew things like that
I bought a new one in 74….slapped some numbers on it and started winning races with it right away. Hell, I didn’t even remove the side stand 😆
Great job on the CR.Really need some k990 rear tires for my vintage 125s.Did Dunlop quit making the 18 inch rear?
1973 Honda CR250 was out and racing in 73.
Love it!
very nice restoration, I had a 74 125 Elsinore. Wish I still had it the head doesn't look stock on that one though. Not sure what make that is.
before the Elsinore came out, my dream was to have a 125 Maico, they were all different European brands they had 125s.
Bull taco Sherpa S then they came out with the 125 pursang then there was a 125 CZ. then Husqvarna came out with a 125.
List goes on and on .
Ya, we were grabbing these for a paltry $725 in 1974. Then I got a 1975 red tank stripe one for $850. What a machine it was..
Nice resto with attention to detail. Is that a DG head on it?
Webco
Im a diehard Suzuki loyalist RM's in my opinion are the best however that honda is a dream bike
Trying to find a 1975 RM125 or a 1976 RM100???
Hodaka was before Honda. Honda didn't have a prayer for years until Hodaka faltered.
First Honda two stroke, not first mx. I had a cr250. Elsinore.
This was my first real MX bike too. I got it in many milk crates.
Those beautiful brushed aluminum fuel tanks Honda certainly served notice we're building 2 strokes 😅
Had a 75 it was a handful
WOULD YOU KNOW THE PART NUMBERS FOR PISTON AND RINGS FOR 76 CR125M MUGEN KIT ?
Thats a Webco head. I had 1 on my 74. I had more fun on that bike at 14 yrs old. They dominated in 74.
I got a 98 YZ250. Minty mint
Bless your heart.
S A N O🤙🏼
W F O🤙🏼
It absolutely was NOT the first MX bike...true or otherwise. My God man there were Yamaha MX's, Bultaco Pursangs, Husky "Cross" and CR's, Suzuki TM, CZ's, and more way before 1974 for God sakes. Damn dude if anything Honda was very late to the party. And they really didn't start winning championships for a few years after the Elsinores came out. Can Am was totally new to the whole motorcycle game and the won the first 3 places in the 1974 250 Championship. I would say that since Honda had been building motorcycles for 20 years and Can Am for one I'd say it sounds to me like Can Am started a revolution way before Honda. What revolution did Honda start??? None that I can remember. You must be very young...
Now now, let's not let the truth get in the way of a good story.. vintco knows all.. and we're just here to sit back and let them believe we don't know sh*t.. kindof like talking to 99% of vintage racers.. they know more about our bikes than we do! 😅
Elsinore won first year with Marty Smith and Gary Jones, are you senile or suffering dementia?
Racer since 1970 here.
Agree with the not the first mx bike though.
First Honda two stroke MX….take it easy…🤦♂️
I’ve got a James commando m/x bike from 1955 so no not the first m/x bike in saying that they were called scramblers then🇳🇿
The first MX bike? Tell that to anyone who rode a Husqvarna, Bultaco, Ossa, Suzuki TM, Yamaha MX and even the Hodaka Super Rat! Roger Decoster was winning motocross races well before the 1974 Honda Elsinore was released. You might call it Honda's first good MX bike, because they refused to build a two-stroke for so long. But, no way is it the first motocrosser!
First Honda two stroke dirt bike….was what I meant
The cylinder head ruins the build....how hard would it be to replace that?....It should be low profile BLACK!!
It is a aftermarket head “Webco” of the time period
Screaming meanie .
There were many MX bikes before Elsinore.
Europeans had many .
Yamaha MX 1973 Suzuki TM 1973 .
1st Honda two stroke Mx bike is what i meant
Wrong carburetor doesn't have the power band when they were stock I don't know why people change carburetor & settings are way off
It was a kit I believe they sold at the time, Webco head and bigger carb.
Too bad the guy does not know how to ride the bike...
And how would you know? As the guy riding wasn’t the owner of the bike, and was respectful to someone else’s build.🤦♂️
This guy's recollection of what real motocross bike that were available prior to the 125 Elsinore is laughable. I mean okay I acknowledge you did a great restoration on this 125. Talk about what you know about the Elsinore program but to say everything else available at the time was stripped down Enduro bikes is just a real lack of Motocross history. The European and Japanese brands that were making ready to race motocross models is what motivated Honda to start the Elsinore program. Also, the 250 Elsinore was Honda's " FIRST MX BIKE"
1st Honda two stroke Mx bike is what I meant to say…..give me a break
Absolutely CLUELESS
Armchair warrior! 😂😂👍👍
I want to see you hit a triple with that thing!!!!😂