Honda CR125M

Last updated

The Honda CR125M Elsinore is a motorcycle designed and manufactured by Honda and released in late 1973. Modeled after the first Elsinore, the Honda CR250M, the 124cc version sold for $749 at its debut. A CR125M ridden by Marty Smith won the 1974 AMA National Motocross championship, [1] spurring the Elsinore's popularity. The September 1973 issue of Dirt Bike argued that the 125 Honda Elsinore was the only off-road bike on the market at the time that offered both speed and reliability. [2] Other Japanese 125cc motocross bikes available at the time would have needed major suspension, motor, and chassis upgrades to be used for motocross racing.

The CR125M was built in Japan and was extensively tested on motocross tracks in Japan and California. [3] It had a chrome-moly tube frame, a six-speed gearbox, four-point adjustable Showa shocks, plastic fenders and a magnesium alloy engine casing for weight economy. The bike weighed 154 pounds dry. [4] With a full tank, the CR125M weighed 188 pounds. [5] The CR125M’s single-cylinder, two-stroke 124cc engine weighed 46 pounds, inclusive of the 28mm Keihin carburetor.

Specifications

Related Research Articles

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of motorcycles, marine products such as boats and outboard motors, and other motorized products. The company was established in 1955 upon separation from Yamaha Corporation, and is headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. The company conducts development, production and marketing operations through 109 consolidated subsidiaries as of 2012.

The Honda XR series is a range of four-stroke off-road motorcycles that were designed in Japan but assembled all over the world.

Zündapp

Zündapp was a major German motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1917 in Nuremberg by Fritz Neumeyer, together with the Friedrich Krupp AG and the machine tool manufacturer Thiel under the name "Zünder- und Apparatebau G.m.b.H." as a producer of detonators. In 1919, as the demand for weapons parts declined after World War I, Neumeyer became the sole proprietor of the company, and two years later he diversified into the construction of motorcycles.

Honda Gold Wing

The Honda Gold Wing is a series of touring motorcycles manufactured by Honda. Gold Wings feature shaft drive, and a flat engine. Introduced at the Cologne Motorcycle Show in October 1974, the Gold Wing went on to become a popular model in North America, Western Europe and Australia, as well as Japan.

Honda CX series

The Honda CX series motorcycles, including the GL500 and GL650 Silver Wing variants, were developed and released by Honda in the late 1970s, with production ending in most markets by the mid 1980s. The design included innovative features and technologies that were uncommon or unused at the time such as liquid cooling, electric-only starting, low-maintenance shaft drive, modular wheels, and dual CV-type carburetors that were tuned for reduced emissions. The electronic ignition system was separate from the rest of the electrical system, but the motorcycle could only be started via the start button.

Maico

For the manga series, see Maico 2010.

The Honda CR series is a range of off-road motorcycles made by the Honda corporation from 1973 onwards.

Honda CB400F

The Honda CB400F is a motorcycle produced by Honda from 1975 to 1977. It first appeared at the 1974 Cologne motorcycle show, Intermot, and was dropped from the Honda range in 1978. It had an air-cooled, transverse-mounted 408 cc (24.9 cu in) inline four-cylinder engine with two valves per cylinder operated by a single chain-driven overhead camshaft. Fuelling was provided by four 20 mm Keihin carburettors. The CB400F is commonly known as the Honda 400 Four.

The Honda CR250M was a two-stroke single-cylinder motorcycle first manufactured by Honda in March 1973 until 1976, when it was replaced by the Honda CR250R.

Honda CG125

The Honda CG125 or Honda CG is a commuter motorcycle made by Honda of Japan. CG stands for Cash Guarantee. It was in production from 1976 to 2008 in Japan and has been in production since 1992 in Pakistan. The CG was originally manufactured in Japan, but the source for the European market was eventually moved to Brazil in 1985, and to Pakistan and Turkey in 1992 for the W and M models. The CG125 is powered by a 124 cc (7.6 cu in) four-stroke, overhead valve, single-cylinder engine that has changed little over the years.

Honda CRF series

The Honda CRF series is a line of four-stroke motocross, trail, and dual sport motorcycles manufactured and marketed by Honda.

Rickman Motorcycles

Rickman Motorcycles was a British, independent motorcycle chassis constructor established by brothers Derek and Don Rickman. The firm manufactured motorcycles from 1960 through to 1975.

Kawasaki Z1

The Kawasaki Z1 is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, double-overhead camshaft, carbureted, chain-drive motorcycle introduced in 1972 by Kawasaki. Following the introduction of Honda's CB750 in 1968, the Z1 helped popularize the in-line, across-the-frame four-cylinder, a format that became known as the Universal Japanese Motorcycle or UJM.

Yamaha YZ450F

The Yamaha YZ450F is a four-stroke racing motocross bike built by Yamaha Motor Corporation. It was the successor to the previous YZ426F which was discontinued in 2003. It is credited by Cycle World and Dirt Rider magazines as the bike that started the four-stroke dirt bike revolution. The 2006 YZ250F and YZ450F were the first production motorcycles equipped with titanium suspension springs.

The Honda MR50 Elsinore is an off-road mini cycle made by Honda. It was manufactured in Japan by Honda and imported first to Australia and the United States in 1974 and continued to be available in the United States, Canada and Australia until production was discontinued in 1975.

Suzuki T series

The Suzuki T series was a series of motorcycle manufactured by Suzuki that ran from approximately 1963 through 1977 in various engine displacements between 90 and 500 cc.

The Honda MT125R was a production Grand Prix motorcycle racing roadracer designed for closed-course competition roadracing. It was produced by Honda Racing Service Center (RSC) and made available to the general public. It was also marketed for the U.S. market in the years 1977–1978 through the American Honda Motorcycle dealer network and in Canada through Canadian Honda Motors Ltd.,

Kawasaki KR-1/KR-1S

The Kawasaki KR-1 and KR-1S are road-orientated 249 cc (15.2 cu in) two-stroke sports bikes introduced between 1988 and 1992 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Kawasaki H1 Mach III

The Kawasaki H1 Mach III was a two-stroke 500 cc sport bike made by Kawasaki from 1969 through to 1975.

Honda C92, CB92, C95 Benly Parallel-twin motorcycle

The Honda C92 Benly is a 125 cc (7.6 cu in) parallel-twin motorcycle made by Honda from 1959 through 1965. Running concurrently were the CB92 Sports and the slightly larger C95 150 cc (9.2 cu in), called the CA92 and CA95 in the US. These twins took their styling and design cues from the larger-displacement Honda C71, C76, C72, C77 Dream series.

References

  1. Frank, Aaron. Honda Motorcycles, p. 95 and 97. Motorbooks International. ISBN   0-7-603-1077-7.
  2. Siegal, Margie. "King of the Hill: Honda Elsinore CR125". Motorcycle Classics November/December 2012. Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  3. Walker, Mick. Honda Production Motorcycles 1946-1980, p. 196. The Crowood Press. ISBN   1 86126 820 3.
  4. Siegal, Margie. "King of the Hill: 1974 Honda CR125M Elsinore".
  5. Aaron, Frank. Honda Motorcycles.
  6. Siegal, Margie. "King of the Hill: 1974 Honda CR125M Elsinore".