Additional photos of this Honda Elsinore are available here for your perusal.
In the early 1970s, Honda separated itself from its competitors and became the world’s largest motorcycle company relying on the strength of its four-stroke engines. But in the US, two-stroke motorcycles still ruled, so Honda responded with two-stroke Elsinores in 125cc and 250cc displacements. The 250 Elsinore was immediately used by Honda`s team rider Gary Jones to win the AMA 250 national championship, followed a year later by Marty Smith on the CR125.
Everyone else scrambled to keep up, and Honda tried to fight back with a revision in 1976 that included a redesigned rear suspension and a bright red paint job. It featured a chromoly frame cradling a two-stroke 123cc single-cylinder engine good for almost 22 hp.
This Elsinore 125 (Engine #: CR125ME-3005268) has been display at the McKenna collection for years, and it’s a monument to both Honda and Flying Machine Factory (FMF)!
This bike is full of FMF parts, like the exhaust, the famous “porcupine” head:
“Godzilla” aluminum swingarm:
and other smaller pieces such as the rear sprocket and larger Mikuni carb:
There are additional period upgrades, such as Oury grips:
and Girling shocks:
The sole cosmetic issue we note is a group of scratches on the headers:
It looks the part with a collection of period stickers, and it’s now ready to be displayed in your collection!
