Honda CR125M
Encyclopedia
The Honda CR125M Elsinore was a motorcycle
designed and manufactured by Honda
and released in 1973. This bike was designed and intended for use solely as a motocross
bike. Any other 125cc
motocross bike at the time would have to have undergone major suspension
, motor, and chassis
upgrades to be able to handle the rigors of motocross racing
. The Honda CR125M Elsinore was a legend in its own time as the only mass produced
bike capable of conquering a motocross track with elegance in the callused hands of a seasoned expert, utterly unaltered mechanically.
The CR125M was built in Japan
with many of the best mass-produced components the world had ever seen. The Elsinore's D.I.D. rims were strong, light, and extremely resilient to the natural tendency of mud caking during aqueous laden races. Its plastic fenders
and side panels were featherweight and tough, and the engine’s side covers were cast from magnesium
to shave yet even more weight, a testament to Honda
’s tireless attention to detail. The CR125M’s single-cylinder
, two-stroke 124cc engine weighed a scant 46 pounds, inclusive of the 28mm Keihin carburetor
. Off the showroom factitious terra firma, the CR125M tipped the scales at a feathery 189 pounds with a full tank of petrol. This humble bike proved to be among the most potent and formidable motocross implements of its era.
The 125cc Elsinore, not to be confused with its 250cc brethren, pursued the sinuous and toilsome terrain of a motocross course with confidence inspiring grace and exceptional intuitiveness utilizing its long travel Kayaba suspension apparatuses. In the hands of a sensitive and insightful pilot, the comfortable ergonomics enabled blistering and seemingly effortless speed, as evidenced in Cycle World
’s 1974 review, “Controls are placed precisely where they should be.” “Honda has literally set a new level of motocross excellence in motocross machinery that will have the rest of the industry straining to match it, much less surpass it.”
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
designed and manufactured by Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
and released in 1973. This bike was designed and intended for use solely as a motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
bike. Any other 125cc
Cubic centimetre
A cubic centimetre is a commonly used unit of volume extending the derived SI-unit cubic metre, and corresponds to the volume of a cube measuring 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm...
motocross bike at the time would have to have undergone major suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
, motor, and chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
upgrades to be able to handle the rigors of motocross racing
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
. The Honda CR125M Elsinore was a legend in its own time as the only mass produced
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
bike capable of conquering a motocross track with elegance in the callused hands of a seasoned expert, utterly unaltered mechanically.
The CR125M was built in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with many of the best mass-produced components the world had ever seen. The Elsinore's D.I.D. rims were strong, light, and extremely resilient to the natural tendency of mud caking during aqueous laden races. Its plastic fenders
Fender (vehicle)
Fender is the US English term for the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel well . Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire. Fenders are typically rigid and can be...
and side panels were featherweight and tough, and the engine’s side covers were cast from magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
to shave yet even more weight, a testament to Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
’s tireless attention to detail. The CR125M’s single-cylinder
Single cylinder engine
A single-cylinder engine is a basic piston engine configuration of an internal combustion engine. It is often seen on motorcycles, auto rickshaws, motor scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, go-karts, radio-controlled models and has many uses in portable tools and garden machinery...
, two-stroke 124cc engine weighed a scant 46 pounds, inclusive of the 28mm Keihin carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
. Off the showroom factitious terra firma, the CR125M tipped the scales at a feathery 189 pounds with a full tank of petrol. This humble bike proved to be among the most potent and formidable motocross implements of its era.
The 125cc Elsinore, not to be confused with its 250cc brethren, pursued the sinuous and toilsome terrain of a motocross course with confidence inspiring grace and exceptional intuitiveness utilizing its long travel Kayaba suspension apparatuses. In the hands of a sensitive and insightful pilot, the comfortable ergonomics enabled blistering and seemingly effortless speed, as evidenced in Cycle World
Cycle World
Cycle World is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the U.S. and is now the largest motorcycling magazine in the world...
’s 1974 review, “Controls are placed precisely where they should be.” “Honda has literally set a new level of motocross excellence in motocross machinery that will have the rest of the industry straining to match it, much less surpass it.”
Specifications
- Engine type: 124cc air cooled single-cylinder two-stroke producing 22hp (claimed)
- Weight: 189lbs
- Carburetion: 28mm Keihin
- Transmission: close ratio six speed
- Brakes: front and rear drum brakeDrum brakeA drum brake is a brake in which the friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against a rotating drum-shaped part called a brake drum....
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