1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore Motorcycle

Description

Honda’s classic CR250, the first truly successful dirt bike from the renowned Japanese manufacturer, was developed in secret by a small group of engineers who previously worked on the mighty Grand Prix bikes.  Using two-stroke technology – something Soichiro Honda himself detested and swore Honda would never use – the prototype was tested at a local race track in August 1971 before entering production just two years later.  The rest is history: the CR250M proved a winner right from the outset, with Gary Jones giving Honda its first US National Championship and the new model completely transformed the sport of motocross racing.  Despite the initial success, Honda were slow to update the CR250M (dubbed the Elsinore in North America after the famous course in California), ceding the MX advantage to Yamaha, Suzuki and others by the mid-1970s.  It wasn’t until 1978 that an all-new model, badged the CR250R, appeared - nicknamed “The Red Rooster” thanks to its striking all-red bodywork, the latest CR250 used plenty of technology lifted from Honda’s RC Type II works racers, including massive long travel suspension (using non-adjustable 37mm Showa forks giving a full 11-inches of travel), alloy tank, shifter and kick-starter, while the frame was also a fresh design.  The redesigned and ultra compact two-stroke motor featured a reed-valve intake and the extensive use of magnesium and aluminum to help keep weight to a minimum.  With a claimed 36 horsepower on tap, the CR250R’s mid-range power was unlike anything else on the market, screaming all the way to the 8500 rpm redline and proved something of a handful for less than experienced riders.  A milestone in production dirt bikes, Honda’s CR250R is now an all-time classic and original survivors are now sought out by vintage motocross enthusiasts the world over.