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In 1973 the Honda CR250R made its historic debut, but was its little brother, the CR125R, the real star
By Kent Taylor
While the old adage “it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow” still rings true, a spirited ride on a 125cc motocross bike will convince anyone that it is even more fun to ride a fast bike fast! It might take some detective work to find that ultra-narrow powerband, but the right combination of gear selection, throttle position (open to the stop) and clutch-feathering will leave a smile on the face of a rider and cause them to wonder why any motocross bike ever needed a bigger piston.
In the 1970s, nearly every MX kid spent time on a 125, and there was a good chance that bike was a Honda CR125R. It was the leader of the pack for a few years, and Cycle News put the very first model to the test in its July 10, 1973, issue. The staff must’ve quickly grasped the truth about small bikes, as they titled their feature “The Mini Elsinore. Better than Big Brother?” Suggesting that the 125 version was somehow a better machine was walking on the fighting side of Honda 250 Elsinore riders, as the big bike was already making a name for itself on both the local and national levels. How could the little bike be better than the hottest new 250 on the track?
“The CR125M,” CN wrote, “is so uncompromised that in execution it actually exceeds the 250 Elsinore. While the motor is like a mini-Elsinore, the chassis components are different and designed specifically for the 125. In the end, the lessons learned and the weight saved through careful design have produced a bike that decidedly outhandles the 250 Elsinore.”
It was not uncommon for some manufacturers to treat their 125 racers like kid brothers, giving them hand-me-down parts like frames, fuel tanks and suspension components. Some bikes, like Husqvarna’s 125 CR, looked like they were wearing a frame two sizes too big; their Swedish mom probably told them they would “grow into it.”
From a marketing perspective, that might have made sense. There was no 125cc AMA National Championship series in America until 1974, and the FIM didn’t recognize a true 125cc World Championship until 1975. A 125cc bike was simply teaching you to ride before you moved on to 250s and 500s. They might as well have outfitted them with braces and training wheels.
Despite this myopic attitude toward smaller bikes, Honda didn’t hold back with the design and manufacture of its new 125. The suspension on the bike, for example, was first-rate.
“A number of us sat down after a day’s riding and rummaged through our impressions of the suspension units,” CN wrote. We searched for a complaint and couldn’t find one. Not only do the forks work flawlessly, but the stock shocks work better than any kind of proprietary shocks we have found. This is due to their spot-on application to the bike in question.”
Clearly, Honda hadn’t simply sorted through the parts bin, pitching forks and shocks until they found the right lengths and correct mounting bolts. The 125 Elsinore received its own brand-new suspenders, at both ends, and the combination was a harmonious match. “The springing and damping,” according to Cycle News, “are exact.”
Riding the Honda CR125R Elsinore was much like piloting any other 125 motocross bike, and if one is looking for the right adjective to describe the experience, the word “frenetic” would work as well as any. “The 125 requires that you keep it buzzing and six speeds both emphasize and assist. Another one of those tricky Keihins [carburetors, for today’s wire-riders] mounts on the back of the cylinder and delivers super-crisp throttle response…off the powerband, the engine doesn’t load up or falter, it just develops about one-third the horsepower. It is necessary that you pick the right gear or be in major distress upon occasion.”
Cycle News said the Honda handled as well as anything else on the market in 1973, briefly lamenting what appeared to be its only shortcoming. The Honda 125 “just isn’t the best slider.” Remember, these were the days before motocross schools and YouTube riding tips from the pros, so apparently, sliding around the racetrack was the hot line.
When the AMA finally recognized a 125cc National Champion in 1974, it would indeed be a Honda that would claim that championship. Marty Smith would be the first number one, and he did it again the following season in 1975. Smith went on to win many races and championships on bigger bikes; in fact, the first 11 championships in the 125cc class were won by riders who would also win numerous 250, 500 and Supercross titles.
The 125-class graduated some of the best the sport has ever seen. It also provided some great racing in its own right. Somebody just had to step up, see the potential, and then put a real racer on the starting line. The Honda CR125R Elsinore was a game changer. CN
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