The latest edition of Classic Steel on Honda's beloved XR75 is up for your reading pleasure

tblazier
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tblazier
Edited Date/Time 9/13/2017 10:18am
GP's Classic Steel #116 Honda XR75

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Tbteam
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Tbteam 6/13/2016 10:33am
6/13/2016 10:33am
I took the 1974 XR75 brochure to Jr. High, and read it every waking moment of the day for months until my parents finally said "yes".

Most fun I've had riding a motorcycle in my life. I still have one in the garage, awaiting a complete restoration.

The Shop

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MaicoJC1
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MaicoJC1 6/13/2016 11:10am
6/13/2016 11:10am Edited Date/Time 6/13/2016 11:16am
Great article!

I remember the summer (1976) I was finally given my brother's hand me down 74 Honda XR 75. Couldn't have been happier. During the summer months my friends and I rode from to dawn to til dusk. Miss those days. It was the first and last real 4 stroke motorcycle I've ever owned (and really liked!).

Recently I bought a little minibike (Baja warrior 200 -- my first bike was a Sears minibike with B&S engine) for two neighborhood brothers (10 and 12 years). Good kids, but their family is struggling financially. I'm married and have no kids, but come from a big family where my folks were always there and involved in everything sport we participated in. So, when these brothers finally got a chance to ride the minibike, I couldn't tell who was happier -- me or them?!! Their parent's were very grateful. Heck, I don't mind..Just gotta pay it forward sometimes.

Anyway, if they really get into it, I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for 2000+ Honda XR 100 for them. Again, thanks for posting this.
AHRMA361
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AHRMA361 6/13/2016 11:52am
6/13/2016 11:52am
Still have mine! All original down to the grips and tires. Bassani pipe makes it sound like a big boy!



G Force
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G Force 6/13/2016 12:28pm
6/13/2016 12:28pm
Owned many of them over the years. Still have a XR100 i'm planning to spruce up a bit.
backinthesaddleagain 6/13/2016 1:47pm
6/13/2016 1:47pm
Awesome read. Back in 74 my Aunt and Grandmother took me to the local Honda dealer (a hardware store primarily). I sat on the Z50 and MR 50 while the bigger kids sat on the XR75. Next day I had an MR 50 delivered by the dealership for my birthday. Always thought the next bike would be the XR, but ended up going with a two stroke.

Thanks for the article!!
abn166
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abn166 6/13/2016 2:21pm
6/13/2016 2:21pm



I had one and it was such an awesome bike!

mx836
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mx836 6/13/2016 2:59pm
6/13/2016 2:59pm Edited Date/Time 6/13/2016 3:00pm
That custom Husky pit bike build is awesome smez!!!

My dad restored an XR75 about 15 years ago now. My QA50 was broke so he let me borrow it as a pit bike. Thing was too much fun to ride slow. Feel bad looking back on it now as I definitely abused the shit out of that poor thing.
RandyS
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RandyS 6/13/2016 3:48pm
6/13/2016 3:48pm
I had a somewhat modified SL70 when the 73 XR75 came out. A friend of mine got one, we traded off quite a bit so I had a fair amount of time on one. It felt different but I think my SL was faster, I was getting an MX100 when the 74s came out so I never got one of my own. I get a little nostalgic when I see a Yellow 71 SL70 but, you show me a picture of a restored 73 XR75 and I get all tingly in my privates. Pure sex.
Ted722
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Ted722 6/13/2016 4:47pm
6/13/2016 4:47pm
I can't tell you how many hours I put on my '74. I was 9 years old (in '77) with a red open face metal flake helmet and big perma grin. We lived on about 2 acres and my buddies parents had 5 acres. He had an SL-70.

One of my fondest memories was going down to the main dirt road where the fire station was and the firefighters would lay down some water for us. I thought it was for us, but in hindsight it was for them and keeping the dust off their vehicles.

Later found out one of the fireman was Jim True who was a multi-time hillclimb champion including conquering the Widowmaker. In the mid-80's, he'd show up to work with (2) CR500's with extended swingarms in the back of his Ford van. Pretty cool.
kiwifan
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kiwifan 6/13/2016 5:24pm
6/13/2016 5:24pm
Thats what I miss from Honda, the XR lineup, great fun bikes that could be made into decent racers too....nice and simple to work on and cheap.

I used to own a XR650R, man that thing was fun! but even the older XR250/400 bikes were great.
burn1986
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burn1986 6/13/2016 8:08pm
6/13/2016 8:08pm
Awesome TBlaze! We had the '75 XR and SL70. Me and my brother fought over the XR, so my dad bought us brand new '76s. A couple of months later, he sold them because he thought we were goin too fast (which we were).
TeamRags
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TeamRags 6/14/2016 6:53am
6/14/2016 6:53am Edited Date/Time 6/14/2016 7:09am
Stopped by Pro Circuit and Mitch has these two gems setting in the lobby. Of all the historic race bikes he has, I was in awe of these two, 1973 & 1976 XR75's in mint condition.

Sidecar
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Sidecar 6/14/2016 8:40am
6/14/2016 8:40am
kiwifan wrote:
Thats what I miss from Honda, the XR lineup, great fun bikes that could be made into decent racers too....nice and simple to work on and...
Thats what I miss from Honda, the XR lineup, great fun bikes that could be made into decent racers too....nice and simple to work on and cheap.

I used to own a XR650R, man that thing was fun! but even the older XR250/400 bikes were great.
We have had 3x XR 75s, an XR 100 a z50r and a 3x crf 50s over the years as well as a full moto XR 280.... Now my Mrs has an XR 250, my son has an XR 250 and my brother just picked up an XR 400 for bike fitness on weekends when we are not on the sidecar.

wfo4ever
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wfo4ever 6/14/2016 8:44am
6/14/2016 8:44am
I still have my original 1973 Honda XR-75. I think I will have to take it for a little ride today. Always starts on first or second kick. This is the only four stroke dirt bike I own, the other 7 are 2-Strokes..

Pit Row

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RMT
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RMT 6/14/2016 9:51am
6/14/2016 9:51am
Great article. Love this era of motorcycling. I had the sl70 modified for dirt track racing so it was a little faster than my neighbors 74 xr75.
Spankey
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Spankey 6/14/2016 10:26am
6/14/2016 10:26am
I wanted one so bad but my Dad could only afford two Honda Mini Trails for me and my brother. I wore it out.
Uncle_Eddie
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Uncle_Eddie 6/14/2016 11:04am
6/14/2016 11:04am
tblazier wrote:
[url=http://bit.ly/24LVvaR]GP's Classic Steel #116 Honda XR75 [/url][img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/06/13/138964/s1200_1.jpg[/img]
GP's Classic Steel #116 Honda XR75

We had the same helmet . I wore that thing until there was no padding on the inside and it just kind of flopped around on my head. Still the most comfortable helmet I've had
newmann
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newmann 6/14/2016 11:49am
6/14/2016 11:49am
Anyone notice the frame on the Jeff Ward bike he is riding? Twin down tube C&J. That's the only thing that sucked me into the XR75 craze. I have all the different frames for future "semi" retirement projects.



The DG mono version.



The C&J single down tube.



The PK Racing Mono Version



Shown here with Mini Marzocchi forks



And the Red Line XR75




Shown here with Baby Ceriani forks

MOTO557556
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MOTO557556 6/14/2016 1:10pm
6/14/2016 1:10pm
Tony,

Nailed it again. Great read.

I clearly remember kids riding these and how jealous I was as I was on a pathetic Rupp Roadster with a belt drive clutch system.

Keep up the great work !
kiwifan
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kiwifan 6/14/2016 1:43pm
6/14/2016 1:43pm
kiwifan wrote:
Thats what I miss from Honda, the XR lineup, great fun bikes that could be made into decent racers too....nice and simple to work on and...
Thats what I miss from Honda, the XR lineup, great fun bikes that could be made into decent racers too....nice and simple to work on and cheap.

I used to own a XR650R, man that thing was fun! but even the older XR250/400 bikes were great.
Sidecar wrote:
We have had 3x XR 75s, an XR 100 a z50r and a 3x crf 50s over the years as well as a full moto XR...
We have had 3x XR 75s, an XR 100 a z50r and a 3x crf 50s over the years as well as a full moto XR 280.... Now my Mrs has an XR 250, my son has an XR 250 and my brother just picked up an XR 400 for bike fitness on weekends when we are not on the sidecar.

Awesome!!!
Starcrossed
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Starcrossed 6/14/2016 1:44pm
6/14/2016 1:44pm
MaicoJC1 wrote:
Great article! I remember the summer (1976) I was finally given my brother's hand me down 74 Honda XR 75. Couldn't have been happier. During the...
Great article!

I remember the summer (1976) I was finally given my brother's hand me down 74 Honda XR 75. Couldn't have been happier. During the summer months my friends and I rode from to dawn to til dusk. Miss those days. It was the first and last real 4 stroke motorcycle I've ever owned (and really liked!).

Recently I bought a little minibike (Baja warrior 200 -- my first bike was a Sears minibike with B&S engine) for two neighborhood brothers (10 and 12 years). Good kids, but their family is struggling financially. I'm married and have no kids, but come from a big family where my folks were always there and involved in everything sport we participated in. So, when these brothers finally got a chance to ride the minibike, I couldn't tell who was happier -- me or them?!! Their parent's were very grateful. Heck, I don't mind..Just gotta pay it forward sometimes.

Anyway, if they really get into it, I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for 2000+ Honda XR 100 for them. Again, thanks for posting this.
That's awesome of you to give those kids an opportunity to enjoy something that meant so much to you, in your younger years. Without your generosity they would probably never get to experience the thrill of riding a dirt bike during their childhood. I remember what it meant to me, and can imagine the joy and excitement they feel just having a bike they can ride. Great post.
tblazier
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tblazier 6/14/2016 2:15pm
6/14/2016 2:15pm
MOTO557556 wrote:
Tony, Nailed it again. Great read. I clearly remember kids riding these and how jealous I was as I was on a pathetic Rupp Roadster with...
Tony,

Nailed it again. Great read.

I clearly remember kids riding these and how jealous I was as I was on a pathetic Rupp Roadster with a belt drive clutch system.

Keep up the great work !
thanks!
Falcon
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Falcon 6/14/2016 2:18pm
6/14/2016 2:18pm
Got my '74 in 1982. First bike. The darn thing didn't run too well, but when it did I sure liked it. I got my first crash out of the way after a few days of riding and I didn't tell my dad.... I thought he'd sell it!
SCR
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SCR 6/14/2016 6:42pm
6/14/2016 6:42pm
newmann wrote:
Anyone notice the frame on the Jeff Ward bike he is riding? Twin down tube C&J. That's the only thing that sucked me into the XR75...
Anyone notice the frame on the Jeff Ward bike he is riding? Twin down tube C&J. That's the only thing that sucked me into the XR75 craze. I have all the different frames for future "semi" retirement projects.



The DG mono version.



The C&J single down tube.



The PK Racing Mono Version



Shown here with Mini Marzocchi forks



And the Red Line XR75




Shown here with Baby Ceriani forks

Those are rare frames. Bobby Jones and Jim Holley would show up at our local track with the PK/Hacienda Honda XRs. Bobby Jones had the Monoshock like yours and Jim Holley had a dual shock XR, not sure if it was stock frame or not. We used to go to some of the NMA mini races at Indian Dunes and the pits were full of super trick minis of all kinds.

I got a chance to take a spin on another kids XR that had everything in the catalog done to the motor including a JWRP 5 speed transmission. I thought I had an idea of how fast some of these XRs were based on how bad I got beat on the starts. But I was shocked when I rode this one.

I always think that some of these minis are still sitting around in somebody's garage. Now I know where all the frames went anyway.

CamP
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CamP 6/15/2016 6:20am
6/15/2016 6:20am Edited Date/Time 6/15/2016 6:20am
I got a '73 XR75 for my 10th birthday. It was much faster than my '71 SL70 because it had a big bore high compression piston, ported head, a bigger carb and Bassani pipe. In fact, it would run circles around my brother's stock '74 TM100 when he first brought it home from the dealership. That changed when he installed an FMF pipe on the TM.

G Force
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G Force 6/15/2016 8:09am
6/15/2016 8:09am
Seeing we're on topic, where is the best place to buy parts for these beasts? (cheap is good)! Any suggestions are good. ebay my typical go to, but if I can get OEM stuff, i will be happy.

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