When you're obsessed with a mini elsinore and can't afford one

Very cool project. About that 80 CR80 front end, it's basically the same as an early CR125 front end isn't it? Why wouldn't you use the CR125 setup? Do you think the front end would be too high? How much fork travel are you shooting for?

Use 74 or 75 forks and triple clamps. The 76-78 models are larger diameter and considerably longer. The lower fork tubes from the 74/75 models look like they were designed more for the 17 inch front wheel than the 21 inch in the first place. I think the Ward replica of mine has 12 1/2 inch Mulhollands on it. It has the forks shortened. Simple to do, just figure how much shorter you want it and cut that much off the fork springs. Use the piece of spring you cut off as the rebound spring on the dampener rod. Of course that shortens wheel travel as well as the length of the fork. You could have the top of the fork leg cut down on a lathe and regrooved or rethreaded for the fork caps and keep the stock travel. The racebike of ours has 13 1/8 inch Works Performance shocks and we left the front forks the stock length.

On the racebike it uses a stock 74-75 rear fender that has been cut and trimmed to fit the C&J frame. It uses stock 74-75 side panels that have had a little minor trimming done to them to fit as well. Those side panels work a whole lot better than the later model 76-78 panels that flare out for the shocks. Those are really in the way if you were actually riding the bike.

Tank and seat are from the 74-76 XR75. That's what the C&J frames were built for so before you weld everything up you might want to test fit those.


Do you know the length on the swingarm? Are you planning on using a 16 in rear rim? And when you weld the swingarm up will it have the oversized piece of tubing on the outside of it as in the photo or will you find a smaller diameter piece to use as a sleeve on the inside of the swingarm tubing?

I found original Mini Elsinore frames or complete bikes from Ca., Mo., La., NH. and Iowa. Searched forever and once I started locating some of them I just couldn't pass them up! I had to get brake pedals, motor mounts, foot pegs, foot peg mounts and steering stem bushings made for some of them. That shit got expensive real quick.

For the 16 inch rear rim, search for one on ebay off a big wheel 85 or 100. Just make sure it's a 36 hole. If you drill the holes at a little more of an angle, you may be able to use the stock CR125 rear hub and spokes with the spokes layed over at a cross 4 pattern instead of the stock cross three. I have one old mini elsinore wheel at that looks like exactly what they did with it. It might be worth a shot. I had Buchanan drill rims for mine and make up spokes for them. Definitely not cheap going all new.


The way you have that frame cut and fit back together it is going to look like it came that way from Honda . Pretty damn cool.

Still own one but havent had the $ to restore it,the one i own has a one of a kind profab frame that you could of ran a mono or duel shocks, which thats how I ran it with fox gas shox back in 76/77 it had the turned down cr forks with the fmf coolers on the base of the forks and air caps up top, a full FMF screamer (basicly a death trap that would wheel stand in 4 gear) LOL, xr75 tank, custom seat, cut cr bars, 16in rr 17in frt or 19in when i raced in the reg 100cc class ! Good luck w/the restore/build post more pics as ya go !

Sounds like the same frame that "mini elsinore" here on Vital has. Post up some pics of it!

This is a great read... PLEASE keep us posted on the progress. Good luck

I don't think that blue tape is going to hold. Very cool project, look forward to seeing as you go photos.

I know they were not as common as the C&J mini elsinores, but there used to be a company here in Florida called MCS that made a mini elsie kit. They would also build a complete package racer for you as well. I believe some of the frames were nickle plated 4130. First one I saw was in '75.

During 75-76 ,there were at least 8-10 various mini elsie's that were ridden in our 100 expert class in District 8, and a few amatuers had them as well. Bet there are still a few floating around here.

Here's a few pics. Found this one in New Hampshire a few years back. Last used, it had ice screws in the tires, and bad scar marks on the forks and fenders. A roach in appearance, but a true to life JWRP mini.



Here's the one we did with 13 1/8 inch Works shocks and the forks at the stock length. Without bodywork.



Finished, with a T&M head.



The other one with shortened forks and 12 1/2 Mulhollands. Full built FMF 100cc boost ported engine and Mototek CDI.

Here's the other one, messed it up in the above post.

Getting that from the guy in Chicago? I loaned him one of mine to copy for his personal bike.

One of mine has a NOS JWRP pipe on it. The racebike has a FMF. I ended up taking the one in the photo off of it since it was also a brand new pipe and put a used pipe on it. Had several to choose from and although they looked nearly identical, it was a tossup on which fit and which didn't. With your frame a CR125 pipe ought to fit perfect.

Rims are drilled at an angle to match the hub and disc brake hubs are normally a smaller circumference. If the holes are not the right angle the spoke will get a kink in it.

160 cc.

Thanks guys for posting the pictures. Awesome bikes.

I have a few mini elsinore tips if you are interested give me a call thanks RC 949-307-2136