Its Classic Steel time again. This week we look back at the 1980 Honda CR125R

tblazier
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tblazier
Edited Date/Time 1/24/2014 7:58am
GP's Classic Steel #77- The 1980 Honda CR125R Elsinore
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Harry_Gray
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Harry_Gray 1/23/2014 9:12am
1/23/2014 9:12am
Regardless of how it performed; they are beautiful to look at. Another great article...
CamP
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CamP 1/23/2014 10:15am
1/23/2014 10:15am
Good looking bikes, but it was a sea of yellow 125's in 1980.
The Sneak
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The Sneak 1/23/2014 10:18am
1/23/2014 10:18am
Just wanted to thank T Blazier for these articles - I always look forward to the next one. Love the details and commentary.
This one is great because it sort of bridges the end of the Elsinores and the dawn of Honda's fast rise to dominance. Crazy to compare this production bike to the works RCs of just 2 years later.
newmann
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newmann 1/23/2014 10:24am
1/23/2014 10:24am
Nice! I have a "thing" for the 1980 CR125's.
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tblazier
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tblazier 1/23/2014 10:34am
1/23/2014 10:34am
The Sneak wrote:
Just wanted to thank T Blazier for these articles - I always look forward to the next one. Love the details and commentary. This one is...
Just wanted to thank T Blazier for these articles - I always look forward to the next one. Love the details and commentary.
This one is great because it sort of bridges the end of the Elsinores and the dawn of Honda's fast rise to dominance. Crazy to compare this production bike to the works RCs of just 2 years later.
Thanks for reading and I am glad you enjoy them.
OW38B
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OW38B 1/23/2014 10:36am
1/23/2014 10:36am
Harry_Gray wrote:
Regardless of how it performed; they are beautiful to look at. Another great article...
There is something about the "Red Engine" Hondas.......

250 - 78 to 81
125 - 79 to 81
500 - 81
pilotdude
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pilotdude 1/23/2014 10:41am
1/23/2014 10:41am
I got one of those in 1982 brand new for $999. Awesome bike. Motor pulled like a banshee.
wow123
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wow123 1/23/2014 10:41am
1/23/2014 10:41am
Compared with the oddball 79 it looks sooo much better.
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skidmarkz
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skidmarkz 1/23/2014 10:56am
1/23/2014 10:56am Edited Date/Time 1/23/2014 11:13am
I dunno, I kind of liked the 79 better....except for the 23 in front wheel. It just looks "sleeker" to my eyes...more like the rc 125
type II. The 80 model almost looks too "boxy/stuby".



zippy895
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zippy895 1/23/2014 11:10am
1/23/2014 11:10am
all I remember about the new 1980 cr I had was the 1300. price tag,strong motor clocked 55mph on paved road ,crappy tires and suspension and bean oil smell.lots of bean oil smell
Katoomey
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Katoomey 1/23/2014 11:36am
1/23/2014 11:36am
Harry_Gray wrote:
Regardless of how it performed; they are beautiful to look at. Another great article...
this bike railed and ripped. it handled so well it is unbelievable. yeah, the suspension sucks, and it would overheat rather quickly, but it was, and is, a wonderful dirtbike to ride.

I picked one of these up in 1996 and still own it today. It was in absolutely mint condition. I paid $300 for it, which was the only reason I got it. I wasn't into vintage dirtbikes or anything like that, it was just really clean (not even a tear in the seat and still had the original decals), and cheap. At the time I had a 1994 KX250 and 1993 CR125R and I completely stopped riding them for a whole summer and pounded on the 1980. I remember it fondly. That was the year MC first did his nac-nac, and as soon as I saw that on TV i was out trying it, and first did it on this bike. I used to get all sorts of comments and looks from people at the track, especially after I would blast by guys on that "old" machine. It was the first dirtbike I truly loved. Needless to say I rode it hard and put it up wet.

As of now it's sitting in boxes, torn apart. I've slowly been accumulating new, original parts for it as I plan to do a complete resto on it. Hopefully sooner than later. I had paint mixed for it more than 5 times before I was happy with the color. Honda's official name for the color back when was "Tahitian red."

boy, this thread brought back a flood of memories. good times!
WhipMeister
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WhipMeister 1/23/2014 11:46am
1/23/2014 11:46am
CamP wrote:
Good looking bikes, but it was a sea of yellow 125's in 1980.
Well, I guess. They were all behind me.....Woohoo
newmann
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newmann 1/23/2014 12:10pm
1/23/2014 12:10pm
That 80 model CR125 engine looks different than mine.



Well, Hubbards that is....
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tblazier
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tblazier 1/23/2014 12:36pm
1/23/2014 12:36pm
newmann wrote:
That 80 model CR125 engine looks different than mine. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/01/23/43169/s1200_SPARE_MUGEN.jpg[/img] Well, Hubbards that is....
That 80 model CR125 engine looks different than mine.



Well, Hubbards that is....
Show off.
AHRMA361 1/23/2014 12:41pm
1/23/2014 12:41pm
OW38B wrote:
There is something about the "Red Engine" Hondas.......

250 - 78 to 81
125 - 79 to 81
500 - 81
You were close! It was a 450 in 1981
Harm
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Harm 1/23/2014 2:42pm
1/23/2014 2:42pm
15 years ago I bought one with a spare engine and stored it ever since.
newmann
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newmann 1/23/2014 3:14pm
1/23/2014 3:14pm
Sweet candidate for a resto or for a race bike. Good forks and shocks make it a ripper. Swingarm helps too, mostly in the looks dept. Most importantly, get that droopy fender off the front, a 78-80 CR250 front fender is the answer.





bigborefan
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bigborefan 1/23/2014 3:19pm
1/23/2014 3:19pm Edited Date/Time 1/23/2014 3:21pm
newmann wrote:
That 80 model CR125 engine looks different than mine. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/01/23/43169/s1200_SPARE_MUGEN.jpg[/img] Well, Hubbards that is....
That 80 model CR125 engine looks different than mine.



Well, Hubbards that is....
Now you're just showing off Newmann....lol!

I at least own a Mugen Jersey. Not sure who it fits though. People sure were small in the past.

And TBlazier, you hated the 89 KX-250? Blasphemy. I don't collect old bikes, but some day I want an 89 KX-250 to restore.

Pit Row

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sgthubbard#60
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sgthubbard#60 1/24/2014 7:03am
1/24/2014 7:03am
newmann wrote:
That 80 model CR125 engine looks different than mine. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/01/23/43169/s1200_SPARE_MUGEN.jpg[/img] Well, Hubbards that is....
That 80 model CR125 engine looks different than mine.



Well, Hubbards that is....
tblazier wrote:
Show off.
Hell has froze over, Newmann is showing off my shit! Lol! Granted I'm staring out the window looking for the UPS truck as I type this.....
newmann
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newmann 1/24/2014 7:07am
1/24/2014 7:07am
newmann wrote:
That 80 model CR125 engine looks different than mine. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/01/23/43169/s1200_SPARE_MUGEN.jpg[/img] Well, Hubbards that is....
That 80 model CR125 engine looks different than mine.



Well, Hubbards that is....
tblazier wrote:
Show off.
sgthubbard#60 wrote:
Hell has froze over, Newmann is showing off my shit! Lol! Granted I'm staring out the window looking for the UPS truck as I type this.....
Sleep well last night knowing it's just an hour....or two away?
sgthubbard#60
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sgthubbard#60 1/24/2014 7:12am
1/24/2014 7:12am
Haven't slept since you shipped it! But guess what just landed on my desk! Giggity!
newmann
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newmann 1/24/2014 7:22am
1/24/2014 7:22am
sgthubbard#60 wrote:
Haven't slept since you shipped it! But guess what just landed on my desk! Giggity!
Is this some reverse psychology shit or something?Laughing
newmann
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newmann 1/24/2014 7:26am
1/24/2014 7:26am
Pics or it never happened....
sgthubbard#60
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sgthubbard#60 1/24/2014 7:27am
1/24/2014 7:27am
newmann wrote:
Pics or it never happened....
Lol, hang in there, I'm franticly un packing it
newmann
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newmann 1/24/2014 7:30am
1/24/2014 7:30am Edited Date/Time 1/24/2014 7:31am
Just unscrew around the bottom and lift off. Don't screw my crate up, gotta have it back.....full of good stuff!
sgthubbard#60
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sgthubbard#60 1/24/2014 7:41am
1/24/2014 7:41am
pic because it happened
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newmann
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newmann 1/24/2014 7:52am
1/24/2014 7:52am
sgthubbard#60
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sgthubbard#60 1/24/2014 7:58am
1/24/2014 7:58am
newmann wrote:
[img]http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/commercials/2011/2/carmax-candy-store.jpg[/img]
lmao, only difference there is that kid isn't touching himself. Lol
henryhilco 3/2/2025 9:13am
3/2/2025 9:13am
Harm wrote:
15 years ago I bought one with a spare engine and stored it ever since. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/01/23/43193/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
15 years ago I bought one with a spare engine and stored it ever since.

Heb je hem nog? En eventueel te koop?

1
Magoofan
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Magoofan 3/2/2025 10:31am
3/2/2025 10:31am Edited Date/Time 3/2/2025 10:33am

Beautiful bike....    Always enjoy these breakdowns too bad the pics in the link are gone.

(Yes, I'm aware this is a resurrected 11 year old thread)

 

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