Classic Bike Review: 1978 Honda CR250R Elsinore

tblazier
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tblazier
Edited Date/Time 12/9/2019 7:16pm
This is my look back at Honda's iconic Red Rooster, the all-new for 1978 CR250R Elsinore. This bike was a major step forward for the brand after 3 years of retread designs. This Type II replica CR was the first Honda motocrosser to bear the "R" designation and a huge step in performance and technology from previous Honda efforts.




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AHRMA361
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AHRMA361 12/7/2019 10:45am
12/7/2019 10:45am
Great review! Very thorough. also love the old school video.

I really enjoy my 79 Fox replica.




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bents
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bents 12/7/2019 9:55pm
12/7/2019 9:55pm
This is one of the sexiest Honda's ever built.
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Joko
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Joko 12/8/2019 3:21am
12/8/2019 3:21am
Did Marty Tripes ever ride a modified stock version of the 78CR250 model or was his all factory?
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tblazier
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tblazier 12/8/2019 3:50am
12/8/2019 3:50am
Joko wrote:
Did Marty Tripes ever ride a modified stock version of the 78CR250 model or was his all factory?
Marty had access to both and actually won on a production CR250R in Supercross that year against full-factory machines at the other OEMs
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just James
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just James 12/8/2019 4:12am
12/8/2019 4:12am
I had one of those in the early 80's. I had gone from a '74 Honda XL350 to this. Talk about night and day, in comparison, the CR250R was super light and seemed to me to have a zillion horsepower. It was waaaaay more bike than I could handle at the time, but I had a blast on that thing.
And I agree that it is still one of the best looking bikes ever made.
BTW, I still have a scar on my left knee from a crash on it when the throttle stuck wide open.
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NoMuff2Tuff
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NoMuff2Tuff 12/8/2019 4:48am
12/8/2019 4:48am
Love the job you do on the videos and keep them coming, they are really appreciated!!
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MaicoJC1
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MaicoJC1 12/8/2019 10:33pm
12/8/2019 10:33pm
Bought a 78 Honda CR250R in the summer of 79. One of my all-time favorites too. Great review, TB. Thanks.
JMCR250
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JMCR250 12/9/2019 7:16pm
12/9/2019 7:16pm
I bought one of the first ones available in our area in '78. Waited what seemed like forever for it to arrive. (I probably called the dealer every day). When it finally arrived, I was awestruck. Took it out to break it in, and like TB mentions, I looped it out on the first day of riding. Honda must have sold a bunch of rear fenders for these bikes. My clearest memory of the bike was how fast it was. I went from a mid-pack B rider to a front of the pack B rider just because this bike usually put me at the front off the start. It was great going to the line with that kind of confidence. Great bike - I wish I had kept mine.

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