1976 CR125 "center port"

"Up for auction is this very nice 1976 Honda CR-125 Elsinore Center Port engine model."

Gotta love how the seller is playing stupid about the center port engine and I also see the front forks have been modded below the axle. Are those pinch bolts in the axle bosses?

Several years back there was a 76-78 with center port pics making the rounds on the net and Mark's Swapmeet for sale. It was also always listed with vague descriptions there and on ebay. Guessing someone had some cylinders cast with a center port exhaust and are trying to come in under the radar and sell them as rare birds. Pretty cool stuff though, I like it.

a pic is worth alot of conversation....ha!!

Sure seems like a lot of work to cast a center-port for "replica" bike and then there's the wish-bone down tube.
I don't think Scott Steiger went through that much hassle for his builds......and those fetch around $8k?

You need this bike Joe!!!

No, I need to get rid of a bunch of clutter. I have a good portion of a brand new 77 CR125 that may be put out on eBay someday. NOS engine in a box with pipe, carb and electrics to go with it...

I've seen this before. If I recall Honda did provide some support riders with the center port motor. I'd like to hear more on it. Newman?

I like this bike and am watching to see if it sells. I tried to figure out the combo of possibilities to create it. Maybe a later 80 model cylinder. But alas, I have not unlocked the secret.

I measured a 74 case set and compared to the 79/80 set I have. The newer set has a wider intake foot print, so not a bolt on affair, Fin spacing looks like a 76-78 cylinder. I will say some one has done a great job on this bike.

Realize the frame had to be modified to accommodate the motor change. This too was top notch! Makes you wonder why they left the stock swing arm on the bike. Heck, even a lowly novice such as I was able to break the stock arm.

Would like more detail when YOU buy this Newman.....I can make a slot to hide it here if need be. No Charge!!

Was it or is it a stock swingarm? Marty was winning championships with that "stock" swingarm.......HA!
I think Joe is on it........he's keeping a low-profile then....BAMM!! "Auction has ended"

Hasletjoe wrote:

I like this bike and am watching to see if it sells. I tried to figure out the combo of possibilities to create it. Maybe a later 80 model cylinder. But alas, I have not unlocked the secret.

I measured a 74 case set and compared to the 79/80 set I have. The newer set has a wider intake foot print, so not a bolt on affair, Fin spacing looks like a 76-78 cylinder. I will say some one has done a great job on this bike.

Realize the frame had to be modified to accommodate the motor change. This too was top notch! Makes you wonder why they left the stock swing arm on the bike. Heck, even a lowly novice such as I was able to break the stock arm.

Would like more detail when YOU buy this Newman.....I can make a slot to hide it here if need be. No Charge!!

What if I buy it and find the cylinder to be made out of Bondo?

A friend of mine paid huge money for a mugen cylinder, bead blasted it to refinish and a couple fins fell off. Yep, bondo'd on. Amazing how much better it worked when he had them welded back on.

The frame doesn't look right to me... My opinion is that an extra centerport cylinder from the vintage factory days was sold and that a fantasy bike was built around that feature. I'd love to tear it down and blast everything to see what lies beneath, but not for that price.

I think I will sit back and relax. No way I can afford this at this time. Besides, Newmann has moved from having a suitable candidate and needing to off load stuff to "... if I buy it and find the cylinder ..".

It's just Tuesday evening. He can take all those Christmas gifts back, hit a few pawn shops with some wrenches and hammers, he will have more than enough funds by the end of the sale Friday.....

I fully expect complete technical debrief with engineering prints and details. Assume he will have it restored and "presentable" by Christmas Eve!

Textbook Newmann!!!!!

I think its one of Joe Abbate's RC replica bikes the cylinder is a modified stocker like what the CZ guy's do to center port like a Falta bike.

Maybe Todd Applegate can take a look at it for us and report back, it's in his neck of the woods.

If he can get out of his Mom's basement long enough.

I have worked on this bike sorting out ignition and carb. It is a very well built bike and virtually spotless.

Looks like the seller just posted the reserve price and BIN price in the comments but I don't see a BIN option in the listing.

AHRMA361 wrote:

I have worked on this bike sorting out ignition and carb. It is a very well built bike and virtually spotless.

Looks like the seller just posted the reserve price and BIN price in the comments but I don't see a BIN option in the listing.

Then tell us more about this center port cylinder...

AHRMA361 wrote:

I have worked on this bike sorting out ignition and carb. It is a very well built bike and virtually spotless.

Looks like the seller just posted the reserve price and BIN price in the comments but I don't see a BIN option in the listing.

newmann wrote:

Then tell us more about this center port cylinder...

Yes, I'm anxious to hear as well!

newmann wrote:

Then tell us more about this center port cylinder...

Joe, the bike is a bit of an enigma. I don't have any firsthand knowledge to share. Only local legend/lore stuff and I will speculate here only to pass along what I think, based on that legend/lore.

The center port MS bike was a real factory effort. Legend says that some "connected" people had access to that style engine (read RICH people) from Honda. The center port future bike to replace MS's bike was already being developed. I can't remember right now what that bike was called (RC Type II?) but a few magazines had stories about it in 77.

Anyway, so the story goes on that a local wealthy new car dealership owner had the means to acquire one or more.

Mid-Ohio National was held in Lexington Ohio for years. The nearest large town, Mansfield, was home to Pete Weidner Pontiac. Pete's son apparently rode (I have no citation for this) and some say his dad got him a center port bike/engine/frame or some combination of that.

The story goes on that the center port bike was found many years later in a pile at a bike salvage yard there in Mansfield. That bike may have been the same one you are mentioning in your earlier post Joe that was on Mark's page some years ago.

I know this bike has a regular Honda VIN on the steering stem. The cylinder looked legit to me, no bondo or such. And, yes, there is a pinch bolt in the fork lower.

And just as a disclaimer to my speculation above, like I said, I have no firsthand knowledge of the legend/lore. I only know what I saw when it was in my shop. It's a beautiful bike regardless. Very unique for sure.

YMMV

It would need a new pipe a least but that's obviously not a big deal, it's just a bit more money.

.

Interesting story uncle mike.
Mark was a good rider.
Raced a bunch of hare scrambles at mid ohio in 76/77 Mark usually overalled them..always on a big bore
He did ride the 76 250 support at mid ohio on a hoosk.
If that engine was in any of the 4 area to mansfield I would have got it 89-94
Buy it mikee

Only John R or Dave Arnold will really know.
The ACTUAL Marty Smith cylinder looks nothing like this copy.

The cases are different with the FI drive gear

Wow the works engineers were really thinking ahead but I'm sure were reluctant to jeopardize a proven combination that was winning (and selling) at the time.

It ended at $3,800. Anyone on here buy it?

Ended at 3800? With a buy it now of 3400.00

Someone couldn’t commit and ended up paying an extra 400?

wfoyz250 wrote:

Pretty rare piece here. Upswept pipe, "wish-bone" downtube. Maybe somewhat of a factory Honda offered to "support" racers?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-Honda-CR-125-Elsinore/264088436645?hash=item3d7ce5bfa5:g:HscAAOSw5EpcCaIl:rk:1:pf:0

Here's another one. WTF?

https://www.smartcycleguide.com/L49472168

That would be the one that was making the rounds a few years back.

newmann wrote:

That would be the one that was making the rounds a few years back.

ah, ok, well the one for 3400.00 or 3800.00 as it ended up seemed like a much better deal in the end, just seems extremely odd to see 2 of them and at the same time.

the one i posted is close to me. maybe i will message them and if they reply i might go look at it just to try and see exactly what it might be. i would have bought the 74 that was recently posted on here if it was closer to me.

The $8500 bike was built by Don Sliwinski. He does very good work. I have a Marty Tripes replica 1980 CR250 that he built