The Honda CR250M Elsinore is historically significant as it was the first serious dirt bike to come straight from an OEM – other bikes required serious modifications from the factory floor. This was a bike of many firsts for Honda – their first dirt bike built from scratch, instead of trying to adapt a street bike to the dirt, and it was their first production two-stroke.
Named after offroad racing in Lake Elsinore – the most popular race of the late 60s and early 70s, the popularity of the Honda CR250 soared after a stock example won the AMA 250 national MX series with Gary Jones at the helm. Weighing just 229 pounds, the Elsinore was able to get 29 horsepower out of its 250cc engine. Want to learn more? Check out this writeup from a 1973 issue of Cycle Magazine, which starts with: “Honda has finally done it.”
This example is said to have spent the last quarter of a century “hanging on display in a Honda dealership.” The seller states that it is unrestored and almost all original, and that it “starts right up and runs as it should.” The only cosmetic issue seems to be some dents in the tank, but otherwise it looks to be quite solid. Would you ride it as is or get a replacement tank and display it?
Find this Elsinore for sale in Parker, Colorado for $7,500 here on Craigslist.
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