1973 Honda CR250M Elsinore

Many vintage motocross enthusiasts consider the 1973 Honda CR250M Elsinore one of the most influential motocross bikes of all time. Not only was it the first dirt bike that Honda built from the ground up instead of using a street bike as a model, but the Elsinore was also Honda’s first two-stroke machine.

The CR250M was released to the public in 1973, and was an air-cooled 248cc two-stroke with a single cylinder and close-ratio five-speed transmission. It had a Flywheel Magneto Ignition System and a wet disc multi-plate clutch. The Elsinore also had a semi-double cradle frame. The CR250M was 214 pounds when dry, 44.9 inches tall, 35 inches wide at the handlebars, and 84.3 inches from front to back.

The paint scheme in the CR250M’s inaugural year consisted of a custom silver metallic and expert green. The fenders were constructed from ABS plastic and painted silver, while the brushed aluminum fuel tank had a green top-panel with black stripes. The number plates were silver with green oval panels. This color scheme was only used the first two years of production.