1974 Honda XR75 model built primarily for the North American market as an exclusively off road model. Young people made it a very popular model and was an available model for the next 5 years, 1978 was the last year this model was available. It was available in three colors, Flash Red, Tahitian Red, and Grey. This model had a modified overhead camshaft CB50J style engine adding to it’s credibility, it looked more like a “Real Motorcycle” compared to the earlier horizontal cylinder engine off road bikes.
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1974 YAMAHA RD350
The 1974 Yamaha RD350 motorcycle had a 350-cc two-stroke engine. This design was discontinued in 1980 due to U.S. emission laws.
1974 YAMAHA RD350, Motocross classics1975 HONDA XL125
When Honda re-issued the 125 as a trail bike rather than a street machine, off road accouterments took the place of road trim. The high plastic front fender and mud flap come from the MT 125 two-stroke enduro. The rear fender is also plastic. The seat and Elsinore-style steel gas tank come indirectly from the two-stroke enduro bikes. Also from the MTs are the handlebars, levers, controls, instruments and fork assembly. A final trail touch is the inclusion of the block pattern trials-type tires.
1975 HONDA XL125, classic motocross bikes, Motocross classics1975 YAMAHA RD250
Yamaha’s policy of selling off the back of racing success is self evident with the introduction of the reed valve RD series of models. Introduced in 1973 to replace the popular YDS7 the engine sported the same 7 port barrel/piston assembly as the race engines, along with six speeds giving class leading performance, and when tested by the American ‘Cycle World’ magazine, gave a standing quarter time of 15.64 seconds. The frame was based closely on the production race machinery, and was set up for fast road work rather than long distance touring. Many were converted into race machinery, and when they eventually stopped production in 1975 to be replaced by the less successful XS250 four stroke twin, this itself being dropped for the now iconic RD250/350 LC models, based closely on the TZ race machinery.
1975 YAMAHA RD250, classic motocross bikes, Motocross classics1977 HONDA CR125
First announced in 1974, the CR125 Elsinore made an immediate impact in the Moto-cross world. Honda had carved their reputation in road racing with a series of exotic four stroke machinery, and had generally come out against two strokes. Honda got it absolutely right at their first attempt with the legendary Elsinore.
1977 HONDA CR125, classic motocross bikes, Motocross classics