The Honda Z-Series refers to the lineage of mini bikes manufactured by Honda Motorcycles. Though Honda’s official model designations are typically Z50A, Z50J, Z50M, Z50R and ZB50, they are more commonly referred to as the “Monkey” or “Gorilla” because of the way people are said to look when riding one of such bikes. Sales of the bike began in March 1964 with the Z50M mode. The original model of the Honda Z-series was originally produced as a children’s ride at a Japanese amusement park, but was eventually refined and put into mass production, hitting the European market in 1967. Since then Honda has produced a wide variety of Honda Z-series mini bikes, with annual model updates still in effect.
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1972 SUZUKI R350 REBEL
A awesomely fast 350 two-stroke twin when it was launched in 1969. It’s 315cc piston-port engine gave an easy 39hp at 7,500rpm, and weighed about 149kg. It was the fastest 350cc machine available in 1972, and was able to out-drag the Honda CB450, as well as the Triumph 500 twins with a standing quarter of less than 15 seconds! The T350 Rebel though was not all good news; its handling was borderline evil, as many North American customers found out! The power was simply too much for the chassis, but it still made for an exciting ride, and became something of a legend over time. Few have survived and those that did are highly coveted by collectors, especially in North America market.
1972 SUZUKI R350 REBEL, classic motocross bikes1974 CAN-AM TNT250
Specifications of this model will be added at a later date.
1974 CAN-AM TNT250, classic motocross bikes, Motocross classics1974 HONDA CR250 ELSINORE
Sold in 1973-74. HONDA ELSINORE CR250M was Honda´s first true off-road model.
classic motocross bikes, HONDA ELSINORE CR250, Motocross classics1974 HONDA XR75
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.
1974 HONDA XR75, classic motocross bikes, 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