Post Sale Update: This Elsinore sold for $5,000 after 46 bids on eBay.
This Honda CR250 Elsinore is a first-year model of Honda’s first serious dirt bike. It’s 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.
This example (VIN: CR250M-1014127) is said to be “mostly original” with some “period correct performance parts”, though the seller is vague about what the aftermarket parts are. He does note that many of the original parts are included, and based on the photo it would seem that the levers, pegs, carb, and rear shocks are upgrades, plus there’s obviously a DG exhaust in the rear. The seller claims the bike was set up for MX and that it does not have a title, just a bill of sale. The bodywork was most likely repainted in the past and the side stand was removed, but overall it’s in good shape and now you won’t be worried about getting it dirty! The seller also claims that the motor has been ported and it has a high-comp piston, which makes it difficult to kick start when cold. Otherwise it’s said to run great and it was recently serviced with a carb clean and several new parts including the tires, points, air filter, chain, spark plugs, and more.
Find this Elsinore for sale in Auburn, Washington with bidding up to $2,550 and the reserve not yet met