The motor was locked up and I suspected that she had seized, that was not the case. The reason the CR had not run in 20 years was the bottom end of the connecting rod had broken and the bearing disintegrated on the crankshaft. You can’t buy an OEM connecting rod for a 32 yr. old Honda 125 and I had to get a Hot Rod kit and have the crankshaft line bored for the 2mm larger crank pin, bearing and rod. While I was in the motor we replaced all bearings, seals, gaskets, and had the cylinder bored over with a new piston, ring, clips etc. I had the frame and shock springs powder coated and the tank and shock bodies were wet painted. I painted the side cases, bars , triple trees, hubs ,brake arm ,air box, motor mounts, and all brackets. The bike got all new plastic and a new seat cover, air cleaner and intake manifold. The clutch cable was replaced and a fresh NGK B9ES installed. I replaced the fork seals, fork oil and swing arm bushings. All spokes were sanded and new Dunlops were mounted. The carb had black tar in every jet and it was the hardness of carbide. The machine now starts on the first or second kick. I saw an identical Elsinore at an AHRMA event in Phoenix with a $6000 price tag! The Throttle Jockey number plate graphics completed the package!
 
In 1977 the Honda CR was NOT the bike to have in the 125 class. Honda’s dominance was over by 1976 and the YZ’s and RM’s were much better machines. The CR is VERY peaky and the suspension is limited. I had owned and raced a ‘75 CR 125M after the Hondas out ran my ‘73 Suzuki TM125 in the ‘74 season. The first CR 125 in ‘74 owned motocross. It weighed only 188 lbs. with fuel and had 20 horsepower. By 1978 the Suzuki RM 125C and Yamaha YZ 125E were hard to beat and the old Elsies faded into history.