1976 Honda MR175 21st Century Refresh

[irk miller]

I made a trade with a pal: He gets a pretty-worn-but-running IT200 and I get a basket-case-with-two-bottom-ends-and-a-bunch-of-parts MR175. This is a get what you need deal. And for me, it’s finallly living a childhood dream… of sorts.

That’s me on the right in 1979. I think we’re at Cumberland Falls. It’s a pretty famous family trip from home near Detroit to my grandparents in South Carolina. It took 3 days. Anyway, that’s a Honda Elsinore shirt I wore out. I always wanted an Elsinore and it pretty much sticks to this day. Now granted it’s likely a CR250 on the shirt, but Elsinores are Elsinores.

Here is where it begins:

I don’t plan to go crazy custom. I do plan to convert to CDI and probably do some porting and run the snail pipe. I also have both a stock and gutted stock pipe.

 

[Rider52]

I had a CR125 Elsinore with a MT125 top end. It was a great trail bike, light and tractable.

 

[Brodie]

A friend of mine's uncle had his original MR50 that he had from when he was a kid. He would always drag it out and show it off when ever we went around to ride on his property.
I tried for many years to buy it from him but he wasn't having it.

Glad to see you finally have one, can't wait to watch you work your magic on this beast.

 

[irk miller]

It's almost like I forgot about this bike. I never really got the build launched, as I let my shock situation dictate when it would start. Well, I have finally managed to procure a sweet pair of vintage Works Performance Steelies and just finished rebuilding them. I can officially call this build launched.

 

[Maritime]

Nice!

 

[JustinLonghorn]

Yep.

 

[whynot]

Looks good.......

 

[Rider52]

Period perfect!

 

[irk miller]

I thought a few local shops would have nitrogen, but found out only one does and they charge $50 per fill. Made more sense to me to pay $120 plus $20 for a 20 of nitrogen to piece together my own rig.

 

[Maritime]

Yep. Now you can do multi sets

 

[irk miller]

I sent the jug to Mototech USA for an 050 overbore. All seals and bearings in the case replaced. New gaskets and it’s finally buttoned up and installed in frame with the snail pipe.

 

[whynot]

nice

 

[Maritime]

Nice, Looks great Irk!

 

[Rider52]

Looks great.

 

[JustinLonghorn]

I can definitely dig it.

 

[Luugo86]

I sent the jug to Mototech USA for an 050 overbore. All seals and bearings in the case replaced. New gaskets and it’s finally buttoned up and installed in frame with the snail pipe.

View attachment 239183

Some nice progress, Irk.. I love the shin skinner foot pegs!

 

[irk miller]

Upgrading with a Vape ignition and 12v conversion.

 

[Rider52]

That should be a great upgrade.

 

[teazer]

When you install that VAPE, check that the stator coils are inside the rotor. I just finished fitting one and the coils were too "low". Finally got a suitable spacer from the main US importer Dan at Re-Mx. Great service from him.

 

[irk miller]

When you install that VAPE, check that the stator coils are inside the rotor. I just finished fitting one and the coils were too "low". Finally got a suitable spacer from the main US importer Dan at Re-Mx. Great service from him.

This kit cam from Re-MX. Everything looked good installing it. I assume Re-MX is putting the kits together?