Unassembled 1979 Honda CR125R Elsinore Sells for $70,000 on Bring a Trailer
A factory-fresh 1979 Honda CR125R Elsinore, still packed inside its original shipping crate with protective plastic wrapping and unridden for nearly five decades, recently commanded $70,000 at a Bring a Trailer auction, slashgear.com reported. The machine arrived in Grand Blanc, Michigan, complete with its original boxes, a 123cc two-stroke engine, a six-speed manual transmission, and 23-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels.
The previous owner purchased the motorcycle in 2011 and kept it partially disassembled in its original packaging. Standard market valuation for the model typically sits much lower. Hagerty estimates place an example in good condition between $4,100 and $5,800, with average values experiencing a slight downward drift over the preceding five-year window. The time-warp condition and complete delivery crates pushed bidding far past standard vintage pricing.
Engineering Evolution of the Elsinore
Honda developed the Elsinore line in the 1970s following a secret two-stroke engineering program pursued despite initial opposition from company founder Soichiro Honda, silodrome.com noted. The company launched its first production motocross bike in 1973. By 1979, the manufacturer had secured both 500cc riders’ and manufacturers’ titles in the Motocross World Championship, establishing its signature red paint scheme across the lineup starting in 1976.
The 1979 model introduced significant mechanical upgrades to reclaim a competitive edge in the 125cc category against fierce rivals Yamaha and Suzuki. Engineers outfitted the machine with reed-valve induction, a chrome-lined cylinder bore, a 32mm Keihin carburetor, and long-range suspension yielding roughly 11 inches of travel. The architecture represented a complete redesign from earlier iterations like the pioneering 1974 CR125M, which featured piston-port induction and 31mm fork tubes.
Global Transit for the Factory-Fresh Motocrosser
The winning bidder secured the unopened crate after a fierce auction battle. Following the close of the sale, the buyer stated they were very excited to have won this bike,
and confirmed plans to ship the artifact to Australia to go in with some other classic motocross bikes,
slashgear.com reported.
Unopened warehouse finds continue to surface on the platform. Earlier in 2026, a classic Chevy crate engine appeared for sale complete with its original delivery crate and plastic wrapping, mirroring the preserved state of the Honda. For now, the unridden Elsinore leaves behind its Michigan location for a collection overseas, preserving a pristine slice of late-seventies off-road engineering history.
