1973 Honda XR75 Classic Off-Road Test Review

[@teodelfuego]

I can confirm that the XR75 was the dream bike for many a kid. We had a back yard motocross track carved in the woods at the foot of White Oak Mountain. I started on a Mini-Trail 50, then graduated to my brother’s 1972 SL 70 which we stripped of lights and added Preston Petty plastic fenders and knobby tires. My friend had an XR75 and another friend had a YZ80. I lusted for the XR75 but never got one.

[@anthonyfox5337]

The SL70 was my first bike , I was drooling when I saw the XR75.

[@thomashussey5159]

I remember seeing a pair of these in a neighbors truck as a kid. I fell in love with those bikes and begged parents to buy me a z50 that Christmas. Been involved with the sport ever since then. Love your work Blaze. Thanks for the memories.

[@pdbordelon]

I had a 1980 CT-70 and later my little brother got a 1982 XR-80. Great fun back then. The Xr-75 was everywhere in the 70s!

[@robertreynolds8092]

I had that exact bike. I wish I still had it.

[@Razzomoto]

Thank you for including two of my Honda Mini's in the video! That is my 1968 red/white Z50K0 and my modded silver Sl70 K0. 👍🏁👍🏁

[@brantmcfarland517]

I love this channel. Who wouldn’t it’s about dirt bikes. Thanks for sharing your time and videos with us and me.

[@erich1308]

My childhood. I never missed an issue of Minicycle magazine. The XR75 knocked out the Indian mini cycle the same way the YZ80 knocked it out. That red XR at the 10:39 mark in the video is GODLY!

[@genol.depello7274]

My very first race at 10 years old Honda XR 75 1973 I was trailing a YZ80 2-stroke to the last turn and I passed them first place!

[@MrTimbo318]

I still have my 78 model that i raced back in the day :)

[@jayb9687]

The bike that started it all for me. Had a 1979 xr80 basically the same thing

[@leesamuelson]

I had a 1974 XR75. only thing changed was 1 tooth smaller counter shaft sprocket and a JB headers. hill climbed and MX raced it. They dominated the mini class until 76 when yamaha finally put some power in the yz 80. in 76 I got a CR125 and my brother then got a 77 yz80. that 77YZ was a ripper! could stand it on the rear wheel in the first 3 gears by just twisting the throttle!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

My buddy had a 1976 125 Elsinore that he used for hill climbing. All he had for mods was some banana shaped aluminum swing arm (FMF I think),---and bolted on a 38mm carb,--huge. I ride the bike like that, and it had no power until you got to about 10,000 rpm, and signed off at 11,000rpm, (not measured, but my close estimation.). I was on my 3rd dirt bike (had a 79 YZ125 at the time), and I could not get that thing moving. I just could not get used to being about full throttle to let the clutch out, which is about what you had to do. He won a few hill climbs with it in the 125 class though. I bought a replacement air compressor pump for my air compressor in my shop. It has the head fin shape of the 1976 Elsinore head. lol

[@todds6135]

Thanks, that was a dream bike back when I was in Jr high, I remember going to the dealership and drooling over it, some day I would like to get one...

[@LifeWideOpen780]

Love that honda sl70 ad. Couldn't make it today

[@chadkimmel8957]

My uncle taught me how to ride on my cousin’s 1975 XR75. That was in 1991. They still have it today. Other than a rust hole in the muffler, and a crack in seat cover, she’s in pretty good condition.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Those are 2 things that can be fixed pretty easily. It is a collectors item.

[@chadkimmel8957]

@@EarthSurferUSA yup. Its still in pretty good condition and wouldn’t take much at all to restore. It’s also cool to see my cousin’s boys learn on the same bike we did.

[@simonty353]

I love your video's Tony. When I was very young and my elder brothers had YZ 80D's my cousin David had an XR 75 and I still remember it's sound and I thought it was very cool and wished I was big enough to ride it. I remember that when my brother's were racing their 80's in the late 70's there was an XR75 class for racing too....keep up the great work Tony

[@andremalbrough249]

I loved the XR75 what a wonderful piece of. Beaty

[@454Casul]

I got a brand new 1976 XR75 for my 12th birthday, in 1976! My dad sold his Honda CB350 street bike, so that he could buy the XR for me. He also had an XL 250, so he still had a bike to ride. I was riding a Chaparal 80, which was a piece of crap, when I got the XR. I had previously got started on a Honda QA 50. I graduated to a 1978 Suzuki RM 125, 3 years later. I got to compete in motocross races on the RM.

[@raoulduke3770]

That orange Trail 70 at 5:20 was my first bike. There wasn't much that little thing wouldn't chug through in the woods.

[@coachp7486]

Thx Tony for sharing. I follow along on T and Inst and enjoy your content ! I had a YZ80D while my best friend had a XR75. Couple yrs newer .. had the Honda logo with yellow Honda wing if I remember right. Use to love his XR. Charcoal grey, it’s power and the overall look .. it was such a cool bike ! We still talk about it fr time to time. Thx again !

[@andyroo3022]

I enjoyed this Great video with lots of good history on these little bikes. I had a 1982 CR80 as a young teen. I am currently doing a full showroom resto on a 1980 XR80. I have even polished the crank case and the valve cover. Before I stripped the little XR down she started first kick. The front forks were bent, requiring replacement. (Repro Honda CT90 fits) I rode it, testament to how tough these little Hondas are still running in 2022.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I bought a can of polish from a Harley shop called "Wizards metal polish for motorcycles". It is like a pink dense cotton candy that comes in a sealed bag, inside of what looks like a old school band aid metal box, (is). You just rip off a piece, and polish aluminum (what I use it for) pretty easily in those real hard to reach places. I have had the same can for about 12 years and it is still good, (folded in a plastic bag and in the metal box). If it goes dry, it says to just add a few drops of mineral spirits. The elbow grease needed is not very bad IMO. Gets a mirror shine in a couple quick applications for me. Box says it is good for aluminum, stainless and dull chrome. Restores, shines, protects. I think they owe me money for advertising now. :)

[@andyroo3022]

@@EarthSurferUSA Sounds the goods. I usually use Autosol, it comes in a tube. I just got a good used 2009 Husqvarna TE310 yesterday. I t is pretty much a registerable motocross/enduro bike.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

My 1974 Yamaha YZ-80-A with a GYT Kit at XR-s for Lunch .. Powroll did have 110 CC & 116 CC stroker and big bore kits.. My 1974 YZ-80-A had a 16 mm carb my GYT Kit Carb was 24 MM .. 72 cc's in later years 80 class two strokes were 85 CC's

[@Lowbrass64]

Raced mine at Southwick!

[@jasong7374]

Awesome video, I would love to see the XR100 review

[@ozzielinkin]

beautiful little bike

[@BikesandBlickeys]

Love the history told on this channel, especially the classics & unique machines. I would love to see an overview on the TM brand or bikes.

[@brianking1138]

I had lots of fun on an xr80 as a kid. It's hard to believe the xr75 was faster than the YZ80 at first.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I agree. That YZ must have really been detuned

[@damonpulliam6211]

Back then the yamaha was a gt 80

[@grahamchilds821]

Lots of model xr75s back in the 1970s all models looked good they had different designs and colours

[@60zeller]

My 1st bike,loved it. My neighbor had a yz80, he would kick leave me behind. But,he spent much more time in the shop

[@EarthSurferUSA]

"But,he spent much more time in the shop." Speaking for myself and others who I know who created businesses later on because they worked on their bikes and learned how to do things, that is a good thing we got from this industry,---opportunity. If we don't work on and improve our bikes and live under free enterprise, the only opportunity is racing. No "Butts" about it.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

My 1974 Yamaha YZ-80-A was rated at 5.5 HP and had a 5 speed Trans .. the GYT Kit I installed was made for the YZ-80-B or maybe the C too 1975 and 1976 modles my GYT Kit tripled my power as is or with port work

[@hodakaned]

thanks 4 sharing i had a 74 76 and77 xr75 1981 a yz 80 blew me away had to get a 3strokf 77 cr125m used race bike super fast aftermartet ezaust dg nobody even came close rm kx yz beat them all

[@MrDentless]

If I remember correctly in 73 my dad bought the first 80 from Yamaha the GT 80 Mx was there also yz 80’s

[@rochellestanley9532]

Awesome review, my first race bike 🥇

[@David33333able]

My first new Dirt Bike was A 1977 Honda XR 75,,,Bought it new for $$ 500.00 out the door in San Jose Ca....

[@EarthSurferUSA]

As kids, a good friend of mine had a red 1976 model XR75. He could hit 70mph with that stock bike. That is a faster top speed than and 250cc 2-stroke MX bike I ever had, (which usually top out at 60-65mph). IMO, it was one of the best "starter bikes" for a kid to start riding on the dirt, but not because of the top speed with a skinny kid on it. I wonder what Tucker would have built for competition from the USA?

[@robertmayer2071]

just picked up a non runner 73 at a yard sale rough but mostley there

[@EarthSurferUSA]

4:56 Wow, look at that "elevated seat"!!! Who would have thought all the manufactures would take that too far? "Short people got, no reason. Short people got, no reason to ride." (remember that tune?) What it is today.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

It was "faster" than a 80cc 2-stroke MX bike for top speed only. It was not "quicker". Yes, Jeff Ward did find himself at a disadvantage with it, when he got quicker. :)

[@EarthSurferUSA]

You show a more in depth timeline than my exp though.

[@unclequack5445]

Dirtbike and MXA use to superimpose bike photos over impossible terrain remember the Al Baker picture? no photoshop back then just old school photographer tricks. Aha ha aha ha aha.....

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I wonder if Trial competition was started today, if we would suspect they are deep fake videos? :)

[@carolynred4616]

Want to sell it?

[@anthonynicholich9654]

I am surprised that you have mentioned the red line XR75.