Big Dream: What if Honda had built a 250cc version of the MT125R racer?
It’s well known that Soichiro Honda — Mr. Honda himself — was no fan of two-stroke engines. It’s said he found them noisy, smoky, and too difficult to maintain.
“Soichiro Honda always hated the so-called ‘stink wheels’, which is why his company was the only Japanese manufacturer that made its name with four-strokes.” -Mat Oxley, Motor Sport Magazine
While that strong distaste led his company to revolutionize the motorcycling world with high-revving multi-cylinder four-stroke race and production bikes, Honda couldn’t avoid two-strokes altogether. The booming motocross market forced Big Red’s hand in the 1970s, and two-strokes like the CR125M and CR250M Elsinore motocrossers soon appeared, along with their MT street bike variants.
What many folks don’t realize is that Honda produced a track-only production road racer based on the CR125M motocross bike, the MT125R.
“Built two years only, 1977 and 1978, the model was Honda’s production Grand Prix racer, and approximately 400 of the two-stroke lightweights were sold… It’s a purpose-built machine that’s narrowly focused and unforgiving, but the rewards are amazing. It really handles like a bicycle.” –Traction Life
Enter our buddy Matt Wieckowski of Ontario’s Big Dream Motorcycles, whose “54th Anniversary Edition” CB750K we featured earlier this year.
With a ’74 MT250 in the shop, Matt had an inspiring “what if” moment:
“I always liked the Honda MT125R… A curious bike, as it was well-known that Mr. Honda hated two-strokes. I happened to have a MT250 and thought it would be cool if we built a 250cc version.”
The modifications to convert the bike from street-legal enduro to road racer were significant. The frame was modified and fitted with a ’76 Honda CB400F front end, CB400F hubs were laced up to Buchanan’s Sun Rims and stainless spokes, sticky Avon rubber spooned on, and the bike sports Stadium rear shocks and MT125R bodywork from Airtech Streamlining.
The engine was fully rebuilt. Butch’s Vintage Cycle Shop provided expert advice on building these engines and provided a CR250 top end and clutch, along with advice on a larger intake manifold, while Sib’s Performance Machine handled the porting and set up. The bike is also running a 38mm Mikuni cab and electronic ignition. Matt’s friend Bryan Brandt machined many of the custom parts, while Mike Murray handled the paint, Diablo Cycle the decals, and Rhea Dufily the custom logos and sponsor stickers.
Purdy Natural is a women-run soap and craft business, with whom Matt developed a moto-inspired all-natural “Big Clean” soap, and other sponsors include Perth County Moto and the Grand Bend Festival of Speed.
The bike makes 35-40 hp and weighs just 220 pounds, so it should be quite a weapon on the track. Of course, no race bike is complete without someone to race it, and Matt has no less than Holly Varey to pilot the MT250R. Holly is very well-known in Canada’s national vintage racing series, the VRRA (Vintage Road Racing Association), and just finished a two-year stint in Royal Enfield’s BTR (Build. Train. Race.) program:
“To have someone of her caliber and skills come on board this project was awesome.”
The MT250R will makes its competition debut this August 15-17 at the VRRA Vintage Fest weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). As you might imagine, Matt can hardly wait to see the bike on the track.
“To be involved with these amazing women in addition to my family (especially my wife, Robin) has been an extremely rewarding experience. It’s been by far my favourite bike build to date. I’m also very excited to see what it can do on track in the hands of Holly. It’s very exciting.”
Exciting, indeed! We can’t wait to see the MT250R on the track. What a cool, creative concept with dead-on execution! Below, you’ll find our full in-depth interview with Matt about the build, along with more photos courtesy of Red Button Photography.
Honda MT250R: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
My name is Matt Wieckowski and I own Big Dream Motorcycles. I am a second-generation motorcycle mechanic. My dad, Andy, started his first bike shop in the mid 70’s. I started working with him when I was around 10 years old and haven’t looked back since. I opened Big Dream Motorcycles in 2021 after working for some different shops (in addition to my dad’s). Building custom bikes has been a great creative outlet for me and is something I’ve been doing my whole career. Now, with my own shop, I’m getting the opportunity to do this for customers, which is amazing.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
1974 Honda MT250.
• Why was this bike built?
I always liked the Honda MT125R. A production racer based on the MT125 enduro bike. A curious bike, as it was well-known that Mr. Honda hated two-strokes. I happened to have a MT250 and thought it would be cool if, like the dirt bikes, built a 250cc version.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
The concept was pretty simple. Make a road racer from this MT250 that could compete in our national vintage racing series, the VRRA (Vintage Road Racing Association). I also happened to meet a young lady named Holly Varey, who is very well known in that racing series, and also just finished her two-year stint in the Royal Enfield BTR program. I pitched the idea of this bike and the idea of her racing it, and she was into it.
To have someone of her caliber and skills come on board this project was awesome.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
The frame was modified and had a 1976 Honda CB400F front end and wheels fit up. Rims and spokes are from Buchanan, the stock MT engine was completely rebuilt and had a CR250 top end and clutch courtesy of Butch’s Vintage Cycle Shop fitted, and ported and setup by Sib’s Performance Machine, electronic ignition upgrade from Re-MX, 38mm Mikuni carb, Stadium rear shocks, Avon tires, and some MT125R bodywork from Airtech fitted up and then painted by my go-to painter/friend Mike Murray. Decals were provided by Diablo Cycle and Rhea Dufily made the custom logos and sponsor stickers.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
MT250R.
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
220lbs and 35-40hp.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
The bike is very light and nimble. Pulls very nicely.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
Having Holly Varey on board from the start was great. In the spring, I developed a motorcycle-inspired all natural soap with a local business, Purdy Natural (a women-run small soap and craft business where I buy my coffee), who then agreed to come on board as sponsors.
To be involved with these amazing women in addition to my family (especially my wife, Robin) has been an extremely rewarding experience. It’s been by far my favourite bike build to date. I’m also very excited to see what it can do on track in the hands of Holly. It’s very exciting.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
A big shout out has to go to my machining friend, Bryan Brandt. He’s responsible for a lot of the custom parts on this bike. A couple of more thanks to some other sponsors, Perth County Moto (great local bike shop) and the Grand Bend Festival of Speed (a vintage car and bike racing festival that a friend of mine organizes).
Follow the Builder
Facebook: @bigdreammotorcycles
Instagram: @bigdreammotorcycles
Photo credits: Red Button Photography
Eh. Mr Honda was likely right.
I wouldn’t mind having a 2 stroke to revive the mayhem of my youth. But what a mess !
Cool bike. I rode the wheels off my MT-250 Elsinore way back in ‘74. Loved it up to the day I traded for my CB550F which I still have today though it hasn’t run in quite awhile. My ‘14 CB1100 is a close sibling to the 550. Wish the nanny state would keep their hands off our strokers. Imagine what they’d be like with modern tech.