OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => Honda => Topic started by: Tahitian_Red on March 09, 2013, 04:17:27 am

Title: Actual White Mugens
Post by: Tahitian_Red on March 09, 2013, 04:17:27 am
I've seen several white (Frame, Tank and Plastics) on the net.  The early Japanese ones seem to all be white and Johnny O's 79 and 80 ME125's were white, but the only other one I can think of was the one hanging from the ceiling in Al Baker's shop (I think Marty Smith raced it in 1979 and it may be owned by Rick Horvat now).

The ME250RZ's were red as were the ME125RA's.  Were the white bikes ever sold to the public?
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: JohnnyO on March 09, 2013, 08:47:55 am
As you say the only white ones I've seen were the 70's Jap bikes and Johnny O'mara's 79 and 80 models and the 80 model 125 of Terry Goods which he bought new so they must've sold some white bikes. All the other magazine tests and pics have been red bikes. No white ones came to Australia that I know of.
The Mugen engined bike Marty Smith rode in the 79 nationals was red, never seen any pics of Marty on a white Honda.
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: Tahitian_Red on March 09, 2013, 10:38:54 am
Johnny,

I have not seen pics of Marty Smith on an ME350, but the one that was hanging in All Baker's shop had a number 9 on it, so I assumed it was Marty's bike.  Baker seemed to be in control of the Mugen stuff in the US at that time.

I was going to make my '83 CR480 all white when I install my ME480 kit, but I think it would be better as a red bike, since there were only engine kits by that time and I have found no photos of original white ME480's.
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: JohnnyO on March 09, 2013, 11:03:25 am
I agree red is more suitable for any post 1980 mugens. From memory there is a pic in a MXA mag of Martys 78 big bore stating he used a mugen for some races.
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: Tahitian_Red on March 09, 2013, 01:02:12 pm
Which MXA issue?
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: JohnnyO on March 09, 2013, 01:27:07 pm
Which MXA issue?
They're packed away in storage now, would take me a while to find it.
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: Tahitian_Red on March 09, 2013, 02:26:42 pm
At your leisure sir, I'm not in any hurry.  :)
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: crabman on March 09, 2013, 02:54:13 pm
I've seen several white (Frame, Tank and Plastics) on the net. 

The ME250RZ's were red as were the ME125RA's.  Were the white bikes ever sold to the public?


I am currently building a white 78 CR 125 and 250 - here in South Africa I knew of a white 78 CR 125 and if memory serves me correctly I also remember seeing pictures of a white 250 . Almost  ready to assemble
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: 09.0 on March 16, 2013, 08:10:53 am
I'm also going the white theme with my cr480 rd.
It will have a 79 250 tank. I have all the parts, just need to weld the late model footpeg mounts on, paint the frame and tank , then assemble.

(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/090bvb/photo-51.jpg)


(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/090bvb/photo-22.jpg)
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on March 16, 2013, 09:39:45 am
slightly off topic - but still Mugen related - does you know of anyone that has a 1980 ME 250 motor?  Even if only for some measurements?

thanks
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: Snowy 76 on March 16, 2013, 09:39:36 pm
Good Question, Did the Mugen 250 , Come as a kit ??? Cylinder , Head, Pipe????? Like the water cooled kits, never seen one advertised.
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: JohnnyO on March 17, 2013, 12:30:55 am
Good Question, Did the Mugen 250 , Come as a kit ??? Cylinder , Head, Pipe????? Like the water cooled kits, never seen one advertised.
Yes they came as a top end kit and pipe and were popular. Motocross Action tested and advertised them '77,'78,'79,'80
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: smed on March 18, 2013, 06:42:59 pm
(http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj529/smed45/supercross088_zps11c5b46a.jpg)

A 1979 CR250R was US $1748,the ME360 complete bike was US $3700,more than double the price,but what a ride,next best thing to a RC factory bike ;),To retro fit the engine kit to your bike would have been $650 plus machine work & assembly $200.All up inc bike puchase $2598,By the time you add in the suspension components I guess that makes the Mugen a bargain :)

(http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj529/smed45/supercross089_zps0994b0dc.jpg)

(http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj529/smed45/supercross090_zps3db64054.jpg)
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: JohnnyO on March 18, 2013, 07:53:50 pm
(http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj529/smed45/supercross090_zps3db64054.jpg)
T Red this is the pic i was talking about in Motocross Action.. Thanks Smed! saved me looking.
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: crs-and-rms on March 18, 2013, 08:00:22 pm
had a 360  mugen head in my hands today  not mine  but  starting to want some of my own
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: smed on March 18, 2013, 08:54:49 pm
Heaps of Mugen info in this lot :)
http://www.vintagefactory.com/mugen_shop1.htm
http://www.mugencross.com/partsbutton.htm
http://www.mxworksbike.com/Sneathan_ME360.htm
http://mugen125.tripod.com/kits.htm
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: JohnnyO on March 18, 2013, 09:36:24 pm
Some great links there..
For people who have never seen a complete kit the last link shows the Mugen 360 is a lot more than just a head and barrel which is all a lot of the 360 Mugen's out there have
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: smed on March 19, 2013, 03:23:58 pm
It would be interesting to know how many of the ME360 complete bikes were actually sold.
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: Tahitian_Red on March 19, 2013, 05:14:43 pm
I had an NOS ME360 head for years and never could find a cylinder (pistons are available).  I finally sold it on eBay  a few years ago.
 :(

I have that pic of the Smith bike in the Fox Preparing Hondas for Motocross book.  Looks like RC frame because it has the brace from the swingarm pivot up under the tank that the Ohlins reservoirs are mounted to. Stock and Mugen ME360 do not have that brace.
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: JohnnyO on March 19, 2013, 05:16:54 pm
Yeah it would be an RC with the Mugen motor, as i remember they tried a couple of different engines that year.
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on March 20, 2013, 03:03:52 am
it was the $390 ME 250 kit I bought for my CR - made a huge difference.
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: suzuki59 on March 20, 2013, 05:36:10 am
it was the $390 ME 250 kit I bought for my CR - made a huge difference.
I have the trail and track article that You wrote about your mugen kit,I wonder where that bike is now???
Title: Re: Actual White Mugens
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on March 20, 2013, 08:11:04 am
oh - that wouldn't be the one you were going to send across would it  :D