Honda RC250 - Jimmy Ellis' Factory Ride for 1978 Arrives Down Under in 2013

[Pre85MXWA]

Earlier this year Jimmy Ellis mentioned that he knew where his 1978 Team Honda RC250 was but getting it across from the States was looking to be a mission.



The Pre85MXWA Club got behind Jimmy and the rest is now history! The RC has made the epic trip from Jimmy's hometown of Cobalt, Connecticut and touched down last night in Bunbury, Western Australia. Thanks to Pre85MXWA Club members and Jimmy's current sponsor Busselton Motorcycles for sorting the final leg of the journery.

We're all looking forward to seeing Jimmy and the RC on the track in 2014.

[mainline]

Jimmy seems pretty happy. The bike looks fairly well preserved.

[JohnnyO]

If that's Jimmy's RC then Team Honda weren't using anything special in the 250 class in 78. Externally it appears to be off the production line, but internally could be a different story.

[Mick D]

This is a pretty cool story,,,,I cant help wondering from time to time what happened to some of my old favorites??

[bazza]

can any one see any non stock parts on the bike?

[Hoony]

Pre85MXWA please ask the man himself what is different.

[Tahitian_Red]

In 1978 Honda and Yamaha were having their Factory riders race "Showroom" bikes in Supercross events.  Although they looked near stock I think you can bet the materials used to construct them were not.  I bet words like high quality chromoly, magnesium and titanium were on the build sheets back at the factory.  There was too much at stake for sales to the everyday Joe racers.  JMHO

[John Orchard]

Is that the one that made the CYCLE front cover, the first & last 'claiming rule' bike?  Trying to remember back to the article, had exotic clutch basket and stuff inside?

[JohnnyO]

The bike that was claimed was Marty Tripes 79 RC250, quite a bit different to this one with a double cradle frame and centre port cylinder engine.

[FourstrokeForever]

can any one see any non stock parts on the bike?

None, apart from the fox shocks and chain rash guard.

pre85MXWA, what an awesome story. It seems you guys are working just as hard to promote pre85 as your fellow westies do with pre75. When I was over there in 2010 you guys were still struggling a bit but were all up for promotion at the 15th anniversary. Great to read a lot has progressed in 3 short years. The evolution guys are going to have their hands full now with Jimmy on the scene!

[Tahitian_Red]

The '78 was a strong runner, but the word FLEX (forks and swingarm) I think would be the limiting factor to have Factory talent racing them against other riders of equal talent.

[firko]

It'd be a travesty to restore such a complete and historic bike. The sensible thing to do would be to restore it to perfect running order and clean and polish everything as best as can be done, making sure its well earned patina is preserved. The bike does look amazingly stock but T-Reds assumptions that it might be made from more exotic materials might be right. Jimmy's looking pretty good for 58 years old too.....Good work Pre85MXWA Club.
                                                                                           

[huskibul]

   Great patina! i bet every mark on it has a story

[Tahitian_Red]

We need more pictures!     Does it have and ID tag?  Jimmy's bike is listed on the 3rd page of this 1978 article.

[JohnnyO]

Interesting article, it's good to read the different setups and preferences between the riders. From memory Ellis was a real contender for the Supercross title that year but missed out to Bob Hannah.