1978 Honda XR-75 Team Honda Marty Smith Replica

This showcase Honda is from Randal Stefaniak of Milwaukee, Wisconsin! He has poured a lot of love in this 1978 Honda XR-75. Here are Randal’s comments and story on his red rocket.

#231 – 1978 Honda XR-75 Period Correct Racer

I started riding at age 10 with my Dad on a Briggs & Stratton engine mini bike. From there I was hooked. One day, my Dad was so tired of fixing the bike because it always broke. He took me to the Honda shop as a 10 year old kid. I was in awe, and we bought a brand new 1974 Honda MR-50. I rode the wheels off that bike. From there we keep getting bigger and better Hondas. In 1979, for my high school graduation, my Dad got me a new 1979 Honda CR-125R (Red Rocket). From there he knew I wanted to race motocross. My first race, Lake Geneva Wisconsin, I got 2nd place. My career went on to race from 1979 to 1985, all on 125cc Hondas. My hero of course was Marty Smith. My love for Hondas never stopped. I wanted to build a period correct Honda XR-75 race machine. We had bought the XR-75 brand new in 1978 as a pit bike. It sat for 28 years in my Dad’s basement. Then 2-3 years in my garage, then I started the restoration. It took about 3 years to complete. I still street ride. My other bikes are a 2001 Honda Shadow ACE Deluxe, and a 2007 Harley Davidson Road King Classic. Of course I had to get a Harley, I am from Milwaukee. Anyway, back to the XR-75. The list of goodies on the bike.

Lockhart oil cooler

Original DG swing arm(I had it polished)

17” front & 14” back DID aluminum rims 8 gage cross 2 spoke pattern

Bogie Mulholland gas shocks

Betor 28mm front forks

DG race mega phone pipe

Trick case saver frame with aluminum motor mounts

Aluminum rear sprocket

Renthol grips

Engine was ported & polished

The entire bike is repainted Tahitian red

Engine cases & head were polished to look like chrome