From what I saw in the '70's, the MR was a nice little trail riding bike.
The CR's were awesome for enduros and could be adjusted quite easily for different racing environments. In 1978 everyone was making accessories for the "Red Rockets" including swingarms, shocks, forks, pipes, shifters, tanks, heavier ignition rotors for more torque, etc. I have had at least a dozen of these bikes and I still have three running now including a Desert ME-360 Mugen with a lighting system. I have ridden Enduros with these bikes since 1979 and they really made a rider out of me. After I dumped my Husky's, I found out that I really could make a turn.
American Honda had Factory Riders on these bikes and they also competed in AMA Two Day Trials in preparation for ISDT. Names that come to mind in District 37 are Rick Munyon and Mike Godfrey.
The Red Rockets are still a fine trail bike and the nice thing is that you don't have to worry about things such a coolant, mechanical valves, engine chains, cams. The thing that you do have to worry about is replacement suspension pieces that don't break the bank. That's why I now build my own shocks from valving in old Showa cadaver units. Lots of state-of-the-art front ends can still be bolted on to these bikes,
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