Custom Bikes & Cafe Racer

[DaveM]

Texas young gun builds a track toy…

The liquid-cooled, 27-hp Kawasaki KLX250, introduced in 2006, is the successor to the old air-cooled KLR250 — a lightweight dual-sport used by everyone from daily commuters to the U.S. Army Rangers to the Air Force Special Operations Command to the Carabineros de Chile — Chilean national police. In ’09, Kawasaki followed with the KLX250SF, a supermoto version with 17-inch wheels, bigger brakes, and lowered suspension. Says Cycle World:

“In town or on tight backroads is where the KLX shines, exhibiting lightness and an almost uncanny handling ease.”

Enter one of our favorite young builders, Colt Wrangler Lyons of Texas-based Colt Wrangler Motorcycles, whose work you’ve seen before on the blog, including his stunning electric street tracker we featured last year. Now Colt is back with a rare personal project. While 99% of his work is for paying clients, he spotted a stripped-down ’09 KLX250SF at another shop and couldn’t pass up the deal. Like many of us, he’s been itching to get into flat track, and the 250cc single was the perfect candidate:

“I had been wanting to build a good starter bike to get my feet wet on the track. Something that was affordable and light. This KLX was the perfect base.”

Colt was short on time and money for the project, but once he dug into the bike, he couldn’t help himself from turning the bike into something unique. Replacement plastics were expensive, so he shaped his own using metal shears and a table edge:

“The nice thing about these panels is that there was no annealing, shaping or welding so they could be made quickly and easily with hardly any tools. This is also convenient if you tear them up on the track and need to make replacements.”

A set of 19-inch tracker wheels was also out of the budget, so Colt drew inspiration from some of the Spanish flat trackers that run 17-inch wheels, mounting Shinko Jr flat track rubber on the stock 17’s. He made the coolant overflow tank from a turkey baster and lowering links for the rear. All in all, this is a perfect track toy that’s sure to turn heads on the red dirt of Texas.

KLX250SF Tracker: Builder Interview



• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

My name is Colt Wrangler Lyons, I am 27 years old and I started my custom motorcycle shop “Colt Wrangler Motorcycles” in 2015.



• What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?

Kawasaki KLX 250SF 2009



• Why was this bike built?

Although 99% of my work is for customers, this bike was an unplanned personal project. I was searching for parts at a another shop when I came across this KLX that was stripped down and sitting in a corner surrounded by other project bikes. The price was right and I just couldn’t pass it up.


The donor when purchased…
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

With the growing popularity of flat track racing, I had been wanting to build a good starter bike to get my feet wet on the track. Something that was affordable and light. This KLX was the perfect base. I had no design direction going into it and didn’t even really plan on making it something that looked unique. I just wanted something to ride. But the more I dug into it the more I couldn’t keep myself from styling it. Being the supermoto model with 17” wheels and not having the budget to build a set of 19” wheels I started to draw influence from some of the flat track bikes in Spain that run 17” wheels.



• What custom work was done to the bike?

Being tight on time and money I decided not to get too deep into fabrication. I needed to build this bike back up quickly and efficiently. I purchased a used replacement seat and rear fender online. The bars, risers, levers, front number plate, and front fender were eBay specials.



I had priced replacement plastics for the bike but they were far too expensive and I didn’t like the look of them, so I decided to make my own. I played around with different designs using paper templates for awhile before I came up with something I liked. The nice thing about these panels is that there was no annealing, shaping or welding so they could be made quickly and easily with hardly any tools. This is also convenient if you tear them up on the track and need to make replacements. All you need to make them are metal shears and a table edge to make the straight bends. I lowered the forks 3” internally and made lowering links for the rear shocks. I purchased a used Two Brothers Racing exhaust, made a coolant overflow out of a turkey baster and threw on some Shinko Jr flat track tires and I was ready to hit the track.



• Does the bike have a nickname?

No.

• How would you classify this bike? (Cafe racer, street tracker, scrambler, brat, bobber, streetfighter, restomod, etc.)

Flat tracker.



• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

I was really happy with how the aluminum panels turned out. I wasn’t sure how well it would look at first.



Follow the Builder

Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @coltwrangler.co
Facebook: @coltwrangler.co
Online Store: coltwranglerco.bigcartel.com

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[DaveM]

@thesix.one is coming to Melbourne this weekend! The all Aussie built exhibition will include everything from cafe racers to survivor choppers, drift cars, hot rods, race-bred beasts, and classic muscle cars. SIX ONE will take place on the 27th April 2019 at the Seaworks Maritime Precinct in Williamstown. 10am-5pm. One day only! #thesixone . . #croig #caferacersofinstagram #returnofthecaferacers

 

[DaveM]

When BMW Motorrad set out to develop the liquid-cooled K100, they had no idea the bike would be part of a global customization revival some forty years later. However, the “Flying Brick” has become a favorite of many custom builders and riders, who fancy the machine’s 95-horsepower engine, brawny styling, and stable chassis.



Enter David Ewen of the UK — just such a builder. David earned his motorcycle just over two years ago. While most new riders would simply buy whatever motorcycle the local dealer or instructor recommended, David went quite a few steps farther. Believe it or not, this 1985 BMW K100 isn’t just his first build, it’s his first motorcycle, and the donor had seen (much, much) better days:

“I built the bike for myself in a 3x3m workshop in the bottom of my garden from a fire damaged K100 with 46,000 miles and 10 previous owners that hadn’t been on the road for 6 years.”

However, David knew he wanted a BMW, and not just something new from the showroom floor. Rather, he wanted more of a classic look — something more along the lines of the red Indian 101 Scout from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button than anything off-the-shelf. So David set out to build the bike himself.



In the process, he went through the entire bike, stripping it down to the block and replacing every last seal, gasket, bearing, and cable. We can’t think of a better, more inspiring way to step into the motorcycling world, nor a more appropriate name for the finished machine: “Revive.” Below, we get the full story on this BMW “street scrambler,” along with some beautiful photos from Niall Porter Photography.

BMW Street Scrambler: In the Builder’s Words



I built the bike for myself in a 3x3m workshop in the bottom of my garden from a fire damaged K100 with 46,000 miles and 10 previous owners that hadn’t been on the road for 6 years. It’s my first Motorcycle and my first build. I passed my test in February 2017 and didn’t fully fancy anything off-the-shelf but knew I wanted a BMW.



Inspired by the scene in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button where Benjamin (Brad Pitt) rides the red Indian 101 Scout one handed down the road, helmet-less and wearing aviators, I knew the classic look was for me. The difficulty was making the bike appear older than its original mid 80’s touring form and getting around the arguably strange and sharp tank lines the K100 bears once fully naked, but I could picture it well in my mind. I wanted it to be functional and comfortable as it would also become my daily ride. I’ve been through the whole bike, splitting down to just the block and head, still mated, then restored my way back up replacing every seal, gasket, bearing and cable and freshly painting every component.



Some details on installed parts below:

– Acewell CA085 Speedometer
– LSL Street Bars
– Motogadget M-Blaze Pin front and rear indicators
– Shinyo Headlight
– Goodridge Stainless steel brake hoses
– Bar End Indicators
– C4R Fuel Cap
– JMT Lithium Ion battery
– Custom Seat
– Custom expansion bottle
– Custom Frame Bags
– Custom front mudguard
– C4R 4to1 Exhaust
– Hagon rear shock
– Custom Numberpate and Tail Light mount
– Heidenau K60 Tyres
– Emerald Metallic Paint and Black Gloss (can disclose full colour)



Follow the Builder

Builder: @djewen
Photography: @niall.porter

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[DaveM]

HOT ROD HARLEY by MLR Custom Coachbuilder



Written by Martin Hodgson

The old saying ‘Think globally, act locally’ often has us in the custom motorcycle scene looking around the globe for inspiration for our own bikes. But this week I’ve learnt about a builder much closer to home, another bike nut who calls rural Australia home. Mark Lloyd Riddell has plied his trade around the world and now settled in Albury, combines his incredible skill base to produce the most amazing of machines. MLR Custom Coachbuilder’s bring us their latest work, a Hot Rod Harley called the Larry bike, it’s a craftsmanship connoisseur’s wet dream!



Originally from Edinburgh, Mark started his coachbuilding apprenticeship in 1984 and has had a variety of different jobs since. From an art studio in Leith, making moulds and props. To London working for an interior designer, fabricating bespoke lamps and small pieces of metal furniture. Then in Australia spending several years in a custom Harley shop and working in fabrication; doing sheet metalwork, building motor-homes and vintage vehicle restoration.



He is also an artist and sculptor, and I’m starting to wonder what I’ve done with my life as I read through his resume. But most of all he builds things with his hands and lets the craftsmanship do the talking, which is exactly why the client for this build got in touch! “This bike was built for a customer, there was no basic design brief, I was basically given free rein to build a unique custom V-Twin. Everything was run past the customer (Larry) first, he had seen my previous work and was quite confident I could come up with something suitably different,” Mark tells us.



The entire motorcycle is a rolling testament to the man’s skills, you know its a custom Harley, but what exactly is it I hear you say! Initially Mark was going to build the frame from scratch, but while looking around he came across a ’53 Pan unit that would be a perfect starting point. From here he had the canvas for his work to commence, but unlike most builders Mark had another specific element that would then be combined with the frame to merge as one. “a V-Twin Manufacturing twin spark Shovel/Pan head engine.”



The engine is an incredible piece of operational sculpture on its own, the basis is a beaut but Mark has taken it beyond the next level. Old school charm, strong spark and the hot rod look all come with the big magneto that hangs off the right side. But even this piece is overshadowed by the stonking Weber 40 IDF carb feeding fuel to the flame. To get it to fit Mark shows off his tremendous skill, taking a piece of a 4×4 bullbar and fashioning it into a stunning inlet manifold; huge fuel lines and velocity stacks facing skyward, it’s a serious piece of kit.



The engine sits right at home in the bling’d out seventy year old frame and slotting in behind is a Harley four speed cog swapper. Inside the primary that connects the two is a PRIMO Rivera clutch and along with the big pedal kickstarter this is not a combination for the timid amongst us. Now able to assess how much room he had to work with, Mark designed and bent up the brilliant twin pipe exhaust, with wrap and custom heat shielding in just the right places. Running above the system on the right side is a collection of braided hose, giving a big hint as to where the oil lives.



Here we can begin to appreciate the sheer genius of MLR, with the rear cowl section not only a visual feast for anyone who appreciates perfect metal work, but also acting as a practical oil tank, meaning it’s the perfect balance of form and function. Along with the hand shaped seat base and its distinctive covering, the entire rear articulates from the main rigid frame via a sprung support mechanism. And for lovers of hand beaten metal magic, the gas tank is another feast for the senses; a coffin style with a perfect recess for the big Weber.



At the front of the bike is a classic piece of automotive styling, a wheel that was sourced from the USA. But it takes skills that can’t simply be ordered online to make it work with a modern Suzuki Hayabusa front end. At the rear is another left field choice, sticking with that ole hot rod philosophy, Mark miraculously makes a VW Beetle rim work with a Harley Star hub and wraps both ends in Firestone rubber. Before returning to the hammer and bag to make a flawless front shroud to help blend the mix of old and new.



Up on the bars the bikes operation isn’t left to chance with high quality parts from Exile and Tolle Engineering to complete the task. Even the custom mid-controls have an added feature to enjoy, with a chain and sprocket operation on the right side. There is simply too many other details to mention but what sits before you is the creation of a builder at the top of the game. Some will find it too overwhelming and that’s the point, this bike is built just for Larry. But what MLR proves unequivocally is this, if you can dream it, he can build it!

MLR Custom Coachbuilder: Facebook | Instagram

 

[DaveM]

Brraaaaapp!! Love how this Yamaha RD400 by @kickstartgarage turned out. Someone is gonna be a happy owner, nice work Craig! . . #croig #caferacersofinstagram #twostroke #shinkotires #yamahard400 #rd400 #yamaha

 

[DaveM]

“Finally found myself a good psychologist, it makes me feel alive...” - @andriy_kovtun . . #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #honda #hondacb550 #cb550

 

[CarlS]

Yep, the best psychologist in the world!

 

[DaveM]

Have you watched our video "Dark Luminance" yet? Check out #CROIG003 in action on the streets of Saint Paul, MN. . Watch now, LINK IN BIO > bit.ly/DarkLuminance . Photo you @roy.son. . . #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #builtauthentic #triumph #streettwin #streetcup #thruxton #minnesota

 

[DaveM]

#TBT Robert Redford with his Yamaha DT250. Classic! . . #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #yamaha #dt250 #robertredford #classic #vintage

 

[DaveM]

DUCATI DREAMING – 1965 Ducati Sebring 350



Written by Martin Hodgson

Over recent decades Ducati has sat near the top of the Superbike pack, with the new Panigale V4R now the absolute benchmark and undefeated in WSBK competition. But when the company introduced the Sebring 350 in 1965 it was the biggest bike in their line up and often raced against multi cylinder machines with twice the capacity. So to pay tribute to the little bike that could, Stephen Brisken has taken a beat up ’65 and beautifully transformed it into a machine that is a perfect mix of cafe and racer.



“I purchased the bike from a professional mechanic friend in Eureka, CA. He collected some unusual machines. At this point I knew nothing about Ducati’s and had never seen such a cool looking bike. Of course it was not running and was incomplete. I thought about the purchase for quite a while having never jumped into such a project.” Stephen tells us. But the Sebring kept calling his name and eventually he snapped it up.



Back home he’d assembled himself quite the workshop. This was his second home garage and he was determined to make it a very usable building fit for purpose. “I have enough space to have a bead blast cabinet, welding, drilling, polishing machines and a small wood working area. There is also a separate smaller space for wrenching on bikes. I have great light, heat and good air flow. I have been in this shop for about three years and it continues to evolve.”



To commence the build process Stephen decided that with the number of parts missing the customising route seemed to make more sense than to go back to original. And he’d always had a faired model, with the ’50s rocket bike look in mind. But halfway through the build, having come so far he had a change of heart. “And then in the middle of it all I decided I was getting out of motorcycles. I sold the little Duc and all the boxes of parts back to the mechanic I bought it from.”



Thankfully he came to his sense and now committed to the bike once again, he contacted amazing metalworker Evan Wilcox to get on his waiting list for the alloy bodywork. After a year it was Stephen’s turn, but boy was the wait worth it. In a matter of weeks Evan had crafted and formed the incredible alloy pieces before you and had them sitting on the frame. From the gorgeous race inspired tank with generous knee dents for tucking in. To the front fairing that flows like liquid, with a tight opening for a headlight it is a sight to behold!



The humped tail piece is flawlessly executed with a great tip of the cap to the Isle of Man racing machines of the time. Again with the lighting seamlessly integrated and the hand rolled guards alone of such quality you’d expect any normal builder to have needed the weeks just for them. With the bike back home and the metal work sitting on top, Stephen now had the inspiration to make every last inch of the machine equally as good.



It was no easy task and he’s the first to admit. It was demanding and often daunting trying to meet that level of quality, but the results speak for themselves. The entire bike was disassembled and a fresh coat of paint laid down on the frame and swingarm. The seat has been covered in black to ensure that the visual tones match throughout. While new rear shocks and hydraulic front forks with polished lower legs and black painted uppers keep the theme flowing throughout.



Like any good Ducati the engine itself is an automotive piece of art and Stephen has brought it back to life in every possible way. From the polished side covers to the glorious cases and barrel, the short block looks as good as it runs. A rebuilt carb with foam filter draws in the air, while a stunning stainless pipe and reverse cone muffler expel the gases rearward. To make the whole thing more user friendly, a total re-wire and 12v conversion ensure its a dream to ride.



Wanting to keep the add-ons to a bare minimum, the race theme continues with a set of polished clip-ons and only the most essential controls. While a custom pair of rearsets make knocking through the 5 speed box a dream. To finish it off the elbow grease in the hubs and rims is obvious and the Avon rubber is the perfect match. From time of purchase to completion the journey took nearly six years. But the combination of a determined and creative owner builder, paired with a metalworker at the top of the game, means ‘The 350’ is simply a Ducati to die for!

 

[DaveM]

#MotoArt featuring @doug_nr painting of @engineeredtoslide’s BMW R9T from his Post-it series️Thanks for sharing! . . #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #bmw #r9t #art #painting #creative

 

[DaveM]

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. @72_cycles_performance’s BMW K100 looks ready to attack. . . #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #bmw #k100

 

[DaveM]

Introduced in 1982, the BMW R80RT was a slimmed-down, streamlined version of the larger R100RT, sporting a 50-hp, 797cc flat twin “airhead” engine, large fairing/windshield for touring, and weight of around 500 pounds. In ’84, the bike went to a Monolever setup, featuring a single-sided swing arm (“Einarmschwinge”), 18-inch front wheel, and an array of design changes.

Enter Thomas Jeukens of Belgium’s TOMA Customs, who left a high-powered job at a consulting firm to found his workshop, turning his creativity and passion for manual work into his own job:

“Mixing mental and manual activities generates a level of freedom and satisfaction that I’d never experienced before.”

TOMA Customs eschews the use of Photoshop in favor of a more personal, collaborative experience, wherein the customer visits the workshop and shares their wishes and ideas:

“It’s really about this kind of experience / co-creation project that we want to evolve and bring to our customers…”

For this build, the client had an ’86 Monolever R80RT that hadn’t been on the road in years. He wished for a retro, hand-crafted style, along with a brown seat and unique lines. Thomas and the TOMA crew were up for the task, creating one of the most elegant, visually-interesting airhead bobbers we’ve seen, complete with a “flying saddle” and minimalist electronics. Below, we get the full story on the build, along with

BMW R80RT Bobber: In the Builder’s Words



When we start a project, we first want to hear about the clients’ wishes and transformation ideas. It is a great opportunity for us to get to know our client and enables us to visualize what his dream bike would look like. For this project, the client came with a BMW R80rt from 1986 that wasn’t in really good shape. The bike stayed most of the time in a garage and has not been ridden for several months or even years. He wanted to give it a second life.



The briefing was not exhaustive but the client insisted that he likes materials that have been worked by hand, which tends rather to a retro look. He also specified he wanted a custom bike like no other, and that the seat had to be brown color.



After a few meetings, thinking and sharing ideas we got into the vibe of his dream bike and we knew the exact outlook of how the bike should look like. This is an amazing feeling, you know, when you see you went beyond your client’s expectations and ideas. After that, we just know we have to make this a dream come true.



Regarding the modifications, we wanted to play with the general line of the bike, so we decided to change the alignment of the original tank and align / shorten the rear part of the frame. We cut and welded a shorter subframe and replaced the original huge saddle by a custom seat base that we then sewed by our workshop. For the design and creation of our subframe and saddle we had as an idea to build a support between the seat and subframe that would give the impression that the saddle flies because this motorcycle really inspired freedom of riding to us. The difficulty here was to integrate the indicator lights and taillights within the subframe, but we managed to do so.



Then we went looking for the color combination between the gas tank, brown seat, engine and frame. As the client required it, it was important to build a completely new bike but that still looks retro, so we managed to skate saddle as well as the engine, use black satin color for the frame, but also give a worn appearance to the new exhausts so the motorcycle doesn’t look too modern.
Replacing the handlebar also helped work on the line of the bike. All the electronics components have been replaced by new and more minimalist elements (indicator lights, taillights, speedometer, lithium battery).



We love this kind of project and relationship with the customers, to take their ideas into account and try to achieve their dream motorcycle — all this happening in the workshop around the bike without going through Photoshop. It’s really about this kind of experience / co-creation project that we want to evolve and bring our customers to, discussing details, sharing what we do, make them come to the workshop to live the project together — not just buying a product, but living an experience together and build the motorcycle of their dreams.

List of modifications

– modification/shorten of the rear part of the frame
– aligned gas tank with the new subframe
– new set of LED indicator lights/taillights
– new handelbars
– battery box and lithium battery
– bespoke seat with brown leather
– painted frame and tank
– new gas tank cap
– new speedometer
– removed a lot of original accessories that were superfluous

Builder Information

Workshop: TOMA CUSTOMS
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Pictures: Olivier Truyman
Contact: Thomas Jeukens, +32 479351638, [email protected]

Follow the Builder

Website: www.tomacustoms.com
Instagram: @tomacustoms
Facebook: TOMA customs

Source...

 

[DaveM]

“The 'War Crime’ is a fully handmade Harley café racer, tested on the streets of Tuscany by the beautiful @bifola2003,” says @robertobrodoliniphotography. . . #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #womenwhoride #harleydavidson

 

[DaveM]

CROIG GIVEAWAY featuring @velomacchi and @noahsrawchocolate @rawchocolateman! . We’ve teamed up with @velomacchi and @noahsrawchocolate to get some goodies to our followers. Contest ends May 5, 2019. Three lucky winners will be randomly selected to receive one of the following prizes. . • Velomacchi 40L Speedway Backpack • A month supply of Noah’s Raw Chocolate • Velomacchi Impact Laptop Sleeve . ENTER TO WIN, link in bio or visit > bit.ly/CROIGIg . Photo by @caffeineandgasoline.dn. . . #velomacchi #noahsrawchocolate #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #giveaway #chocolate

 

[DaveM]

MOTO FILMS of the week

Indian Motorcycles – Racing Forward
They say your true character comes out after you go through the toughest time of your life. This inspiring video of Brad ‘The Bullet’ Baker shows just how strong and determined this flat track legend is. Brad’s world was turned upside down after a “stupid little crash” at the X-Games last year. The film shows how he is moving forward after the accident with the help of his friends, supporters and sponsors. His experience and never-give-up attitude has become an invaluable asset to the Indian Motorcycle team. So much respect for this young man who was at the top of his game and is now learning to do everything from scratch again.

Fast and Left
While we’re still on the topic of Flat Track racing, this is a great little trailer about an upcoming independent film called Fast and Left. The film is the work of a flat track obsessed fan called Evan Senn, who is a director, camera-operator and editor residing in Wichita, Kansas. Evan is looking for a bit of a cash injection to finish this project, so if you are like us and want to see this film happen, you can donate here. Or, if you’re a brand that would like to be involved with the film, hit Evan up.

Revival Daily
If you haven’t discovered this ‘daily’ series by Revival Cycles then you are in for a real treat. The most recent vids have been going behind the scenes in their workshop as they are all hands on deck, working together to try and finish the beautiful BMW ‘Birdcage’ for the Handbuilt Show launch. They even brought in our favourite Aussie builder living abroad, Craig Rodsmith, to help them with what he does best – metal work. If you haven’t seen the finished bike then you can read the full story here.

If you have a video you would like us to feature, send us a link here.

 

[DaveM]

One mean looking Ducati Sport Classic out on the streets of Taiwan. Nice work @maxfenrir, thanks for sharing! . Send photos of your café racers to [email protected] to be featured, link in bio. . . #croig #caferacersofinstagram #ducati #sport1000 #sportclassic #caferacer #zardexhaust #kineowheels #ohlins #ncrfactory #aella #motocorse #kushitani #taiwan

 

[Rocky]

CROIG GIVEAWAY featuring @velomacchi and @noahsrawchocolate @rawchocolateman! . We’ve teamed up with @velomacchi and @noahsrawchocolate to get some goodies to our followers. Contest ends May 5, 2019. Three lucky winners will be randomly selected to receive one of the following prizes. . • Velomacchi 40L Speedway Backpack • A month supply of Noah’s Raw Chocolate • Velomacchi Impact Laptop Sleeve . ENTER TO WIN, link in bio or visit > bit.ly/CROIGIg . Photo by @caffeineandgasoline.dn. . . #velomacchi #noahsrawchocolate #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #giveaway #chocolate

This looks like a good unit, but I have never ridden with something like that strapped to my back - and probably never will.

 

[DaveM]

In the early 1970s, Honda unveiled the CR250M Elsinore — a two-stroke machine destined to become one of the classics of the dirt world. Strangely enough, a team of Honda engineers had developed the CR250 in secret, as Mr. Honda himself had all but denounced two-strokes and stated that his company would never build one. Says Dirt Bike Magazine:

“But the engineers knew that the two-stroke motor was the way of the future and set about building one secretly.”

The original Honda CR250M Elsinore.

In 1971, the Japanese press photographed the Elsinore prototype at a race in Yamaguchi, and the project was out of the bag. Honda officially green-lighted the project, and by 1973, Gary Jones had won the bike’s first US National Championship:

“That first year, the Honda 250 two-stroke was a complete game-changer, and it set off a frenzied era of hyper evolution in the MX world.”

The bike evolved much over the years, changing from the CR250M to the CR250R in 1978 and remaining in production until 2007. In that 34-year run, from 1973 to 2007, the Honda CR250 would become the winningest motocrosser in US history, winning 15 supercross championships and 12 outdoor championships. Dirt Bike Magazine has called this reign “the greatest dynasty in the history of motocross,” going so far as to compare the mighty CR250 to the Mustang, P-51, and Schwinn Stingray:

“There are timeless classics in each field, and in the dirt bike world, there’s nothing that has reached that status like the Honda CR250R.”

In 2007, when Honda shut down production on the CR250, they announced they would never make two-strokes again.

Enter one of our favorite builders, Andrew Greenland of Wales, who has a special talent — if not genius — for building nostalgic, resto-modded Honda dirt machines. His NX650 Dominator street scrambler made our list of the 2018 Best Trackers and Scramblers, and his XL600 Dakar is simply one of our favorite builds we’ve ever featured.

Now Andrew is back with this street-legal 1996 Honda CR250R, built in the style of the original Elsinore. Below, we get the details from the builder himself.

Honda CR250R Elsinore: In the Builder’s Words



Basically a 1996 Honda CR250 mx bike with a seventies style, fully rebuilt motor, 17” wheels front and rear.



Re-fabricated rear subframe, 1975 CR250 side panels and front mudguard.



Hond CG125 tank, rebuilt and lowered suspension, road registered, and is a lot of fun ride!



Been wanting to do tribute to the great Elsinore bikes of the seventies, but thought I’d try a more modern machine just to make it more difficult…

Follow the Builder at nx650elsinore.blogspot.com​

Source...

 

[CarlS]

I still love those two strokes!