Honda FT/XR 500 Supermoto

[irk_miller]

Thought I'd share a build I just finished. 

About 10 years ago, I searched for a few years for an FT500. I finally found one and a year later it was stolen along with a street titled 1985 XR250r from in front of my garage. That began a mission to find another FT500 when I came across a 1979 XR500 lump at Barber.  I had thought to mate an XR500 engine into an FT500 frame before, which gets you a lighter crankshaft and a kick start. The FT starter is weak and poorly designed, imo. I missed on a few FT deals over the years since I bought the lump, then finally bought a titled FT frame off Ebay. 

It's a 1984 FT500 frame, 1979 XR500 engine bored to 530cc, Mikuni VM38, DR350 front end and hub set with Warp 9 supermoto wheels.  The bike weighs in at 294lbs with a 59" wheelbase, 28 degrees of rake and 98mm of trail.

Not a two stroke, but still a blast to ride.  It won't steal seat time from my RD, but it's sure to cause the airhead to collect more dust. 





   

[SoCal250]

I like it! Well done

[soonerbillz]

That would be a blast on a road track!