Strange Brew

STRANGE BREW

AMERICAN FLYER

Honda CR500 meets The Wild One

BOBBERS HAVE ALWAYS been anti-establishment. But there might be no bigger outlaw—especially in these "green" days—than one built around Honda's old Godzilla Open-class motocross two-stroke, the mighty CR500.

At first glance, owner Casey Moir's creation may look like some sedate, upright, clackity, twin-cylinder pushrod bobber with its skinny tires and classic profile, but it is (almost)

every bit anunruly CR500 MXer, from its Dave Miller Concepts-built engine right down to the better part of the dirtbike’s frame. This means it is light and p-ppowerful enough to make for easy wheelies-just wind the throttle on from any neighborhood stop sign to raise a one-wheel salute!

Once this hybrid is off the line and moving along at 50 mph or so, the motor’s eruptions smooth out as the ports find their happy place flowing air. Smoke from the custom-fabbed, pipe-organtipped expansion chamber trails faintly behind. The engine uses an OE piston but with bumped compression for some extra sizzle. Geared up with a 15/37 sprocket combo, the 500 bobber easily keeps pace with traffic. But this bike doesn’t want to just cruise, always coaxing its rider to clutch it and go!

“My big-displacementsportbike-riding friends just shake their heads,” giggles Moir. “My bike corners in canyon curves like it’s on rails, then I gap them when the thing comes on the pipe and squirts out of the turns!”

Moir says he was after a lightweight bike with a sound and smell all its own. After searching around, he acquired the cleanest 2000 CR500 he could find. He took that bike and an ancient Honda CX500 to the DMC digs (www.miller mano.com) in Anaheim, California.

Engineer/craftsman Miller bent and blended the CX’s headtube with the CR’s frame. He added 4 degrees of rake for a relaxed Mr. Bobber attitude and also dropped the neck height by approximately 8 inches! Further major mechanical manipulation resulted in the main frame

backbone being angled to fit the repop Triumph fuel tank (with Honda Shadow badges). After relocating the twin radiator mounts, Miller fabricated aluminum shrouds. Many parts, such as the seat, the twin headlights and limp, uh, sausage taillight were sourced from eBay in a 20-minute, point-andshoot shopping spree.

It is because of those lights that the moto-motor got a stator to supply electrical power. Added benefit is that the custom battery box has enough spare room for valid California registration papers (thank you, CX500...) and a bottle of two-stroke oil to make up the premix at your next gas stop.

Moir’s mad thirst to ride something smokin’ hot but still road legal resulted in a CR500 for the street that is a real treat. Just don’t tell The Man! -Mark Cernicky