UK CRF500L #2 Build Thread

[flipflopdog]

Following the footsteps of 'Scutty' and two others from the other side of the pond I am forging ahead with a build myself. Somewhat stumbled upon the choice of chasis idea of a CRF259L but always fancied the CB500 engine so what a great combo and very pleased to find three others have gone before..!!
So I have a donor bike and have found a brand new engine for the transplant along with all the running bits and a fabrication Guru to make it all happen. I'm not into 'one-upmanship' at all and to be honest I will struggle to make as good a job as Scutty with my budget but hopefully it will be a very purposeful end result and my return to having some off-road fun again. Its been a while now....
Just one thing to add here to anyone reading... I have never read and witnessed so much interest in this build concept before than any other. I am really tempted to put some money into building a second bike and selling on for a small profit if anyone is genuinely interested. The guy doing the fab work is a long time frame modification specialist and I would say a friggin expert..!! I myself am a dab hand on the electrics so between us it is a very realistic option for interested parties and along with Scutty you have two options for a new CRF500L in your life..

[beddowsm]

Interesting. Look forward to hearing how you get on. I wouldn't have a clue how to undergo a project like this so enjoy reading these threads.
So whats your planned budget, and outgoings so far on engine and donor bike?
And after reading the other CRF500 build threads I recon you could earn a few quid making a second. Go for it. Recon someone will snap it up.

[boboneleg]

Good luck with your build, keep us informed how it's going and some photos (thumbs)

[flipflopdog]

Interesting. Look forward to hearing how you get on. I wouldn't have a clue how to undergo a project like this so enjoy reading these threads.

So whats your planned budget, and outgoings so far on engine and donor bike?

Both halves of the equation so far have cost £4k. If I can get all fab work plus twin exhaust done for £2k and then suspension a further £500/£700 plus the unknown factor of surprise costs say around £7.5K in total. Sounds a lot but what with a brand new engine and the original CRF only covering 4.5k miles it will be almost a new bike experience..!!

[beddowsm]

Don't think that budgets unreasonable. And where else can you get a 1 off custom, virtually brand new bike for £7.5K.
Hope it works out. Good luck.

[ledwardio]

Don't forget you'll have the 250 engine to sell on too

[minkyhead]

dam why do you live in conwall ...i fancy putting me 300 engine in the rally and a500 in me 250 ...
obviusly i dont want to chop the rally but the 250 is well cheap enough to that ..
ive near 3000 up on the rally already ..the one thing i would say is that it is a much more stable chassis for higher speed ..it surprising what a few cms wheelbase and a different rake make in terms of stability ..in a ideal world a rally that had been thrown down the road with a straigh frame would be a ideal doner chassis ..there really is a marked difference in handiling on the motorway and corners far less skitish ..me 300 is good for over 90mph but low 70s is enough ..with luggage and stuff ..so one of my concens with the 500 conversion is stability at speed ,,,
mmmmm when do you start ..how much would you charge ...i am intersested ??

[scutty]

Best of luck mate, looking forward to seeing how yours turns out.

Here's a little inspiration for you

20170615_120319.jpg (82.8 KiB) Viewed 3363 times

[catcitrus]

Having ridden WITH the Rally Raid CB500 conversion on Salisbury Plain--sorted suspension etc--it goes remarkably well and seems to soak up quite rough going with ease--so at the end of the day the conversion has to be compared to a stock bike with sorted suspension etc. It will probably be lighter, but if starting with newish bits then the cost is creeping towards the stock conversion--and thats starting with a NEW CB500. I guess it depends what you will doing with it--for me it would be the simple challenge of building the thing in the first place! (but I would probably go for an older Honda (registered) chassis and the original carburetor CB500 engine-- which would be relatively peanuts, and with much simpler electrics).
http://www.cycleworld.com/honda-cb500x- ... d-products

[flipflopdog]

Don't forget you'll have the 250 engine to sell on too

Haha.... no I don't, when I realised this was the way forward I went straight on to ebay looking for a rolling chassis and found one with 3 mins left on the auction, obviously my blood pressure went into orbit as the bid was only £300. Without realising I had won a............. CRF250'R' rolling chassis..!! No good as aluminium. So the 250L motor, electrics and all gubbins is going in that chassis for my son. Lucky git has himself a cheap off roader....