Here's something for Honda lovers....C&J XR500

[FourstrokeForever]

Sounds like a great hybrid build Mick......putting the 500 Honda donk into the Husky frame has been done before, there's quite a few of them in the UK......seems they were fast to learn how to make a Husky reliable 

It'd be great to see some pics of the build.

[davidmc]

Whether you believe the hype or the value is your own perception and how much you pay for a bike,
I can only judge on what I have ridden,
which was winning Heaven 4 stroke Champs on a 510 Husky, and ridden C& J Honda,
and the C & J is as easily as good as the Husky,
 and probably a lot easier to live with once set up Properly,
 good thing about the Honda Engine, it usually starts before each Race.

[g465b]

 dave middleton on his XL/XR500 C&J (copy?) at 2012 mr vmx- proved how competive a 4 stroke is in evo    g.




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[FourstrokeForever]

dave middleton on his XL/XR500 C&J (copy?) at 2012 mr vmx- proved how competive a 4 stroke is in evo    g.




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I do love to see a big four banger out the front.... gives me a woody 

[sa63]

http://forum.ozvmx.com/index.php?topic=17560.msg179171#msg179171

[GMC]

Don't let the café husky team in the US see this, they may send a hit squad!

The hit squad still hasn't caught up with Torsten Hallman so I wouldn't be too concerned

[GMC]

[FourstrokeForever]

Is that Mark Waterhouse on his then newly built C&J XR500? That is one beautiful bike....

[80-85 husky]

Yep cant deny the husky can be a pig to start but once it was sorted it was a 1 or 2 kick affair every time. ol mate crashed his into a dam on his property and dislocated his shoulder... and he dragged it out (after laying unconscious for 2 hrs) and it fired 1st kick... he was by himself and in his words "only had 1 kick in him" so it is possible to get them running well.

I like the cut down and well sorted xl 350's. man did they need a good diet..

[enzo906]

All older Honda's were fine and competitive, I raced an XL500SA at a club day as my CR blew it's gearbox. All it had was forks and shocks swapped and lights removed. I was quicker on it than the CR250! (Jilliby with it's 130KMPH straight)
but as far as fun goes I spent less than a grand on this and it was a hoot to ride

the carby was from the 1980 XL/XR 500 HRC kit, the motor was bored to 305cc and a custom cam and larger inlet valve, I ported it my self and made the pipe myself (looks bad but worked well and not too loud)
Alas I sold it, if anyone sees it let me know.

[FourstrokeForever]

Just goes to show that there is room for hybrids in our competitions. Good bikes can be built relatively cheap and once sorted and or built right from the start, they are more than competitive. 

I assembled my own motor apart from having new valve seats, a bigger inlet valve and machining for the roller cam done by a machinist. Oh, and a set of Webster clutch gears made up. I did my own porting as well as made my own pipe and I can honestly say, the bike is FAST and handles really well. It keeps up with the 2st 400's not a problem. Just wish it had a better front brake 

The early XL Hondas (73 to 77) are pretty easy to put on a diet. Mine came down to 108kg after the mods were done! Not bad for a 37 y/o four stroke and a hell of a lot easier to live with than a CCM (but i'd still have one) or a Husky.

[middo24]

Haha some VERY interesting comments on the C&J  XR500 , I rode a REAL one in 1980 & loved it & wanted one so after many many yrs thinking about it  I decided to make one, everyone that has ridden my bike  comes back & says the same thing "it's too much fun" any way she is going to oz titles next week to see how she goes , BBBRRRRAAAPPPP see you there

[Rookie#1]

Haha some VERY interesting comments on the C&J  XR500 , I rode a REAL one in 1980 & loved it & wanted one so after many many yrs thinking about it  I decided to make one, everyone that has ridden my bike  comes back & says the same thing "it's too much fun" any way she is going to oz titles next week to see how she goes , BBBRRRRAAAPPPP see you there

Good luck mate, hope you can back up the talk 

[Slakewell]

XL 500 donk in a KLX frame, lot cheaper than C&J. Ive seen one being built and why its not an easy swap it can be done. 

[FourstrokeForever]

I have seen a KLX with the Honda 500 motor in it. Heaps of cutting, bending and welding work is needed to get the big lump in the frame though. I was going to do the same swap myself, but I couldn't find a donor bike that was reasonable enough. I'm happy with how mine turned out.