Hi, I am SUPER keen to see this beast back in action as it should be, given that I just can't make it happen in the next few years I'm putting up for sale hoping that an enthusiast will introduce it to a new, unsuspecting audience.
Now to the bike itself sorry:
1982 and a half factory 'prototype' 500 engine in 1982 430 frame - known as the Silver Streaks.
- engine must have 10 fins on the barrel, not 9.
I gave it a quick hose down on the weekend to take some pics - didn’t clean anything to hide any sins, just get the dust n cobwebs off it, as you will see in pics. A quick summary:
- shocks are the only thing not original - they were changed for its very short flat track career before I got it in back in 1993
- original, surprisingly GOOD nick, numbers date matching rims
- completely straight, not even a tiny dent, tank
- same with expansion chamber !!! Unbelievable
- as far as I can tell from pics I can find, original muffler too
- positive rear sprocket is original one from showroom, if not, replaced with factory
- original handlebars
- all three foot levers are original, not bent
- can’t 100% tell from old pics re hand levers - right hand is definitely original, and throttle control defy is original too
- both right hand side plates/plastics are completely intact, no cracks at all
- left hand plate/plastic has some damage but complete and would be repairable to a point where I don’t think anyone would know it had been damaged
- seat cover is original and close to perfect - needs some good cleaning but not even a stitch is broken
- inlet manifold absolutely uncracked as far as I can see, carby original
- both guards original and uncracked - they, like the side plates, would need the proper time spent with varying grades of wet n dry but reckon they would end up close to sparkling
- no front number/race plate
- all cables originals from what I can tell
- plastic stop ends in rear seat frame and bump stops on frame for forks still there and would come up like new
- the unusual for a MXer factory side stand, missing - I doubt any of these would still be fitted being that I imagined all were competitively raced, however, probably source from less rare models that would be same/very similar
- here’s the kicker - the front tyre is factory original
Back in mid early 90s when I first got it, and had it running, carby had a kit put in it and both brakes were rebuilt with new linings by an old school guy that could still do, and had the gear for, custom brake shoe bonding. Head was never pulled but had a LOT of compression - once we could start it, it was genuinely scary and why it has always been known as Sin in our group. Obviously you’d pull it down and give a rebuild but doubt would need anything other than a hone n rings. I had intentions of converting to a (hidden) electronic ignition so it could be started (relatively) easy at shows, or meets, and people could hear the sound of the angriest production half litre ever.
Seriously, if you were going to punt it around the VMX tracks, you could give engine a quick tear down, seals in the forks (not leaking I can see but you’d do it anyway), chase down pair rear shocks, new tyres and be the talk of every meet you went to with the barn find of all barn finds - good clean and leave as is.
As a resto project, doubtful you’d find a better, more complete and original starting point of any unit, let alone one of this rarity - my understanding is less than 550 odd world wide, 5 or 6 to Oz. 1982.5 CR500.
I've put the four 'proof' photos here, I have quite a few more detail, and higher res, pics - email or PM me and I will send anything you require straight away.
For those of you that know what this is, you may not need help, however, I’d be happy to give you everything I’ve found re part numbers, pics, links etc if you decide you want to buy it - I’m not saying you won’t find more info but there isn’t much out there and was ‘kin difficult to find so a head start would be handy. Some of the pics of restos, and even starting points of old ones for sale on the interwebby thing aren’t accurate and some of the factory racer pics you see have some small changes too. I saw a big dollar resto one go up for sale 12mths ago and it was absolutely beautiful but wasn’t 100% right - that’s part of the ‘beauty’ of this one, is you can see how it should look when finished in almost every respect, along with the pics I have found that are right.
I know we all hate this, myself included, but I'm looking for expressions of interest/offers - I haven't got a price in mind sorry. Cheers,
Craig.
[email protected] IMG_3263 by
Bearfoot Garage, on Flickr
IMG_3268 by
Bearfoot Garage, on Flickr
IMG_3254 by
Bearfoot Garage, on Flickr
IMG_3255 by
Bearfoot Garage, on Flickr