Author Topic: HL500  (Read 116870 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Marc.com

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 3887
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #60 on: April 01, 2011, 07:58:11 am »
I know someone who has a genuine HL500 motor sitting in his shed. It was taken out of a HL500 many years ago. The rest of the bike was sold but he still has the motor.

I have genuine HL forks on my bike, the Fox Forx came off an original Pro Fab framed bike. ;D
formerly Marc.com

Offline Marc.com

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 3887
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #61 on: April 01, 2011, 08:04:24 am »
not sure about the White Bros story, this arm looks completely different....

formerly Marc.com

Offline Marc.com

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 3887
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #62 on: April 01, 2011, 08:15:59 am »
I think these stories about longer travel HLs being too tall is also blown out of proportion, I am 6'2" and have no problem kick starting from the saddle. My KTMs back in the day were much more drama.

formerly Marc.com

Offline LWC82PE

  • Superstar
  • ******
  • Posts: 6006
    • View Profile
    • PE motorcycles & SuzukiTS.com
Re: HL500
« Reply #63 on: April 01, 2011, 08:44:57 am »
I know someone who has a genuine HL500 motor sitting in his shed. It was taken out of a HL500 many years ago. The rest of the bike was sold but he still has the motor.

I have genuine HL forks on my bike, the Fox Forx came off an original Pro Fab framed bike. ;D

He now regrets having gotten rid of the rolling bike. This was way before 'VMX' and when HL500's were widely known/disirable/collectable.
« Last Edit: April 01, 2011, 12:43:13 pm by LWC82PE »
Wanted - 1978 TS185 frame or frame&motor. Frame # TS1852-24007 up to TS1852-39022

Offline Marc.com

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 3887
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #64 on: April 01, 2011, 10:24:30 am »

He now regrets having gotten rid of the rolling bike. This was way before 'VMX' and when HL500's were widely known/diesirable/collectable.
[/quote]

Yeah i got offered the genuine one that was attached to my Fox Forx but was already building the GMC bike, never regreted it I think Geoffs workmanship is awesome and there are a number of improvements over the Pro tec frame like the footpegs. Plus Geoffs airbox and pipe are the icing on the cake.

Its a bit like buying a McIntosh Manx frame, you are buying history and craftmanship in its own right.
formerly Marc.com

Offline HL500

  • B-Grade
  • ***
  • Posts: 183
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #65 on: April 01, 2011, 01:29:46 pm »
Reading all the comments, I don't think there is a clear answer but considerable more confusion. 

My thread on this is that a lot of people saw and loved a replica or original verison of a HL500 and fell in love with it.  I'm sure at the time they didn't recognise the essential points of the bike that made up the HL500.  I get excited with anything that looks different and the replica versions of the HL500 allows me to have that, and I can claim it as a "works" bike because its my version and even if you have one its a bet its different to mine.

I have several original bikes in my stable that are just that and I wouldn't dream of modifying them.  I wouldn't modify anything original so the HL500 allows me to experiment.  I'm not interested in building and exact copy of the original HL500!  But its nice being able to get close using the GMC kit.  Reading the dramas forum members have had with purchasing the C&J frames we are very lucky.

Two things come out of this for me.
1. I'll never buy an original if it came up because I wouldn't be sure it was.
2. I'll call my example something else, like an AT540 enduro and then have an original that no one else has.  But knowing my luck someone will see a picture of it and build it and so the debat continues!!

Offline Marc.com

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 3887
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #66 on: April 01, 2011, 01:59:47 pm »
Reading all the comments, I don't think there is a clear answer but considerable more confusion. 

Oh we have had this discussion a number of times.... it always degenerates into chest beating about what is real HLs and bling bikes.

Regarding C&Js, yeah as one of the people ripped off by them I fully endorse your view point of not to go near them with a long pole.

formerly Marc.com

Offline motomaniac

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 2448
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #67 on: April 01, 2011, 05:37:58 pm »
Reading all the comments, I don't think there is a clear answer but considerable more confusion. 

My thread on this is that a lot of people saw and loved a replica or original verison of a HL500 and fell in love with it. 
The original bike that Bengt rode tested and raced was always being changed and developed by Bengt.
The bike that he won a GP moto on at Luxembourg in 77 is my pick as the best version .

Offline Marc.com

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 3887
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #68 on: April 01, 2011, 06:17:26 pm »
I fully agree the bike that won the GP is probably the one that most people want to celebrate. Plus the Aberg bike and RJs US 4 stroke nationals winner can be seen as kind of the peak of HL and TT500 engine development.

So tall ,long travel, shocks half way up the swingarm and big forks really represents the true HL race bikes..... not that I wouldn't build a short one for variety.

formerly Marc.com

Offline VMX247

  • Megastar
  • *******
  • Posts: 8766
  • Western Australia
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #69 on: April 01, 2011, 06:30:23 pm »
geeez  :o can you imagine what the thoughts where back in 1975 when Aberg & Lunden monster yammie tt rolled up  :o
cheers a
Best is in the West !!

Offline motomaniac

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 2448
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #70 on: April 01, 2011, 06:52:28 pm »

Offline motomaniac

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 2448
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #71 on: April 01, 2011, 06:53:26 pm »

Offline motomaniac

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 2448
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #72 on: April 01, 2011, 06:54:38 pm »

Offline crash n bern

  • Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 784
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #73 on: April 01, 2011, 07:17:22 pm »
I remember when those articles came out back in the day.  As a 15 year old I found a near new TT500 that a old bloke in his 30's had ridden for 30 minutes and put up for sale because he couldn't get traction on it. I read the trading post add out to my mum and an hour later my dad came to me in a total out of character moment and said "Well, do you want to get the bike, I'll loan you the money".  I got the bike home and let the 45psi out of the back tire.  As we know the TT's never cut it, but I was beside myself when Aberg started racing the HL.  I was waiting for Yamaha to go into full production with them.

I should probably hit GM up for a frame before he quits making them.  But I'll probably watch it rust before I get around to building one.

Offline cloggy

  • A-Grade
  • ****
  • Posts: 373
    • View Profile
Re: HL500
« Reply #74 on: April 01, 2011, 10:58:39 pm »
 You can always go the brent J route. Cut and shut the head angle, shove on a PE250/400 ally arm and 16" shocks and get a set of suzuki fork legs. He's posted all the info.