HL500

[curly001]

Marc. be careful with that head don't go doing any port work or using high lift cam with it as I found out there is less than 2mm of material between the spring base and port . Curly

[Marc.com]

Thanks for the tip, i will take a good looks at mine, were using Daytona high port head ?

[Husky500evo]

Here's the original Husky framed HL prototype with Hallman, Enquist and a helmeted Bengt Aberg
Note the realistic seat height. I suspect the action shots of Aberg racing the HL are this bike. Compare the back suspension with the studio shot of Abergs original race HL posted by Graeme at the start of this thread. The factory HL has laid over Fox Shox yet the bike Bengts racing has a rear end setup similar to the bike below.

I think that Bengt Aberg might have used the laid over Fox Airshox setup at some stage, but went back to the more upright Ohlins remote reservoirs. I used to be a fan of HL500s, but I am over it now because everybody seems to have their own idea of a replica that is far removed from what the original looked like. I don't think that Aberg (or even Norton Villiers or Profab for that matter) ever used 43mm forks (or 44mm Fox Forx), TLS front brake, or even piggyback shocks. The whole idea has been bastardised. I would however , like to see someone turn up with a pre '78 legal Aberg replica that looked something like the original. I think that in '77 Aberg was using 35mm Ceriani forks (or 38mm YZ400D forks at some stage)  and Fox Airshox or Ohlins (or maybe even Bilsteins) remote reservoir shocks. 

[pancho]

 Come on, give details about that cylinder head!
 Is it a modified original or a special casting?
 Who did it?
 Are there more of them around?
   Do tell!
   cheers pancho.
 

[Marc.com]

Come on, give details about that cylinder head!
 Is it a modified original or a special casting?
 Who did it?
 Are there more of them around?
   Do tell!
   cheers pancho.

Its special head casting and valve covers made by the Japanese company Daytona. inlet port is higher than stock head and ports look more like they came off a drag racer. It was built for when SR500 racing was big in Japan. There is also a barrel that is available. Price is about $1500, but they told me they are no longer in production.

Mine fell into my hands after making a stupid offer to a shop that had it gathering dust for years.

[LWC82PE]

I read in VMX many issues ago that the European models, specifically dutch i think, used White Power shocks. What year did they stop making HL's? From what ive found, piggyback Ohlins only came out available to the public late 79 or during 1980 thats when a lot of magzine adds started showing up for the them, but the 1979 works Suzukis had them as well as other works teams i imagine so i can certainly see your point saying that a 77 or 78 HL never had Ohlins piggybacks as they were not even around then.

[Marc.com]

I don't think that Aberg (or even Norton Villiers or Profab for that matter) ever used 43mm forks (or 44mm Fox Forx), TLS front brake, or even piggyback shocks. The whole idea has been bastardised.

Yes they definitely bastardised the early Husky framed HL, or developed it so it could win races, depends on how you see it. I blame Bengt for raiding the OW parts bin and fitting a 3 valve head, he had just lost the plot completely.

But you are right of course Aberg, Profab never used 43mm or Fox Forx

[firko]

I would however , like to see someone turn up with a pre '78 legal Aberg replica that looked something like the original.

I totally agree that the HL thing has gone feral with people building them with no concept of history or the original geometry. I'd also like to see someone build one to the original concept. A mate is building one with 38mm Kayaba forks and laid down Fox Airshox, similar to the original Hallman/Endquist concept.
I've witnessed two seperate blokes needing a milk crate to assist mounting their HL's at CCD5 and it wasn't a good look. The closest bike I've seen to the original Aberg bike is Shoeys genuine Profab framed HL which has 10" travel 38mm OW Yamaha forks and a similar rear travel (despite the shocks being piggyback Ohlins).

[HL500]

I would however , like to see someone turn up with a pre '78 legal Aberg replica that looked something like the original.

I totally agree that the HL thing has gone feral with people building them with no concept of history or the original geometry. I'd also like to see someone build one to the original concept. A mate is building one with 38mm Kayaba forks and laid down Fox Airshox, similar to the original Hallman/Endquist concept.
I've witnessed two seperate blokes needing a milk crate to assist mounting their HL's at CCD5 and it wasn't a good look. The closest bike I've seen to the original Aberg bike is Shoeys genuine Hallman framed HL which has 10" travel 38mm OW Yamaha forks and a similar rear travel (despite the shocks being piggyback Ohlins).

You won't like mine then.  It's being built as the enduro that Yamaha should have made instead of the TT500!!  Mind you they are simple to convert or change into the replica I guess.  However, I am attempting to get the ride height right and agree the 10" of travel is about right.  I'm using 43mm forks because I have a spare set like everyone else I imagine.

Mark, what about we get the head recast.  I'd be happy to contribute!!

[Marc.com]

Cmon Firko the guy on the Hallman doesn't look like he has the original laid down Fox's or 10" of suspension travel. for my money the only bike that can truly claim it represents what an HL500 should look like was the productionised NVT.

[mx250]

That's an official Yamaha poster - how much Yamaha factory involvement with NVT was there?

[Captain Bilko]

I think that Bengt Aberg might have used the laid over Fox Airshox setup at some stage, but went back to the more upright Ohlins remote reservoirs. I used to be a fan of HL500s, but I am over it now because everybody seems to have their own idea of a replica that is far removed from what the original looked like. I don't think that Aberg (or even Norton Villiers or Profab for that matter) ever used 43mm forks (or 44mm Fox Forx), TLS front brake, or even piggyback shocks. The whole idea has been bastardised. I would however , like to see someone turn up with a pre '78 legal Aberg replica that looked something like the original. I think that in '77 Aberg was using 35mm Ceriani forks (or 38mm YZ400D forks at some stage)  and Fox Airshox or Ohlins (or maybe even Bilsteins) remote reservoir shocks. 

That's the most sensible thing I've read about HL replicas ever. It seems even real HL's have been bastardised whithin an inch of their lives. The people that do this to the real ones should be summararily executed at dawn. It's not VMX at all!!

I would dearly love to see a real one in its '77 trim however....

[JohnnyO]

Weren't the US HL500 frames made by Profab? There are several different versions of production HL's depending on where it was built, with them using different forks, shocks and swingarms.

[Marc.com]

The people that do this to the real ones should be summararily executed at dawn. It's not VMX at all!!
[/quote]

Is there something wrong with your eye sight .... you have an official Yamaha brouchure that shows the shocks upright, you have Bengt Aberg sitting on a bike with long travel and you are still beating this tired old drum about short travel HLs. If you can actually find a 'real one' let me know where it came ffrom as I am yet to see one in our VMX community.

Also before you start preaching i also have short travel bike using White Brothers swingarm and Fox, short forks combo .... actually attach a photo of your bike for my inspiration. 

[LWC82PE]

Here is an original one. KYB forks, upright Fox airs. This is one of my favourite looking ones. VMX issue 2 has full official specs on the 79 model.

Weren't the US HL500 frames made by Profab? There are several different versions of production HL's depending on where it was built, with them using different forks, shocks and swingarms.

Yeah i dont think they are all the same.
The one Neil Collard had was real. A guy told me the full story a few years ago of how it got here, who brought it here etc, etc and all this stuff about that bike when it built for and raced in the Finke. He told me heaps about that bike but i cant exactly remember it now and unfortunately i dont see him any more. One day i lent him my VMX magazines and thats when he recognised Neils HL that was in the 'reader resto' He instantly recognised the bike and started telling me all this stuff about it.