Tag Archives: Tuesday

NewsNew

TEN MUST SEE 500CC 2-STROKE PROJECTS: TWO-STROKE TUESDAY

This week’s Two-Stroke Tuesday brought to you by Decal Works is all about big-bore 2-stroke projects ! We have a street legal KX500, Honda CR500 powered custom flat tracker and an unreal KTM440 that you don’t want to miss! Before Roger DeCoster was a big time team manager he was a Dirt Bike magazine test rider. In 1995 we made him test all the 500cc motocross bikes, click the link at the bottom of this post to see the full test!

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

Our Ransom KX500AF project started out with a phone introduction between Dirt Bike managing editor Mark Tilley and Wayne Ransom. The introduction then turned into an over-two-hour brainstorming session about the build and what was possible. With Wayne’s background in fabrication, the possibilities seemed endless.

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

This machine looks surprisingly stock just sitting on the stand. Looks can be very deceiving. Todd and the crew at SLM Racing wanted to make a statement with performance rather than looks. We think they nailed both.

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

After meeting up with the Dirt Bike Mag Crew, I was stoked to get back from our annual Anaheim 1 trip & get these girls up in the air! Let’s get this CR party started. “ProjectGoldenGhost” and “ProjectPingKing” elevated on their new shop lift stands.”

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE.

Jonny at The Ride Shop AZ started building this bike over a year ago and just like any custom build ran into some issues with things just not coming together but he didn’t give up and the finished product is worth the wait for sure. There are a lot of industry leading companies on this build like Scalvini , Supersprox, Dunlop, P3 Carbon, Works Connection, TM Designworks, Fasst Co, ODI, Galfer, Seat Concepts, Rekluse and much more.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE

Our hybrid KDX500 project is a mix of a few different machines from two very different manufactures. Can you figure it out? Pete Treadwell and the crew at Western Powersports have been working overtime on this machine.

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

Yes those are billet CR500 center cases. Companies like Rekluse, Boyesen, Sudco and Crank Works are also involved on the engine portion of this build. Here are some words from Carson about this image “More parts are showing up for the Dirt Bike Magazine CR500 project. Crank Works got the crank finished, they balanced it and installed a billet rod. They also polished the transmission. Bryan from RBR rounded up a KX500 carburetor which is bigger. He also got a Boyesen intake and reeds which he matched to the cylinder. “

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE!

At first glance this might look like an average KX500 with some bolt-on upgrades that the average mechanic can perform. Nothing could be further from the truth! A high output ignition system by Powerdynomo, KX450 Fork upgrade, two piece clutch cover, special 5th gear and we are just getting started.

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

The Honda CR500R has been out of production since the mid 2000s, and since the day Honda stopped production, the two-stroke masses have been begging for the two-stroke’s return. After our buddy Austin Perkins found a fairly complete but well-used 1995 CR500R buried in the back of a Southern California garage, we decided to give the masses what they have been asking for—the return of Honda’s mighty CR500R!

Photo: Scott G Toepfer. CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE!

This machine is impressive but once you really start looking close the attention to detail shines through and because this is a one-off build everything had to be customized. Engine, suspension and the entire chassis has custom features on it everywhere. The kickstand located on the left side is not a coincidence Dues Customs Michael ‘Woolie’ Woolaway fabricated it that way so it was easier for Pedrosa to start the bike.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR MORE!

The Kawasaki KX500 is one of the most iconic two-stroke machines ever produced. On the professional racing level, this bike dominated off-road and outdoor motocross championships but was never a winner in the confined spaces of Supercross. Okay, to be fair, there was never a class the KX500 was eligible to participate in. With Red Bull making this year’s Straight Rhythm open to big-bore two-strokes, Tyler Bowers decided to build himself a KX500 with some Supercross credentials. He appropriately named it “the Unit.”

If you are a fan of 500cc two-strokes check out our 1995 Shootout with “The Man” Roger Decoster doing all the testing. Click the image below for the complete test!

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE
NewsNew

REKLUSE BABES IN THE DIRT HUSQVARNA TE300 PROJECT: TWO-STROKE TUESDAY

Check out the Husqvarna TE300i built by Rekluse Motorsports for the Babes In The Dirt event. Rekluse collaborated with FMF, Acerbis, Seat Concepts, and HBD Graphics to create this incredible machine. In our “behind the build” section, we also feature the Dicks Racing Gas Gas 300 build. Click the link at the end of this post for the full story.

2-STROKE BEHIND THE BUILD

Dicks Racing has been building high-end off-road racing machines for decades. Dick Wilk, a racer himself, has honed his skills in making machines handle better and perform stronger through suspension and motor modifications. The GasGas EX300 two-stroke TPI machine is one of his recent projects.

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW FOR MORE!

NewsNew

BLING ON A BUDGET 2001 HONDA CR125 PROJECT: 2-STROKE TUESDAY

This week’s 2-Stroke Tuesday, sponsored by Decal Works, takes us back to a Honda CR125 build from 2016 that may have inspired a project bike trend. We set a $3,000 budget for this CR125 build, including the cost of the bike itself. Back then, prices were much lower than they are now!

Despite the limited budget, we were able to complete this build with some hard work and creativity.

One of the replacements we made was for the OEM Mikuni carburetor, which we damaged while adjusting the jetting. Fortunately, Mikuni offers a replacement that comes pre-jetted and ready to use. It’s a bit more expensive than an option on eBay, but it comes with guaranteed performance and support from the Mikuni team.

The exhaust pipe was damaged, but we were able to get it fixed by Pacific Crest Pipe Repair at a fraction of the cost of a new one. We also cleaned up and repacked the silencer packing, making it good as new. Mylers provided us with replacement radiators, and many OEM parts were restored and reused in the build.

We entrusted LA Sleeve with the complete rebuild of the engine, including repairs to the cylinder. Rebuilding a 2-stroke engine is much more affordable than a 4-stroke engine. We also added Samco silicone radiator hoses for a touch of bling and replaced the worn-out original hoses.

MSR Hardparts offers affordable bolt-on items for older 2-strokes, which we used in this build. The OEM wheel sets were restored by Faster USA for about $200, and they now look amazing.

All the powder coating for this build was done by Chris Johnson and the team at San Diego Powder and Protective Coating. They have experience with both two and four-wheeled vehicles, provide quick turnaround times, and produce outstanding results.

Price: Contact for pricing.

Contact: www.sandiegopowdercoating.com or (619) 956-0987

YES, we did go slightly over budget by about $600, and the bike isn’t perfect. However, it performs excellently at our local track and constantly brings smiles to our faces. We consider that a great success!

Motorsport

Ship Carrying 3,000 Mercedes And Other Cars Burns Off Dutch Coast, One Death Reported

The cargo ship Fremantle Highway caught fire around midnight Tuesday evening off the Netherlands’ coast. It was carrying nearly 3,000 cars. The ship was en route from Germany to Egypt when the fire started, believed to have been ignited near an unspecified electric vehicle.

The crew made attempts to put out the fire but were unsuccessful. Seven members had to jump overboard to escape the rapidly spreading flames, as reported by Reuters. Several crew members sustained injuries including burns, broken bones, and breathing difficulties. Tragically, one crew member lost their life in the fire. All 23 crew members have been rescued from the ship.


Motorsport

Founder of Callaway Cars, Who Created a 255-MPH Sledgehammer Corvette, Passes Away at 75

Ely Reeves Callaway III, the founder and CEO of Callaway Cars, passed away on Tuesday, July 11, at the age of 75 in Newport Beach, California. According to a Facebook post on the company’s page, he succumbed to injuries sustained in a fall.

Reeves established the company in 1977, starting in his garage in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Ten years later, he began collaborating with Chevrolet, which marked the beginning of a long-standing relationship between Callaway Cars and the automaker. As a specialty vehicle manufacturer, Callaway Cars was able to sell its highly acclaimed Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette, known as the B2K, through Chevy’s dealer network.


NewsNew

YAMAHA YZ345 PROJECT: TWO-STROKE TUESDAY

On this week’s Two-Stroke Tuesday we take another look with some unseen photos of a very unique Yamaha YZ345 built by fabricator Howard Jenkins of MotoFab Industries located in central California. Could you imagine a YZ250 two-stroke engine dropping right into a newer Yamaha four-stroke chassis without any major frame modifications? Well, it might just be possible! The topic in our 2-Stroke History section this week is Suzuki’s RM250 and could it be the best used bike ever. Don’t miss our Behind The Build of Mike Browns FXR/Rockstar Yamaha YZ250 at the bottom of this post!

So what if we told you a Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke engine would fit into newer four-stroke chassis without cutting huge sections of the frame away? True story Howard Jenkins CEO of MotoFab Industries in central California had a customer that really wanted to make this bike a reality and he was excited about the challenge of creating something truly different.

This is our first build with the 345 kit the MotoFab crew has done and are excited to feel it put power to the ground.  Eddie Saunders (ESR) designs and manufactures the entire cylinder kit in house except for the casting which he has casted in California.  The most unique aspect to the cylinder is the power valve design.  The main exhaust port actuation is driven by exhaust pressure and can be adjusted to fasten or slow its operation based on the spring tension.  The two exhaust side ports are open all the time with no actuation at all.

With more than a year of development the MotoFab intake for the YZ345 has been finalized. This one piece carbon fiber system utilizes the stock air box placement providing a larger volume of air in the system before being restricted by the air filter and is giving better performance on the bottom end. The system has a rubber grommet that presses into the opening of the part at the carburetor that allows for the OEM air boot clamp to make the seal.  At the other end it’s connected to the intake boot with a small section on silicone turbo hose that gives the system the ability to flex.  Attachment is made to the sub-frame with molded carbon tab at both sides of the subframe.

This YZ345 has a unique wide ratio transmission setup featuring YZ 1st and 2nd gears and WR 3rd, 4th, and 5th.  The WR 1st gear the MotoFab crew felt was too low and love the combination of YZ 2nd and WR3rd because the  YZ 2nd and WR 3rd are more closely geared than the stock setup from either the YZ or the WR and give a great combination for woods or trail riding.

With Yamaha focusing so much on centralizing mass for the four-stroke version the MotoFab crew positioned the YZ250 two-stroke engine as low as we could in the chassis wanting to keep the weight low. With the much shorter 2-stroke engine and forward facing cylinder, the motor weight in the bike is lower and further forward.  They hope it gives the bike a more “planted and stable” feel.

2-STROKE HISTORY

The story of the Suzuki RM250 isn’t just about a single motorcycle. It’s about a dynasty of bikes, championships and riders that goes back to a glorious era in the history of motocross. Click the image below for the full story!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR FULL STORY

2-STROKE BEHIND THE BUILD

Mike Brown has raced at the highest level of motocross, Supercross and off-road for factory-level teams during a career that has spanned over three decades. The 47-year-old racer is no longer competing to put food on the table, but is now doing selected events for Yamaha, FXR and Rockstar Energy just for fun. Click the image below for the full story! 

Citreon

FIRST CITROËN MY AMI BUGGY II SOLD IN THE UK IN UNDER 3 MINUTES

  • A UK buyer purchased the first My Ami Buggy in just 2 minutes and 10 seconds
  • A limited run of 40 My Ami Buggy II was released for sale in the UK and sold out quickly
  • The My Ami Buggy II features a rugged design, colorful accents, and exclusive accessories
  • The My Ami Buggy is the latest addition to the Ami range, joining the versatile Ami Cargo and Ami 100% Electric

 

The first UK customer managed to purchase their My Ami Buggy II in just 2 minutes and 10 seconds, with ten units sold in the first 4 minutes.

 

Following the public’s enthusiasm for the My Ami Buggy last year, which sold out in France in 17 minutes and 28 seconds, Citroën decided to create a limited run of 40 units for the UK market.

 

The My Ami Buggy features an adventurous design, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, with fun accessories like the Khaki exterior color, black protective elements, reinforced bumpers, skid plates, headlamp surrounds, wheel arch extensions, and a rear spoiler for a muscular appearance.

 

The My Ami Buggy II is part of the Ami range and is based on the Citroën Ami 100% Electric, which is a sustainable mobility solution aimed at addressing environmental challenges in cities. The Ami range also includes the My Ami Cargo model, which has a payload capacity of up to 140kg, a maximum load capacity of 400 liters, and a tight 7.20m turning circle.

 

Like all Ami models, the My Ami Buggy emits zero emissions during use and has a 5.4kWh battery that can be fully charged in four hours. It has a range of up to 46 miles and a top speed of 28mph, making it an affordable and clean mobility solution offered by Citroën.

 

Citreon

ONLY A FEW MORE DAYS TO GO: CITROËN MY AMI BUGGY II WILL GO ON SALE ON TUESDAY 20 JUNE AT 2.00PM IN THE UK

  • Priced at just £10,495 OTR, UK sales open at 2.00pm on Tuesday 20 June
  • Limited run of 1,000 My Ami Buggy II to go on sale in ten countries*, including the UK
  • My Ami Buggy II features rugged good looks and colourful accents, as well as exclusive accessories
  • 40 limited edition’ My Ami Buggy II will be available in the UK exclusively via the Citroën Ami website: https://www.citroen.co.uk/ami

The new Citroën My Ami Buggy II will be available for purchase on Tuesday 20 June at 2.00pm. There will be a total of 1,000 vehicles sold worldwide, with 40 of them available in the UK. The price of the My Ami Buggy in the UK will be £10,495 OTR.

The previous ‘Ultra-Limited Series’ My Ami Buggy, which was available in France last year, sold out all 50 units in less than 18 minutes. The My Ami Buggy emits zero emissions while in use and has a 5.4kWh battery that charges in four hours. It has a range of up to 46 miles (WMTC**) and a top speed of 28mph, making it an environmentally friendly and affordable mobility solution.

The My Ami Buggy features a rugged and adventurous design, with khaki exterior color and black protective elements such as reinforced bumpers, skid plates, headlamp surrounds, and wheel arch extensions. Yellow accents are prominently featured both on the exterior and interior, giving the vehicle a lively and playful character. The removable plastic covers and black waterproof fabric roof allow the driver and passenger to feel closer to nature.

Convenient storage spaces have been integrated into the design, including a yellow bag that fits into the center of the steering wheel and a specifically designed space for the Ultimate Ears Boom lightweight Bluetooth speaker. The My Ami Buggy will be available for sale exclusively at https://www.citroen.co.uk/ami.

* UK, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Luxembourg, Morocco, and Turkey.

** World Motorcycle Test Cycle