Honda XL500S "Special"

An un-dead Franken-bike story

I bought a 1981 XL500S frame and engine some years back, with its own plate. Used the engine to build the Al Baker bike and forgot about the frame. Until I realized that I had almost enough spare part in boxes to assemble a whole bike. So I tried putting the puzzle together and got carried away...

Some parts left over from previous projects. Fox Air Shox maybe?

White Brothers swing arm and 84 XR500R forks?

And a rebuilt 1981 XR500R engine, plus a pair of ITC Ohlins for height.

With the Don Vesco tank from the Al Baker project, a Supertrapp muffler, nice plastics, a new headlight shroud, the brand new Mikuni 38mm, 12V conversion, a nice brand new headlight shroud and other goodies here and there, it makes a nice bike (that needs finishing now).

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The seat was moved back almost one inch to accommodate the tank properly. Also, the steering stem had to be lengthened by almost an inch (welded a chopped steering stem from another frame) to accommodate the 1984 forks assembly.

Needs some adjustments (and a new seat foam!!), some welding for the steering stem extension, but here is a great off-road bike that flies!

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Clearly not as capable as the C&J farmed bikes but for the cost, well worth it. Try it!

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This one has a title and is roadworthy, I may take it for the Barstow to Vegas before I get too old...

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Needs an air box, powder-coating the frame and blinkers first.

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A cool exhaust header is also on the cards.