Honda 500 XLS Mad'Dax

Stored in the back of the workshop after a painful offroad late career, this old trail was giving me the eye... The mechanics of the big single, rustic but playful, would be perfect for a new construction, even if the chassis will require a lot of attention once again! The 23 front wheel of origin, associated with a very approximate caster angle, is effective in the paths but stings the eyes! I don't have much time, zero budget ... I start.

Once the frame is naked, I'm surprised to appreciate some curves. For once, the rear part of the frame will be preserved (although slightly modified even so). And it's a bit countercurrently that, as usual, rather than a rear loop, Ed is about to make its first front loop! The idea: to keep the fun spirit from the Dax of the same brand, but on an adult sized machine.

While Alexis is working to resuscitate the engine, I bend and assemble the first tubes. A few hours of rod later, the engine is on its solid and polished HD wheels. It already looks good and wins all the votes in the workshop! We adjust a fork, or more precisely some forks... The good compromise was as follows: BMW R65 tubes (nothing is lost) immersed in Yamaha XV 750 sheaths, with homemade fork bridges and a Ténéré caliper. It's done! And it costed nothing!

The light, "racketed" to my buddy Joe, wasn't more expensive (at least until today!). As well as the rear light offered by the prison administration (see GSX 1100) and mounted on a skate truck (negotiated with a kid on my street last season).

The engine receives all the necessary cares before addition of the mythical blue of the big block Ford golden age. Some attributes are added to create the "drag" touch: hand made deported admission pipe, aluminium Terorist remote controls, sprocket cover faming cut, a bike pedal as a kick starter, and then, the other side of the kick starter as a starter ... Here I leave you a few seconds to think! (see here)

After making the fiber tank signed with the logo of our Californian partner Lucky 13, we made the poly half shells that are directly inspired by the FRKNSTN helmet that was given to me by Hedon. But the matter that the English helmet manufacturer uses is expensive and difficult to obtain, and I chose the alternative of the potato sack! More in tune with my finances ... Model, mold and poly are made with my friend Joe. The guy knows the resins very well but he never tried to insert the burlap!

After purchasing the precious fabric (in a much more feminine store than I'm used to go) and having a good laugh when the saleswoman yelled across the store "MIREIIILLLE! DO YOU STILL HAVE BURLAP FOR THESE 2 YOUNG MEN?", It's only missing black satin epoxy on the chassis and parts, two beautiful Avon tyres provided by our partner, and small handles to complete the vintage look.

Now, let’s go to the beach! And let’s go faaaaast!

All the pictures here (© Pierre Le Targat)