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Italy and Japan maintain equal shares on this week’s version of Pace Learn. We kick off with a {custom} Honda CB500X from Ellaspede, and end off with a Honda CB400 4 from MotoRelic. Wedged between them are an ex-Dakar Cagiva Elefant and an ex-Mike Hailwood Ducati 125 race bike.
Honda CB500X by Ellaspede Most journey touring bikes trip fantastically properly, however go away rather a lot to be desired within the appears to be like division. There aren’t a whole lot of really fairly journey bikes, and a few of them, just like the Honda CB500X, look downright bland.
When Stephen, a good friend of the Brisbane-based {custom} store Ellaspede, turned up with a really new Honda CB500X, they knew they’d their work reduce out for them. Stephen already had a café racer undertaking on the go together with Ellaspede, and had purchased the CB500X to discover native trails.
“Even earlier than I began driving bikes I had been a eager follower of the {custom} bike scene all around the world, particularly café racers and scramblers,” says Stephen. “Having a neighborhood workshop that produces world-class work proper right here in Brisbane is improbable, and having met the fellows I knew we’d work properly collectively on what are very private initiatives.”
Stephen needed to enhance the Honda’s filth functionality, so the factory-cast wheels needed to go. They’re nice on tarmac, however when the going will get tough, nothing beats a set of light-weight edge-spoked hoops.
A equipment from VMX took care of this, with the entrance measuring 19×2.5” and the rear 17×4.25”. A set of Michelin Anakee Wild tires was spooned onto the brand new gold rims (everybody is aware of that gold wheels add a minimal of 5 hp).
The suspension was additionally upgraded with assist from MPE Suspension, simply up the highway on the Sunshine Coast. The entrance forks have been rebuilt with {custom} springs and valves to go well with Stephen’s weight and driving type, and the rear shock was upgraded with a YSS unit with a distant reservoir. The brand new shock boosts the rear by 30 mm as properly.
The most important visible change (apart from the wild paint job) is definitely the entrance finish. Stripped of the inventory fairings, it has been shrunk right down to a minimal. A brand new 7” headlight from Stedi is held in place by an Ellaspede headlight bracket equipment.
The OEM digital sprint continues to be in play, nevertheless it now sits behind a Dart Basic fly display. The inventory risers and bars have been ditched in favor of decrease risers from Ballards and taller ProTaper Evo Journey bars. Carbon fibre hand guards from Barkbusters spherical out the enduro look, however hold it bougie as heck.
The rear facet covers have been changed with trimmed and massaged items from a CB125F, and the seat was beefed up and lined in beautiful teal motorbike vinyl. Adorned with white Honda logos, it offers off a severe 80s vibe.
There are a slew of different particulars on this practice Honda CB500X, every one chosen with a function in thoughts. Standout elements embody the gnarly Akrapovič can, and a beefy metal sump guard that replaces the plastic manufacturing facility merchandise.
Stephen was so enamored along with his new-look CB500X, that he shook it down the day after he picked it up with an informal six-hour trip. That’s the signal of a job properly carried out. [More]
On the market: 1996 Cagiva Elefant Dakar It’s turn into trendy for journey bike producers to subject their massive twin-cylinder bikes in gnarly off-road races, in a bid to promote extra bikes. However again within the 80s and 90s, massive twin-cylinder bikes dominated races just like the Dakar Rally.
The Cagiva Elefant was one such bike. It had tall suspension, a 21F/18R wheelset, entrance and rear gasoline tanks, a tall fairing, and a Ducati 900 SS engine, and it took prime spot within the Dakar in each 1990 and 1994.
How did a Ducati engine find yourself in a Cagiva? If you happen to’re not au fait with Cagiva’s historical past, the Italian firm owned Ducati from 1985 up till the late 90s. Components and know-how have been shared all through the corporate—therefore the 900 SS engine ending up contained in the bespoke metal and aluminum chassis of the Elefant.
This explicit Cagiva Elefant is a bonafide ex-Dakar race bike. It was fielded within the 1996 Dakar Rally by Cyril Esquirol—a French off-road legend who holds the report for probably the most wins within the now-defunct Gilles Lalay Basic. Sadly he didn’t fare as properly within the Dakar, with a head harm sustained in a crash forcing him out of the rally early.
After the bike was returned dwelling, it was repaired, restored, and placed on static show, which might be why it appears to be like so rattling excellent. It wears 45 mm Marzocchi forks and a remote-reservoir Öhlins shock , with 290 mm of journey at each ends. The square-section swingarm is sweet and beefy, as are the tires and aluminum skid plate.
Tipping the scales at 180 kilos [397 lbs], it’s rather a lot lighter than it appears to be like. That’s in all probability due to the bodywork being custom-made from carbon fiber and aluminum.
The Elefant is at the moment being supplied on the market by Bonhams, with the worth information beginning at round $7,500. And should you miss out on shopping for it for your self, we reckon the Ducati DesertX—which took various design cues from the Cagiva Elefant—would look beautiful on this livery. [Source]
Offered: 1960 ex-works Mike Hailwood Ducati 125 Barcone When Ducati pulled out of Grand Prix racing in 1959, an enterprising man by the identify of Stan Hailwood obtained his fingers on a brand new Ducati ‘Barcone’ 125 Desmo single. The ‘Barcone’ (interprets to ‘barge’ in English) nickname got here from the nautical aesthetic of the crankcase. Numbered D1 (the primary of three or 4 bikes constructed for Hailwood’s Écurie Sportive staff), the 125 cc Desmodromic single-cylinder engine had a six-speed gearbox and produced almost 22 horsepower. Oh, and it redlined at 12,500 rpm!
If the identify Stan Hailwood sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of he was the daddy of Mike Hailwood, one of the vital legendary motorbike racers of all time. Stan arrange the Écurie Sportive staff, which is how Mike obtained onto a Ducati.
Mechanics wanted particular coaching from Ducati to work on the bikes, and this included particular instruments. There have been additionally some modifications that Hailwood requested, together with a thicker seat and a taller gasoline tank. Mike piloted this bike to victory in 9 races and even took it to the Isle of Man TT, the place he crashed out on the primary lap.
The TT slide led to a different few modifications; a brand new set of forks and fork braces, and a fiberglass fairing to exchange the aluminum one. Mike went on to win the 1960 British 125 cc Championship, with Stan promoting the D1 Ducati the yr after. The bike then continued to race in Britain and Eire till 1964, when it was retired and swapped fingers with collectors through the years.
A gentleman referred to as Captain Ivan Forshaw purchased the D1, together with just a few different bikes, within the early Nineteen Eighties. He handed away in 2006 on the age of 95, and the D1 stayed in his household assortment till April of this yr, when it was auctioned of for near $169,000. [Source]
Honda CB400 4 by MotoRelic Some time again, Sean Skinner from MotoRelic obtained a name from a man in Baltimore named Roger. Roger had a 1975 Honda CB400 4 that he needed to breathe new life into, having owned it because the 80s. The blokes had an extended speak, and the the CB quickly confirmed up at Sean’s workshop.
“As soon as I noticed the bike I knew it had nice bones and was in fairly respectable form,” says Sean. “I might virtually hear the tears of the purists hitting the bottom as I considered how I used to be going to chop it up. However, that’s what I do.”
It’s additionally what Roger needed. You see, Roger had had a 466 cc massive bore conversion, a race cam improve, and a few gentle porting carried out on the Honda, 40 years in the past. Whereas we’re positive it appeared nice as an unrestored survivor, it was time to make it look unimaginable.
As quickly because the bike arrived, Sean referred to as his mates at Cognito Moto and ordered a slew of elements. This included a set of {custom} 18” spoked wheels, which along with a Suzuki GSX-R entrance finish and a CB550 swingarm took care of the rolling chassis… virtually.
Roger needed the twin-shock rear finish transformed to a mono-shock setup, and it wanted to suit a 140-section tire. So there’s not a lot of the unique CB550 swingarm left anymore, with Sean finishing the design with 1” tubing and an Ikon shock. A Cognito disc brake conversion equipment and {custom} sprocket spacers spherical out the bundle.
A Thruxton fairing from Airtech Streamlining made its method onto the bike, with Sean spending hours getting the mounts and brackets excellent. The gasoline tank is paying homage to the Honda GB500, nevertheless it’s really a Suzuki GS450 unit. The entrance fender and mirrors are from Messner Moto, and the bike is managed by a full suite of Motogadget goodies.
The again finish of the CB400 body was in the reduction of and looped, with a neat kick to provide the wheel a bit extra room to maneuver. The tailpiece was comprised of the again half of a Honda NS50 gasoline tank, paired with a {custom} metal seat pan. Counterbalance Cycles dealt with the black leather-based upholstery.
Sean tore the engine aside to verify every little thing was nonetheless inside spec, however to his shock every little thing nonetheless appeared model new. After a brand new paint job, the engine was again and prepared for extra motion. Serving to it breathe a bit simpler is a set of CR26 carburetors and a sinuous four-into-four exhaust, made with elements provided by Cone Engineering. Designed to imitate the traditional Honda CB400 header form, the completed result’s a cross between a CB400 and a CB750.
“It’s an unimaginable bike to trip,” beams a really proud Sean. “From the fashionable suspension and brakes to the facility supply of that not-so-little 466 cc engine. Listening to these pipes and people carbs on exhausting acceleration was music to my ears. I want I might hold it.” [MotoRelic | Images by Jonathan Thorpe]
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