During thelast 20 years two-stroke motorcycles have practically vanished from the streets, substitutedby cleaner, safer and more reliable four-strokes. Their demise is unquestionably a good thing when it comes to air quality in big cities, but despite this many people still miss them, seekingsolace in restorations and custom builds. For those who understand this nostalgia, here are ten modern motorcycles thatkeep the oil-burning spirit alive. Some are available to buy, although most ofthem can hardly be considered cheap, easy to find or environmentally-friendly. The dilemma, of course, is that they're all likely to deliver a delicious ride.
In 1975 acertain Mr. Giacomo Agostini won the 500 cc class of the Grand Prix WorldChampionship on a two-stroke Yamaha. After the historic triumph these machines whitewashedthe field until 2001, when Valentino Rossi conquered his first 500GP title on aHonda NSR500; the last ever by a two-stroke smoker.
In off roadracing the two-strokes had already made their mark by the mid-1950s, going onto dominate the scene in the early 1960s.
Two-strokeshave an outright advantage over any four-stroke; more power from equaldisplacement, less weight and easier servicing due to less moving parts in theengine. On the other hand, their disadvantages include shorter service life, increased fuelconsumption, terrible emissions and a nasty disposition because of their narrow powerband.
Thingsstarted changing as the world grew more environmentally conscious and by the1990s it was becoming obvious that the two-stroke era was coming to an end.
Honda presented the revolutionary EXP-2 two-stroke Activated Radical Combustion engine in 1995, raced it in a few Rally Raids to prove that it could be clean and efficient and then proceeded to kill its own project – despite successfully vindicating its own claims.
In 1998Yamaha introduced the YZ400F, a revolutionary four-stroke motocross racer that producedincredible power at higher rpm than any four-stroke had ever achieved before. Itwas a game changer, and in just a few years the off-road racing world was turnedupside down. By the early 2000s the two-strokeshad been confined to a handful of competitors in every class – more of a nichethan actually competitive motorcycles.
People havealways been attracted to race replicas. "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" is an old adage of the motorsport world that has yet to be proven wrong. A new generation of hi-tech four-stroke machines dominated the globalmotorcycle market, a trend still holding strong today.
Thefactories are happy; four-strokes are more expensive, they need more parts andtheir service is equally costlier. The environment should be in a better place,having rid itself from those oil-burning smokers. Four-strokes are safer toride, with a linear power delivery, engine braking and no unexpected outburstsfrom engines that suddenly hit a mountain of torque. But who really knows what kindof two-strokes we’d have if modern technology was applied to them? (We may yet find out if this recent Honda patent for a direct fuel injection, cleaner burning two-stroke is any indication).
But peoplestill want them. They are cheaper, lighter and morepowerful, but despite some recent signs that the two-stroke might not have fallen completely off the agenda like this cleaner burning Honda patent design, the two-stroke doesn't look likely to make a comeback anytime soon.
Today theonly available two-strokes are off-road models. Road-going bikes have practicallydisappeared, with the exception of the 50 cc Aprilia RS4. The only choice for adie-hard two-stroke fan is to go for a used old model, or do something along thelines of the following ten motorcycles.
RDTZ 2-StrokeAttack by Roland Sands Design
Beforeemerging as a famous custom builder, Roland Sands was a motorcycle racer. Whenhe accepted an invitation to the Born Free Motorcycle Show that took place inlate June at Silverado, USA, he dove into his two-stroke racing past inorder to draw inspiration for the custom he’d build for the show.
A fewframes Sands had designed back in the day for racing Yamaha TZ250s werestill laying around in his warehouse. Claiming they are the best frames ever designedfor these motorcycles, he soon found a Yamaha RD400 engine to wedge on one ofthem – the RDTZ is named after these two donor bikes.
Sands selected a fine collection of race gear, the majorityof which comes from his own stock pile of TZ parts and from Team Roberts’ shelves.These include a vintage triple clamp set, a rare dry clutch setup made up fromparts gathered from all over the world and Performance Machine magnesium wheels from Sands’ own 1998 250GP championship-winning bike.
The enginewas tuned by Ed Erlenbacher, an engineer with ample experience in two-stroketuning, mated to a custom-made twin exhaust system.
In case youwere wondering, the silver leafed inscription on the sides of the carbon fiberfairing reads "2-Stroke Attack" in Kanji.
"Fast,incredibly light and good handling, the RDTZ is a blast from the past and a lookinto the future of what custom bikes can be," Sands says.
If you feltcupid’s arrow piercing your heart, you should know that this is a one-off build. Maybe you could convince him to make another – after all, he must still have some TZ frames sitting around in his shop.
Source: Roland Sands Design
NSR250R by TYGAPerformance
If you likethe good old 250GP race replicas of the 1980s and 1990s, Tyga Performance maybe the specialists you need. Its English owners, Paul Pearmain and MattPatterson, make no effort to hide their love for two-stroke racebikes and theirThailand-based company has a very long list of special parts to cater for everyneed.
Their latestcreation is a tribute to Honda’s 1994 NSR250R MC28 and serves as a rolling showcase of their products. The parts’ list is too long to mention here, so we’lljust stick to the basics: VHM cylinder heads, Wiseco pistons, handmade Tygaexhausts, revalved CBR600RR forks, Ohlins shock and steering damper, RC45triple tees, Brembo M4 monobloc calipers with CBR1000RR master cylinder,Marchesini magnesium rear wheel.
Add tothese a collection of highly coveted HRC race parts, among manyothers including a magnesium front wheel, close ratio gearbox, Keihin 30 mm carburetors, swingarm, radiator, water pump and ignition system.
Believe it or not, theframe is a stock piece.
The engineis bored out to 300 cc and ported, reaching up to 70 hp (52.2 kW) for a ready toride weight of 115 kg (253.5 ld). Compare that to the 40 hp (29.8 kW), 157 kg(346 lb) of the stock model and you get an idea of the two-stroke advantage.
Althoughthe complete bike is not for sale, most of the parts on it are – minus somediscontinued HRC items. Pearmain tells us that the carbon fairing will be available soon.
Surprisinglyenough, this motorcycle is still registered in Thailand as a 1994 NSR and hasall the equipment required to be ridden legally on the road by whoever daresto take this V2 two-stroke maniac for a stroll downtown.
Source: TYGA Performance
Ronax 500
Anyone fancya road-legal 500GP racebike? Ronax makes one and it may well be the only one ofits kind in the world. Based in Dresden Germany, Ronax pays homage to thefire-breathing 500s that ruled the queen Grand Prix class for many years untilValentino Rossi’s championship on a Honda NSR500 in 2001.
The Ronaxis powered by a bespoke fuel injected 80-degree V4 with two counter-rotatingcrankshafts, putting out 160 hp (119.3 kW) at 11,500 rpm. Combined with a wet weight of 145 kg (319.7 lb)this fiery two-stroke probably has more than enough to put modern superbikes to shame ... at least before you factor in reliability.
Equippedwith the typical gear, Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes, the Ronax 500 isadorned with a black paint scheme and graphics reminiscent of Rossi’sNSR.
Production of the Ronax 500 is limited to 46 units. Brace yourself for the price though – €100,000 (US$111,000), with 30 percent advancepayment and a 6-month waiting period. Every customer gets to choose the number he wants on his motorcycle, provided of course it hasn't been already taken. For some reason we suspect number 46 will be the most sought after.
Source: Ronax
TZ Racer byDeus Ex Machina
The YamahaTZ250 is a prime example of the motorcycles that Yamaha raced in the 250GPduring the 1970s. This TZ is probably an example from the 1976-1980era, before the power valve engine was introduced in 1981 to lift the TZ from strong competitor to all-conquering machine.
The TZRacer was restored in California, USA, at the Deus Ex Machina workshop as a personalproject by Motorcycle Design Director Michael Woolaway, with a lot of attentionto detail and every intention of taking it racing.
The high-revving air-cooled engine is fed by two MicuniZC carbs and produces 50 hp (37.3 kW) at 10,500 rpm, more than enough to makethis lightweight racebike a real cracker on a race track.
Source: Deus Ex Machina
BimotaV-Due
The newsthat Bimota was designing a two-stroke 500 cc road legal motorcycleto take on the superbikes was initially met with great enthusiasm in Italy. In1997 the V-Due was introduced to the world, a 90-degree V2 that promised to solvethe two main problems that plagued the two-strokes, emissions and service life,by means of advanced fuel injection system and forced lubrication for thebottom end of the engine.
Unfortunatelyfor Bimota, the V-Due turned out to be an unrideable beast, with a horrifyinglyunpredictable power delivery and, to top this, several reliability issues. Manyof the 1997-1998 models were returned to the factory and in 1999 Bimota wentbankrupt. The first motorcycle with an engine made by the Italian company was the one thatkilled it.
Agroup of Bimota engineers who had bought the company’s stock of V-Duemotorcycles and parts modified the engine by tossing the injection for a pairof Dell Orto VHSB 39 carbs, reworked the lubrication system accordingly and in 1999 introduced the V-Due Evoluzione series. Having solved the problems that initially doomed the V-Due, it remained in limited productionuntil the 2005 Edizione Finale.
TheEvoluzione versions produce reliably 135 hp (100 kW), weigh 150 kg (331 lb)and allow their owners to enjoy the legendary handling that had made a name for the Italian boutiquebrand. These models have since become highly sought after collectibles, soanyone in the market for one should expect a salty price tag.
Source: V-Due
Husqvarna WastedYears by Lorenzo Buratti
Lorenzo Buratti is an Italian designer with a passion for motorcycles. Mostof his work is around designer items for the home, usually made out of wood andmetal, occasionally mixed with the unexpected motorcycle part – like a boxerengine chair or a Vespa desk light. He also designs some elegant custommotorcycles, such as his latest creation which came about after he bought avery cheap 1999 Husqvarna WR360.
His inspiration was a streamlined speed record chaser, so there was a lotof work to be done on this old Swedish enduro bike. The frame was extensively redesignedto end up with a wider caster angle and the rear converted to a hardtail design. TheHusky was equipped with a front suspension from a first generation Yamaha R6and the front brake was completely removed.
The engine was rebuilt with original parts and fitted with a custom exhaust Buratti designed for performance, achieving a hefty 65 hp (48.5 kW) from the singlecylinder two-stroke. Dressed in custom made fiberglass fairings and painted in flashy colors inspired by Evel Knievel, the end resultweighs just 85 kg (187.4 lb).
Buratti was planning to take his custom to Bonneville for a run at theSpeed Week, hoping to break the 200 km/h (125 mph) mark. This wouldn’t constitute arecord, it would just be a target set for his satisfaction. Unfortunately Speed Week has been cancelled this year, so Buratti will have to either findanother event to run his custom Husky, or wait another year.
In case you were wondering about the name: "WastedYears is not only my favorite Iron Maiden song, it is also a common opinion I sometimes had to fight against," explains Buratti. "This bikewants to be a tribute for all the people who believe in something, to peoplewho put ideas and real soul in life and maybe not so much money."
Source: Lorenzo Buratti
Ossa Copa250 Grand Prix by Café Racer Dreams
Ossa built its fame on off-road race success, but also had a strong, yet short-livedpresence in the road racing scene. In the late 1960s Ossa managed four racewins at the 250GP class before retiring from road racing after its star rider,Santiago Herrero, was killed at the Isle of Man on 1970.
This GrandPrix custom build is a tribute to those days, being based on a 1979 Ossa Copa 250. Spanish custom builders, Café Racer Dreams (CRD) subjected the donor model to a transformation process with older technology,removing the cast wheels and disc brakes in favor of spoked rims and ventilated drumbrakes. The original frame was reinforced forextra rigidity and several features were designed to successfullyreplicate the vintage racing aura, such as the petrol tank and the tail unit.
After afull engine restoration and a new exhaust system, the suspension was upgraded with fresh units fromSpain's Betor. The whole build took three months to completeand by now the Copa 250 Grand Prix has been returned to its happy owner.
CRD will gladly undertake such projects – it might even be a nice change from the hordes of BMWs and Hondas that occupy most of its time.
Source: Cafe Racer Dreams
500AF byService Honda
Despite going out of production in 2001, the Honda CR500is one of those motorcycles that will forever haunt our dreams. Thanks to companies like Service Honda from Indiana,USA, the legend doesn’t just live on, it thrives. These two-stroke lovers have prepared a special treat for those who would liketo get a 500 missile on their hands.
The bike's engineis housed in a brand new aluminum twin spar, semi cradle frame that can becustomized to the customer’s ergonomics in order to (hopefully) help tame all the insane powerthat this engine produces.
The 500AF(for Aluminum Frame) boasts a collection of parts one would expect to see onevery top of the line modern four-stroke off-roader, including adjustable Showasuspension, Service Honda’s aluminum swing arm, FMF Q-series or Pro Circuit 296series exhaust and, of course, a steering damper. The latter is a welcome aid in the effort to keep the front wheel in line when opening the throttle on amachine that produces almost twice the torque of contemporary open class off-roadmodels.
Customizationoptions including bodywork, suspension tuning and cylinder porting.
This is themotorcycle that many motocross and enduro fans around the world hoped Honda would produce. This two-strokelegend can still find its way to your garage, provided you are willing to part with at least US$13,499. Service Honda can also cater for customers inEurope, via its partners in UK, France and Denmark, as well as in Australia.
Source: Service Honda
KX500AF byService Kawasaki
Followingthe success Service Honda has enjoyed with the 500AF, a separate part ofthe same company prepared a similar model based on the green KX500.After reaching a special agreement with Kawasaki to supply them with brand newparts, the KX500AF was made available to the public in 2012.
The big KXis another monster of torque, benefiting from a Power Valve thatcontrols the exhaust port in order to enhance power delivery over a wider rpm range– an upgrade that Honda never offered to the CR500. The base model also features a Kayaba AOS (Air-Oil Separate) fork and a Unitraksingle rear suspension setup.
The startingprice for the KX500AF by Service Kawasaki is US$18,499.
Source: Service Kawasaki
Maico 700
The CR500and KX500 are monsters of torque, then there's the Maico 700. The German company produced a variety of two-stroke off road machines,with the 700 being the most famous of all. It couldn’t have been any different,with the single cylinder 685 cc engine that was born in the US motocross sidecarracing scene eliminating every four-stroke competitor that stood against it.
Maico wentbankrupt in 1986, but its motorcycles never disappeared. At one time they weresold in the USA by ATK, with the rebadged 700 Intimidator leading the charge. Since1999 a German KTM dealer in Leverkusen is the only producer in the world tooffer several Maico models, limited to around 50 motorcyclesper year.
The contemporaryMaicos feature WP suspension and modern bodywork, and they are available in Enduro, Motocross and Supermotoversions with capacities of 250, 320, 500 and 620 cc, plus the 685 cc bad boy.The Enduro and Supermoto models can be ordered with road-legal equipment,allowing legal registration in Germany.
Thosedreaming of a two-stroke behemoth that produces 82 hp (61.1 kW) for 110 kg (242.5lb) can visit the link below and prepare for a €11,995 (US$13,300) price tag.
Source: KTM Koestler
Two-Stroke Smoke Candle
So getting your hands on a two-stroke can be a little difficult (and expensive) these days, but if you're a true die-hard fan who pines for that oily aroma, Flying Tiger Motorcycles from Maplewood, Missouri, has just the thing.
The Two-Stroke Smoke Candle is made with real live two-stroke oil with "high-octane fragrance." It costs $20 and we bet you can legally light it up even in California ... plus the rest of us won't have to put up with the fumes.
Source: Flying Tiger Motorcycles
During thelast 20 years two-stroke motorcycles have practically vanished from the streets, substitutedby cleaner, safer and more reliable four-strokes. Their demise is unquestionably a good thing when it comes to air quality in big cities, but despite this many people still miss them, seekingsolace in restorations and custom builds. For those who understand this nostalgia, here are ten modern motorcycles thatkeep the oil-burning spirit alive. Some are available to buy, although most ofthem can hardly be considered cheap, easy to find or environmentally-friendly. The dilemma, of course, is that they're all likely to deliver a delicious ride.
In 1975 acertain Mr. Giacomo Agostini won the 500 cc class of the Grand Prix WorldChampionship on a two-stroke Yamaha. After the historic triumph these machines whitewashedthe field until 2001, when Valentino Rossi conquered his first 500GP title on aHonda NSR500; the last ever by a two-stroke smoker.
In off roadracing the two-strokes had already made their mark by the mid-1950s, going onto dominate the scene in the early 1960s.
Two-strokeshave an outright advantage over any four-stroke; more power from equaldisplacement, less weight and easier servicing due to less moving parts in theengine. On the other hand, their disadvantages include shorter service life, increased fuelconsumption, terrible emissions and a nasty disposition because of their narrow powerband.
Thingsstarted changing as the world grew more environmentally conscious and by the1990s it was becoming obvious that the two-stroke era was coming to an end.
Honda presented the revolutionary EXP-2 two-stroke Activated Radical Combustion engine in 1995, raced it in a few Rally Raids to prove that it could be clean and efficient and then proceeded to kill its own project – despite successfully vindicating its own claims.
In 1998Yamaha introduced the YZ400F, a revolutionary four-stroke motocross racer that producedincredible power at higher rpm than any four-stroke had ever achieved before. Itwas a game changer, and in just a few years the off-road racing world was turnedupside down. By the early 2000s the two-strokeshad been confined to a handful of competitors in every class – more of a nichethan actually competitive motorcycles.
People havealways been attracted to race replicas. "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" is an old adage of the motorsport world that has yet to be proven wrong. A new generation of hi-tech four-stroke machines dominated the globalmotorcycle market, a trend still holding strong today.
Thefactories are happy; four-strokes are more expensive, they need more parts andtheir service is equally costlier. The environment should be in a better place,having rid itself from those oil-burning smokers. Four-strokes are safer toride, with a linear power delivery, engine braking and no unexpected outburstsfrom engines that suddenly hit a mountain of torque. But who really knows what kindof two-strokes we’d have if modern technology was applied to them? (We may yet find out if this recent Honda patent for a direct fuel injection, cleaner burning two-stroke is any indication).
But peoplestill want them. They are cheaper, lighter and morepowerful, but despite some recent signs that the two-stroke might not have fallen completely off the agenda like this cleaner burning Honda patent design, the two-stroke doesn't look likely to make a comeback anytime soon.
Today theonly available two-strokes are off-road models. Road-going bikes have practicallydisappeared, with the exception of the 50 cc Aprilia RS4. The only choice for adie-hard two-stroke fan is to go for a used old model, or do something along thelines of the following ten motorcycles.
RDTZ 2-StrokeAttack by Roland Sands Design
Beforeemerging as a famous custom builder, Roland Sands was a motorcycle racer. Whenhe accepted an invitation to the Born Free Motorcycle Show that took place inlate June at Silverado, USA, he dove into his two-stroke racing past inorder to draw inspiration for the custom he’d build for the show.
A fewframes Sands had designed back in the day for racing Yamaha TZ250s werestill laying around in his warehouse. Claiming they are the best frames ever designedfor these motorcycles, he soon found a Yamaha RD400 engine to wedge on one ofthem – the RDTZ is named after these two donor bikes.
Sands selected a fine collection of race gear, the majorityof which comes from his own stock pile of TZ parts and from Team Roberts’ shelves.These include a vintage triple clamp set, a rare dry clutch setup made up fromparts gathered from all over the world and Performance Machine magnesium wheels from Sands’ own 1998 250GP championship-winning bike.
The enginewas tuned by Ed Erlenbacher, an engineer with ample experience in two-stroketuning, mated to a custom-made twin exhaust system.
In case youwere wondering, the silver leafed inscription on the sides of the carbon fiberfairing reads "2-Stroke Attack" in Kanji.
"Fast,incredibly light and good handling, the RDTZ is a blast from the past and a lookinto the future of what custom bikes can be," Sands says.
If you feltcupid’s arrow piercing your heart, you should know that this is a one-off build. Maybe you could convince him to make another – after all, he must still have some TZ frames sitting around in his shop.
Source: Roland Sands Design
NSR250R by TYGAPerformance
If you likethe good old 250GP race replicas of the 1980s and 1990s, Tyga Performance maybe the specialists you need. Its English owners, Paul Pearmain and MattPatterson, make no effort to hide their love for two-stroke racebikes and theirThailand-based company has a very long list of special parts to cater for everyneed.
Their latestcreation is a tribute to Honda’s 1994 NSR250R MC28 and serves as a rolling showcase of their products. The parts’ list is too long to mention here, so we’lljust stick to the basics: VHM cylinder heads, Wiseco pistons, handmade Tygaexhausts, revalved CBR600RR forks, Ohlins shock and steering damper, RC45triple tees, Brembo M4 monobloc calipers with CBR1000RR master cylinder,Marchesini magnesium rear wheel.
Add tothese a collection of highly coveted HRC race parts, among manyothers including a magnesium front wheel, close ratio gearbox, Keihin 30 mm carburetors, swingarm, radiator, water pump and ignition system.
Believe it or not, theframe is a stock piece.
The engineis bored out to 300 cc and ported, reaching up to 70 hp (52.2 kW) for a ready toride weight of 115 kg (253.5 ld). Compare that to the 40 hp (29.8 kW), 157 kg(346 lb) of the stock model and you get an idea of the two-stroke advantage.
Althoughthe complete bike is not for sale, most of the parts on it are – minus somediscontinued HRC items. Pearmain tells us that the carbon fairing will be available soon.
Surprisinglyenough, this motorcycle is still registered in Thailand as a 1994 NSR and hasall the equipment required to be ridden legally on the road by whoever daresto take this V2 two-stroke maniac for a stroll downtown.
Source: TYGA Performance
Ronax 500
Anyone fancya road-legal 500GP racebike? Ronax makes one and it may well be the only one ofits kind in the world. Based in Dresden Germany, Ronax pays homage to thefire-breathing 500s that ruled the queen Grand Prix class for many years untilValentino Rossi’s championship on a Honda NSR500 in 2001.
The Ronaxis powered by a bespoke fuel injected 80-degree V4 with two counter-rotatingcrankshafts, putting out 160 hp (119.3 kW) at 11,500 rpm. Combined with a wet weight of 145 kg (319.7 lb)this fiery two-stroke probably has more than enough to put modern superbikes to shame ... at least before you factor in reliability.
Equippedwith the typical gear, Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes, the Ronax 500 isadorned with a black paint scheme and graphics reminiscent of Rossi’sNSR.
Production of the Ronax 500 is limited to 46 units. Brace yourself for the price though – €100,000 (US$111,000), with 30 percent advancepayment and a 6-month waiting period. Every customer gets to choose the number he wants on his motorcycle, provided of course it hasn't been already taken. For some reason we suspect number 46 will be the most sought after.
Source: Ronax
TZ Racer byDeus Ex Machina
The YamahaTZ250 is a prime example of the motorcycles that Yamaha raced in the 250GPduring the 1970s. This TZ is probably an example from the 1976-1980era, before the power valve engine was introduced in 1981 to lift the TZ from strong competitor to all-conquering machine.
The TZRacer was restored in California, USA, at the Deus Ex Machina workshop as a personalproject by Motorcycle Design Director Michael Woolaway, with a lot of attentionto detail and every intention of taking it racing.
The high-revving air-cooled engine is fed by two MicuniZC carbs and produces 50 hp (37.3 kW) at 10,500 rpm, more than enough to makethis lightweight racebike a real cracker on a race track.
Source: Deus Ex Machina
BimotaV-Due
The newsthat Bimota was designing a two-stroke 500 cc road legal motorcycleto take on the superbikes was initially met with great enthusiasm in Italy. In1997 the V-Due was introduced to the world, a 90-degree V2 that promised to solvethe two main problems that plagued the two-strokes, emissions and service life,by means of advanced fuel injection system and forced lubrication for thebottom end of the engine.
Unfortunatelyfor Bimota, the V-Due turned out to be an unrideable beast, with a horrifyinglyunpredictable power delivery and, to top this, several reliability issues. Manyof the 1997-1998 models were returned to the factory and in 1999 Bimota wentbankrupt. The first motorcycle with an engine made by the Italian company was the one thatkilled it.
Agroup of Bimota engineers who had bought the company’s stock of V-Duemotorcycles and parts modified the engine by tossing the injection for a pairof Dell Orto VHSB 39 carbs, reworked the lubrication system accordingly and in 1999 introduced the V-Due Evoluzione series. Having solved the problems that initially doomed the V-Due, it remained in limited productionuntil the 2005 Edizione Finale.
TheEvoluzione versions produce reliably 135 hp (100 kW), weigh 150 kg (331 lb)and allow their owners to enjoy the legendary handling that had made a name for the Italian boutiquebrand. These models have since become highly sought after collectibles, soanyone in the market for one should expect a salty price tag.
Source: V-Due
Husqvarna WastedYears by Lorenzo Buratti
Lorenzo Buratti is an Italian designer with a passion for motorcycles. Mostof his work is around designer items for the home, usually made out of wood andmetal, occasionally mixed with the unexpected motorcycle part – like a boxerengine chair or a Vespa desk light. He also designs some elegant custommotorcycles, such as his latest creation which came about after he bought avery cheap 1999 Husqvarna WR360.
His inspiration was a streamlined speed record chaser, so there was a lotof work to be done on this old Swedish enduro bike. The frame was extensively redesignedto end up with a wider caster angle and the rear converted to a hardtail design. TheHusky was equipped with a front suspension from a first generation Yamaha R6and the front brake was completely removed.
The engine was rebuilt with original parts and fitted with a custom exhaust Buratti designed for performance, achieving a hefty 65 hp (48.5 kW) from the singlecylinder two-stroke. Dressed in custom made fiberglass fairings and painted in flashy colors inspired by Evel Knievel, the end resultweighs just 85 kg (187.4 lb).
Buratti was planning to take his custom to Bonneville for a run at theSpeed Week, hoping to break the 200 km/h (125 mph) mark. This wouldn’t constitute arecord, it would just be a target set for his satisfaction. Unfortunately Speed Week has been cancelled this year, so Buratti will have to either findanother event to run his custom Husky, or wait another year.
In case you were wondering about the name: "WastedYears is not only my favorite Iron Maiden song, it is also a common opinion I sometimes had to fight against," explains Buratti. "This bikewants to be a tribute for all the people who believe in something, to peoplewho put ideas and real soul in life and maybe not so much money."
Source: Lorenzo Buratti
Ossa Copa250 Grand Prix by Café Racer Dreams
Ossa built its fame on off-road race success, but also had a strong, yet short-livedpresence in the road racing scene. In the late 1960s Ossa managed four racewins at the 250GP class before retiring from road racing after its star rider,Santiago Herrero, was killed at the Isle of Man on 1970.
This GrandPrix custom build is a tribute to those days, being based on a 1979 Ossa Copa 250. Spanish custom builders, Café Racer Dreams (CRD) subjected the donor model to a transformation process with older technology,removing the cast wheels and disc brakes in favor of spoked rims and ventilated drumbrakes. The original frame was reinforced forextra rigidity and several features were designed to successfullyreplicate the vintage racing aura, such as the petrol tank and the tail unit.
After afull engine restoration and a new exhaust system, the suspension was upgraded with fresh units fromSpain's Betor. The whole build took three months to completeand by now the Copa 250 Grand Prix has been returned to its happy owner.
CRD will gladly undertake such projects – it might even be a nice change from the hordes of BMWs and Hondas that occupy most of its time.
Source: Cafe Racer Dreams
500AF byService Honda
Despite going out of production in 2001, the Honda CR500is one of those motorcycles that will forever haunt our dreams. Thanks to companies like Service Honda from Indiana,USA, the legend doesn’t just live on, it thrives. These two-stroke lovers have prepared a special treat for those who would liketo get a 500 missile on their hands.
The bike's engineis housed in a brand new aluminum twin spar, semi cradle frame that can becustomized to the customer’s ergonomics in order to (hopefully) help tame all the insane powerthat this engine produces.
The 500AF(for Aluminum Frame) boasts a collection of parts one would expect to see onevery top of the line modern four-stroke off-roader, including adjustable Showasuspension, Service Honda’s aluminum swing arm, FMF Q-series or Pro Circuit 296series exhaust and, of course, a steering damper. The latter is a welcome aid in the effort to keep the front wheel in line when opening the throttle on amachine that produces almost twice the torque of contemporary open class off-roadmodels.
Customizationoptions including bodywork, suspension tuning and cylinder porting.
This is themotorcycle that many motocross and enduro fans around the world hoped Honda would produce. This two-strokelegend can still find its way to your garage, provided you are willing to part with at least US$13,499. Service Honda can also cater for customers inEurope, via its partners in UK, France and Denmark, as well as in Australia.
Source: Service Honda
KX500AF byService Kawasaki
Followingthe success Service Honda has enjoyed with the 500AF, a separate part ofthe same company prepared a similar model based on the green KX500.After reaching a special agreement with Kawasaki to supply them with brand newparts, the KX500AF was made available to the public in 2012.
The big KXis another monster of torque, benefiting from a Power Valve thatcontrols the exhaust port in order to enhance power delivery over a wider rpm range– an upgrade that Honda never offered to the CR500. The base model also features a Kayaba AOS (Air-Oil Separate) fork and a Unitraksingle rear suspension setup.
The startingprice for the KX500AF by Service Kawasaki is US$18,499.
Source: Service Kawasaki
Maico 700
The CR500and KX500 are monsters of torque, then there's the Maico 700. The German company produced a variety of two-stroke off road machines,with the 700 being the most famous of all. It couldn’t have been any different,with the single cylinder 685 cc engine that was born in the US motocross sidecarracing scene eliminating every four-stroke competitor that stood against it.
Maico wentbankrupt in 1986, but its motorcycles never disappeared. At one time they weresold in the USA by ATK, with the rebadged 700 Intimidator leading the charge. Since1999 a German KTM dealer in Leverkusen is the only producer in the world tooffer several Maico models, limited to around 50 motorcyclesper year.
The contemporaryMaicos feature WP suspension and modern bodywork, and they are available in Enduro, Motocross and Supermotoversions with capacities of 250, 320, 500 and 620 cc, plus the 685 cc bad boy.The Enduro and Supermoto models can be ordered with road-legal equipment,allowing legal registration in Germany.
Thosedreaming of a two-stroke behemoth that produces 82 hp (61.1 kW) for 110 kg (242.5lb) can visit the link below and prepare for a €11,995 (US$13,300) price tag.
Source: KTM Koestler
Two-Stroke Smoke Candle
So getting your hands on a two-stroke can be a little difficult (and expensive) these days, but if you're a true die-hard fan who pines for that oily aroma, Flying Tiger Motorcycles from Maplewood, Missouri, has just the thing.
The Two-Stroke Smoke Candle is made with real live two-stroke oil with "high-octane fragrance." It costs $20 and we bet you can legally light it up even in California ... plus the rest of us won't have to put up with the fumes.
Source: Flying Tiger Motorcycles
