The Eighties
Back in the 80’s, Yamaha was trailblazing with their 500cc big singles, such as the XT500 and its street-smart sibling the SR500. It is needless to say that these 2 models have become iconic over the years. In 1985 Honda responded to Yamaha’s success by launching their own 500cc big single from the already popular and successful XL500 enduro, put into a street-bike frame. That’s how the XBR500 came to be. Performance-wise the 500cc thumper delivered around 44hp in its final form. Readers might not be impressed by those kind of power figures, but people that have ridden these bikes know different. It is the combination of a fairly low weight, carried low in the frame, and the torque delivery from tick over what gives the Honda sing its charme.
Bulletproof
The engine in the Honda XBR, XL, XR, and the GB was so incredibly reliable, that it had earned itself the reputation of being absolutely bulletproof. It is therefore no surprise that the blueprint of this engine is still being used today, in mass-produced Chinese built motorcycles such as the SWM 440 and the Mash 400. As a matter of fact, you can exchange some engine components from an original Honda 400 (a smaller displacement 500) with them. They are now even being sold in Europe with fuel injection and ABS. Talk about a success number!
Extreme Pepo
You may have heard of Pepo Rosell before. The founder of XTR Pepo has been featured countless times here on BikeBrewers. The French native who is now living in Spain made his name creating Radical Ducati, building some of the world most extreme Ducati’s. But, as things go sometimes, the growing business saw him move away from building bikes to managing a conpany. Corporate life was not what he was dreaming of… So, in 2015 he decided to start over again, except this time, with less business and more fun! Motorcycle mischief at its finest we might add.
Imatra
XTR Pepo’s latest build might not be as exclusive as some of the Ducati’s or Moto Morini’s that he build before. A 1990 Honda XBR500 might not be the most obvious of all choices, however, the vision Pepo was clear: create a simple but dedicated race bike that would entertain both novices and professionals. How fitting is the name of the build, Imatra, which is an old road circuit in Finland back in the 1960s all the way to the 1980s. It was a notorious track, claiming many lives of those who dared.
Fire-breathing race machine
The XBR from XTR Pepo is a tribute to the races from yesteryear. In honor of those races, Pepo built a full on, racing pur-sang, motorbike. The list of the mods is extensive, as you would expect from this builder, to make this Honda a fire-breathing monster. The amount of work and re-work the engine alone has undergone is at tier level BEAST. Every bit and piece on this bike has passed the hands of the master builder, except for the paintjob, which was beautifully executed by PINTUMOTO painting. Pepo made us a list, because Pepo knows we love lists. Our readers love lists too. Our readers dogs probably do too. So here goes:
Chassis/body:
• Modified frame
• Hagon rear shocks
• XTR Front bracket
• Aprilia RS 125 USD fork
• Tomaselli clip ons
• Derbi front hub with Excel rim
• NG front disk
• Frentubo brake line
• Brembo radial brake caliper
• Brembo front brake pump
• Koso rev counter
• XTR carbon fiber front mudguard
• XTR adjustable CNC machined footrest
• Mash Five Hundred rear hub with Excel rim
• XTR fairing
• Yamaha TZ 250 modified fuel tank
• Yamaha TZ 125 modified rear cowl
• XTR upholstery
Engine:
• Big-bore 600 cc engine with Wiseco high comp piston
• Honda XL 600 crankshaft
• Honda XBR 500 gearbox
• Eliminated magneto (runs with loosing LiPO battery)
• Magnesium Honda XR 600 left crank cover
• Kickstart only, eliminated electric starter and gears
• Reworked XBR camshaft to HRC specifications
• Ported heads
• FCR 39 carb with hand made intake
• Oil cooler
Pictures: Sergio Cardeña (@conotroenfoque)
Builder details:
XTR Pepo
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