NUMBER EIGHT
Many people take the balancers out of the
old XR motors to make them rev quicker
for a bit of extra pep, but Peter has left
the balancer in this one. “If you take them
out, they just vibrate and they break.” The
only part of the engine that doesn’t have
all new components is the gearbox, with
only about a third new parts. Peter plans
to make a custom gearbox though, so
eventually this too will be all new.
But what we really want to know is what’s
it like to ride. Peter says it’s awesome; it
turns well, the suspension is great and the
brakes are much better than standard
drum brakes. But he admits it’s still a tad
tricky to ride. He estimates the engine
puts out between 50 and 60hp which, even
if it’s 50, is equivalent to a modern 450cc
motocrosser, but with a lot more torque
courtesy of the capacity. “Every time
you boot it, it’ll grip and pull wheelies.” It
sounds a handful.
In terms of the work Peter did himself,
he made the exhaust, of course, because
that’s what he does. He also made the
sidecovers so that they had the round
section for the number board. Other
than that, it was just lots of little things
like spacers and brackets. One example is
the bracket to hold the rear brake cable
adjuster. As it was on the C&J frame, the
standard Honda cable was too short and
the rear brake would be pulled on when the
suspension was compressed. To his credit,
unless it was pointed out, you wouldn’t
be able to tell where Peter has made
modifications, such is the quality of his
craftsmanship.
The total build time was short. Short as
in nine months short. “I don’t like to muck
around on projects.” Peter said. There can’t
have been much mucking about in that
time-frame. And he says it would have
taken him less time too, if it hadn’t been
for the inevitable delays, getting parts
custom made etc. “But I was happy with
the outcome… you just have to be a bit
patient really.”
The exhaust is Peter’s own work