I'm riding a 2 Stroke, again (Newmann-style)

Awaiting Molds from a machine/machinist that's waaaaay backed up...schedule-wise, that is.

1979 CR250

Ohlins shocks: the Good Ones...actually from the Can Am team of old. Too SOFT; but, well damped.

41mm Showa Forks: from an '81, I believe. Too SOFT; but, well damped. VERY Impressed with Rebound as set-up, too.

The Black Motor? Well, that's simply due to the Red "Special" paint turned out to NOT be that "Special". That's Heat-Dissipating Black, thank you! The ports ARE Ceramic-Coated (Newmann knows what that means) & some of the old Team Honda tech is in there. It rips pretty damn good! Many of Honda's tricks from that era, including the paint, are in/on that motor. I'll be building a "Big-Case" motor, soon. Then we'll move-on to the RC500 Replica...once we get this thing down RC250 lane.

Ever get to break-in a BRAND NEW 1979 CR250? I have! Those old gear boxes? You can FEEL them "seating" and loosening up. It's SO COOL! The Top-End? Same. Remember "seating your rings"!? I do; and, I did. Same goes for the clutch. It was SO COOL!

The Swing-Arm and Triple-Clamps have to Go. GO on the Shelf and OFF of my bike: They, EXACTLY like the current 450RE, are the major contributors to this thing being a "Flexy-Flier". And..it IS a Flexer. It LOVES to jump to the left...mostly...if ya G-It-Out and Off of something...BOING! Rear-Motor mount and stock frame welding are suspect, too!

Al. "Tripes" swing-arm & Black-Mag "Big-Clamps" are a must. Probably have the frame gone thru and run an Al. Rear Motor Mt. & Stronger Al. Head-Stays, too.

The Terrible "Plastic": Mostly shameful after market stuff that's actually sold for the 78-80 (Fenders); yet, the front ain't right. Reminds me of my '83, actually! Same for the tank: It's not terrible; but, it's a Clarke that's a "One-Size fits many". Gotta get some OEM 1980 Side-Panels or some legit Tripes-RC type panels...somehow. Yup, those Tripes ones, that's what I want. I've got some After-Market ones; but, I'm NOT in love with'em. In-fact, I've got 3 sets of OEM '79 sides, too! Those will allow me to do a late-'78 Smith replica!

I'm gonna get an Al. RC type tank. I have a mod'd 125 Stocker that's identical to the little SX tank that's ubber rare & virtually not seen short of Johnny'O's Franken-Cross SX Special...that was suppose to be CRUSHED

Ti? well, uh...DUH! Even gonna get STRONGER AXLES that way, too!

Pipe? I'm going to steal Big-Don's car until he builds me one! Silencer? Gonna scab together a Stock-Come RC silencer from some stock "Skeletons" I've got. I'm really thinkin' Ti Silencer painted black.

Wheels? (Rims) I'm gonna figure out the best way to go...after a talk w/ Dr. Newmann. I like what's on there; but, I want the ACTUAL Brand and Type; if I can get'em. I ran Sun Rims on my 1980! In GOLD! Actually saw Akronts on a Honda-Europe race-bike in 1980, too!

Brakes? It's got fresh Ferodos...nice stuff. They SUCK. They're drums; but, at the moment...they AIN'T the same brakes my 1980 CR125 had! Not by a DAMN SIGHT. I'll work on'em. I think they're just not "burned-in" and might need a better profile. A Dbl-Leading Shoe Frt IS going on there. Yup.

Nuts-n-Bolts? Seems like some of'em ain't "correct"; but, the Ti stiff I run won't be either!

The Bottom-Line? All the Important stuff is there...and it's there "Nicely". The bike runs pretty damn well: Rode it at Pala, today. Put about 30 minutes on the motor...Brrrraaaaaap! (Accompanied by the sound of "tight" ringing by air-cooled std's!) Very different to Jump...and Turn...Insane FUN! Brrrrrrraaap, Burrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaapppp, Braaaap!

Having REALLY looked into this stuff...talked to & actually getting some in-sight from Honda (Japan & US) folks that've been around for a while...I'm thinking I'm really lucky. Also. Newman REALLY knows his Big Red Era stuff.

STOKED!

Is Tom's tank an RC500 tank?