A CRISP 1972 HONDA XL 250 BY MULE MOTORCYCLES

THE RELIABILITY OF Honda bikes is famous. When this 1972 Honda XL 250 arrived at Mule Bikes, Richard Pollock had a protracted checklist of efficiency upgrades and beauty adjustments to work by means of. However when it got here to the engine, some timing changes and a carb rebuild have been all it took for the 51-year-old thumper to run true.

“The donor bike was in high form,” Richard tells us. “One lesson I realized way back, was the higher the donor, the higher the tip product.”

Remarkably, Richard remembers engaged on Honda XL 250s once they have been model new, as a result of his first job was in a Honda bike workshop. “It’s path bike, however not a motocrosser,” he says. “In inventory trim; 250 cc, a 6V electrical system, drum brakes entrance and rear, and manufactured earlier than flip indicators have been an ordinary requirement on all bikes.”

“In modified type, with closely upgraded motor output and in light-weight frames, these bikes and motors are nonetheless very fashionable in classic flat observe racing. This one, nonetheless, was sourced as a totally inventory unit, with the client requesting a considerably extra fashionable look.”

Mule Bikes is finest identified for its unparalleled flat observe builds—however Richard is a much more versatile bike builder than most individuals understand. He at present has ten builds within the queue, spanning myriad marques and construct types. And sure, he’s well-versed in classic Honda scramblers.

At a look, this Honda XL 250 appears like a light restomod. But it surely’s sporting a bunch of delicate adjustments, that add as much as give it a slicker vibe than it initially had.

Richard began by stripping the bike down, then cleansing up and sand-blasting the body and swingarm. He then stretched the swingarm by an inch and a half, trimmed and looped the subframe, and added new steering stops up entrance. Every little thing was then coated black and reassembled with recent suspension elements.

A set of Mule yokes grips the forks from a Yamaha FZR600 up entrance, whereas new YSS shocks prop up the rear. The 18” drum brake-equipped rear wheel remains to be in play, however the undertaking referred to as for a disc brake improve on the entrance wheel. Richard made it occur by piecing collectively elements from an extremely diverse checklist of sources.

The 21” entrance wheel comes off a Yamaha YZ450F motocross bike, whereas the axle and brake caliper have been borrowed from a Triumph Bonneville. Richard fabricated a {custom} bracket for the latter, then put in a 300 mm Yamaha rotor onto a custom-made service with Brembo floating bobbins. The retro trials-style rubber comes from Shinko.

The bodywork appears period-correct, but it surely’s solely actually the gas tank that’s nonetheless inventory. The seat specialists Corbin made the saddle to spec, combining the traditional enduro bike chunkiness with a totally fashionable gripper material. The fenders are replica Honda CR250 objects, which go well with this construct completely.

The entrance fender sits on a {custom} bracket that doubles up as a headlight mount, whereas the rear fender wears a traditional rectangular taillight. True to the period there are not any flip indicators—however there are reflectors.

A set of reproduction Cz 360 handlebars adorn the cockpit, fitted with Renthal grips, a Nissin brake grasp cylinder, a brand new throttle, and some important switches. The ignition now sits on the left of the bike, whereas the choke sits simply in entrance of the bars. The cables are all-new, provided by Xlint Efficiency, an organization that makes a speciality of OEM elements for XL-series bikes.

Despite the fact that the engine didn’t want any work on the within, it now appears model new on the skin. The covers have been performed in a tungsten-colored Cerakote end, and Randy Troy rebuilt the carb. All advised this XL 250 ought to be good for an additional century.

Rounding out the spec are a handful of smaller CNC-machined elements and a really cheeky exhaust system. It makes use of a chrome steel header pipe, a brief MX-style muffler, and a custom-made exit pipe, all to create a setup that Richard admits “doesn’t muffle a lot!”

A crisp, and considerably conventional, livery pushes the XL 250 over the end line, courtesy of David Tovar at SBK Paint. And as shiny as it’s, we are able to’t assist however lengthy to see it soiled.

Mule Bikes | Instagram | Photos by Bart Cepek

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