Turning a scooter into something it isn’t

When fellow GRM member GearheadE30 jumped a Honda Helix, I knew I needed to join the $1000 challenge and a scooter would be my choice vehicle...

Luckily a fellow ‘competitor’ had a cheap Prodigy for sale. $100 changed hands and I had my ride..

Of course the catch was it didn’t run and it stunk of mice piss. 

Lucky most of the plastic came off without a fight

And all it needed was a good carb cleaning to get it purring again.

I was never going to spend $1000 on a scooter, so just how cheap can I make this POS into something cool? 

There’s a lot of superfluous metal attached to the frame that can just come off and be repurposed elsewhere and for a small amount of money I can get some better forks for it..

Mocked up some spare cx500 forks and slapped a Shinko knobby tire on that front wheel. 

What would it look like with a top tube, spare gas tank and seat? Hmm

The concept seems pretty good, a 150cc twist and go scrambler? 

Old head tube chopped off

new one off spare cx500 stuck on.

And a bit of fence post used to make a top tube..

Not my finest work, but budget and that blah blah blah 

Compared to my Wr250r, wheelbase is 1/2” less and rake angle is 25 degrees Vs 27 degrees. Not bad! 

Scramblers are all about the style really, so what not go all out and get the yellow headlight and brown pleather seat! 

Also a spare Kawi KE100 tank with added dent. 

Cardboard seat is optional extra.

Lame scooter fender was trimmed to make it look cooler, jury is still out on this one, but eh was free. 

Seat came in, and so too did the Kenda trackmaster back tire, lovely. 

Did a a bit more chopping on the rear and moved the rear shock mounts forward, zero mechanical benefit, pure stylin’ haha

Better than half the "cafe racer" builds I see on the youtubes!

$100 well spent I say.

This is the perfect pit bike

The raddest thing I've seen in weeks!

also:

Haha! I was singing that when I picked it up! 

My son wasn’t impressed 

Do you have any other cx500 parts? 

That thing is already cool and it is not finished. Looking forward to seeing more of the build.

akamcfly said:

Do you have any other cx500 parts? 

You could talk to gearheadE30 on here, he’s doing a scramblerized CX500 a has a fair few spare parts...

Chappers said

You could talk to gearheadE30 on here, he’s doing a scramblerized CX500 a has a fair few spare parts...

Thanks. Email sent. 

It’s the details that take the time on this build.

The Cx500 forks are 35mm narrower than the scooter forks and the axle is larger diameter, at 15mm.

I got new bearings with the correct ID but the brake rotor sticks out too far and hits the fork. 

I need to trim 10mm off the rotor mounts on the wheel and I don’t have a lathe, so I got inventive. 

A wheel balancer and the death wheel. 

It actually worked! 

I’m able to use the upper mount on the cx500 fork with the scooter caliper and rotor and it all fits really nice. 

Just need a way of bolting the lower mount on.

I’d need to die grinder the web a little bit and make a brace across the two mounting lugs with a 3rd hole for the caliper bracket. 

Bit of scrap aluminum.

couple hours with a drill and a grinder 

And it works! 

That’s one job done. Only 27 other jobs to go...

Chappers said

You could talk to gearheadE30 on here, he’s doing a scramblerized CX500 a has a fair few spare parts...

Some much needed parts on the way. Thanks for the help. 

This is looking excellent- that big hole in the frame looks like a really good place to put a tiny little turbo and an intercooler... or maybe a nitrous bottle?  

Also please tell me of this $1000 two wheeled challenge.

In reply to akamcfly :

No problem.

In reply to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ :

Oh you're nasty! LOL

Also yes that void space will be used to create additional power, via an additional engine or forced induction or both... but for now with the budget, extra fuel storage for the trip.

Just a few friends got together to plan a ride on the Kentucky Adventure Trail and set this challenge to make it more interesting...

This thing is looking sweet!  Are you anywhere near FL?  If so, I have the perfect event for you to come ride/race it.

I've always wanted to make a camping/adventure scooter like this. So much room for fuel and supplies in that giant hole in the frame. Super rad. 

In reply to Lof8 :

Eh? There's not even one motorcycle in that photo  

We're all in Indiana, so it would be quite a ride down there! - Have you been to that event?

Chappers said:

In reply to Lof8 :

Eh? There's not even one motorcycle in that photo  

We're all in Indiana, so it would be quite a ride down there! - Have you been to that event?

 

 

The event is the Woodsman Cup.  Nearly everyone in that photo brought some kind of goofy ill-equipped bike to ride and race.  Its really a big party.  i've been to 5 or 6 of them.  The rule is no factory dirt bikes allowed.  There are several classes including scooters, groms, cruisers, street bikes, etc.  "google" it for some more good photos.