I've been getting twitchy about doing something creative for a while now and I've got a lot of spares that I was keeping as replacement parts for my main project. I've also had a friend's Mk1 sat covered in my garden that he has wanted to sell for a while now. So I've decided to buy my friend's bike and use some of the 'spares' to improve the suspension and remove some of the weight.

This is the 'amazing revving CRM' that some will remember from a few years ago that I was involved with and did some work on.

I won't be doing this to anything like the detail I did with my other Mk1 but the aim is to produce a bike that I will get to use trail riding that I don't mind getting dirty or dropping. I will try to make it really easy to ride with a low seat height and soft suspension - A sort of kiddies/novice version of the other one.

Cosmetically it isn't pretty but mechanically it's sound. The previous owner had the rear linkage and shock serviced and we took the engine apart at college as the LHS crankcase was cracked. We replaced this and all the LHS bearings and mains. It has also recently been rebored with a new piston.

I've got some brand new XR400 forks, a CR tank, a CRF rear brake master cylinder and front brake system, a CR throttle and a few other bits I might put on.

I'll take a few photos over the next few weeks .......................................

if it's even half as good as the main mk1 ...it will be a cracker!!

I bet you get carried away an go further with it than you wanted to. It'll just get ya

Yeah - I've just bought a Mk3 swingarm and linkage .

slight modifications and knackeredMk1

not exactly words you would put together

good luck with the new project thats only a bit of work and not alot of money

Looks quite good but it's covered in baked on grime/rust after ~3 years of being stored outside sometimes not under cover.

Won't start. I wonder why ..................

at least it looks original and unmolested in there..........

It would save you so much time an effort if you just sold that bike to me. Just thinkin of you really

I don't know what to do . I was going to buy a can of R-134 Honda red paint and spray the parts I was going to grind off or weld on, but there is so many reds, greys and rust that I'll need two cans at ~£35 each + primer. At the moment I'm leaning towards powdercoating satin black as the other Mk1. I can't get the right red in powdercoat to match the plastics and white would look very nice but only when it is spotless.

the money pit is looming careful you dont fall in

while we are talking frames mines looking untidy so £2 for some autosol and a quick polish to tidy it up alot easier than paint or powder

Good to see you doing another project,Steve.
I keep looking in on the forum,once in a while.
I seem to have come round full circle in bikes,and ended up back with Honda ! (2011 CRF250X)
Keep up the good work guys.
Graham.

I saw you'd got a CRF a while ago. I keep looking in on SWTRF .

Engine to remove then out with the welder and grinding wheel............

Good luck mate!! :)