Some of Phil's custom bikes over the years...
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1975 Yamaha MX400B Ice BikeI was lucky to find this basket bike with all parts in the box or on the rolling frame. Yamaha engines of this era were known for linear torque comparable to Huskys and Maicos. Everyone now knows four strokes are best for dirt track cornering and that applies to ice bikes too. I think this grunty 400 will be an exception to that rule. The first and really the only modification wasn’t to the engine--that stays stock. I had the frame cut at the head to move the fork angle rearward. There is no sense to try to corner a bike with a 30o rake, which was common to bikes of that time. And happily, I was able to use a compression release I had stashed away because the head was tapped for two plugs. I’ll use that momentarily coming into corners and as a kill switch. That sound will startle the youngsters on the ice...”damn, what’s that behind me?” The only other thing I did was to fatten the rear of the seat purely for aesthetics. Naturally, I used a front ice fender which I make. I’ll ride this bike for the first time at my February, 2022 80th Birthday ride on Lake Minnetonka. I’ve invited my flat track friends. No cake or cupcakes--just icing on the lake! |
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Maico Spider
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1991 YZ250 Chesterfield ReplicaDonny Schmit
Donny is on the left here. I don’t know why we were both smiling but it was awards time. Maybe because he was a world champion and here I was handing out a lousy plaque. ![]() At 75 years old I had no business buying a vintage Yamaha 250 MX, but I did in August 2017. My intension was to build a Donny Schmit Chesterfield replica from a 1991 Yamaha 250-to ride, not stare at. Two years later I finished it, but turns out the thing is too tall for my short legs and old body so I traded it. |
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Dirt Track MiniBuilt for dirt track racing in pull start class. Extended Azusa frame to curb unexpected front wheel lofting of stock short frame. Modified 5 hp Briggs flat head. Tall handlebars and big wheels raise seat level for comfortable adult use. Tall bars won’t trap left knee in corners. Actual 1980 Harley XR 750 tank with sectioned and shortened XR tail. Custom seat from scratch. |
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Cinderella Lump Custom 650I purchased two 1980s Yamaha 650 Specials about four years ago. One I turned into my Storm kit showcase bike. I turned the second one into a Cinderella. It has a modified Storm body and looks like a café/bobber thing. It has a three-tone 1960s style paint job in pink/charcoal/pearl white. Read about the build process It has only 5,500 miles on it. I probably put a price of $2950 on which is fair for a low mile, tricked out bike. Now with the pink color you’ll have to be a manly man or a pretty lady to buy it. |
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Yamaha TT250: The quest for the perfect trail bike in 2014/15Actually, there can't be a perfect woods bike because there are different classes of riders. Intermediate to expert level fellows from 25 to 45 with abundant testosterone are perfectly happy with KTMs and the like with sky-high seat heights and more than needed power. But there's another bunch of riders who appreciate a scoot a little closer to earth with tractable power--novices and senior riders. I am part of the senior bunch and to them I recommend reaching back in time to obtain one of these older bikes and rebuilding it in a limited way. I paid $500 for one in great shape. My brother Ric spent $250 for an XT that needed more work. That's your price range-try to stay in it. |
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![]() 1974 XL 250 Honda-Vintage MX Bike |
![]() Norton Manx conversion for Yamaha 650 |
![]() ![]() Honda 350 Trackmaster |
![]() Yamaha 650 Street Tracker |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() RD350/Champion |
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![]() 1974 Yamaha RD350 Cafe |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Honda CB450 Café |
![]() ![]() XR200R Champion Mad Dog Class Racer |
![]() Jawa 890 Speedway 2 |
![]() ![]() Suzuki GT750 LeMans |
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![]() 1978 250 Six Day Ossa |
![]() 1983 FT500 Honda Ascot Café |
![]() 1974 Moto Guzzi V-7 Sport |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() CR250-powered Race Cart |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() XL350 Grass Tracker |
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Phil’s Future BuildTwo years ago, old flat tracker Mark Boesch delivered a bike to me because he was never going to finish it. It was a mild flat track styled 1972 XL250 in a stock frame. The bike was built by a good friend of ours, Tom Green from Mound, MN. After Tom died, it passed to his son, Dan Green. When Dan died, Mark received it and stored it for 10-15 years. I plan to build a ground-upper, primo street tracker from it. I am now mocking up a Trackmaster tank and a TT tail that I manufactured as Omar’s Dirt Track Racing. I love that old style DT look. I’m also using my old 3D side plates. The body colors are going to be Porsche Guards Red with white tank panels. Eastwood in Florida has a reflective chrome-like powder coat paint; I’ll use on the frame to replicate framer nickel plating. The engine will get a total rebuild and a Honda Retro paint: silver and rose bronze. Tom was big into mod engines so I’m hoping it has a race cam and other goodies. I have a modified XL250 in a Champion frame as my ice bike. That engine revs to 10 grand and puts out reliable high power. It’s going to be a weekend road rider when done. When I’m gone and totally dead, the bike will be willed back to Sue Green, Tom’s daughter. She and her husband, Bob Crawford, have its mate, an XL350 tracker that Tom also made. Phil Little 8/5/24 |