SUBJECT: HI FROM BRAZIL WR500 PICS

Hi Rick!
How are ya? Great I hope!

Well, I just wanted to show you the latest photos of me and my WR500. I took these about two weeks ago. My WR is working great, and I´m sure feeling like I am Chad Reed with that gear! LOL

Okay Rick, take care!
Thiago,
Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Great job, Thiago, Look for your bike to appear in April 2007 READER’S BIKES.

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SUBJECT:  WHAT IS IT?

Hello Rick
I just bought a bike for my kid (a mini bike) for $100 cash and I don’t know what it is.   It runs just fine and is real clean.  I’d just like to know more about it.  I’d also like to get parts for it when needed.
Carl R.

While I’m not an expert on older minibikes, yours appears to be a Hodaka powered unit.  They made Hodaka motorcycles in the mid-70s and they were, dollar for dollar, pretty good little bikes.  Yours appears to have an Ace 90 engine, and yes, you can get parts from Paul Stannard at Strictly Hodaka:  www.strictlyhodaka.com

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SUBJECT:  KING OF THE DESERT BIKES

Rick
Attached you’ll find a photo of my XR650, the king of the desert bikes, especially Baja.  I’ve had my bike for a few years now, and it looks as good as when it was new, in spite of many many trips to Baja.  I’ve haven’t had to put anything major on or in the bike, except for tires, chains and sprockets.  I also put the right jetting in it after I took out the baffles and stuff.  It made the bike come alive, let me tell you.  In the time I had the bike (nearly four years) my buddys with 450s have put a fortune in their bikes keeping em running.  Long live the King.
Paul
Oceanside, CA

Yep, the XR650 is a real workhorse.  I know of guys who rode to the end of Baja and back and never did anything but adjust their chains and check the nuts and bolts.

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SUBJECT:  SPANISH IRON

Rick
Here’s a picture of my Bultaco that I built from the ground up, I bought it in four milk crates and did all the work myself.  It’s a 1974 model but looks better than new.
John Williams

Good job on the resto, John.  It’s nice to see the old Buls brought back to life.