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The motto for the Barber Small Bore event, a minibike extravaganza like no other, is "bring the wrong tool for the job." It's a saying that resonates strongly within each and every motorcycle misfit and outcast in attendance.
Editor's note: Blake Wharton is a former professional motocross and Supercross racer and a four-time AMA Amateur National class champion at Loretta Lynn's.
Barber Small Bore presented by MNNTHBX, on the grounds of the Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, includes everything from a minibike straight rhythm course, drag racing, a hillclimb, an amateur stunt competition, a two-hour endurance race on the Barber roadracing circuit and much, much more. But it's not all about speed. Our gang will be entering our totally handbuilt Honda XR200 in the BIKE EXIF Motorcycle Show, enjoying the weekend's frivolities and meeting up with other like-minded two-wheeled enthusiasts along the way. After all, who doesn't like the idea of racing an ICE Bear Maddog 150 on a road course or hill climbing a stock Honda Monkey 125?
The XR200 project
About three months ago, builder Jordan Lake and I started working on our custom Honda XR200 with the sole purpose of racing and showing this bike. We had our eyes set on Barber due to the fact that it is an event where you can do both, and then some. Like any good bike build, our 1996 XR200 started in a plastic Tupperware box, a full-on basketcase, similar to that Lego set you had as a kid. You know, the one with all the missing pieces. This provided the blank slate we needed not to merely "restore" the bike, but for us to remake it entirely.
The Honda XR line, a family of motorcycles that first burst onto the scene in 1979 with the XR500 and grew rapidly throughout the 1980s and '90s, is known for being versatile and bulletproof, but not necessarily for setting land speed records. So early on we knew we would need to find some horsepower if we wanted to bang bars with the big dogs. Besides, who doesn't like going fast? Now enters Mickey Dunlap of Four Stroke Tech, the expert in three-wheelers and all things XR. A motor he has been working on since the dawn of gasoline. The engine received a thorough overhaul by Mickey D. with precision tuning and upgraded components. You could say he lit a fire under the little XR (that could), ensuring more power and efficiency.
Those who are familiar with this model may be surprised to learn that our bike feels surprisingly similar to a stock 125 two-stroke from the same era. And that's saying a lot, given the reputations of many of the early four-strokes. This process was also greatly assisted by our 36 mm SmartCarb. Another addition that took careful articulation to install, mostly due to the small amount of real estate you have to work with when retrofitting minis, but in the end it paid large dividends in performance.
Now for the heavy lifting: the chassis.
"Going in, we knew we wanted to beef up the bike's overall capabilities, so starting with the stock frame, we had to modify the back subframe and original shock mounting point to go from the small 13-inch rear shock to a CRF450R 17-inch rear shock," Jordan explained. "Not only was the subframe section cut and fabricated, we also had to handmake lower linkage arms, as well as mounting points. The goose neck was altered to handle the 1988 CR250 fork, raising the bike significantly. We are nearly at the same height as a Honda 450."
We fitted a CR125 swingarm, which required some aluminum fabrication. Due to the rules, we had to keep the drum front brake and converting the fork from a disc to a drum was a challenge, but it ended up working out as if it was a stock setup. Other modifications included adding the SmartCarb, porting the intake on the cylinder, hand machining an intake boot, and using a custom-made airbox setup. "There are so many modifications, it's hard to catch them all if you don't have a stock bike next to you," said Jordan.
On to the aesthetics
I personally wanted to pay homage to the XR brand, so we tried to keep the look as original as possible, considering all the modifications. That banana-shaped stock seat, the massive shroudless gas tank and yes, the ridiculously large front fender in all its disproportionate glory. To balance out the visual and ride height, we did opt for the 19-inch rear, as opposed to the oblong (but faster) 17-inch stocker, because yes, looking good is half the fun.
The bike looks like a handmade factory race weapon of the 1980s. At least that's what we like to imagine. Since it is in many ways a show piece for the frame, we decided to go with a black base coat, then applied generous layer upon generous layer of Cadillac gold pearl, a subtle but important detail for us and one that goes a long way under the right light. This was a nod to the Harley and Indian street-bike culture.
Throughout this entire process of building and posting on social media, we have been amazed by the sheer amount of interest that still exists for Honda's legendary XR. And though this isn't the first time an XR rush has taken place, many new builders have joined the ranks, causing a major swell of bikes and riders. But it's not all Honda, Honda, Honda.
For the Barber Small Bore, we will be picking up the brand new G3 Greenger electric minibike to put through the paces. It's a bike for the whole family and this will be the first demo in the United States.
Why you should go to Barber Small Bore
Greg Hatcher of MNNTHBX, the title sponsor of the event, is someone who eats, sleeps, and breathes minis, like a gluttonous narcolept addicted to the smell of race gas.
"The Barber facility is an 880-acre two-wheeled haven, basically Disneyland for motorcycles," said Greg.
Or, as Eric Bartoldus at Yoshimura, or "Big E," as everyone in the industry knows him, says, "Best and funnest small-bore gathering in the country under the shadow of one of the best motorcycle museums in the world." Pretty simple to see why it's a success, right?
In the first year of the event, about 250 people came. Year two, about 700, year three, 1,000, year four, around 1,400. This is their ninth go at it and they are estimating a whopping 3,500 attendees. Mariachis singing in the woods? Why not? A high school marching band on site stomping the yard? Yes, please. And who needs a starting gate when you have a legit cannon on site that can signal the beginning of your race? These are just some of the off-the-wall happenings you can expect during your stay.
So if you're able, join us in person or follow us online and witness firsthand what the minibike phenomenon known as the Barber Small Bore is all about.
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