im starting to build up my 2001 xr70 to make it a little backyard racer. i already have re welded the swing arm lobes on the frame and put a TB 88 kit on it. we have ordered new BBR front and back springs. i was wondering what i should do to give this bike some more power for a decent price.
Xr 70 Project Start
mlittle311
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im starting to build up my 2001 xr70 to make it a little backyard racer. i already have re welded the swing arm lobes on the frame and put a TB 88 kit on it. we have ordered new BBR front and back springs. i was wondering what i should do to give this bike some more power for a decent price.
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Hey there mlittle311... I was surfing PM looking for good threads to participate in and ran across your post. I see you're getting ready to MOD your XR70. I'm in the middle of a similar project. I have a neighbor boy who is good friends with my son, long story short, I somehow manage to volunteer free services when it comes to mini MODs. Just a nice guy I guess!!
I thought I'd share some of my ideas and maybe you can give me some encouragement to get the most from this project. As usual, I start with the fun stuff ( making it look good) then I'll circle back to the engine and trying to get more power.
We started with a '99 XR70R my neighbor got it for a good price, when he presented it his son, while grateful to get a bike at all he didn't have that expression of complete wow!. We went out riding about 4-5 times on the stock (vintage) XR70 and the poor kid stood on the side lines waiting for the newer bikes to free up then he'd hop on and rip up the MX here in Phoenix, AZ. Well, I was struggling as the poor kid riding a bike with such out of date looks I knew with minimal investment we could MOD his bike into something with some Bling.
I'll post some more comments after I show you some pictures… I'm so proud of the project and complements to my fellow posters on PM. Without the many threads on this site I never would have taken on the task so Thanks to ALL!! and we're not done. I'm going to be asking some questions on MODs to the engine here soon too.
Here's the 'Before' picture: 1999 XR70R Stock
![Image]()
Here's the 'After' picture: XR70R with '03 plastics, BBR Graphics, SIKK Swingarm & Handelbars
![Image]()
I thought I'd share some of my ideas and maybe you can give me some encouragement to get the most from this project. As usual, I start with the fun stuff ( making it look good) then I'll circle back to the engine and trying to get more power.
We started with a '99 XR70R my neighbor got it for a good price, when he presented it his son, while grateful to get a bike at all he didn't have that expression of complete wow!. We went out riding about 4-5 times on the stock (vintage) XR70 and the poor kid stood on the side lines waiting for the newer bikes to free up then he'd hop on and rip up the MX here in Phoenix, AZ. Well, I was struggling as the poor kid riding a bike with such out of date looks I knew with minimal investment we could MOD his bike into something with some Bling.
I'll post some more comments after I show you some pictures… I'm so proud of the project and complements to my fellow posters on PM. Without the many threads on this site I never would have taken on the task so Thanks to ALL!! and we're not done. I'm going to be asking some questions on MODs to the engine here soon too.
Here's the 'Before' picture: 1999 XR70R Stock
Here's the 'After' picture: XR70R with '03 plastics, BBR Graphics, SIKK Swingarm & Handelbars
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Here's a few before and after shots of the Engine... This was all cleaned up with a Dremel w/ wire brush attachment.. .and some high temp paint.
I'll make some more comments on the carb as we get into the engine MODS. This bike is really needing some 'POWER' if it's going to display the BBR graphics so boldly.
Before picture of the Engine casing:
![Image]()
After pictures of the Engine casing:
![Image]()
I'll make some more comments on the carb as we get into the engine MODS. This bike is really needing some 'POWER' if it's going to display the BBR graphics so boldly.
Before picture of the Engine casing:
After pictures of the Engine casing:
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Here's a few pictures from the Back 3/4 angle...
In these pictures you can see the change in Rear suspension...by adding an aftermarket swingarm. This was basically a stock replacement part by SIKK... it's doesn't add any length ( like a +2 would) the shock mount did seam to add a slight increase to the height... but not enough for me, I like a lifted tail. So decisions on rear shock are still in progress. Prior to making any final decisons, I'm going to upgrade the Fork Springs to BBR HD...I lucked out and found some on the clearance rack at Cycle Grear for $35 bucks. So we'll see what these springs do the the front... then gage what the appropriate rear shock length should be.
The pipe is still a work in progress also, we picked up a Pro Circuit Pipe here on PM... needs a repack and slight weld repair on the frame hanger... so I put a stock CRF70 pipe on and painted it with some metalic black... it will hold us over until the pipe issue are resolved. Don't you think this bike needs a BBR pipe? Maybe I'm going too crazy with the BBR... but this baby's go t some bling... which is just how the neighbor boy 'Tre' likes it!!
I went a little crazy with the Dremel and the wire brush attachment and cleaned up all the silver metal parts.. bolt heads, sprocket, spokes... anything that was showing some age.
Before Pictures of the Rear end:
![Image]()
After pictures of the Rear end:
![Image]()
In these pictures you can see the change in Rear suspension...by adding an aftermarket swingarm. This was basically a stock replacement part by SIKK... it's doesn't add any length ( like a +2 would) the shock mount did seam to add a slight increase to the height... but not enough for me, I like a lifted tail. So decisions on rear shock are still in progress. Prior to making any final decisons, I'm going to upgrade the Fork Springs to BBR HD...I lucked out and found some on the clearance rack at Cycle Grear for $35 bucks. So we'll see what these springs do the the front... then gage what the appropriate rear shock length should be.
The pipe is still a work in progress also, we picked up a Pro Circuit Pipe here on PM... needs a repack and slight weld repair on the frame hanger... so I put a stock CRF70 pipe on and painted it with some metalic black... it will hold us over until the pipe issue are resolved. Don't you think this bike needs a BBR pipe? Maybe I'm going too crazy with the BBR... but this baby's go t some bling... which is just how the neighbor boy 'Tre' likes it!!
I went a little crazy with the Dremel and the wire brush attachment and cleaned up all the silver metal parts.. bolt heads, sprocket, spokes... anything that was showing some age.
Before Pictures of the Rear end:
After pictures of the Rear end:
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Finally my last post for today... where the whole project started... the handel bars! The stock barks and grips were so bad... I think we started MODs on them even before I started taking my 'Before pictures'.
I'm really liking the SIKK aftermarket parts... not terribly over-priced, Look great, plenty of various parts availilbe so if you like things to 'tie together and look matched'. I think this was the best value and really decent quality for the price.
After pictures of the handlebars: Sikk Bars, Sikk Thorttle, Pro Taper Grips... plan to get a new break lever... the SIKK gas cap was 'BIG HIT' with Tre... loves it!
![Image]()
![Image]()
I'm really liking the SIKK aftermarket parts... not terribly over-priced, Look great, plenty of various parts availilbe so if you like things to 'tie together and look matched'. I think this was the best value and really decent quality for the price.
After pictures of the handlebars: Sikk Bars, Sikk Thorttle, Pro Taper Grips... plan to get a new break lever... the SIKK gas cap was 'BIG HIT' with Tre... loves it!
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today i got my back spokes in because over winter i snapped every spoke on the left side some how. im still waiting on thew suspension to show up, and last night i ordered a tb cam and pro taper se bars
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and i was wondering if the t3 minis tall seat would fit my bike since its a 2001 xr????? please respond
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I would think that the T3 seat would fit.
Here's a post I picked up from a different site...I saved it when I 1st read it cuz it was helpful...
Question:
"Have 2002 XR70R that needs new seat, tank, front forks and plastics. I am looking at some parts on ebay and notice few parts for the 2002 XR70R (including 2001 and 2003). Does anyone know if these parts are interchangable with other Honda models (XR50, XR80, crf50, crf70, crf80) for this year. I have seen some non-Honda brand parts on ebay - are these any good. My preference is to get the Honda brand parts."
Answer:
All the parts you mentioned will interchange directly from '01 - '03. The forks are the same for '97 - '09 xr/crf 70's. If you didn't mind an older look, a '97 - '00 seat/tank set-up will fit the '02 frame aswell, but those parts have to be used as a set. '97 - '03 rear fender and side panels are all the same as are the front fenders. '04 + crf plastics won't work as the frames changed in '04. I would stick to Honda brand parts for the items you mentioned. eBay is notorious for having sub-par china junk with "xr50" or "xr70" in the titles and half the time they don't fit what it is was advertised for.
Here's a post I picked up from a different site...I saved it when I 1st read it cuz it was helpful...
Question:
"Have 2002 XR70R that needs new seat, tank, front forks and plastics. I am looking at some parts on ebay and notice few parts for the 2002 XR70R (including 2001 and 2003). Does anyone know if these parts are interchangable with other Honda models (XR50, XR80, crf50, crf70, crf80) for this year. I have seen some non-Honda brand parts on ebay - are these any good. My preference is to get the Honda brand parts."
Answer:
All the parts you mentioned will interchange directly from '01 - '03. The forks are the same for '97 - '09 xr/crf 70's. If you didn't mind an older look, a '97 - '00 seat/tank set-up will fit the '02 frame aswell, but those parts have to be used as a set. '97 - '03 rear fender and side panels are all the same as are the front fenders. '04 + crf plastics won't work as the frames changed in '04. I would stick to Honda brand parts for the items you mentioned. eBay is notorious for having sub-par china junk with "xr50" or "xr70" in the titles and half the time they don't fit what it is was advertised for.
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Having not seen the T3 tall seat in person... I would caution you as the seat/rear fender in the '01 are slightly wider than models '04 and newer. With some work 'anything' can be made to fit. So if you really like the T3 and want to use it... got for it... you may end up needing to order a new rear fender. I believe it's the number plates from the newer bodystyle that will give you some trouble as the frame holes are in a different position. Again if it's something you really want and are willing to modify some you shouldn't be too far off.
Another MOD we made was the rear shock... went with a 11.5" eye-2-eye... this lifter the rear fender almost 3" . It 's sit's much better now... with no chance that the rear tire will hit the muffler. We cleaned the Carb like crazy... I think it needs a 68 Jet... but we got the wrong one from the motorcycle shop. so the project continues.
Another MOD we made was the rear shock... went with a 11.5" eye-2-eye... this lifter the rear fender almost 3" . It 's sit's much better now... with no chance that the rear tire will hit the muffler. We cleaned the Carb like crazy... I think it needs a 68 Jet... but we got the wrong one from the motorcycle shop. so the project continues.
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well the spokes were a fail. none of them even fit into the hub and were all too long. so instead i ordered some two bros heavy duty spokes. the cam just showed up today and hopfully everything else will show up tomorrow so i can take it apart and put the new parts on.
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I totally understand where you're at... fustration and antisipation... thank goodness for the boys in BROWN that bring us our parts!. I didn't know you were going to lace the hub/rim yourself... you're courageous! I just dropped a different project's wheel off at my local guy at Motocenter... he's good and I don't have to stress over something I don't have allot of practice with. Looks like it could be a busy weekend for you if all the parts do show up! I wish you well.
You're gonna die when I tell you what's the latest with the bike above... The Dad wants to sell it!! After all my free labor... dang it. but I understand why and I'm going to salvage what we can from the XR. The BBR graphics turned out so cool! long story short... the nighbors got a new larger bike, the hand-me-down CRF70 is going to the birthday boy... and the XR70 is going to craigslist. So my XR70 restoration project is now a '99 > '03 > '07 >back to '03 ?? crazy!... we made the 99 XR look like an '03... now we're going to make the '07 look like an '03.... funny. We just love the BBR Graphics so much!!
I'll let you know how the seat situation works out... as it would be the same solution you'll need if you still want to get that T3 tall seat on your project bike. We're going to make it work ha-ha
You're gonna die when I tell you what's the latest with the bike above... The Dad wants to sell it!! After all my free labor... dang it. but I understand why and I'm going to salvage what we can from the XR. The BBR graphics turned out so cool! long story short... the nighbors got a new larger bike, the hand-me-down CRF70 is going to the birthday boy... and the XR70 is going to craigslist. So my XR70 restoration project is now a '99 > '03 > '07 >back to '03 ?? crazy!... we made the 99 XR look like an '03... now we're going to make the '07 look like an '03.... funny. We just love the BBR Graphics so much!!
I'll let you know how the seat situation works out... as it would be the same solution you'll need if you still want to get that T3 tall seat on your project bike. We're going to make it work ha-ha
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took some pictures today, i just got the frame cleaned up, and repainted some spots, i also took a picture of the swingarm lobe that we re made and welded on.
Attachments
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As far sa I understand it... the tank & shrouds will fit... it's the side number plates after '03 that change. We moved the the Tank from an '03 XR to a '99 then changed it again to an '07... and the boly holes lined up. I guess I'd mention that once you chnage the '97 fuel tank you'll need to also change the seat as they line up differently. Take a close look at the 1st two Pics I posted and you can see what I'm talking about.
Good luck with your MOD... I guess my neighbor sold off the bike above ( needed to pay-up on some landscaper debt...so he gave him the bike as payment). Oh well project come and go right?
Good luck with your MOD... I guess my neighbor sold off the bike above ( needed to pay-up on some landscaper debt...so he gave him the bike as payment). Oh well project come and go right?
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XR 70 project
Tank
Gas Fuel Tank Dirt Pit Bike Carbon Fiber XR50 CRF50 70cc 90 110cc 125cc Cap | eBay
Seat
New Red Tall Gripper Seat Honda CRF CRF70 CRF70F SE07 | eBay
Ok I know that this post is a year old, but I have a couple of questions, I have a 2001 Xr70 and can't find new plastic sets except for OEM, which are very expensive. so if i change out the tank and the seat to the newer CRF70 style and then upgrade the plastics to the newer CRF style plastics will that work? i've posted a few links to eBay that show what I'm looking at. thanks
Tank
Gas Fuel Tank Dirt Pit Bike Carbon Fiber XR50 CRF50 70cc 90 110cc 125cc Cap | eBay
Seat
New Red Tall Gripper Seat Honda CRF CRF70 CRF70F SE07 | eBay
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