There’s been a lot of interest in converting 450cc dirt bikes into race bikes. The 450 singles are lightweight and inexpensive, making for a nice nimble entry level racer. But a question always pops up, why not a kit for the street?

Kurt Blankemeyer of Design Cycle Inc. is working on a conversion, too. He starts with a Honda CRF450R, but instead of building a track oriented race bike, you add Kurt’s kit and the result is a street legal cafe racer, what he calls a CB450R.

While some guys working on an idea keep turning out endless CAD drawings, Kurt has a prototype on the ground running and a couple more in the works. As you can see from the photo, the bike is light, Kurt says it’s around 240 pounds wet and with somewhere around 55 horsepower, you have a very flickable little performer with a pretty high fun factor.

Kick start and carb keeps it simple and seat height is only 30 inches. They’re aiming at owners of CRF450Rs first, then, if the kits work out, they’ll be doing complete custom bikes, later. Kurt is still making final tweaks to the prototype and is trying to gauge interest, so let him know what you think, he wants your feedback. Nice work, Kurt. I like it!

Specs:

• Engine: 2002 – 2007 Honda CRF450R

• Front End: Modified Honda

• Front Wheel: 17” x 3.5” wide Pro Wheel

• Rear Wheel: 17” x 5” wide Pro Wheel

• Front Tire: 120/60-17

• Rear Tire: 150/60-17

• Front Brake: Single Caliper CRF450 on oversize rotor.

• Swingarm: Modified CRF450R

• Rear Brake: Stock CRF450R

• Handlebar: LSL Aluminum

• Exhaust: Leo Vince

• Headlight: LSL

• Turn Signals: LSL LED

• Fuel Delivery: Carburetor

• Fuel Tank: 2.4 gallon

• Rear Suspension: Dual Shock (Progressive)

• Seat: Minimal

• Frame: Modified Honda

• Gauges: Garmin GPS

• Starting System: Kickstart…”light is right”

Performance:

• Horsepower: ~55HP

• Wet Weight: ~240 pounds

• Fun: Maximum

Link: Design Cycle Inc

UPDATE: Kurt just sent a few more photos to give you a better look. He also wanted to be clear that this prototype was not painted and the wiring is in rough shape. Everything will be cleaned up, this is a work in progress.

UPDATE 2: Be sure to read Kurt’s comment below about getting these on the road legally, registering in your state and how it works in Florida.

