As mini madness continues to explode exponentially, the style and size of bikes that are being accepted into this niche is growing as rapidly as the genre itself. No longer are playbikes strictly hopped up Honda XR50s, but they now include bigger, badder machines that provide the true motorcycling experience yet retain their playbike sensibilities.
Thumpers like the Yamaha TT-R125L, a bike originally intended to introduce people to the world of riding, are now being modified and ridden in the same fashion as the machines that inspired the mini revolution. One of the advantages of riding a motorcycle like the TT-R is the ability to clutch and brake like a traditional motocrosser. Moreover, they're small, lightweight, and easy to flick around, and provide as many smiles per hour as the small-bore 50s.
Like any playbike, modifications are a necessary part of the game and are performed with the sole intent of making a bike look and perform better than when it was produced at the factory. BBR Motorsports, a leader in hot-rodded minis, has recognized the need for aftermarket components that enhance both style and performance on bikes like the TT-R and started manufacturing various components to turn these small-bore thumpers into rip-snortin' minis.
The possibilities on an entry-level thumper are seemingly endless. BBR began with a stock TT-R and stripped it down, then rebuilt it to demonstrate what exactly is possible. One look at this blue demon of a bike and it's clear the results are nothing short of spectacular.
Duane Brown flys through the air on the TT-R 125L.
"When we started with the TT-R it was basically a glorified XR100," said Duane Brown. "We wanted to stiffen up the suspension, do the big-bore kits, and make all the mods so the bike would be adult friendly."
Most minis are manufactured with little people in mind, which means if you truly want to flog your playbike with the big boys you need to increase the overall strength of the chassis. BBR increases rigidity with a super-trick, tubular aluminum frame cradle, which not only provides extra strength and durability but, aesthetically, makes the frame look like a competition-inspired piece of hardware.
Out back, an exotic swingarm made of 6061-aluminum increases rigidity in the rear of the bike and its extra length raises the overall ride height by 1.5 inches. Aftermarket aluminum rims made exclusively for BBR Motorsports in Italy reduce weight by a significant 0.5-pound per rim compared to the stock steel hoops.
Making a bike lighter, stronger, and more appealing is entertaining, but the reason we ride is for adrenaline-injected fun that a twist of the wrist procures. The BBR TT-R has received a host of components that make this bike as much go as it is show.
The most important modification in the powertrain is the BBR 150cc big-bore kit, which comes with an aftermarket cam. The extra 25cc of displacement cost $439.95, which is a small price to pay for turning your TT-R into a fire-breathing playbike. A lighter flywheel gives the bike a harder hit right off idle.
"The big-bore kit is probably the most popular component we sell for the TT-R," explained Brown. "It increases horsepower on the bike by about two horsepower, which is actually a lot for a bike of this size."
Brown rails a corner at John Lawton's mini track.
Feeding the fuel/air mixture to the enhanced cylinder is a Keihin 26mm carb that replaces the puny 20mm stocker. A BBR Free-Flow Air Filter Kit makes for free breathing. Getting spent gases out is BBR's latest technological exhaust innovation, the BBR D-Section performance exhaust system. As soon as the bike is fired up, it's clear this is a serious pipe with serious riding in mind. A throaty note leaps from the pipe giving the TT-R a deeper baritone voice.
BBR tells us that a stock TT-R produces 8.4 horsepower. With the mods outlined above, 11.6 ponies are unleashed out of the BBR corral.
Suspension duties are handled by a heavy-duty springs front and rear. Like the rear shock, the fork springs are 30% more rigid than the stock springs and soak up whoops, bumps, and undulations with ease. Tack on a new BBR billet triple-clamp with OS Bars and the TT-R is looking more like a competition machine in every way, shape and form.
BBR addressed the cheesy controls that come stock on the TT-R and replaced them with stronger, lighter parts. An IMS folding shift lever allows a full-size adult to wedge a foot underneath for easier shifting, while IMS super stock pegs provide a stable platform for riding.
The BBR TT-R project bike is just as much a piece of eye candy as it is a high performance machine, and there's nothing that says "check me out" like billet aluminum hardware. On this bike there are goodies everywhere. Peep the anodized billet gas cap. Also of note is the BBR chain guide, which keeps the RK Gold Racing chain safe and secure.
A bike that is built for shorter people inevitably has to be raised to accommodate bigger, taller riders. The boys at BBR installed Guts Tall Seat Foam with a seat cover to raise the seat enough to accommodate adults.
The graphics on the project TT-R are courtesy of DeCal Works Custom Backgrounds.
Studio shots show just how much time, effort, and money went into the TT-R project.
One look at this TT-R125 and it's obvious that even the biggest of playbikes can have all the same trick components as their small-bore brethren. BBR is clearly at the head of the class when it comes to pimping out minis, and now their extensive catalogue extends beyond the scope of the XR50s.
By the time BBR completed the project TT-R125L, they had added on about $3000 of accessory components to the $2,699 stocker. Total cost for this piece of trick equipment is a healthy $5,704, but some people are throwing that much at their 50s.
"These bike are so much fun to ride, but when they come from the factory they're basically set up for a nine-year old girl," says Brown. "We try to give regular people and more advanced riders the equipment they need so they'll take a beating and continue to perform at a high level."
Mission accomplished.
