When a customer sends you a bike halfway across the country, you know the pressure is on. For Spencer Parr of Parr Motorcycles in Indiana, that pressure came wrapped in the form of a tired old 2002 Honda XR650R shipped from Texas. The brief was simple: take Big Red’s desert dominator and turn it into a road-going big bore scrambler, better, sharper, and more refined than his already legendary first XR680R build. Version 2.0 was born, and according to Spencer, it’s his favourite bike to date.
The foundation for this project was laid a few years back, when Spencer’s own 680R scrambler hit social media and turned heads. Word spread fast, and before long, another customer wanted their own take on the big thumper. The donor bike wasn’t showroom fresh, more “sat in a garage a little too long”, but that didn’t matter. Everything non-essential was stripped and stored, leaving only a blank canvas ready to be reimagined.
First order of business? The tank. Both 680R builds use a Honda XL500 tank, but sourcing one in decent shape is never easy. When Spencer finally found a good candidate, he made the necessary tweaks, like swapping the petcock, before it slotted perfectly onto the frame. From there, he fabricated a completely new removable aluminium subframe, his speciality. Sleek, functional, and complete with an electronics box and license plate mount, the updated design flows with uber clean lines and remains one of his favourite pieces to date.
Suspension duties are handled by Honda’s own finest, with a set of CRF250R forks and triples grafted to the front, lowered an inch, and rebuilt by Racetech. Out back, the stock XR shock got a fresh powder coat after already being sprung for the owner’s weight. A BRP riser set with a Scotts steering stabiliser adds a touch of rally DNA, while an aluminium rod welded to the main frame ensures the stabiliser mounts properly. The stance is commanding without being overbearing.
Rolling stock is a proven setup from Spencer’s first build: a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear laced with Dubya hubs and anodised blue rims, wrapped in Shinko 705s. Combined with a handmade rear fender, complete with an integrated taillight, a vintage Honda SL175 front fender, and an aluminium splash guard, the bike nails that “purpose-built but polished” vibe. The details shine, like custom radiator mounts, extended alloy guards housing twin Trail Tech fans, and neatly tucked LED running lights that double as indicators.
Underneath, Spencer refinished a secondhand skid plate and extended its top edge for a more complete look. The exhaust is a standout too, a hand-built stainless 2-into-1 system that steps from 1.5 to 1.75 inches and terminates in a Cone Engineering muffler. It looks lean, sounds mean, and perfectly complements the thumping 680cc single. Speaking of which, the engine was torn down and bored out, just like his own bike, ensuring the XR’s already brutish power is elevated to proper hooligan levels.
With fabrication done, the bike was stripped and prepped for paint, a process Spencer doesn’t take lightly. From the frame, the owner wanted something special, “So, after many hours of sanding and using a ton of scotch pads, I finally got it to that brushed aluminium finish the owner wanted. It took forever, but it looks great! The owner also opted for a red-and-blue livery with classic Honda logos, laid down by Hired Guns. The end result? A factory-meets-custom aesthetic that looks equal parts vintage Dakar and modern street scrambler.
Electronics were the final piece of the puzzle. Motogadget Blaze out back, discreet LED strips up front, integrated taillight, and even a Garmin GPS pulling double duty as speedo and navigation. A Hella 9-inch headlight lights the way, while the custom wiring harness, all Spencer’s handiwork, runs cleanly through the bars for that uncluttered cockpit feel. It’s the kind of detail that separates a decent build from a dialled one.
The finished product is a masterclass in refinement. Every inch of the bike has been thought through, improved upon, and executed with precision. It’s lighter, sharper, and more road-focused than the original Honda ever dreamed of being, and yet still carries the big-bore thumper soul that made the bike a legend. For Spencer Parr, this XR680R is not just another commission, but the evolution of his own design philosophy. And by the looks of it, version 2.0 is one hell of an upgrade.
[ Parr Motorcycles ]