Price On Request Bought as a basket case in 2009, this Honda XL500 was one of the first bikes scheduled for an Ellaspede build way back when the whole operation was still in the garage based glory days.Before clients were around to commission custom builds, the bikes were self initiated projects built as expression sessions for the industrial designers at Ellaspede's parent company Heluva Studios.As history would have it though, two other bike builds EB001 and EB004 beat the XL to project completion and when client requests started rolling in the box of bits 500 was relegated to the back bench.Here and there the Honda would sneak into a scribble on a designers sketchpad and a spot on the workshop bench, but as client builds come first the Ellaspede XL was continually relegated to being the bridesmaid on the bike build priority list.Given this build started with the designers it was only natural that addressing the overall aesthetic would be the first port of call. The frame had all unnecessary tabs and brackets removed before the rear end was rounded out with some fresh bar work on the frame.The front forks and big 23" wheel found their way to the scrap heap with a XR250 front clip fitted up. The XR shocks were shortened 100mm, re-sprung and shod with gators to suit the future look. Out the back an XL500 suspension upgrade from Icon keeps the bumps in check.A vintage Suzuki 125 tank had the perfect profile, so was given the green light to replace the factory tin. Mounted further forward than the original, custom steering stops prevent the XR forks massaging the tank. It also means the rider can get further forward on the custom diamond stitch seat when on wide open throttle.Custom front and rear rims were laced...