Glow Up: One Moto Show Standout from Red Right Hand…
Mike Schroeder of Red Right Hand of Moto may manage a Montana Harley-Davidson dealership, but his love for bikes extends well beyond Milwaukee-born V-twins, encompassing bikes of all kinds.
“I would say I’m bike-curious in that I love all types of motorcycles: big, little, foreign, and everything in between. I create and build out of my small one-car garage simply for the love of two wheels with no real desire to build for a living. I just freakin love bikes!”
Though the first build of his we featured was in fact a Harley — his high-flying “Dirty XL” Sportster — he’s also given us a lovely Honda CB650 custom, a Honda “FTZ50” Monkey (compete with its own toy box!), and one very cool and funky Harley-Aermacchi chopper, “The Italian Job.”
Mike’s wild and wonderful builds are the perfect fit for the annual One Moto Show in Portland, which puts a special emphasis on the “weird, rare, and unconventional bikes that we all love.”
Mike’s newest (or shall we say freshest) build, seen here, was a star of this year’s show. It started life as a run-of-the-mill 1984 Honda XL200R — a relatively pedestrian dual-sport based on the age-old, well-proven XR200R dirt bike. Mike had been wanting to build a bike for his nephew, and he had an eye toward the 2025 One Moto Show. As so often happens, a few beers one night in the garage led to the vision:
“‘If the Fresh Prince of Bel Air had a bike, what would it look like?’ The idea was born and I went nuts with the 80’s/early 90’s neon theme.”
Mike went crazy on the old XL indeed. He fabricated a new subframe, built a new backbone to accommodate the mini Sportster-style tank, welded up a rear exhaust section to follow the line of the subframe, and hand-built the hand guards, fork guards, and side panels from fluorescent acrylic (more difficult than anticipated, he says). He did all the powder-coating himself, cut his own decals, and even made his own checkered seat.
“Gotta give a shout out to my smokin’ hot wife for helping me with the color and graphics layout! The best part is throwing black lights on it and it glows up!”
The glow-in-the-dark paint made “The Fresh Prince” a star of the One Moto Show — a perfect focal point for a show that celebrates the weird, rare, and unorthodox of the two-wheeled world. But there’s more to this bike than meets the eye…
“The most fun part that was likely largely unnoticed is that it has nitrous!!! I made a tire inflator into a nitrous boost directly into the intake. A few whippets, an inflator, and some hose…boom! You have NOS on your bike!”
All in all, Mike is proudest of the spirit behind the build.
“Just that is is all about fun. Everyone who sees it smiles, and that’s what I was going for.”
In the end, fun is what it’s all about. Although Mike originally intended to give the bike to his nephew, but his wife, Elli, loves it so much it’s going to be hers. Of course, that means Mike will have to build a different bike for his nephew — we can’t wait to see what he comes up with…
Below is our full interview with Mike about the build, along with more photos. And stay tuned for our full coverage of the 2025 One Moto Show coming soon!
The Fresh Prince XL200 Scrambler: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
Mike Schroeder out of Lolo, Montana. I have worked at motorcycle dealerships since 1996 and currently manage a Harley-Davidson dealership in Missoula, MT. I would say I’m bike-curious in that I love all types of motorcycles: big, little, foreign, and everything in between. I create and build out of my small one-car garage simply for the love of two wheels with no real desire to build for a living. I just freakin love bikes!
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
1984 Honda XL200.
• Why was this bike built?
I had the idea to build a bike for my nephew and I’ve had this bike for a few years, not really knowing what I wanted to do with it, and needed a donor to start a build for this year’s One Moto Show. The intent was there to give it to him, but my wife really loves this one so I think its hers now! Guess I’ll have to start another build for him.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
After the frame took its shape, and after a few beers in the garage staring at it, the idea of “If the Fresh Prince of Bel Air had a bike, what would it look like?” The idea was born and I went nuts with the 80’s/early 90’s neon theme.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
I started just creating the basic frame shape by building a new subframe, then it quickly took me to where it wanted to go. (I rarely have a plan in the beginning.)
I tried a bunch of tank ideas but went back to what I know best, Harleys. But the Sportster tanks were a little too big so I found a mini Sporty style tank that hit the right proportions. It wouldn’t fit on the stock back bone so I built a new one to accommodate this tank and allow it to sit in the proper stance.
I built the rear exhaust section to accept the shorty muffler and keep the line of the new subframe. I built hand guards, fork guards, and side panels from fluorescent acrylic and shaped them by hand (harder than I anticipated). I powdercoated everything myself, made decals with my cricut, added spoke covers, and hand-painted a few things. I also made the seat myself which was a first for me but it worked!
The minimal electrical goodies and battery are tucked under the seat in a super slim pan. The most fun part that was likely largely unnoticed is that it has nitrous!!! I made a tire inflator into a nitrous boost directly into the intake. A few whippets, an inflator, and some hose…boom! You have NOS on your bike! Gotta give a shout out to my smokin’ hot wife for helping me with the color and graphics layout! The best part is throwing black lights on it and it glows up!
• Does the bike have a nickname?
“The Fresh Prince.”
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
It’s a 200cc Honda…not much performance… But it does have nitrous!!
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
Super light and agile and all smiles!!
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
Just that is is all about fun. Everyone who sees it smiles, and that’s what I was going for.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
My Smokin’ Hot Wife Elli!
Follow the Builder: @redrighthandofmoto