“Why wouldn’t you want to build a left-hand-kick 700cc two-stroke?”
We may think of the Honda CR500 and Kawasaki KX500 as the kings of the big-bore two-strokes, but Austrian firm Mega RS Engines produces a two-stroke engine that’s a full 200-250cc larger (depending on the year). Formerly known as the MTH MEGA Rübig engine, it’s mainly used in sidecar motocross bikes. In stock trim, the current version produces 84 horsepower and 77 foot-pounds of torque — did anyone order BEEF?
This colossal two-stroke has proven itself for years on the track. In fact, Koen Hermans and Ben van den Bogaart won the 2025 FIM Sidecarcross World Championship this year riding a sidecar with a WSP chassis and MEGA engine.
The very existence of such a beefy smoker is an irresistible temptation for a certain kind of builder.
“Why wouldn’t you want to build a left hand kick 700cc two-stroke [dirt bike]?” -Max Hind (999 Lazer)
That’s the question our friend Max Hind of 999lazer had the imagination (insanity?) to ask…and we’re so glad he did. Of course, Max is no stranger to wild ideas of the two-wheeled variety. You may remember the “Silver Surfer” Royal Enfield Himalayan dirt bike he and builder / racer Sean Smith put together for the 2025 Weston Beach Race — the UK’s largest, most unforgiving off-road event.
Max had been interested in an ATK or Maico 700, but when one didn’t turn up, he decided to build one himself…and he had just the person to help: Chris Thorpe (@raven_motorcycles), who’s known for building superbike-powered dirt bikes and other deadly toys.
“We had done a project with Chris Thorpe before and mentioned the idea of building a 700 to him — he was up for it. We then saw a Mega 700 engine for sale on the internet, jumped in the car, and did a 10-hour round trip to buy!” -Max
They decided on a 2000 Husaberg 650 as their donor, largely since the original engine was so big and a roller was cheap. Still, they had to cut up the big Husaberg frame to fit the 700cc colossus of an engine, then brace it for strength and powder-coat it to look factory.
Custom radiators were built for the big unit, and the bike was outfitted with trick WP forks, custom wheels, upgraded brakes, hydraulic clutch, and more.
The alloy fuel tank was built in Italy, and the bodywork is carbon fiber. An F1 engineer fabricated a bespoke air intake, as there was very little room to work with once the engine was in. Then there was the exhaust.
“We took the bike to the HGS Exhaust Systems factory in Holland where the owner (Henry) actually made us the exhaust system by hand as we watched.”
While they were there, they put the “Megalodon 700” (named for the MEGA engine + the 70-ton prehistoric shark) on the HGS dyno, where it made 75 rear wheel horsepower despite issues with rear tire slippage.
Originally built in 2021, the Megalodon 700 was one of the first home-built 700cc dirt bikes to make waves in the modern two-wheeled psyche, and one of the only ones to be ridden in anger on a motocross track…repeatedly.
The riding experience is as puckering as you might expect:
“Pretty scary! It takes a bit of getting used to as it is quite agricultural. The motors are all about low down torque so it likes to push you through the corners… So far it’s been ridden on track by Neville Brashaw, Sean Smith, Ed Bradley, and myself (Max). It’s quite impressive to be fair 😊”
Of course, you don’t have to take our word for it, as the 999lazer YouTube channel is chockablock with videos of the Megalodon 700 in action, including drag races against many of today’s top motocrossers…and a CR500!
Big-bore motocross specialist Neville Bradshaw even put the Megalodon through its paces (video at the bottom of the article). Kudos to Max and team for having the vision, fortitude, and madness to make this primal beast a reality. We look forward to featuring more builds from this UK-based monster factory.
Below you’ll find our full in-depth interview with Max about the build, along with more photos and videos of the Megalodon 700 in action. Make sure to follow 999lazer on YouTube and/or Instagram (@999lazer) for more.
700cc Home-Built Dirt Bike: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
Max Hind, owner of the 999lazer YouTube channel, which is known for building big-bore 2 strokes including the Megalodon 700, Yzilla 500, and Black Panther 600. We did this build with Chris Thorpe who is known for putting superbike engines into dirt bikes.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
Our base bike was a 2000 Husaberg 650.
• Why was this bike built? (Customer project, company promotion, personal, etc.)
The bike was built for our YouTube series. We had heard about the ATK 700 and Maico 700’s but after years of looking could never find one to buy, so we decided to build one ourselves. We did the build back in 2021 and were one of the first to do a 700cc home-built dirt bike (we only knew of one other at the time). Why wouldn’t you want to build a left-hand kick 700 two-stroke…lol!
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
We had done a project with Chris Thorpe before and mentioned the idea of building a 700 to him — he was up for it. We then saw a Mega 700 engine for sale on the internet, jumped in the car, and did a 10-hour round trip to buy!
We had already figured the Husaberg would be a good donor candidate as they have a large motor in them to start with and the donor chassis were cheap (we paid £500 for the rolling chassis). The mega motor is from an Austrian company that build sidecar motocross engines (similar to the Zabel used in the Maicos). Interestingly, this engine won the 2025 World Sidecar Motocross Championship this year.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
Everything! We did have to cut the frame to get the motor to fit. This was strengthened then powder-coated.
We had custom radiators built, the shock serviced, fitted top of the range WP forks, titanium footpegs, custom wheels, upgraded the brakes with oversized discs and new calipers, fitted a hydraulic clutch, had an alloy fuel tank built in Italy, new brake lines from Venhill.
You can’t buy plastics for this bike anymore so we had a set made in carbon fibre.
We also took the bike to the HGS Exhaust Systems factory in Holland where the owner (Henry) actually made us the exhaust system by hand as we watched.
The hardest part of the build was getting the air intake sorted. We had to get an F1 engineer to make us a bespoke solution to get the air filter connected to the carb as there was very little room once the motor was in.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
The Megalodon 700 (the megalodon is a prehistoric giant shark, which we thought was appropriate particularly as the motor is made by Mega).
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
On the HGS dyno in Holland it put out 75 BHP but the rear wheel was still slipping (this was taken at the rear wheel not the crank). This motor in a sidecar can put out 95 BHP but on a solo bike the air intake and exhaust size restricts the power a little.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
Pretty scary! It takes a bit of getting used to as it is quite agricultural. The motors are all about low down torque so it likes to push you through the corners. That said, although there have been a few 700 build’s done by others since we built ours, we have never seen another video of one being ridden on a motocross track.
We have done this many times and the videos are there to prove it. So far it’s been ridden on track by Neville Brashaw, Sean Smith, Ed Bradley, and myself (Max). It’s quite impressive to be fair 😊
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
Everything! This was our first YouTube build and it got a lot of attention and put 999lazer on the map for this type of build. It only comes out to play a few times a year but always puts a smile on our face.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
WP suspension, Raimund at Mega, HGS, Venhill, Chris Thorpe, SM Pro Wheels, Raptor Footpegs.
Megalodon Video Series
Follow the Builder
YouTube: www.youtube.com/999lazer
Facebook: 999lazer
Instagram: @999lazer
TikTok: 999lazerofficial
Photographer: Phil Hind (999lazer)
Videographer & Video Editor: Max Hind (999lazer)
Builder: Chris Thorpe (@raven_motorcycles)
Totally insane! I love it.