A CR500 Built Around Desert Racing
There are motorcycle builds designed to look good in a garage, and then there are builds created around a very specific type of riding. Skyler Howes’ 1997 Honda CR500 belongs firmly in the second category.
In his “CR500 Desert Race Bike” build highlight, professional off-road racer Skyler Howes walks through a CR500 built around the kind of desert racing he grew up with in Utah. Among the components selected for the project is one that immediately caught our attention at NIBBI Racing: a NIBBI PWK38 carburetor.
Skyler explains in the video that the CR500 engine itself was rebuilt essentially back to stock specification. The engine was then paired with our 38 mm PWK carburetor.
More specifically, he highlights one feature of the NIBBI PWK38 that matters for his application: the power jet and the additional tuning it provides for wide-open, high-speed operation.
For a desert-focused CR500, that is exactly the kind of application where carburetor setup deserves careful attention.
Skyler did not build this 1997 CR500 simply because the CR500 is an iconic two-stroke. The project has a personal connection to his history in off-road racing.
In the video, he explains that he grew up racing in the Utah desert and began competing in National Hare & Hound racing at around 16 years old. Two-strokes—especially the sound and character of 500cc two-strokes racing across the desert—were part of his childhood.
That history became the inspiration for this build. Rather than turning the CR500 into a modern showpiece with no specific purpose, Skyler describes the motorcycle as being built to the specification of a National Hare & Hound or desert race bike.
That distinction matters. Desert racing can involve extended high-speed sections alongside slower, more technical terrain. A motorcycle prepared for that environment therefore needs to work across changing loads and riding conditions.
The NIBBI PWK38 on Skyler Howes’ CR500
At approximately 2:11 in the build video, Skyler introduces the carburetor setup on the bike. The engine, he explains, is essentially stock internally. For carburetion, he chose a NIBBI PWK 38 mm carburetor.
The NIBBI PWK38 is a 38 mm PWK-style performance carburetor designed to provide adjustable fuel delivery for motorcycle applications. NIBBI currently lists the PWK38 with a 46 mm outer-diameter spigot, 38 mm inner diameter and 63 mm intake outer diameter, and identifies this particular model for 450–500cc engine applications.
The Power Jet
In the video, Skyler points directly to the NIBBI carburetor’s power jet and explains its relevance to his desert setup. His focus is the ability to fine-tune fuel delivery when the motorcycle is running at the top end and the throttle is wide open.
For this build, the standout feature is not simply carburetor size. It is the ability to fine-tune high-throttle fuel delivery.
That is an important distinction because carburetor tuning is not simply about choosing a carburetor diameter. Different circuits influence fuel delivery at different throttle positions and operating conditions. A setup that feels right at lower throttle openings still needs to be evaluated under the loads and conditions in which the motorcycle will actually be ridden.
The NIBBI PWK range incorporates a power jet as a secondary fuel circuit intended to provide additional fuel at higher engine speeds. It also offers adjustable fuel-delivery features to support tuning for different motorcycle setups and riding requirements. That additional adjustability is exactly what Skyler calls attention to on his CR500.
Why the Power Jet Matters on a Desert Race Build
A CR500 desert bike presents a very different use case from a motorcycle that spends most of its time at low speed. Desert riding can mean long, fast sections where the throttle stays open for extended periods. The engine is operating under sustained load, making high-throttle fuel delivery an important part of the overall setup.
This is where a power-jet-equipped carburetor can give a tuner another tool. The goal is not simply to add as much fuel as possible. Carburetor tuning is about achieving appropriate fuel delivery for the engine, environment, modifications and intended riding conditions.
With the NIBBI PWK38, the power jet provides another tuning variable for higher-RPM operation. That is why Skyler’s comments in the video are particularly useful. He does not present the carburetor as a magic bolt-on that automatically transforms every CR500. Instead, he highlights tunability.
Why a NIBBI PWK38 Makes Sense for This Type of Build
The PWK38 is one of the larger models in our PWK carburetor range. NIBBI currently offers PWK carburetors in multiple sizes from 24 mm through 40 mm, allowing builders to select a carburetor based on engine requirements rather than approaching every project with the same configuration.
For the dedicated PWK38 model, NIBBI lists compatibility guidance for 450–500cc engines, which puts a 500cc-class engine within the product’s stated displacement range.
38 mm Performance Bore
A 38 mm bore designed for performance-oriented motorcycle applications, with dimensions that builders can check against their intake setup.
Power-Jet Control
A secondary fuel circuit that provides an additional tuning variable for higher-speed, high-throttle operation.
Adjustable Fuel Delivery
Adjustable fuel-mixture and idle settings plus replaceable jets help the builder tune around a specific engine and environment.
Serviceable Construction
Aluminum-alloy and modular construction support the maintenance and repeated adjustment common to serious off-road builds.
The PWK38 product package currently includes multiple main jets and a pilot jet, giving builders options as they begin dialing in their setup.
A Modern Carburetor Choice for an Iconic Two-Stroke
Part of what makes Skyler’s project interesting is the balance between preserving the character of the CR500 and updating selected components for the way he wants to ride it.
The engine is not presented as a heavily modified, maximum-output build. According to Skyler, after extensive repair work, the motor was returned essentially to stock specification. Instead, much of the project is about creating a CR500 that works as a desert race motorcycle.
The NIBBI PWK38 fits naturally into that philosophy. Rather than changing what makes a large-displacement two-stroke distinctive, the carburetor gives the builder a tunable fuel-delivery system that can be adjusted around the motorcycle and its intended riding environment.
For us, seeing a NIBBI PWK38 selected for a build like this is especially meaningful because it shows the product in the type of enthusiast project it was designed to support: a motorcycle where setup, response, maintenance and tuning all matter.
What Skyler Howes’ CR500 Teaches Us About Carburetor Selection
Choose a carburetor for the complete motorcycle and its intended use—not from displacement alone.
A 500cc two-stroke being prepared for desert racing has different requirements from a smaller trail motorcycle, a street build or a machine designed mainly for low-speed technical riding.
- Engine displacement and engine type Confirm both the capacity and whether the engine is two-stroke or four-stroke.
- Carburetor dimensions Measure the intake manifold and available installation space.
- Fuel system Confirm that the carburetor is compatible with the motorcycle’s fuel-delivery setup.
- Throttle system Verify cable, throttle and choke compatibility.
- Engine modifications Exhaust, intake and internal modifications can change tuning requirements.
- Riding environment Altitude, temperature and riding style can influence jetting.
- Your performance objective A desert race build may prioritize different characteristics than a trail or street motorcycle.
This is also why two motorcycles using the same engine do not necessarily need identical final jetting. Skyler’s CR500 provides a real-world example of a PWK38 being incorporated into a specific, carefully planned build. It should not be interpreted as a universal jetting specification for every Honda CR500.
Watch Skyler Howes’ CR500 Desert Race Bike Build
Want to see the complete motorcycle and hear Skyler explain the NIBBI PWK38 setup himself? Watch “CR500 Desert Race Bike” by Skyler Howes.
In the video, Skyler covers the story behind his 1997 CR500, the desert-racing inspiration for the project and the components used throughout the build. The NIBBI PWK38 discussion begins at approximately 2:11.
Build It Your Way
Skyler Howes’ 1997 CR500 desert race bike is a reminder of why old-school two-strokes continue to inspire new builds. At the heart of its fuel-delivery setup sits a NIBBI PWK38 carburetor.
Skyler chose the 38 mm PWK and specifically called out its power jet as a useful way to fine-tune fuel delivery during wide-open operation—an important consideration for the high-speed desert riding this CR500 was built to tackle.
Your project does not have to look exactly like Skyler’s. Maybe you are rebuilding a two-stroke, upgrading the carburetor on an existing project or starting with an engine in your garage. Before ordering, gather your motorcycle or engine model, displacement, engine type, current carburetor dimensions and a clear description of what you want the bike to do.
