My current project is my XT500, turning it into a streettracker. It’s my first custom build and I’m learning a lot along the way. My goal from the beginning was to use as few new parts as possible, get as much as I can from wreckers and swap meets, which will help keep the cost down but also make it a little more unique in a world filled with Yam 500 customs. It’s a mixture of styles but with a clear vision, there’s a large front drum brake that’s very café-ish, and a high mount exhaust inspired from scrambles bikes. I was a bit lost about what to do with a headlight as I wanted the front end to be as clean as possible, maintaining a racer look. I know a lot of trackers use a number plate with a cut out for the light but I don’t like that look. Then I saw a period chopper lamp at a local brit bike shop and I immediately knew how to use it. It’s all in the pics.
I’m learning how to weld for the project as well, after practicing on some parts for house projects and roof racks for my pickup, I’ve welded up a seat support that bolts to the original seat and rear guard mounts. I will do a few more small parts like that and once I’m confident I will move on to making an exhaust using 1.75 stainless, I got a whole bunch of bends from a local exhaust shop. The exhaust will most likely be straight through or with just a small shorty muffler I got at a swap meet.
The engine is next on the list. I’m having a friend build it for me, I could do it myself but this guy has been building these engines since they were new and I figure it should be done right. I’ve got a Protec 440 cam going in it, with titanium valve springs, Barnnett clutch and Wiseco 10:1 comp piston kit. I could go a lot hotter with the engine but I’m looking for a balance between performance and reliability. The 500 engines are pretty good as they are, especially in the hills and on dirt roads, so these little extras will make it that bit more fun. The engine’s also gonna get a new paint job.
Once the bike’s on the road and I’ve spent a season working out the bugs and maybe modifying things here and there, I will strip it down again and remove any excess brackets from the frame, I don’t want to jump right into that yet until I know exactly what needs to be there and what doesn’t. About the only thing I’m not sure of is whether or not to get the frame nickel plated or just a fresh coat of gloss black. I’ve got a few spare frames and engines laying around so I may mock one up with a cheap can of spray on chrome to get an idea of how it will look.
And the final touch will be a wild chopper style flaked paint job on the tank, but I want to get the “go” sorted before I add the “show”.
Check out the pics and let me know what you think.
How it started when it was my daily rider and weekend dirtbike
First mock-up with the tank and seat combo and the front wheel that I stole the drum out of. Still has the old wheel on the back and original bars in this shot. The bars have been replaced with a proper set for flattrack.
After removing the airbox and battery tray I gotta mount the regulator, horn and capacitor somewhere. These trays sell for about $80-$100 but I thought I could just make one. Voila! My first attempt at fabrication, well ok, all I did was cut, sand, drill and bend, but I'm pretty happy with it.
Fork legs as they where and as they is. I haven't shaved the caliper mounts off yet, I will be doing a lot of riding in the Adelaide hills where I live and there's a serious need for good brakes up here. If I can't get the drum to work to my liking I will convert to a disc setup, so for now, they stay.
Hubs painted and laced to new Morad (new version of Akront) shouldered rims. The front drum is off a Honda, the rear is original. Tyres are Dunlop K180's, 19 front and 18 rear. This sizing allows me a good choice of different tyres depending on what type of riding I'll be doing.
Wheels on the bike
The headlight and a rough bracket I banged up. That's the basic idea for the bracket but I will brace it up inside the curve. I think this gives it the clean look I was hoping for and it's a bit different too.
The seat support I've made up. The fiberglass seat doesn't sit on the frame in the middle right where my ass is gonna be so this will take up the weight. It's bolted to the mounts for the original seat and the rear guard so I don't have to weld anything to the frame.
and mounted
There it is, whaddya think?
