Wanting to build a REAL tracker.

K

kawasakifreak77

Been Around the Block
I am absolutely hooked on this tracker action. One comment led to another sitting over at my buddies garage last night & I got to thinking, I REALLY want to give this a shot. I was entirely sober too, maybe a bit tired though. I know almost nothing about flat tracking, watched one race & now I have visions.

I know a guy that has a Yamaha XT500 (maybe 550?) rotting in a barn that I think I can pick up cheap. Good?

Is there anyone here (ya know, that's really raced) that can guide me into building a beginner's flat track bike?

Any help is appreciated.
 
kawasakifreak77 said:
I am absolutely hooked on this tracker action. One comment led to another sitting over at my buddies garage last night & I got to thinking, I REALLY want to give this a shot. I was entirely sober too, maybe a bit tired though. I know almost nothing about flat tracking, watched one race & now I have visions.

I know a guy that has a Yamaha XT500 (maybe 550?) rotting in a barn that I think I can pick up cheap. Good?

Is there anyone here (ya know, that's really raced) that can guide me into building a beginner's flat track bike?

Any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...

Im in the same boat, just picked up a bike to build into one, but I might make it both trail and tracker just swap out wheels, etc. dont know yet lol.
 
Sounds neat man. Do you think it would be competitive having it serve two purposes like that?

pacomotorstuff said:
Where are you located?
Pat Cowan,
Pacomotorstuff
Click to expand...

I'm in Great Bend Kansas. Why do you ask?
 
Not trying to be nosy. I live in southwestern Ontario (Canada) and know a lot of dirt track & ex dirt track people who may have been able to provide advice, services, etc. I don't have a clue who to talk to in Kansas.
If you are building a "real" dirt tracker to compete with, the XT/TT/SR500 and the 550's are all pretty old in the teeth for modern competition, but there are a number of vintage dirt track organizations in the States that hold events for these bikes.
If the plan is to build a classic dirt track bike, you can still find old racing frames (Knight, Panther, Starracer, etc.) for these bikes and maybe even complete bikes. Remember that they were race bikes, though and were usually ridden pretty hard, so give them the once over to make certain what you're getting and how much repair and rebuild is going to cost.
There are a couple of companies building brand new replica dirt track frames for the Yam singles and new replica fiberglass bodywork, too.
If you go to a modern dirt track, most of the singles are modern watercooled 4 strokes and in the US, the AMA is really pushing the "stock bodied" thing for dirt track.
Hope this helps.
Pat Cowan,
Pacomotorstuff
 
Oh you're fine man, thanks.

I'm wanting to go with an old thumper for a few reasons. I like rocking vintage iron is a big thing for me, since it's all before my time. I'm not worried about going fast or winning straight off the bat, just want to get my feet wet & see what it's like. I'd like something simple, cheap, user friendly, near bullet proof, etc so that's why I'm leaning towards a thumper. I'm trying to get one of the Yami 500's since it seems to be the most popular in that category from what little I've seen.
 
I raced my triumph a few years ago. Its pretty easy to get into. This year I got back in to racing with a Bultaco Astro. The TT/XT 500 Yamahas are a good starter bike lots of them at the track. Thay dont need much to race them. The big thing is the tires dirt track tires are 19" front and rear. Most of the stock frame TT/XT bikes have had the steering head deraked for better handling. Check out the forum at flattrack.com this site has everything ya need from fixing the rake to used parts.
 
Thanks man!

One thing is, I can lace wheels so that'll help alot to get the right rubber on.

Edit: What width do they run out there on the 19's? WM3~WM4?
 
The only time you need to worry about the width is if your going to race in AHRMA or the AMA s new vintage class. Goodyear and Maxxis are the most popular tires for dirt track and theres more available in the wider sizes. A good site for used bikes and parts is vft.org
 
Rooks county Kansas? The races at Stockton you mean then.

I was actually up there around that time on a well rehabilitation job (I'm a 8T Smeal operator) & one of the city guys I was working with was telling me they're some damn good races. A riding buddy of mine made it up there & said they were, a girl crashed too. Can't remember the exact details though, not too bad overall I want to say.

I've actually bought what will be my race bike. I drove 1600 miles in 36 hours solo to pick this up...

75082_1693692508202_1414479908_1822288_3738192_n.jpg


I've been told by a few this will make a good starter bike for the local vintage sub 400cc class. She was pretty rough but I have been tuning her up & stripping her down. It's looking better each time I turn a wrench on her.

If ya want, here's a link to her build thread.

http://forums.kz650.info/index.php?topic=4648.0

Guess I need to update my siggy line, lol!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light
    • www.jadusmotorcycleparts.com
    www.lostapostle.ca/
    www.sparckmoto.com

    Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom