Sunday, October 30, 2016

Project Bike: Dad's XT500 - Street tracker plan

So here's what my plan is for the XT500 when I give it the street tracker treatment. I want to try and balance its 40 year old styling with some modern twists drawing from my history of BMX, offroad, supermoto and flat track racing. Modern inverted forks, number plates, 19" wheels, big front brake, MX bars, flat track seat pan and more.
Some inspirational bikes:
Body: Tail section-I have the same tail section and tail light from Dad’s street tracker setup. It fits the stock frame. Tank – stock tank with billet fuel cap & stubby vent hose w/ breather.  Side panels – Stock with #67. Stock tank and side covers will keep the old school look.  Billet dipstick.

Front End: Forks - Modern inverted fork & caliper aluminum colour. Front number plate with old school #67 (Mike Hacker/ Davis Fisher). Light – Small LED. No front fender. 

Wheels: SR500 or XS650 19” mag wheels. The rear wheel will use a front 19” wheel with modifications to carry a sprocket.  Ideally I’d like to run the sprocket and rotor on the same side as I think it would be a fun challenge to make it work. Wheels to be painted black with the ribs polished aluminum. Tires – Golden Tyre DOT flat track. Rear disc brake conversion. 
Engine: Painted black with the cooling fin edges polished. Braided oil lines. Pod air filter & inner fender 

Exhaust: Stainless low pipe with small reverse cone muffler on a slight incline. Hoos Racing header with Cone Engineering Muffler.
 
Controls: Handlebars - Grey/silver pro taper oversized MX style. Front brake lever- I have a really cool Brembo front brake master cylinder from my supermoto racing days. Clutch lever – All black Works Connection with hot start lever to operate decompressor.  Switches – Drag specialties low profile momentary switches for signals & horn. Remove tach/ speedo. Holder for iphone to be used as a speedometer. I bar end mirror on left side

1 switch on throttle side for horn. Hidden ignition. 

Colour scheme: White with Yamaha stripe across tank & tail w/o Yamaha text. Raw frame with clear coat. Front plate & side plates-  white with black numbers & black perimeter outline. Brown leather seat & Brown grips OR Black leather seat & grey/black grips?  Alum tank – polished sides? Circular MOTO-cycle Metal Works tank badge?