The Kneeslider

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Suzuki DR650 Street Tracker by CR Designs

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Suzuki DR650 street tracker
Suzuki DR650 street tracker
DR650 before
DR650 before

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen someone start with an off road bike and take it to the streets, but this street tracker is very nicely done. The before was a 1992 Suzuki DR650 that needed a little engine work and new exhaust system, the former owner had “modified it,” but otherwise in good shape.

Suzuki DR650 street tracker
Suzuki DR650 street tracker

He lowered the suspension, installed flat track bars, mounted a new XR750 style tank and seat, fabricated a new dual megaphone exhaust, new wheels and brakes plus did a lot of detail work then finished it off in Corvette yellow which is pretty close to Suzuki competition colors.

The finished bike looks nice and light and very well done.

Thanks for the tip, Roy!

Link: Thumper Talk

Suzuki DR650 street tracker
Suzuki DR650 street tracker

Posted on Filed Under: Motorcycle Builders

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Comments

  2. excellent … great bike (cheap, bullet proof, can have a mule-ish kick-in-the -@ss character when properly tuned) transformed in something really cool for cheap. I love it.

  3. Looks nice, I would have cut and re-welded the sub frame to bring the seat down a few degrees. Was he trying to make it look like a twin with the two mufflers? BTW this DR is not a 1992 as stated, it’s 1996 or newer.

    • “this DR is not a 1992 as stated, it’s 1996 or newer.”

      You’re probably right, I read the thread at Thumper Talk and the 1992 reference was made by someone else. Thanks.

    • Yeah, the “butt-in-the-air” look is the only thing I find off-putting about the whole build.

      Otherwise, very nice, very tasteful. Looks like a fun ride.

  4. Looks good. What a great second life for all those dual sports. How about a ride report and details of how it went together?

  5. I wonder if with just a slightly different goal this would still be a great on and off road bike while carrying the street tracker look. I hate the way factory dr’s look.

  6. Also, I like thumper talk, however I have gotten nothing but horrible advice on there. Notice the first few responses where people try to talk this guy out of the project. Good for him for not listening!

  7. Very few builders of street trackers (and cafe racers) have the taste, skills, time, and follow through to create a unique bike such as this. Nothing looks inappropriate, out of proportion, or goofy. I especially love the exhaust- it just looks right. This serves as a model of how to do it- props to the owner!

    • Eye of the beholder, I guess. I appreciate the direction they took (love streettrackers), but, the execution looks off to my eyes. This diverges from the single cylinder framers I adore. The seat has a streetfigher-ish tail up kick and the tank is tilted tail down, so it looks like it’s collapsing in the middle. The leading axle forks look out of place on a modern dirt (or street) tracker and the forks look a bit too long. Dual megaphones on a single?

  8. OK, a thumbs up! As a long time 2nd gen DR650 owner I appreciate this alteration. Now, with a little engine work (big bore and a cam) it should be able to out drag a Miata on a short straight!

  9. I just passed on an ’89 Honda CR roller, $150 bucks. Now I’m rethinking that move.
    Got to call him in the A.M. to see if he still has it.

  11. I’ve tried to follow the links but i can’t seem to see the wheel size used and what mods if any were needed. I’m looking at making a adventure bike and like the idea of same front and back rim/tire size (so i can bring a tire -able to be used front or back – for a change if one gets ripped up – and Im nowhere) which the bike seems to be carrying. What rim size is it and were there any modification made to the front forks or rear end? Any help would be great.

  12. Very nice build. I agree about the seat, however. Unless it’s a trick of camera angles, it looks like a “slide-forward-into-the-tank” seating position — not conducive to fast riding. The dual mufflers are OK; being a thumper rider myself I can attest to the difficulties in quieting that big cylinder. Unless you like the sound of a howitzer going off beside your ear, two smaller mufflers provide the necessary volume and avoid the “huge can” look that would spoil the back of the bike. Fix that seat and you’ll have a good, fun bike. It’s a vast improvement over the Transformer-styled stock DR, and a great application for a Big Single.

  14. I like the overall build and look of the bike but the back half is missing the mark. Too high causing the seat to be mounted at an angle. The seat assembly should be close to horizontal so that the rider is not sliding forward into the fuel tank. A change of rear suspension linkage or shock absorber would fix things. Good choice of color!

  15. I think the bike is great. I have a much smaller Yamaha (DT175) that I intend to start riding very soon. This bike (except for the seat) has a lot of the same look. Hope he has fun.

  16. Seat angle in relation t the tank angle kills it. Needs a subframe modification to get it right as well as a bit longer forks and lower bars. I looked at the build thread and all the signs were there early in the project.

  18. I like it, excellent donor bike choice. Did the painter spell “Tracker” wrong on the tank sides?

  19. I was able to contact the builder of the CR Designs tracker, “TRAKER”. The owner’s target was to come up with a build that was basically all bolt on … no cutting, nor bonding, and no welding. Hence, the non-repositioned rear sub-frame. The idea was to produce a possible kit in the future for those interested. It makes sense.The XR750 replica cowl and tank are off the shelf items that could be modified to get rid of the dip at the cowl/tank junction. Again … no cutting was the target. The only “welded” piece was the custom exhaust, which I think the dual megaphones are very cool touch for an aggressive look. BTW, the DR does have TWO spark plugs … LOL!

    • @Cory
      “Again … no cutting was the target.”
      WRONG!!
      The kick stand was cut, shortened, and re-welded.

      I’m just being funny.
      Again,I want one,

  20. The build begins on post #10 of the link. Very nice tasteful and thoughtful execution. There are a number of so-called street tracker conversions that totally miss the mark on aesthetics. This “bolt-on” build is beautifully done. I want one for my hooligan tendencies!

  22. Read Thumper Talk thread and still not sure if wheel size is confirmed, guessing 19. And, no ride report on how it handles. With the amount of dual sports out there and the likes of http://www.rycamotors in California with what they are doing with the Suzuki S/40 Savage. I see a bright future for Street Trackers, Cafe Racers, and budget rebuilds. It is recycling, custom building, and cost savings, and we all win when a good looking one hits the streets.

  23. I want one.
    It’s hilarious how some of you are nit-picking such a good looking off the shelf bolt-on build. Look at some of the DR650 builds on Thumper Talk. The CR Designs version just rocks! Sure the rear subframe could have been modified and a non-leading axle forks could have been sourced. Then what? Amazing what $$$ can do. As a simple build, I commend the builder and the owner of presenting a beautiful transformation. BTW, the “not-so-perfect” angles of the tank and especially the rear cowl/seat, adds to the visual aggressive stance. Do I sound like a transportation designer? I am.
    Did I say I want one?