The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Flying Merkel Board Tracker Tribute by Terry Heydt

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Flying Merkel tribute by Terry Heydt
Flying Merkel tribute by Terry Heydt

Terry Heydt wanted to build a motorcycle, not modify one or bolt on some chrome, he wanted to build something from scratch. He likes board trackers and when he discovered the Flying Merkel, something just clicked and that became the basis of his design. Of course, building an actual replica of the famous Merkel would be a bit expensive, the price of an engine alone would be enough to stop the project, so Terry came up with his own interpretation using a contemporary engine that was cheap and available, a Yamaha XT500 single, and from those simple beginnings, a bike was born.

Flying Merkel tribute by Terry Heydt
Flying Merkel tribute by Terry Heydt

Before starting actual fabrication, Terry worked out the whole design since he figured erasing and redrawing were easier than re-welding. He bought all the parts he thought he would need and then made full size drawings so he could lay out parts and check bends and dimensions directly.

It was never intended to be a replica of the Merkel but more of a tribute bike based on the look and style. Once I got the general shape and idea in my head I didn’t really look at the original after that. I wanted to take what I saw and make it my idea at my scale and my geometry. In the end it looks allot like it but I bet side by side they would be very different.

As far as the parts. The only actual motorcycle parts are the motor, sprockets (ATV actually), chains, wheels and tires and headset bearings. The rest was hand built by myself. The motor and rims are from a 1976 Yamaha XT500.

Flying Merkel full size drawing used for comparing size and shape
Flying Merkel full size drawing used for comparing size and shape

When Terry went to work, he made everything, bend up the tubes for the frame? Check. Build the fork piece by piece? Check. Brake levers? Made those, too. Leather seat? Let’s see, buy one for $400? Nope, cut the pieces from a $5 dollar leather jacket, make a seat pan, get some stuffing from a pillow, stitch it all together, add a little shoe polish, yep, … leather seat. Then, fabricate the tank, bend up the handlebars, lace up some wheels, come up with a way to make the engine fit, then mount it, plus figure out things like how to shift gears when the pedals move and you have to get your foot in the right place, plus an untold number of jobs like that.

Flying Merkel front fork fabrication
Flying Merkel front fork fabrication

Terry wrote up a very long build thread over at advrider and if you want to see the blow by blow description of the process (and you really should), you need to go over there and check it out, but Terry got hold of me because he thought most of us here at The Kneeslider would like to see how this project came together and I’m very glad he did.

The planning that went into this, the fabrication, fitting, modification and the persistence to carry it through to the end are an excellent reflection on Terry’s skills and abilities. Lots of people say they’re going to build something, actually doing it, not so many.

Excellent project, Terry. I like it!

Link: advrider build thread

Posted on Filed Under: Motorcycle Builders

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Comments

  3. When this Man says he built a Bike, He means he BUILT a Bike!! Wow, just great!!

  4. Simply amazing. The best motorcycles are so often the least practical. Could I commute on this or carry computers around base? Hell no! Does it matter?

    If there was any doubt on the last question, this is not the place for you. 😉

  5. That’s one heck of an impressive build. I really like the full size drawing, and the use of it as a template. It’s a nice looking bike, and I’m sure it’s as fast as you would want something like that to go.

  6. Like I’ve said before , I’m not a huge fan of the Repliracer genre …… but the fact is when they’re this well done how can you not admire them ? Two thumbs up ! 😮

  8. Awesome. I love it. I would be terrified to ride it at speed but superb nonetheless.

    Cheers – Rich

  9. I love bikes from the early days of motorcycling nice to see someone pull one off with a modern engine. Time to put on the leather helmet and flying goggles!

  11. A tribute to Terry Heydt !
    It’s a great build. I think the Yamaha motor was a good choice.
    Just read through the ADVrider thread, was amazed with all the details.

  14. That bike is totally awesome. I can’t believe you built almost everything from scratch. I can’t wait to see your next project.

  15. My boss has a 60’s Yamaha he’s bringing back to life. I told him about the thrift store leather jacket idea for a seat cover. Both of us were wondering why we hadn’t thought of that.

  16. hey, I want to honour you your skill craftsmanship, energy and persistence. I wish you were an entrapenure who employed 1000’s. Your decision to create this one off work fills me with warmth. I am unemployed and over-educated, frustrated under-achiever who rents a room in a town house and I recently had to place all my shop tools in a storage site because my roomate/landlord wanted more room to chain-smoke his 3 packs a day. I see that you have ambition and drive in ample quantities and I want to cry for joy at your achievement. When I think of the employment stats in Canada, and the corruption in Ottawa’s business community where I live I want to …..
    You would provide a very valuable community service by opening a small factory in your town and keeping the skills and imaginations of workers nearby keen with the added bonus of helping the families and neighbours of these tradesmen stay in the pink. My home town has inoperable myopia and the workers here like my self have been so compromised by cheap thinking and cheap crap policies in law and business that we are like that motorbike of old, out of date, forgotten, and rarely appreciated for what we are or potentially can be. I love how the mass produced forgine engine was the power plant of this beautiful creation, how it contrasts with the singular nature of your creative imagination and really inspires me to salvage myself by repurposeing the cancerous junk which rotted my future as an industrial worker into a, *ahem* ‘artisnal’ craftsman and possibly even earn a living by it.
    Thanks for the lovely creation.

    • Not only do I want to know the “100 reasons” to own a Flying Merkel, I also want the Big Four Exhaust Horn for my bike!

  18. Hey guys. Thanks allot for all the kind words. It was a fun bike to build and now it’s really fun to ride and show. With the success of this build it’s definitely given me inspiration to build another bike to put up for sale (can’t keep them all). I especially liked the words from skidney above. Thank you. I hope you get inspired to do the same. As far as riding it goes. It runs great at highway speeds, very staple actually. Could get a little scary with only a rear brake but with over 1000 miles it’s all been good. Again, Thanks for the interest.

    Terry

  20. I absolutely love these bikes that have the little engines on them, I don’t understand why these are not more successful commercially it seems like the perfect machine for the short distance commuter. Does that hand brake stop both the engine and the peddling action, or can you do the reverse pedal to slow down too?

  21. Wait a minute I am not sure if I am seeing it right, but there are pedals in there so it can be pedaled too right? Perhaps I am imagioning things

    • Carolynne–

      The way I understand it, the pedals simply free-wheel inside the jackshaft (hope the bearings don’t lock up!) and are simply a place to put one’s feet when riding. They reflect the original Flying Merkel, on which the pedals functioned as a means of starting the engine. After that, the rider held on and steered as well as he could on those fearsome board tracks, often topping 100 mph. Imagine that!

      I agree with you that it’s a shame more bikes don’t have those nice singles — a good 500 cc thumper (Japanese) will propel a 320-pound bike at any speed you want.

      As for my B50, right now the clutch refuses to disengage. Can’t find anything wrong in there — I had it all apart yesterday — but it still is locked. Probably it’s worn out and needs new (expensive) parts. My wife says the bike is jealous because I moved another bike, bigger and sexier, into the garage; it’s having a snit and won’t work for me.

      • lol, that B50 has some attitude. You should see some of the bikes I saw this weekend I was out for a tour on the border between US and Canada along the river and man it was like a bike festival. The only downside is, all the guys automatically think you are checking them out, rather than looking at the bike, did get a little embarrassing when a couple of the guys thought I was flirting with them. I will email you all the details

        It only freewheels eh, thats too bad, but I guess pedalling that motor around might get heavy anyway especially on the hills. But I still love that idea like the ones Paval makes. Pedal while you can and switch over to a little engine when you need a break

        • Carolynne —

          I’ll look forward to your exploits along the border — I imagine hoards of scruffy riders with beer guts hanging over their belts, all imagining you’re hot for them. As if.

          Yes, my B50 is full of attitude. It has tried to break my leg on a few occasions, tossed me off in a hayfield once and nearly fell on me in the garage one afternoon. After 38 years you’d think it would want to get along with me better, but NO! — it does what it wants to do, and I feel as if it merely allows me to ride it when it wants me to. As a person whose cats allow me to live in their house and feed them twice a day, I understand this.

          • Geez Jim,
            Your B50 sounds a lot like my ex-wife. We’ve been divorced 36 yrs, but because we have two kids (and 4 grandkids), I still have to deal with her. You’d think after 36 years she would want to get along with me better, but NO! — she still tries to provoke me into a hassle. I think I’d much rather tangle with your B50.

            • For sure! When it gives me too much trouble I simply cover it with a sheet, close the door and leave it sitting there. Yesterday I ordered new parts to fix the clutch, and it will be good as new with no hassles. Sorry to hear your ex is a problem — there seems to be a lot of that going around.

  22. Absolutely incredible job. I would LOVE to have that bike. Love the color combinaton too. Simply incredible bike. You are a master craftsman for sure.

  23. Great bike with style: the type of engine was a good choice too. Perhaps building one for German premier Angela Merkel and her husband would be an idea. I can imagine she’d be amused by the name Flying Merkel.

  24. oh no! you mean that doesnt end. I thought it was bad that I had to change my number at work because my husbands ex kept repeatedly calling me and hanging up years after they had separated. There have been some pretty crazy situations. But I have held out hope that one day her insanity would abate. Yeah, that B50 sounds like the better deal

      • Carolynne–
        The last time I saw my ex was at her mother’s funeral, and we’ve had very little contact since the divorce in ’86. I didn’t realize how lucky I am, considering the people I know who have all kinds of hassles with weird exes. I don’t think the insanity abates unless they lose interest, but crazy people don’t seem to get tired of being crazy. I hope there haven’t been any recent episodes. OK — it’s half-day Friday and I’m going home. Have a great weekend!