Following all of the changes in the world of motorcycle racing is very difficult unless you’re deep into the sport, but a tip from one of our readers with this bit of news, caught my eye. Triumph will be sponsoring a flat track team on the AMA Grand National circuit in 2012. Some Triumph flat trackers have been out there doing their best, but without factory backing, it’s a struggle. With factory support, the Triumph flag may be able to show up at all of the events.
When I took a look at the photos of the Triumph racers, they looked great, in fact, they look a lot like some of the Triumph street trackers we’ve seen on The Kneeslider, from Mule Motorcycles and others. The Triumphs seem to adapt well to a flat track stance. Not only will the Harleys get some extra competition, Triumph may gain some new followers who like the street track/flat track look.
Now if Triumph takes it one logical step further and modifies the Bonneville platform and puts a street tracker in the showroom, they might have a winner. Very cool.
Thanks for the tip, Pat!
UPDATE: Thanks to a comment below from Bob who points to the Bonneville Performance site that shows the same frame and setup as used on the racers in a street tracker you can buy from their company. 1200cc 104 rear wheel HP 91 ft. lbs. torque @ 4700 rpm. Wet weight, 351 pounds! Looks good and the specs sound like a fun street machine.
Link: Stu’s Shots R Us
Related: So Cal Miler
Related: Sun of Mule
Tin Man 2 says
Great news, Triumph is really making an impact!! More competition will help bring this exciting racing the respect it deserves.
Stats says
As far as I can recall, the street/flat tracker is the last major custom bike style that hasn’t been mass produced. The bobber, chopper, cafe, scrambler, and streetfigher have all been done (and most by triumph no less). Regardless of whether I or anyone else thinks that “factory customs” are a good idea, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this bike gets built, especially with triumph’s “modern classics” slogan.
mxs says
I was thinking about it ….. how does Triumph recoup (I am sure they want to …) their investment if there’s not a street legal flat tracker?
I am sure we are not talking about millions, but even few hundreds of thousands is a big chunk in today’s economy. Many companies are pulling out of racing because they cannot justify the cost by selling somewhat similar looking street bikes, so how will Triumph make that happen …. it will be interesting to see.
I realize HD doesn’t have street legal flat tracker in their offering either, but to me they are a bit different case in this particular application.
Tim says
What is the XR1200 if not a “street legal flat tracker” in the same way my Triumph Scrambler was related to Steve McQueen’s desert sleds?
Bob says
A factory streettracker would be a sweet thing… especially with a 270° crank. Granted they would mung it up compared to what the custom and garage builders would do, but, probably not nearly as munged as Harley’s XR1200.
mxs says
Sorry, I though a flat tracker is usually referred to a bike which is light with enough pep to have fun. Not a heavy pig like the XR1200, which I thought was an ill fated attempt by HD at a sport bike model (hence them running series at a road tracks).
Anyways, why doesn’t HD have a real street version replica of XR750. Now that would be interesting. But I guess they don’t have to really recoup their racing costs ….
I probably have said more than I should have …
BigHank53 says
Who is building those frames? And the wheels?
Bob says
I think the frame is made by Bonneville Performance, http://www.bonnevilleperformance.com/flattracker.htm. The wheels look like Performance Machine.
Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says
Should have followed that link myself, earlier. Thanks.
Posted a couple of photos of their tracker above.
Mark says
J&M Racing out of Poolsville, Md. makes the frames for the Mule built bikes.
Richard Hinely says
If they sell these at dealers, they should be called Gary Nixon Specials in his honor! I’ll take one in blue with a number “9”, please.
I wonder if Harley will go from 750cc to a larger displacement now that the rest of the motorcycle world is jumping in to dirt track???
GuitarSlinger says
Two HUGE Thumbs up for the Street Tracker idea !
Build it Triumph . Do it right and make yourself : while saving myself ( to create a custom built ) some money
😉
B50 Jim says
If Triumph uses 270 cranks and tunes those big twins to go “soft” when the back end breaks loose, they’ll be a challenge to the Harleys. But H-D has been flat-tracking for a long time and they really know how to build ’em. Still, I wish Triumph all the best in this venture. It will be nice to see Trumpets on the grid again!
Hooligan says
I do have to say that looks pretty smartaroonie.
Hop up the engine, strip the bike down along with monoshock and minimalistic swingarm. A classic formula. Hmm.
Carlos says
Looks smartaroonie is right!
Bigshankhank says
I am very stoked for this. I guess Joe Kopp w/ his Ducati sparked a little interest in someone other than HD winning an AMA grand national race. Competition improves the breed as they say, go for it Triumph!
steve w says
Awesome! I knew this could be built when i saw the first new twins, However as soon as they try to make it a showroom bike and all the U-gly big lights get put on and turn signals,plus quiet mufflers they get all screwed up just like Harleys showroom U-gly tracker. All the more reason to take wrenches in hand and build it yourself. That way you have the only one like yours. I wish all the flat track race teams the best as it is the coolest racing on earth.
streemaster says
The frames Mule uses are Streetmaster frames and can be found at our website http://www.streetmaster.net
JoeW says
Very interesting machine, gets the weight down from 500lbs to 350lbs which is what a modern Bonnie should weigh… street tracker or Bonnie, this is what the next generation Triumph twin should be aiming at… would not even need the power boost then as it would be grunty from all the weight loss.
As to Harley increasing cc, there is a long history of the rules being changed to favour Harley so more likely rivals will have to decrease cc.
BigHank53 says
Given that the 1200cc engine costs $9,000 more than the stocker, I’m thinking I’d much rather just have the lighter weight. If I feel the need for massive horsepower I’ll just pick up a used R1, and have fewer worries about either engine…
fast eddie says
Hey Eric , here’s an opening for ya !! copy the wanna be’s 1190 street tracker Detuned to around 140 Hp take off some of the stuff the common bike guy isn’t smart enough to pay for . You will end up
with a 350 lb. “tracker ” for 15K . you will sell um all . Hat’s off to Triumph …… grate advance thinking
they should have done it years ago, eddie
Adams says
Anyone know if Bonneville Performance is actually using a Bonneville motor (360 deg crank) or a Scrambler motor (270 deg crank) for their dirt track bikes?
Ren-Jr. says
Funny that the race bikes look so good, while the $27K street specials look like the tackiest piece of garbage I’ve ever seen. Chrome, on a street tracker?! Really?!
Mule motorcycles knows how to make Trackers stylish. Take a hint Bonneville Performance. Or just look at your race bikes when wanting to build a pretty motorcycle….
Mike 'Stu' Stuhler says
Great stuff! Thanks for sharing the Stu’s Shots love, always glad to see more people interested and getting the good word of flat track out there!