Stopping by Richard Pollock’s website, Mule Motorcycles, I see he’s built this Yamaha XS650 street tracker, beautiful bike, looks like it would be a blast to ride. I mention Mule Motorcycles now and then and comment on the excellent bikes he’s turning out and the question pops up whenever I see them, where are the factory street trackers? I know I’m not the only one who likes this style of motorcycle and I can’t believe it would be terribly difficult for the factories to put one together from something already being produced.
Harley Davidson introduced their XR1200, but not in the U.S.! Storz Performance has their street tracker conversion for Sportsters, Mert Lawwill has one, there are several small companies making kits or parts for conversions but nothing in the showrooms. Why not? Maybe the return of the Indy Mile will get riders thinking about these bikes but seriously, would it be all that hard for the major companies to sell something like this? It might not sell like a 600cc sportbike but it wouldn’t be a huge investment, either. Hmm …
Brass says
That thing rocks. Just goes to show you that the XS bikes can be used for more that just choppers.
Phoebe says
I really wish there were a street version of the XR500 (which uses the Buell Blast engine, by the way), because I would be all over that.
I think the biggest answer to the question of why we don’t see factory street trackers is because…well…there’s not that many “standard” motorcycles being sold in the US anymore, really. It’s unfortunate.
John A. McDowell says
Great Bike! I would think the factories could do this, but it would be a “step backward”. The motocross / supercross style seems more “flashy”
and the factorys would not have to worry about street liabilities. Maybe a new company could copy this “old style” to make an avenue into the future. Think India or Korea!!
Gen Kanai says
“Where are the Factory Street Trackers?â€
They are in Japan.
http://www.honda.co.jp/motor-lineup/ftr/
http://www1.suzuki.co.jp/motor/vanvan/index.html
Brian Case says
They’ll come back if enough people want them too. Trends don’t last forever, and they usually recycle every generation.
willie schmitz says
Here’s a great site for a flat tracker.
http://www.vft.org/vftforsale2.html
XS 650’s show up a lot here in flat track and street tracker form. There’s much more for sale that would make a really nice street bike with good race history.
Den says
Have a look at this site from here in Australia, they do some pretty cool stuff.
http://www.deus.com.au/
kneeslider says
For those of you pointing out the sites of street tracker enthusiasts and parts available to build one, that’s exactly my point, why doesn’t the factory do it?
As to Gen Kanai’s links, … very interesting.
hoyt says
The guy in the Suzuki ad/website has his priorities in order….
motorcycle, surf board (including “Endless Summer” poster), river kayak, etc….
The pipe on the bike within this post is excellent, along with the rest of the bike.
todd says
Derbi has the Mulhacen 659 but I’ve never been able to get a straight answer if they’re available in the US. Derbi officials have replied to my emails saying yes (a few years ago) but still no sign of them.
-todd
akbar says
Would you want a factory one? Seems to me they would most likely get the look down, but the rest would be kind of light, as it were. Look at the HD Bob Job from last week, not as thourough as people who would want this kind of bike to be, the photoshop version was much better. Seems that a custom/do it yourself kind of thing would produce a much cooler bike
kneeslider says
akbar, you raise a good point, but, I would hazard a guess only a small percentage of riders who would love to have one of these could actually build one. Among the few who might even have the skills, they may lack time or desire.
A factory effort takes them part way to the ideal, just like that Cross Bones, a mechanically inclined buyer might add a few more factory parts to get closer, a really skilled owner could finish the job.
OMMAG says
I’m just wowed by that bike.
It’s almost discouraging to see a project done so well. He’s set the bar a lot higher with that bike.
Thanks for the pic’s Paul.
Lost in oz says
With the factory available honda in the link above, one could assume that parts are available for it. Given some basics (in english, my japanese is a tad rusty) it could be conceivable to re-create that bike out of an american made bike. The Honda was amazing, the Suzuki I wasnt fond of, but either one would be a great attention grabber on the streets of America.
Oh and the xs above? wow… I want one, that might just be the next project is a street tracker.
Roberto says
I’ve always liked streettrackers from the first time I saw one (David Edward’s Kenny Roberts replica XS650). Pollock’s Blue Yamaha is one of the prettiest bikes ever made. I was hoping that after he made a streettracker for Triumph, it would work its way into production. I don’t see how there’s a market for the Scrambler and not for a ‘tracker. Imagine a Triumph tracker with the 270° crank, making Ducati noises… what’s not to love? The factory Harley not-for-US tracker looks pretty lame compared to Lawwill’s or Storz.
A modern streettracker would split the difference between a motard and a monster. Check out the framers running on short tracks with modern dirt bike 450 motors or the Buell Blast 500, mentioned above. They look great, have forgiving ergonomics, are light and tossable. Perfect urban bike?
Ron Wood did a nice job with that BMW F800 and lots of people would love to have one on the street. I always thought an old BMW F650 would make a good donor for a streettracker. I kind of picture it with F650PD badges… the PD for Peoria-Daytona, not Paris-Dakar. The joke would be heightened with German sponser stickers.
BikerVoodoo says
My little Kawasaki KSR110 looks a bit like a Street Tracker. Have you seen the ones built by Shibazaki (Sundance Harley Davidson)? Those are REALLY COOL!
davidabl says
Looked at the Mule site for a few minutes, couldn’t seem to
find out what the bike would cost me!
Richard Pollock says
I asked the “Wigs” at Harley if they planned to ever offer a “Standard” or Streetracker type bike? Their reply was, “Why? We sell everything we can produce already!”
Then, with regards to the Triumph of America project, I really thought they would consider a version of that in some modified for production sort of way. Never heard another word about it. To me, Triumph is synonomis with Streetrackers. Yet they come out with that “Scrambler” thing with makes me want to turn away. I almost laugh when I look at it. When they’re ready, I’m ready.
The dowside of the streettracker thing is the cost to build one right. Buying a used race bike with a “History” is very romantic, but as I’ve bought dozens of used race bikes, there is nothing more worthless than a used up racebike. Further, although flattrack racing is a lot more technical that it appears on the surface, your basic racer is more concerned with getting to the track and riding than with precision bike building. Now pass that bike from owner to owner and you end up with a worn out peice of hardware!
On the cost of building one, most of the components are custom made or available from suppliers who manufacture very limited numbers of triple clamps, hubs, tanks, seats, pipes, etc.. You end up with bikes costing in the $25K plus range. For a builder, it’s the same amount of work to build from new, trick parts as it is with used up junk. So say you end up with a bike that costs $10K instead of $25. The way I look at that and hope the average buyer does too, is that I could buy a new R-1 for $10K(or so), so this $10K streettracker better be at least as good, not some used up old race bike with used up “Namebrand” Vintage race parts. What happens is, I end up looking at each part and saying this or that needs to be better and on and on until you get done and the price has risen accordingly.
From the business standpoint, in order to mass produce a Streettracker model, it has to be done by a manufacturer with access to OEM suppliers like Bridgestone, Showa, Nippon Seiki etc. Also, a cheap way an OEM could do it is by building a “Parts bin Special” ala Yamaha Radian. A bunch of parts that go to completely different models that could be combined with their own frame and simple body work. Why the Hell Triumph doesn’t want to do this, I have no idea. Maybe I should fly to England and bang on the door! They must be sleeping in there!
B. Case says
Very interesting, Richard. nice work too…
Brian says
would love it if someone made a stret version of Richard Pollacks Bmw 800 or a 650 single street tracker !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Adam says
Alright Honda kinda tried this back in the 1980’s and got the right idea but couldnt pull it all the way off with the Honda Ascot FT500. I own one of them now that im building into a streetracker, and its funny if you look at that and then that FTR223 on the honda link up there, they look an awful lot alike.
They made the ascot for that purpose, ft stands for flat track, and ascot is a famous flat track in California
-Adam