First Build: 1979 Trackerthingymajiggerwhatchamacallit

Gradientthorr

Fabricator for HHB
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Western NC
Well, it's about time I get with the program. As you can already tell, this is my first thread of my first build on my first forum. Yes I'm a noob. But, I've been around for a bit. I've worked for Hugh at Hugh's HandBuilt for about 2 years. I've helped build Tevan's Ruby, Hugh's Slight Hell, Crusty, The Mule, and a little on the Black and White bike. Needless to say I've fallen in love with the XS much like everyone else and I finally have the opportunity to build my own version of the killer little twin from Japan.
I say opportunity, but it's been more of a "challenge" that has been tasked to me. Hugh has really pushed me to get creative with my bike and to push myself to break away from the norm to create something that is totally mine. So far it has been an awesome experience working on this little skoot and hanging out with my friends. I can't forget to mention Dan from Pandemonium Customs. He has helped along the way as well, bouncing ideas back and forth. That's one thing I can appreciate about the XS community is that most everyone is supportive of everyone else. Don't find that much in any industry. So since this is my first motorcycle build, please keep the negativity to a minimum. Criticism is just fine. That is welcome here. But don't go callin my momma a hoe.

Now that all of the formalities and introductions are out of the way, I can tell you a little bit about what I would like to accomplish with this bike:

1. Create a fully functional motorcycle that is comfortable for me and is fun to ride

2. Employ my skills as a fabricator to push outside of the "custom" umbrella term

3. Attempt to pull as much power out of a 40 year old engine without power adders

4. Have fun and build badass death machines with my friends!

My goal is to build something along the lines of a street tracker, but more tailored to feeling like a dirt bike and cornering like a moto GP. I want to keep weight to a minimum and the COG as low as possible, but still be comfortable enough to make the 8 bazillion mile trek to see Dan at the Chopoff in August.

Hopefully I don't screw up this forum thing too much. If anyone has any suggestions for either the bike or how to make this thread more enjoyable or readable, feel free to chime in. So until I get the hang of things, I'm just going to post a bunch of pictures for y'all to look at.

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Here's some more pictures for ya. I figure I'm not reinventing the wheel here, so why hide all the stuff I've worked on. Enjoy

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aaaaaaand that's about all I've got for now. Next step will be to design and fabricate some controls, a seat pan, and square away my brakes.

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There is literally no chance this thing doesn't come out amazing! Count me in!!

I like the departure from the xs tank, good call. My seat looks like it would almost be a direct fit to that frame.
 
Welcome to the forum, Gradientthorr.

That's quite a build. Plenty of 'out-of-the-box' things going on there.
The seating ergonomics looks good...
 
Aww come on!!! You've got wicked toolage, you worked with Hugh, you got mad skills, you weld, you fabricate....
Whats us mortals supposed to do trying to build crap in the stone-age garage with no tools, space, $$$, time, or talent? huh?
I bustin on ya. That bike's gonna rock!
 
Aww come on!!! You've got wicked toolage, you worked with Hugh, you got mad skills, you weld, you fabricate....
Whats us mortals supposed to do trying to build crap in the stone-age garage with no tools, space, $$$, time, or talent? huh?
I bustin on ya. That bike's gonna rock!

Haha thanks for the support! So far she's only been built with a tube bender and an angle grinder. Anything's possible given enough motivation
 
I'm loving all the competition for this year's chopoff... It will make winning that trophy that much better... you know, if I actually finish my build...
 
I'm loving all the competition for this year's chopoff... It will make winning that trophy that much better... you know, if I actually finish my build...
You're about as far as I am. Even if we don't finish, the builds will be sweet. This year is going to be pretty impressive
 
I agree... alot of really nice work in the pool this year...

I still have a front end and tank to build from scratch :)... the cool thing is, I've got several people planning to run my seats, so maybe one of them will win.
 
The weekend update:

Finally got a chance to do some sheetmetal work (be it very small and relatively uncomplicated) for the bike. I want to utilize lightweight materials as much as possible for this build to keep the power to weight ratio pretty high. So for the seat pan I had two options: fiberglass or aluminum. For me, I loathe anything to do with fiberglass. The end product is usually nice in quality, but the freaking heartache you have to endure for it is not worth it to me. I don't enjoy wearing a sweater of glass daggers. So I went with aluminum. Luckily we found a local source for some quality sheet metal. B & H Sheet Metal in Asheville, NC. Good guys, easy to talk to, follow HHB. What's not to like? Anyways, I know it's a small piece, but I had fun making it and it was definitely a challenge since I haven't had much experience welding aluminum. Also got a chance to make a 2 into 1 collector for my exhaust. Not sure if I'll use it yet. Still debating making another X pipe, but I like the 2 into 1 look because it stays consistent with the "tracker" theme. We'll see. Also welded a little on my tank. I really love how the Husqvarna tanks had a seam running down the centerline of the tank. Mine however, had been ground off in favor of a more polished look. So I decided to put it back haha. I'm a firm believer in showing off the construction of a product. Don't hide the fasteners. Be proud of them. Let the world know that you thought about it enough and cared enough to take the time to make it by hand. Hippie mumbo jumbo...

Enjoy.

-Cody

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