Hello all, I'm new here & wanted to post up an intro as I think I'll be coming to you guys often for advice & critique throughout my project.
I somehow just now stumbled across this wonderfull forum. I'm currently building a street tracker from a 78 XS650SE. I picked up the bike on ebay back in the summer of 07 outside of Chicago by chance when my buddy sold his GSXR & was being paid to deliver it an hour south of Chicago (we live in mid-Michigan.) He was restoring a RZ350 for his son & I was tired of rebuilding my 95 YZF600 everytime I wrecked it. Looked in to CB's for a Cafe or XS's for a street tracker. I raced flat track while growing up so I decided a street tracker was it for me.
Back to the bike, purchased it from another would be first time bike builder that got in a little over his head. The bike came in boxes with a bonus part. He had a trackmaster frame w/ the XS wheels/forks on it. Problem was that the TM frame was probably for a 250 as there was no way to get the XS650 motor in w/o a lot of modification. so I sold the TM on Craigslist for a little more than I paid for the whole package.
Stripped 15lbs of metal off the 78 Special frame & powdercoated it gray. Bought a pile of parts including a sweet set of custom pipes that had many hours of research into even finding who made them (all from a picture of a tracker that was tagged w/ the owners name) got a pile of parts from MikesXS and 650Central, Glass from Omars after a bad experience with eBay glass... mocked up the rolling chassis w/ motor & then got a new job out of state.
Fast forward three years to now, I'm back in MI, married w/ 2 young children. My free time is limited but I spend many late nights in the garage. I'm dedicating this winter to "finishing" the tracker project. The quotes are because I have a few different stages of finished in mind. First stage is simply rideable/street legalish. I splurged on parts back in 07 but am on very limited funds now w/ the wife & kids of course. I'm not real decided on what order the next stages of "finished" will be, or if I'll ever really be done. After all this is my first bike built from the ground up. I've rode since I was 4 & am quickly approaching my 30's. I also spent some time working in a machine shop & a harley shop & am not afraid of any project.
Here's how the bike sits tonight; on a wood coated cinder block after my dad repo'd his jack & due to a very ugly weld there is currently no kickstand... Rolling chassis plus controls, motor, Boyer Brandsen elec ignition, authentic flat track bars & rear shocks from my dads old flat trackin days (bummer he got rid of a sick front end about 10 years ago) Front brakes are dual discs from my 95 YZF600R after I found a conversion kit. Mikuni carbs w/ aluminum spigots & uni pods are bolted up & throttle/controls are on.
Pictures of in progress can be found on my member page. more coming soon.
Things on my build checklist:
Idea's, comment's, criticism, etc. all welcome. Glad I found you guys.
~Jesse
I somehow just now stumbled across this wonderfull forum. I'm currently building a street tracker from a 78 XS650SE. I picked up the bike on ebay back in the summer of 07 outside of Chicago by chance when my buddy sold his GSXR & was being paid to deliver it an hour south of Chicago (we live in mid-Michigan.) He was restoring a RZ350 for his son & I was tired of rebuilding my 95 YZF600 everytime I wrecked it. Looked in to CB's for a Cafe or XS's for a street tracker. I raced flat track while growing up so I decided a street tracker was it for me.
Back to the bike, purchased it from another would be first time bike builder that got in a little over his head. The bike came in boxes with a bonus part. He had a trackmaster frame w/ the XS wheels/forks on it. Problem was that the TM frame was probably for a 250 as there was no way to get the XS650 motor in w/o a lot of modification. so I sold the TM on Craigslist for a little more than I paid for the whole package.
Stripped 15lbs of metal off the 78 Special frame & powdercoated it gray. Bought a pile of parts including a sweet set of custom pipes that had many hours of research into even finding who made them (all from a picture of a tracker that was tagged w/ the owners name) got a pile of parts from MikesXS and 650Central, Glass from Omars after a bad experience with eBay glass... mocked up the rolling chassis w/ motor & then got a new job out of state.
Fast forward three years to now, I'm back in MI, married w/ 2 young children. My free time is limited but I spend many late nights in the garage. I'm dedicating this winter to "finishing" the tracker project. The quotes are because I have a few different stages of finished in mind. First stage is simply rideable/street legalish. I splurged on parts back in 07 but am on very limited funds now w/ the wife & kids of course. I'm not real decided on what order the next stages of "finished" will be, or if I'll ever really be done. After all this is my first bike built from the ground up. I've rode since I was 4 & am quickly approaching my 30's. I also spent some time working in a machine shop & a harley shop & am not afraid of any project.
Here's how the bike sits tonight; on a wood coated cinder block after my dad repo'd his jack & due to a very ugly weld there is currently no kickstand... Rolling chassis plus controls, motor, Boyer Brandsen elec ignition, authentic flat track bars & rear shocks from my dads old flat trackin days (bummer he got rid of a sick front end about 10 years ago) Front brakes are dual discs from my 95 YZF600R after I found a conversion kit. Mikuni carbs w/ aluminum spigots & uni pods are bolted up & throttle/controls are on.
Pictures of in progress can be found on my member page. more coming soon.
Things on my build checklist:
- My tank/fender/seat are not quite mounted as the tank mounts need to be relocated slightly. Paint will come in time, still debating between throwback yw/blk or blue/white w/ throwback graphics, or even red/blk/white.
- Front forks will get a race valve or damper w/ new springs
- I'm hoping the rear shocks salvaged from the old mans pole barn will work, if not progressive I think.
- Weld on kickstand & 5 3/4" round headlight should be here by next week
- I was debating the 19" rear conversion but ended up getting a RD400 18" rear on the cheap so that will go on eventually. very low on the priority list with good rubber on the factory wheels
- Thanks to the info I found on here I now want to update the charging system & have started tracking down parts. I like the idea of simplifying things & making it more reliable.
- Many years down the road I'll get a basket case & build a high performance engine for it, probably once my son can help me. he's currently 6 months old.
Idea's, comment's, criticism, etc. all welcome. Glad I found you guys.
~Jesse