Flat Track Replica xt500 project

[Badcat]

you will have a serious stock pile of parts at the end?

i can say that i'll be OK for spares, yes.
also - as it's a 500 - i'll have 2 spare motors, so will prob build the RGV chassis into a stripped down little cafe racer with the badass 600 and the FCR.

w00t!

[SixPackBack]

i can say that i'll be OK for spares, yes.
also - as it's a 500 - i'll have 2 spare motors, so will prob build the RGV chassis into a stripped down little cafe racer with the badass 600 and the FCR.

w00t!

Excited for you Ken you have a lot of scope with all the parts

[Badcat]

well - still waiting for the sr500 to arrive from japan - another 2-3 weeks to go.
the SR/RGV looks like it will be a go too - have tracked down a RGV rolling chassis - hopefully get that next week, so i'll be building 2 bikes:

1 - the SR500 from japan will be stripped down and re-emerge as a retro street-tracker. this will have the mild 500cc 10k motor, and will gradually be warmed over, wiseco 10:1 piston, TT carb, and white bros Eseries pipe.
XR750 seat, maybe an R6 front end and ohlins.
Still on spoked wheels, with avon distanza supermoto tyres

2 - the SR/RGV will also take shape over the next few months.
This will use the badass 600 motor, 41 FCR, white bros cam and custom pipe.
it will be a naked lightweight streetbike, with renthals and minimal bodywork.
i'll probably use my hyabusa headlight on this - kinda like the yamaha naked r6 - is it the fz6?

here's a bunch of links i've been using for inspiration...
http://www.sr-racer.de/japan.html
http://www.motocarrera.com/trackertime.htm
http://www.bikeparts.jp/pedals-suspe...l-00031434.asp
http://www.mertlawwill.com/street_tracker.htm
http://galerie.sr500.de/thumbnails.php?album=3

[Badcat]

http://www.sr-racer.de/Strasse.html
http://www.sr-racer.de/Rennstrecke.html
http://www.sr-racer.de/StrasseII.html
http://www.siue.edu/~rsutton/SR/78-79.htm#Frame
http://homepage1.nifty.com/246/yam_whel2.htm
http://community.webshots.com/album/165262350ZhvFvU
http://www.kedo.com/
http://www.vd-classic.com/EN/realisation.php
http://supermotech.co.uk/specials_4.htm

[Badcat]

if you can't be arsed with the links...

[Badcat]

10987654321

[Badcat]

well - the SR arrived today after biketranz charged me $390 to freight it from chch to auckland WITHOUT INSURANCE.
man - i feel so violated....

anyway, it's 10 years old, and a retro so it looks pretty old and a bit scruffy, but i'm happy with it.
it starts easy, and the wierd drum front brake seems actually very good!
front suspension is REALLY soft, so that and tires is the first priority.
the tank (spare one) and flat track seat (thanks eurodave) are off to get painted tomorrow - and i need to find someone to make some brackets for the seat - anyone have suggestions?
the headlight and instruments are HUGE, so they will be coming off.
it's quiet and smooth, so i'm happy.
in the weekend the Pro-tapers and clamps will go on, as the std bars are very narrow and pulled back. maybe better for some little japanese guy...

more updates soon as the transformation progresses.....

K

[Badcat]

well - i rode the sr to work today...
the good bits first.

the motor is GREAT, excellent low end torque, and smooth and mechanically very quiet. the bike has done 11k in its 10 year - and it starts quick and runs very well.
the not so good...

everything else.

it's a good thing i'm changing so much of the bike as it's rattly, loose and pretty lame. the bike is probably very good for its type and age, but man, bikes have come a long way since 1978 (the bike is a 94 but it's the same as a 78)
the suspension is soft and skittish
the brakes are ok - but the front suspension is so bad that using the front brake is pretty scary
the handlebars are too narrow and pulled back, riding position is awful.
seat is narrow and tall
the tyres are AWFUL - an ancient metzeler perfect on the fron and an equally antique bridgestone on the rear, i'll be off to kerry to get something good today.
i'll also get the front forks stripped and re-sprung by craig at suspension tech (colemans) i think, as they are so soft ,

i'll fit the pro-taper handlebars and adjust the controls tomorrow, and i think once the bars are sorted and new tyres, i'll feel a lot more confident.

I will say though, that peter doak at EMOTO (www.emoto.co.nz) was wonderful through the whole thing.
my complaints are with the low-tech of the SR as a model, not with this particular bike. I got what i wanted at a good price in good condition.
i just wanted an old lowtech bike, and that's what i got...

stay tuned.

K

[Motu]

So is the motor the old original SR/XT/TT 500,or is it a different capacity version of the later 4 valve motor? Typical Yamaha to keep the old motor in production if it is.

[Badcat]

yep - it's the old school 2 valve kick only - with the cute little TDC indicator on the head.
i wanted the old 2 valve, as that's what they raced in flattrack i'm told.
it's a sweet motor - nicer than the SRX i owned.
it's just the rest of it that is a bit scary.

i'm having a ball though!

Kerry is ordering the AM22 sticky stickies for those little 2.15 rims as we speak.

anyone know a good light engineer?
i need some little brackets made....

k

[Owl Morris]

These shots may be of some help.
Standard SRs are sad, slow and sloshy. When I rode my first SR project home, I was doing the " my god what have I bought" I couldn't believe it had the same motor as the TT. After dumping the granite Exhaust system, the cast iron mudguards and that stupid carb You start getting a motorcycle.
Is yours mag or spoke wheels?

[Badcat]

it's a 94 - imported from japan, there's pics of it a few posts back in this thread.
i fitted the pro-taper MX bars and clamps today - makes A HUGE difference now i have some weight over the front wheel and the levers etc are in the right place.
also dropped the tyres to 30 psi front and 32 rear (was 36 both ends) and put 15 psi air in the forks.
transformed the ride - i feel a lot better about it now.
new tyres next week i hope.
take a look through the thread if you have a minute - all the details are there.
ken

[T.W.R]

just a few ideas for you badcat, the biggest thing to making a big single go is cam timing duration ( retard inlet roughly 4degrees and advance exhaust 2-3degrees) and let the bugger breath! jet the carb a few sizes, chuck a pod filter on, keep the inlet port rough & polish the exhaust port ! , fit a large diameter header pipe on & a free breathing muffler !
check the pics for a couple of ideas.

[Badcat]

just a few ideas for you badcat, the biggest thing to making a big single go is cam timing duration ( retard inlet roughly 4degrees and advance exhaust 2-3degrees) and let the bugger breath! jet the carb a few sizes, chuck a pod filter on, keep the inlet port rough & polish the exhaust port ! , fit a large diameter header pipe on & a free breathing muffler !
check the pics for a couple of ideas.

thanks.
i have a spare motor i bought recently - an ex-SOS sr500 - running around 600cc - a new FCR41 and radical head and a white bros e-series muffler ready to go on. will prolly get brett roberts to dyno tune it when its all assembled..
am looking for a cam though... can you recommend someone in NZ?

will do all the chassis mods first - and do the motor once i'm happy with it all before i make it badass.


ken

[T.W.R]

denco engineering in christchurch would the men to see! they make them to order, to the specs you want, slotted cam-sprockets the works. specialists with singles e.g. speedway motors . don't know their web addy but contact bob denson ph 03 381-2111 or fax 03 381-2069.
make it mumbo! but don't lighten the crank, keep the horses as clydesdales not racehorses to keep the serious single bang !