Build a flat tracker.... How would you do it?

[Billy Golightly]

I've got an idea for an awesome one I want to build, but if I let the cat out of the bag I'm afraid someone will do it before I can

[BigGreenMachine]

I've got an idea for an awesome one I want to build, but if I let the cat out of the bag I'm afraid someone will do it before I can

I promise I won't copy! lol

[Derrick Adams]

Well, horsepower and traction is the name of the game in flat track, for sure. I like the thought of the Tecate deal, but parts are pretty scarce and expensive for those. I do have a new black 250R short track tank laying here, IF I use a 250R. But, I would like to do something different.

[Jason Hall]

Derrick a big 4-stroke heart Is gunna be the way to go I think. I was shocked at how well the 400ex's did against the 450-R's at gallion. Mega Torque off the corners . I think Billy should talk to the staff at Haspin & see If they will set up a oval for Trikefest. If not I will be lookin for a spot to bust one out

[Mike_Ham_250R]

I am in agreement with Scott, I would like to see a Z flattracker even though I'm an R man. But whatever you do, good luck!

[scooterroo]

well i am doing my 85 tecate up to be a flat tracker, but dont want a dunlop knobby on the front, i would like to find the hoosier tri trac front tire like jimmy whites bike used. but i havent seen them in some time. anyone has one thats wants to get rid of it let me know. besidfes that, i am just gonna go by whats in the jimmy white replica manual and go from there. plus some nice mods of my own. hehehe.

[atctim]

If I was to build a flat tracker (which I would love to some day soon) here is what I would do:

KISS - Keep it simple stupid!!

Low slung suspension - get this thing sitting on the ground - durablue's adjustable rear and get those front forks jammed way up in the tripples. Tires and wheels are a huge factor in flat traking as well. Hoosiers are probably the best out there for this application. Forget any lights on this as it's a track machine only - a custom number plate (front and rear) would be sweet! Nerf bars would be a must. Width is also the name of the game with flat tracking, go as wide as you can with the rear axle. a few inches added to a swinger would have to be on there too! SS Braided brake lines would be nice as well. I would either go with a 250R or like someone mentioned above, a 125cc powered 200X would be awesome to see.

Just some thoughts - good luck with the project!

[NOS_350X]

Well first of all if your building a bike for tt/flattrack you dont go with a longer swinger. All the bikes that are built just for that go with a shortened swinger and lower it with a strut. With it that low you dont have to worry about. If ya want some cheap hoosiers Let me know, i got Major hookups on hoosiers.

[RideRed250R]

yah i mentioned the 88 trx rear end... as it had perfect geometry of ANY TRX out there and also had perfect weight balance... it was sturdy and you can get a WHOLE lot of tt stuff for that rear end... and with that rear end you can get the up dated stuff.... ... hoosiers are WONDERFUL but come on man... they are so god dang expensive
Adam

[ChrisD]

I would like to see a Z flat tracker too. There are a couple R's out there. Here is what I did to my R.


http://home.comcast.net/~atc330rrider/iceracerpage.htm

I ran it this way for the past few years, but major changes are being done right now and should be done in the next couple weeks.

[NOS_350X]

yah i mentioned the 88 trx rear end... as it had perfect geometry of ANY TRX out there and also had perfect weight balance... it was sturdy and you can get a WHOLE lot of tt stuff for that rear end... and with that rear end you can get the up dated stuff.... ... hoosiers are WONDERFUL but come on man... they are so god dang expensive
Adam

I make hoosiers affordable. trust me
The trx swinger is a good idea. All my friends that race quads are running -2 or -3 swingers. one of them actualy took a blaster frame and took 2 inches out of it. The shorter wheelbase the better it will turn on the track/

[ChrisD]

This is part of what's going onto my bike. Just waiting on the powdercoater now and I can reassemble it.

[Jeb]

Mine's a good start on a Flat Tracker Z. It needs the proper tires/rims (10" rims with Hoosiers) and the forks lowered PROPERLY (internally).

In this pic of it lowered I was running the '85 Honda 250R front rim/tire assembly. With that set up you can go with a 10" Douglas Rim and a Hoosier or comparable tire.

I have rear wheel spacers on my Z for the width. Someday I'd rather have an extended axle but that's what I have for now. Also I have a custom made (by me! ) linkage strut that adjusts from stock to 2 inches lower as shown. I found out that with a stock swingarm, you can only lower 1.5" or the shock hits the swingarm. My west coast swingarm has more room. I could go lower, but the linkage might drag the ground. a shortened shock would be much better.

It has a Bill's Pipe, a +2 West Coast Swingarm and a grav tank. I have a dead-man kill switch for it though it's not on the trike. Oh and most importantly it needs number plate backgrounds and numbers on the rear fenders!

[toyota200x]

i would do a totally custom like a RM250 conversion. there are way to many hondas out there

Yeah I would love to see a rm trike.

[Vealmonkey]

I don't get why people only think of flat trackers after 1981. They were flat tracking 90s' and 110's way before that. Who is going to build a real old school flat tracker? I hope to be putting one together very soon. Aftermarket hardtail frame, Aftermarket suspension front end, Big Piston, Stroker Crank, PK Intake, 24 or 26mm carb, Big Als Dipstick\Case vent. It should be kind of wild. I'm having a set of cases flycut for a 9mm over piston and stroker crank and skirting the piston for the stroker, all the good stuff. I'll probably be running my Nicholson hardtail frame. I've got 2 different sets of fiberglass fenders that I can use. Turbo wheels. It still won't be as cool as Howdys' magazine bike though.