Young Gun, Old Metal: Reviving Dave Hansen’s flat tracker
Younger builders often get criticized for trying out different ways of customizing bikes—whether it’s pushing the design envelope or making unconventional tire…
Read more »Flat Track
Several types of motorcycles can be called ‘trackers.’ The original is the board tracker, named after the machines that raced on board tracks in the USA in the 1910s and 1920s.
In the 1930s, as the board tracks faded away, flat track racers appeared: street bikes modified to race on dirt or clay ovals. Past icons include the Harley-Davidson XR-750, but others include flat trackers from BSA, Norton and Triumph. This style is still popular today, with interest spurred by an intense rivalry between Harley-Davidson and Indian.
Flat track motorcycles (or dirt trackers, as they are sometimes known) do not have front brakes, but the slimmed-down style has been copied by builders of ‘street tracker’ customs.
Hell On Wheels: ICON 1000’s Kawasaki Vulcan tracker
ICON 1000 are the guys we turn to when we need reminding that not every custom should be a 70s throwback. We’ve…
Read more »All About The Patina: Nico Mueller’s BMW R75/5
We love seeing custom builders’ personal rides. Most of these guys spend their days wrestling with the restrictions of commissioned work, so…
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Thor’s Hammer: Harley-Davidson Street 750 flat tracker
The Harley faithful really got their knickers in a twist after the launch of the Street. Built for the US market in…
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MonoMonkee: A W650 flat tracker by the Wrenchmonkees
The dirt track revolution continues apace. Even the big guns are turning their eyes towards the ovals, and the latest to catch…
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Gird Yourself: El Solitario’s street legal Zaeta tracker
Batten down the hatches and don your flak jacket: The purveyors of the world’s most hated motorcycles are back. This time, the…
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Yes, you can turn the Victory Octane into a flat tracker
There’s a lot of truth in the phrase “You make your own luck.” And that’s the subtext of the story behind this…
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Custom Bikes Of The Week: 26 June, 2016
This week we’ve got a 210 horsepower French muscle bike, a new BMW tracker from Fuel Motorcycles, and an officially sanctioned Street…
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Take That: Dutchman Turns A Dirt Bike Into A Board Tracker
For an ‘amateur’ builder, Maarten Poodt is pretty hard on himself. The Dutchman aims for a factory-level finish on every project he…
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Custom Bikes Of The Week: 3 April, 2016
A sleek Honda Ascot tracker, a murdered-out BMW R100, and a sneak peek at the latest Yamaha Yard Built machine. These are…
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‘Rumour Monger’: A Bonneville with a board tracker vibe
Ever had some parts lying around the shop that you’re aching to use? Australian Wenley Andrews did, so he put them to…
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Triumphant: a Supercharged Triumph Street Tracker
If you love yourself some flat track racing, you’ll probably recognize the number on this stunning Triumph. In the late sixties, ‘9’…
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