It is no secret that we have a bit of a soft spot for trackers here at Bike EXIF. We’ve already cataloged some of our favorite Yamaha trackers in the past, but the well of inspiration is seemingly bottomless. The Yamaha brand, with its legendary Speed Block heritage and a lineage of stout engines like the XS650 and the modern CP2, lends itself better to the tracker platform than almost any other manufacturer.
Whether it’s a vintage air-cooled V-twin or a high-revving modern single, the recipe remains the same: 19-inch wheels, wide bars, and a silhouette that looks ready to pitch into a left-hand turn at triple-digit speeds.
Here are six more of our favorite Yamaha trackers that have graced these pages over the years.
Wedge Motorcycle’s XV750 Replica
Forty years ago, Yamaha briefly chased flat track glory in the States with the XV750. While the factory effort was short-lived, it left a lasting impression on Takashi Nihira of Wedge Motorcycle. Based in Tokyo, Nihira-san took a 1981 XV750 Special, a shaft-driven, 500-pound cruiser, and performed a radical act of subtraction to create this lithe street tracker.
The transformation required serious surgery, most notably a conversion from the stock monoshock setup to a traditional twin-shock rear end. Nihira-san modified a Virago swingarm to accept Nitron shocks, while the front end received a cocktail of XS650 and SR400 parts. The engine was refreshed and treated to a pair of SuperTrapp megaphone mufflers, ensuring the V-twin grunt matches the aesthetics.
The crowning achievement is the hand-shaped steel fuel tank. Finished in a crisp white with the iconic Yamaha speed blocks, it looks like a factory-built machine from a timeline where Yamaha never stopped racing the XV. It’s a practice in balance and restraint, proving that even a heavy cruiser can find its way to the dirt. [MORE]
AMP Motorcycles’ WR400F
Motorcycling is often a solitary pursuit, but for Michael and Allen Posenauer of Germany’s AMP Motorcycles, it’s a family affair. This build started with a 1999 Yamaha WR400F, a bike once hailed as the "Bike of the Century" for its incredible power-to-weight ratio. Stripping away the plastic enduro cladding, the father-son duo set out to build a 'real' tracker for the loamy tracks of the Netherlands.
The stance was leveled out by shortening the KYB forks, while 19-inch Moose Racing rims were laced to the stock hubs. The bodywork is a triumph of DIY engineering: hand-crafted from 2mm aluminum using cardboard templates. It’s designed to be functional and fast to dismantle, a necessity for a bike that is actually intended to be raced and dropped in the gravel.
The paint is a simple, stripy monochrome affair that favors utility over show quality. With a custom stainless steel exhaust and a high-performance radiator, this WR400 is less about polish and more about the "father/son thing", spending weekends sliding sideways and getting covered in dust. [MORE]
Kingston Custom’s "Young Star" MT-125
Dirk Oehlerking of Kingston Custom decided to prove that you don't need a liter-bike to have a great custom. Built for Yamaha Motor Germany, the 'Young Star' is a beach tracker based on the pint-sized MT-125. Dirk’s goal was accessibility: a conversion that looks high-end but doesn't break the bank for younger riders entering the custom scene.
The build utilizes a Storz flat tracker seat that miraculously aligned with the original tank cover’s lines. To get the tracker silhouette, Dirk shortened the 41mm upside-down forks by 40mm and adjusted the rear shock linkage. A custom headlight board from C-Racer replaces the bulky stock unit, cleaning up the cockpit significantly.
What makes this build stand out is its practicality. It retains the ABS system and most of the stock wiring, tucked neatly under the new tail. It’s a stylish urban tracker that proves the 125cc class deserves a seat at the table. As Dirk puts it, "It doesn't always have to be big to be great!" [MORE]
Jeff Palhegyi’s TZ750 Street Tracker
The TZ750 is the stuff of nightmares and legends. It was the bike so fast that Kenny Roberts famously said they didn't pay him enough to ride it. Brad Peterson wanted that lunacy for the street. Built around a replica Champion Racing frame by the legendary Jeff Palhegyi, this machine is a street-legal tribute to the most feared flat tracker in history.
The 1977 "D" spec motor was built by Scott Guthrie Racing and specifically tuned for street use, though "tuned" is a relative term for a 120-hp two-stroke four-cylinder. It features Lectron carbs and expansion chambers that produce a deafening, smoky symphony. Despite the racing pedigree, it’s fully street legal with a title, lights from Baja Designs, and a total-loss electrical system.
Riding it is a binary experience. When the revs hit 7,000 RPM, the powerband acts like a light switch, spinning the rear tire while pulling the front wheel toward the sky. It is a terrifying, beautiful monster that honors Steve Baker’s #32 racing colors with every trail of blue smoke it leaves behind. [MORE]
Jigsaw Customs’ "The Slider"
Hailing from the coast of Greece, Jigsaw Customs’ 'The Slider' is one of the sharpest XSR700s we’ve ever encountered. Commissioned by Yamaha Greece for the Yard Built program, the bike draws inspiration from the minimalist TZ750 and XS650 trackers of the 1970s. The team stripped the XSR700 down to its core, discarding everything from the ABS to the original fuel tank.
The engineering here is deep. They fitted XTZ1200 wheels, re-laced to 19 inch rims, and machined a custom sprocket hub to shorten the gear ratio for faster acceleration. The bodywork is a 3D-designed monocoque piece that creates a slim, blade-like profile, finished in a stunning 'Mandarin Orange' from Yamaha’s 1972 catalog.
Detailing is everywhere, from the CNC-molded number plate headlight to the hidden battery mounted under the swingarm. The Slider isn't just a show pony; it was vetted by racing legend Randy Mamola at Wheels & Waves. It perfectly captures the transition from modern naked bike to vintage-inspired dirt-shredder. [MORE]
PanicRev Customs’ TT500
The Yamaha TT500 is an off-road icon, but Paul Miller of PanicRev Customs saw a basket case '77 model as the perfect starting point for an elegant street tracker. Based in Calgary, Miller applied his training as a gas turbine technician to ensure every square inch of the bike was massaged into perfection.
The frame was modified with a new rear subframe to align the shock angles with the forks, and the swingarm was swapped for a Motolanna unit. The front end features XS650 forks and brakes from a Ducati Monster, showing a clever 'parts bin approach to high performance. The white powder-coated frame and wheels give the bike a clean, sophisticated look that stands out in a sea of black and orange.
The attention to detail is obsessive, featuring safety-wired components and a custom-fabricated rear brake reservoir that looks like a piece of jewelry. Despite the race-ready appearance, the bike features hidden LED lighting and a street-legal title. It’s a meticulous, surgical build that breathes new life into one of Yamaha’s greatest singles. [MORE]
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