427 Tracker: A zesty custom Yamaha RD400 from Canada
Nothing screams “it is weekend ”quite like a two strokes street tracker. Even more so if it’s a Yamaha RD400, and it’s dressed in the traditional black and gold uniform – with speed blocks, of course.
This tiny little figure, dubbed ‘427 Tracker’, is the work of Smyth Innovations. Based in Ontario, Canada, the workshop is run by Cam Smyth – a custom bike builder to the requirements of an industrial designer. He’s been working full-time for a decade and works with a network of friends and local businesses to get the job done.
Model year 1976 Yamaha RD400 entered Cam’s bench with three other RD400s with the same classic styling. One customer purchased all four sponsors, with the aim of mixing and matching the best bits to create two complete bikes. One bike is a restoration job, while the other is a street watchers.
While digging through the details of each, Cam caught the wind with Dream Build Off — an online customization competition organized by Roland Sands Design and Geico Motorcycle. He thinks RD would be the perfect candidate.
Even so, Cam and his crew had to cut their jobs. The sponsor they chose as a starting point is still a long way from being able to go.
“It had a 1979 Daytona tank and some other mismatched bits and backyard modifications that were made to it,” Mr. Cam said. “Everything needs to be replaced or rebuilt, right down to the engine. The pistons and cylinders have been scored, the engine cover has kissed the asphalt once or twice, and the left engine cover has lost its chain. ”
Once Cam has figured out the design direction, the work can begin in earnest. The engine has been stripped to its bare shell, has been blasted, powder coated and reassembled with new seals and gaskets. Hidden inside are a new crank and piston, bored cylinder, and some other fast mods.
On the outside you’ll find a set of radial fin performance heads from HVC Cycle, a hydraulic clutch and a modified front sprocket cover. The team even cleaned up some of the factory decorations and scraped off the writing on the case.
The list goes on and on; The oversized Banshee intake, V-Force 3 mop valve, Mikuni TM32 cabin and custom exhaust are built from two sets of classic DG expansion bays. The original wiring was also ditched and reworked with a new Vape CDI igniter and a Lithium-ion battery.
The frame is also not spared. Smyth Innovations removed it, then cut out the rear and built a new subframe, with brackets that mimic the contours of the RD400 side cover. An assortment of gussets and stands have been made to match.
Then came a bunch of suspension mods. A 2006 Suzuki GSX-R600 fork has been mounted up front and has been tweaked to accept a pair of KTM forks.
The lower shackle is also from Suzuki, but the upper shackle is a heavily modified LSL part. The team trimmed it to make room for the RD400 tank, shaved off the ignition frame and added a bracket to hold the Koso gauge assembly. Right behind is a new handlebar, equipped with Renthal grips, modified Brembo brake levers and soldered micro switches with LED backlight.
With more work to do in the background, Cam had a very specific idea in mind. “We knew we wanted an aluminum swingarm to give the car such a classic look,” he said. “And to make the car look just right for 19” wheels, we needed to add a few inches to the length. “
The men started with the swingarm from a 1981 Yamaha IT250, then removed the original shock mount, trimmed off the grease, built a new mount, and mounted everything. The setup also includes new end blocks and some ingenious machines that work to make the entire shaft system more user-friendly.
The wheels are 19″ Sun Rims, mated to two different centerpiece Yamaha YZ models, with stainless steel spokes supplied by Buchanan. They are wrapped in Dunlop K180 tires; a prize sponsored by Dunlop in the early rounds of the competition.
Since this flat tracker is designed for street use, it has brakes on both ends. The setup includes Kawasaki Ninja 300R brake calipers, with rotor, spacers and Galfer contours. All small details such as axles, swingarm shafts and steering nuts are machined from scratch.
As for the bodywork, Cam swapped the Daytona gas tank for a standard RD400 unit, which has gone through a lot of mods. Most notably, the Kawasaki Ninja 650 muffler has been welded to install a recessed fuel cap from Vortex. The mounting angle of the fuel tank has also been tweaked and the fuel nozzle is hidden behind the cabin, where it is still accessible, but not completely visible.
“The fuel tank is painted with Yamaha’s 50th Anniversary 2006 pearl yellow,” explains Cam. “It’s a modern take on the traditional yellow color of the Yamaha 0026 Competition.”
Sitting at the back of the tank is a custom-built saddle and rear section, designed to carry the tank’s silhouette to the rear. The design was first forged with cardboard sheets and pieces of string, to make sure everything flowed perfectly. A layer of Alcantara on the seat cushion adds a touch of luxury.
At first, it’s hard to spot the taillights, but that’s by design. Cam used a Koso Hawkeye LED, then mounted it under the hump behind a smoked acrylic sheet.
“From the very beginning, if we were going to build a street tracker, it would have to be more like a race bike than a street bike,” he explains. “And for us, that means completely hiding the light.”
To achieve this at the front, they mounted two 6” LED bars behind a hand-formed acrylic number plate. The lights are placed at different angles, acting as high and low beam headlights. Everything is on custom mounting hardware.
Smyth’s 427 Tracker forms the perfect trio of Yamaha’s iconic, flat, two-stroke trackers. Sadly, it didn’t take home first place overall — but it was a winner in our book.
Smyth .’s Creation Instagram | Photo of Pawel Wnek
Cam would like to give a special thanks to family, friends and sponsors who made this project possible!