Honda XR650 Tracker: “Alley Cat”

Honda XR650 Tracker

Here at BikeBound, we’ve been lucky enough to meet so many builders, riders, and fans from all over the world who simply “get it” when it comes to bikes. One of these is our new friend Ceasar Saingchin of Queens, New York. With the very first email, we knew we were dealing with a kindred spirit. Said Ceasar:

“I just discovered your site recently and I really dig it! I particularly like that you feature more trackers/scramblers and fewer Ultra-Builds (what I call builds with ridiculous resources). Very few sites showcase trackers and scramblers enough and it’s refreshing to see a site that does.”

Honda XR650L Tracker

While we love sharing “Ultra-Builds” now and again, our bread-and-butter is the custom bike of the real world, which is built more with heart and hard work than a big bank account. Enter the saga of Ceasar’s Honda XR650L, or “The Four Deaths of the Alley Cat.” Below, we get the full story from Ceasar.

Honda XR650L “Alley Cat” Street Tracker with 5 Lives Left

Honda XR650L Street Tracker

(Words by Ceasar Saingchin. Highlights by us.)

So you may be wondering why the weird subject line. In a nutshell my bike has been through HELL but has been back from the dead a few times. The closest it’s been to death was after a HUGE truck plowed through it (caught on video: http://bit.ly/2qEWqyf). This was right outside of my job. I took a look out my window of the 8th floor here in midtown Manhattan and my heart dropped. Long story short, I shed some tears, then got some insurance money and used it to fix her up, do a front end upgrade and shoot a decent paint job on the tank.

Honda XR650 Tracker

Death #2: I was also told by previous owner that he blew the motor when his buddy forgot to reinstall the fuel screw. Bike ran decent when I test rode it so didn’t think much of it.

Death #3: Shortly after buying, I swapped the carb and didn’t realized how hot the motor was getting from the jetting being too lean. On a hot summer day I heard some clicking from the right side of the motor – Dropped valve seat.

Death #4: Replaced the head with a used one off of ebay. A year and a half later, more weird sounds coming out of exhaust. When hot, the valve seat would drop, but then reseat when cool (expanding aluminum/steel variation).

Honda XR650 Tracker

Finally replaced the head with a lightly used 2015 unit. Running really strong now. So after a near death brawl with the Mastiff of trucks and three heart attacks, I reckon my bike has 5 lives left.

XR650L Street Tracker

After the latest heart bypass I named her Alley Cat. Great bike for the streets of New York. Nimble, strong, been through hell, but still tough as nails.

XR650L Street Tracker

Originally picked up out East in Long Island, I rode her to Queens, New York where I rent out a few sq feet of space to do what I can. My buddy and I work below a roughly 60 apartment building 12-car car park. The space isn’t large enough for a car so the landlord rents it out to us for motorcycles.

Honda XR650 Tracker

I spent a bit of time with a wrench and an angle grinder and the rest is history. It was a simple formula for the thumper:  wheel & tires, subframe, tank, exhaust and general crap removal.

Honda XR650 Tracker

“Alley Cat” XR650 Street Tracker:  Build Sheet

Name: Ceasar Saingchin
Email: [email protected]
Location: Queens, NY
Bike Make, Model, Year: Honda XR650L 1999
Title / Nick Name: XR650L Alley Cat
Style of Bike: Tracker
Instagram: @Ceasar_Goes

Honda XR650 Tracker

  • Donor Bike: XR650L 1999
  • Carb: 2004 CRF250R Carb – Keihin Flatside Carb 39mm
  • Wheels 18″ Excel Tasakasago
  • Rear Tire: Shinko 705
  • Front Tire: Shinko SR428
  • Front Brake Disk: EBC 300mm Rotor
  • Front End: 2008 CRF250R Forks and Triple Trees
  • Exhaust: Custom
  • Seat: Custom
  • Headlight: Hella 500 Black Magic (not seen in above photos)
  • Handlebars: Renthal
  • Passenger Pegs: Yamaha R1
  • Tank Pads: Custom

Honda XR650 Tracker

Honda XR650 Tracker

  XR650L Street Tracker XR650L Street Tracker

Detail Shots by Michael Kowalczyk

The following shots are by Michael Kowalczyk:

 

Honda XR650 Street Tracker
Credit: @michaelkowalczyk.eu
Honda XR650 Street Tracker
Credit: @michaelkowalczyk.eu
Honda XR650 Street Tracker
Credit: @michaelkowalczyk.eu

 

Save

Save

5 Comments

  1. This Bike is for sale ?
    I live in France. Paris.
    Thx

  2. Paul Hinman

    I’m loving this build! I have an XR600r that I am working on, and this has many of the same elements. I also have a CRF pumper carb- best money I ever spent on a bike. My subframe is next and I am looking at the OEM Tucano build for inspiration on that. This has an almost similar support bar-to-tail scenario going on here. Keep up the good work!

  3. There a great bike to custom the XR and easy to work on. More than enough grunt through the twisties for the majority……and will show up some bigger sports bikes. Would of liked to of seen some attention to detail here, but some are into there builds more than others.

  4. “Would of liked to of seen some attention to detail here, but some are into there builds more than others”

    You sound like an ass.
    Maybe he doesn’t like the same crap you like….

    Awesome built despite your BS opinion

  5. just wondering what the header pipes are off
    love the build

Leave a Reply to Paul Hinman Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*