Angry Bull: Mirage 250 Street Tracker

A 250 V-Twin Tracker built for Korea’s Camel Race…

In 1978, Hyosung, now known as KR Motors, began producing Suzuki motorcycles under license for the South Korean market. By 1986, they’d established their own R&D department and soon began mass production of their own designs, becoming the official supplier of motorcycles for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

Mirage 250 Tracker

In the early 2000s, they introduced the GV250 Aquila — aka the Mirage 250 — an entry-level 250cc V-twin cruiser with big-bike style and ~29 horsepower on tap. While this mini cruiser might not look like much on paper or in person, it did receive quite positive feedback from reviewers.

“The Hyosung V-Twin Aquila GV250 is the Leatherman, or, red Swiss Army knife, of motorcycles…. I promise, you’ll definitely use one, and, for some unknown reason, you will love it beyond any of its specifications.” —Your Motorcycle

Enter our new friend Mazenta, who’s in charge of event planning and motorcycle building for Seoul-based workshop Garage 94, whose Yamaha SR400 VMX we recently featured. Mazenta is a big fan of 125cc machines, but he felt it was time to step up his game:

“I made this bike because I felt I needed a bigger challenge and was interested in the V-twin engine, and I had only touched 125cc motors before.”

Mirage 250 Tracker

What’s more, Garage94 organizes South Korea’s largest vintage dirt event, Camel Race (#카멜레이스), and Mazenta wanted to build a bike for the event’s flat track main event — one that would show what can be done with an unlikely donor bike.

“I wanted to customize this model, which is not popular with young Korean riders, and deliver a little shock. Fortunately, the main event of Camel Race, which was being planned, was a flat track race, so tracker projects were a theme throughout Camel Race….”

Mirage 250 Tracker

Starting with a 2009 Mirage 250, he created a vintage-inspired flat tracker with tons of custom fabrication work in both aluminum and stainless steel, including the exhaust, engine/battery covers, tank rack, heat shield, and more. He finished in time for Camel Race, where the got to race the bike among other custom and vintage machines.

“When I wound up the throttle, it ran out like a bull! So I feel like I’ve become a bullfighter who trains angry bulls!”

Mirage 250 Tracker

Below, we talk to Mazenta for the full story on the 250 V-twin tracker, and special thanks go out to co-founder Usuk (@usuk_garage94) for all of the cooperation!

GV250 Flat Tracker: Builder Interview

 

• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

Hi, I am Mazenta.C, in charge of event planning and motorcycle building at Garage 94. I’ve been riding a bike since 1996 when I was 19. Especially, I like 125cc, so I own several units. In particular, I liked vintage models, so I started customizing them in a similar direction to restoring them, and I opened a private studio to produce custom bikes and entered the custom show. And I started Garage 94 with my partner Usuk (@usuk_garage94). Thanks to this reliable friend and colleague, I was able to produce more wonderful results!

Mirage 250 Tracker

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

This bike is based on a model called the Mirage 250 (GV250) from a company called Hyosung (now KRmotors) in Korea, and is a 2009 carbureted model.

GV250 Tracker

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

The design concept is flat tracker and inspired by old American flat trackers! I made this bike because I felt I needed a bigger challenge and was interested in the V-twin engine, and I had only touched 125cc motors before. In addition, it was chosen because it was a cheap base, rather unpopular. I wanted to customize this model, which is not popular with young Korean riders, and deliver a little shock. Fortunately, the main event of Camel Race, which was being planned, was a flat track race, so tracker projects were a theme throughout Camel Race, including the video productions.

GV250 Tracker

• What custom work was done to the bike?

This bike really changed — everything except the engine and frame! The wheels are from Honda’s FTR250 and the tank is also a Honda, a TL125 made to fit the frame.

GV250 Tracker

The intake structure was modified for higher-flow filters, and the manifold and muffler of the full exhaust system were built by bending and cutting stainless pipes. In addition, I made a heat guard out of stainless steel rods.

GV250 Tracker

The tank has a tank bag carrier with the owner’s initials, and the fuel gauge was omitted, so the amount of fuel can be checked from the outside. And new paint, of course.  Most of the long process was concentrated on this tank.

GV250 Tracker

The left and right covers of the engine were welded by bending stainless steel rods and designing stainless steel plates.

GV250 Tracker

On the left side, there is also an RPM regulator and an ignition coil holder hidden inside. The battery cover also uses stainless steel to express the feeling of wind flowing. I especially like the front panel! I had a hard time bending it because I used strong aluminum, but the small yellow headlights arranged vertically are really good.

GV250 Tracker

• Does the bike have a nickname?

This bike’s nickname is “Flat,” because it was born as a flat track racer.

GV250 Tracker

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

This bike is a lot heavier than the single-cylinder bike I had been riding, but once I started, it was mild and soft with the unique peeling of the double cylinders.  And when I wound up the throttle, it ran out like a bull! So I feel like I’ve become a bullfighter who trains angry bulls!

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

This was my third customized American-style tracker and my first V-twin. It came out exactly as I thought and was well made for the purpose. There was a lot of feedback after this was completed and released to people. They were all compliments and they are giving me great satisfaction and strength. What I’m saying is that I’m so proud of the result itself!

GV250 TrackerGV250 Tracker

Follow the Builders

Co-Founder: @usuk_garage94
Co-Founder: @mazenta.c__garage94
Camel Race: #카멜레이스

 

Leave a Comment

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

*