Michael started this project with one goal: build something he could rip around town that captured the spirit of the 1970s Japanese motorcycles he grew up around. For him, the clear choice was Yamaha’s legendary big single — the bike that won the first Paris‑Dakar Rally and came back to win it again. Reliable, simple, torquey, iconic: the Yamaha XT500.
He didn’t end up with an XT, though. He found something even better for a ground‑up revival: two 1979 TT500s — the motocross version. One was a rolling frame and a box of parts. The other was an abandoned flat tracker with a seized motor that had sat through fifteen rainy winters, water pouring straight into its single cylinder.
But that flat tracker had the one thing that mattered: a street‑legal California title and current non‑op registration. The roller had an engine with compression… but no history at all.
Nearly a year later, this is the result — a low‑budget, low‑ego, high‑fun street tracker built to ride, not to polish. As Michael puts it:
“I’m beyond hyped on how she came out… She rips. Gobs of low‑end power. So fun to ride.”
Miggy
He kept the build simple and honest:
- Rebuilt stock Mikuni carb
- YSS rear shocks
- Rex’s Speedshop 12‑volt conversion
- TC3.P controller and handlebar switch kit, BATX.155 battery, and RECX.370 regulator rectifier
- GPS speedo, LED lighting, bargain‑bin seat cut to fit
- 19″ Excel Takasago front rim & 18″ rear, Dunlop K180s, spokes by Buchanan’s
And like a lot of vintage‑bike owners, he hit the electrical wall more than once. That’s where the right support made the difference.
Michael gives a huge thanks to Dave at @nwtcycletronic for the TechSupport — especially the Sundays spent troubleshooting wiring gremlins.
“If electronics make you break out in a cold sweat, Dave is your guy.”
Miggy
Today, the bike is alive again — a 1970s‑inspired street tracker built from two forgotten machines, a seized motor, a box of parts, and a lot of patience. It’s the kind of project that reminds you why these old singles still matter: simple, mechanical, and full of character.
If you’re thinking about bringing a vintage Japanese bike back from the dead and riding it, Michael’s already extended the invite: Come join @miggy_1986 at @hokkaido_dust_club.
