The street trucker boom of the early 2000s became a major movement, involving a segment of the population that had not previously been interested in motorcycles. At the center of this boom was Yamaha's TW, but it was Honda's FTR250 that originally sparked the boom. Honda revived the FTR and took on the TW's stronghold.
The street tracker boom started with the FTR250
Flat track racing is very popular in the United States, and many of the American GP riders who were active in the 1980s, such as Kenny Roberts and Freddie Spencer, had experience in flat track racing. Honda entered works racers in flat track racing in the 1980s and challenged the reigning champion Harley-Davidson's XR750. With America as its main market, Honda released the flat tracker replica "FT500" based on the XL500 in 1982. This FT500 was also released in Japan, and the "FT400" was also released exclusively for Japan to coincide with the medium-sized license.
The FT400/500 was modeled after American flat track racers, and its engine was an XL-series 4-stroke SOHC single-cylinder.
In 1984 and 1985, the works racer RS750D won the championship, and Honda carried on the momentum by releasing the FTR250 in 1986, which had the same tricolor livery as the RS750D. However, since flat track racing was almost nonexistent in Japan, the FT/FTR series was labeled as unpopular and production was discontinued.
The FTR250, which was equipped with an XL250R-type engine, was only accepted by a few enthusiasts at the time of its release. It was sold in both self-starter and kick-start versions.
The name FTR, which had disappeared once, reappeared in Honda's history in 2000. In the mid-1990s, some young people took notice of the FTR250 as a street bike, and the street tracker genre naturally emerged on the streets. However, since it had been more than 10 years since its release, there were not many FTR250s, so they instead turned their attention to the current model, Yamaha's TW200. Then, Yamaha's TW began to increase in the streets, and it became an explosive hit when it was used in a TV drama. Honda responded to this situation by reviving the FTR, and in 2000, the "FTR" with a 223cc engine debuted. Yamaha also fought back by making the TW round and light to meet the needs of users, and Suzuki released the Grasstracker, and a full-scale street tracker boom began.
The Yamaha TW was originally a purely trail bike, but its wide tires were popular with young people, and it became a huge hit about 10 years after its release.
The TW rode the trend and incorporated the styles desired by users, adopting round headlights and a color scheme that was more street-oriented.
The FTR, which was revived in 2000, is completely different from the FTR250, from the engine to the frame. Its distinctive feature is the body design, which is designed with customization in mind.
The Suzuki Grasstracker is designed with the motif of American grass racing bikes. The Big Boy model with larger tire diameter was also included in the lineup.
An engine that prioritizes taste over power
During the street tracker boom, it was common to customize your bike in your own way, and the mainstream trend was to remove everything that could be removed to make it "sparse". The revived FTR had a large side cowl that also served as a number plate, just like the FTR250, and most users removed it when they bought it. For this reason, the monotone side cover was changed to a smaller one in the 2003 model change, and the design was changed to a stronger street taste.
The model photographed this time is the 2007 model. The FTR, which had a simpler design, became a hit model during the street tracker boom.
The number plate-style side covers have been changed to smaller ones, giving the rear view a smart look.
The riding position is upright, with wide handlebars reminiscent of dirt track bars, and the footpegs are set slightly forward.
When a 171cm, 65kg rider straddles the bike, the heel of the foot only slightly lifts off the ground, so the foot is easy to reach the ground. The handlebars are wide.
The FTR's air-cooled SOHC 2-valve single-cylinder 223cc engine was originally installed in the SL230, and its roots lie in the Vials TL125 released in 1973. The Vials TL125 was equipped with a 124cc engine with a bore and stroke of 56.5 x 49.5mm, but the FTR was equipped with a 223cc engine with a bore and stroke of 65.5 x 66.2mm, increasing the displacement by about 100cc. The initial model had a maximum output of 14kW (19PS)/7000rpm and a maximum torque of 21N・m (2.1kgm)/6000rpm, but in 2007, in order to comply with the 2006 domestic motorcycle exhaust gas regulations, the model was modified to have a muffler with a built-in catalytic converter, and the maximum output was changed to 12kW (16PS)/7000rpm and a maximum torque of 18N・m (1.8kgm)/5500rpm. Although it is underpowered for the 250cc class, many users who purchased TW and FTR did not want their bikes to be fast, and rode them in a relaxed manner, so they placed more importance on torque characteristics than maximum output. This engine was also installed in the XR230 and CB223S, and became Honda's engine of the early 2000s.
The engine inherited from the SL230 was originally based on the one installed in the Vials TL125, but both the bore and stroke have been enlarged.
The engine displacement has been increased to 223cc, and it is equipped with a self-starter. Although it does not have much power, it is light and comfortable to ride.
The SL230 was released as a lightweight dual-purpose motorcycle. Its distinctive feature is its round light without a cowl.
The XR230 can be considered a model change of the SL230. It was given a more off-road model-like design and became popular as an entry-level off-road vehicle.
The neo-classic model CB223S, based on the FTR, has undergone design changes in various parts as a road model.
The small headlight is combined with a simple pipe-type headlight bracket. The meter and turn signals also have a simple design.
The meter is a single-lens type that only shows the speed, and the indicators are kept to a minimum, creating a simple cockpit.
The small fuel tank is similar in design to the FTR250. Its capacity of 7.2L is sufficient for an off-road 250cc model.
The two-tone solid color seats, which have been used since 2007, add a nice touch to the vehicle's design.
Simple rectangular tail lamps and indicators are combined with a plastic fender. The construction is simplified, with the expectation that they will be removed to some extent.
The FTR's number plate style side covers are often removed when customizing, and small side covers have been used on solid color models since 2003.
The tool case attached to the left rear for storing in-vehicle tools and documents is locked and has anti-theft measures in place.
The simply designed exhaust has a blacked-out finish, and the pillion step is mounted to the frame with a bolt-on bracket.
A vehicle designed to be customized
The FTR frame is a semi-double cradle type that is lightweight yet highly rigid, and is designed with a simple structure that minimizes the number of stays and gussets, with a focus on not only the ride quality but also the beauty of the frame itself. In addition, some of the stays are bolt-on type, which suggests that the frame was designed with customization in mind. In fact, many FTRs have had the exterior removed except for the tank, and custom filters such as K&H were installed instead of the air cleaner box, leaving the frame exposed.
The front suspension is a 37mm telescopic type front fork, and the rear is a monoshock unit + steel square pipe swing arm, which combines high performance on the track with flexible footwork that is excellent for following the road surface on the street. The front brakes are single disc and the rear are drum, providing the necessary and sufficient stopping power. The wheels are 18 inches front and rear, and the tires are Dunlop K180, a standard for street trackers. The tire size is a voluminous 120/90-18 front and rear, which was chosen with the customization trend of the time in mind.
The front tire is 120/90-18, which was the trend at the time for a thicker frame, and is fitted with Dunlop's K180.
The front brake is a disc type. It is a solid disc + 2 pot, but it has enough effectiveness when needed.
The footpeg has a jagged edge like an off-road bike and is fitted with rubber. It can also be used without the rubber.
The rear shock is a monoshock type, and the springs are red, giving it a custom look.
The swingarm is a simple rectangular steel one. The rear tire is the same as the front one, K180, and the size is 120/90-18.
The rear brakes are a simple drum type. The wheels are hawk type with a black rim finish.
The FTR, along with its rival models, led the street tracker boom, but there are few examples that retain the stock style like the vehicle photographed this time. This is inevitable since it was sold as a base for customization, but many customized vehicles have put a lot of strain on the engine, etc., so if you are going to get one, you should look for one that is as close to stock as possible.
FTR Main Specifications (2007)
Overall Length x Width x Height: 2080 x 830 x 1090 mm
Wheelbase: 1395mm
Seat Height: 780mm
Vehicle Weight: 128kg
Engine: Air-cooled 4-stroke SOHC 2-valve single cylinder 223cc
Maximum Output: 12 kW (16 PS)/7000rpm
Maximum Torque: 18 N・m (1).(8kgm)/5500rpm
Transmission: 5-speed return
Fuel Tank Capacity: 7.2L
Brakes: F=disc, R=drum
Tire: F=120/90-18, R=120/90-18
Price: $2617.37 (standard, tax included)/$2751.59 (Deluxe)/(Tricolor, tax included)
Filming Support: Motorcycle King Tsukuba Out of Print Museum
The showroom is stocked with out-of-print cars of all genres. The showroom is stocked with a large number of cars in different colorings, so you are sure to find one to your liking.
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