Nothing screams ?it’s the weekend? quite like a two-stroke street tracker. All the more if it’s a Yamaha RD400, and it’s dressed in a traditional black and yellow uniform?with speed blocks, of course.
This svelte little number, dubbed ‘427 Tracker,’ is the work of Smyth Innovations. Based in Ontario, Canada, the workshop is run by Cam Smyth?an industrial designer-turned-custom bike builder. He’s been at it full time for a decade already, and works with a network of friends and local businesses to get things done.

The 1976-model Yamaha RD400 made its way onto Cam’s bench along with three other RD400s of the same vintage. One client had bought all four donors, with a view to mixing and matching the best bits to build two complete bikes. One bike was to be a restoration job, while the other was to be a street tracker. While working out the details of each, Cam caught wind of the Dream Build Off?an online custom contest organized by Roland Sands Design and Geico Motorcycle. He figured the street tracker RD would be the perfect candidate.

Cam and his crew had their work cut out for them though. The donor they picked as a starting point was very far from being roadworthy.
?It had a 1979 Daytona tank and a few other mismatched bits and backyard modifications done to it,? says Cam. ?Everything needed to be replaced or rebuilt, right down to the engine. The pistons and cylinders were scored, the engine covers had kissed the asphalt onc...