Treasure Chest

[ytman]

I desert raced "r"s from 1991 to 2001. Over that time I collected a small pile of stuff and built a few of what are now called "hybrids". All this stuff is sitting in my old garage and my Dad is piling his model airplane wrecks on and around them. I thought you guys might get a kick out of this. Eventually I'll get around to fixing up the quads and selling off what I don't use. I just thought it would be fun to share.

[ytman]

350rx

[ytman]

650rx

[ytman]

650l motor

[ytman]

even an atc I bought for the cr500 motor that was in it

[protrax]

AWESOME MAN! Gotta love a dusty treasure chest one of my favorites!
Thanks for sharing with us

[norcalduner]

Wow, desert memorabilia at its best. Post up some more pics.

[ytman]

early Doug Roll

[ytman]

Schoonmaker

[audioworks04]

This may seem stupid, but what is a schoonmaker?

[HAYESTRX250R]

Are you going to use those ohlins? Particularly interested in the rear, or both if the fronts are standard travel-compression and rebound adjust.

[troybilt]

Lance Schoonmaker, used to make 6 gal tanks for the 250r...

...and I've been wanting one for years!!! if you ever find one or an extra let me know!

[ytman]

Sorry HAYES the front Ohlins are actually a recent purchase. I loved that quad and I've been wanting to restore it for a while. The originals belonged to someone else and he took 'em back(the nerve). They're long travel anyway. I put them on just to make sure they fit. The rear stays with the bike. Sweetest ride ever.(The shock, I mean)

[ytman]

light bar rack

[ytman]

back up

[ytman]

unfinished light bar

[k10seibel]

Really like the old school 350XR build. And the 650L with large fins is very cool too. Electic start would be nice for some of us older out of shape slugs. Love ta buy the 650L off ya....

[ytman]

Thanks k10. I built the 350 when nobody had a 4-stroke. It wasn't enough. So I built the 650. I was actually thinking of a motor swap for that bike:)

[ytman]

from back

[jms-1]

cool pics, i can't get enuf of the old desert bikes. on a side note, i had Schoonmaker build me a tank for my R a few years ago. he said there wasn't much market for them so he wasn't building to many anymore, but if someone wanted one he would build one. next time i am in Santee i will go buy his shop and see if he is still there and what he says.

[ytman]

from back

[ytman]

jms-1 did he build it like the old 6 gal.tanks or custom? I'd love to see it.I'll bet Troy would also.

[k10seibel]

Originally posted by ytman
Thanks k10. I built the 350 when nobody had a 4-stroke. It wasn't enough. So I built the 650. I was actually thinking of a motor swap for that bike:)

For SURE! I like the liquid 650 idea too.
Kinda just partial to old school, period stuff. Probably more ponies than I could handle with that wet 650R anyway. I've been thinking of an '88-'89 Honda NX650 for close era year engine (& electric start). Can you say out of shape, LOL :) Doesn't really matter though.. Your "L" looks super trick for air cooled! Neat-O!
Love to get any leftovers if you swap. Keep us posted of any progress on these beauties!

[jms-1]

Originally posted by ytman
jms-1 did he build it like the old 6 gal.tanks or custom? I'd love to see it.I'll bet Troy would also.

it looks just like yours from what i can see, it has just a standard cap, not a dry break . i don't have close up picks of just the tank but i do have one with it on the bike, if you don't mind me posting my pic in your thread i would gladly show it.

[ytman]

it looks just like yours from what i can see, it has just a standard cap, not a dry break . i don't have close up picks of just the tank but i do have one with it on the bike, if you don't mind me posting my pic in your thread i would gladly show it.


yes please

[jms-1]

lets see if this works...

[ytman]

Yippee! I love desert bikes. Big lights, big tanks,big tires. Yummy.

[ytman]

jms-1 I'd like to see more pics of that light bar

[jms-1]

i only have a few pics of this right now, a friend of my brother made it and didn't like it so i bought it

[ytman]

that thing's massive!

[jms-1]

it is a little big, but its good because i can hide behind it from brush. this poor bike is in horrible condition, i got involved with other projects and sold some parts and let it sit outside. now i would like get it back together and do some more local desert races

[k10seibel]

jms-1: Very cool...
Thanks to you both for sharing.

[troybilt]

Originally posted by jms-1
it is a little big, but its good because i can hide behind it from brush. this poor bike is in horrible condition, i got involved with other projects and sold some parts and let it sit outside. now i would like get it back together and do some more local desert races

jms-1, thanks for sharing those pics! I love that tank! Please let me know if you ever do swing by there and see if Schoonmaker will make another one, and/or one for a 450r as well. Thanks!

Troy

[ytman]

more treasure

[ytman]

yaaa

[sameltoe]

Originally posted by ytman
Yippee! I love desert bikes. Big lights, big tanks,big tires. Yummy. Awsome stuff here guys! Thanks for the late night porn! lol

[Kovatch]

I just ran into the same experience just a little bit ago. He (a friend) had frames, engines, power valve heads, like 20 head pipes, Pro-trax set-ups, pairs & pairs of shocks, I could not believe how much stuff he had. It's like the TV show Pickers for classic ATV parts. Brand new 330 Sparks hand honed pipe (NEVER USED!!! EVER!), CF silencers, brand new in the box plastics, pistons, buckets of stock pegs, 3-wheeler, frame or two, 10 sets of nerfs.

Just nasty!

Thanks for the pics! I haven't seen gold mines like this in forever, then I get two in a month... I can die a happy guy.

[ytman]

Sounds like solid gold...all of my stuff has been raced so it's a little beat. Cep't for some super stock '89 stuff that got removed before it got mashed. some of that stuff is going for a pretty penny now.

[cody_119]

would you be willing to part with one of those paul turners?

[ytman]

Sorry cody,not yet. Only one is a Paul Turner (I think) The pipe on the right is an FMF. I think the one in the middle is a Trinity. I saw one like it on ebay and they said that's what it was. When I get the R up and running I may do a pipe shootout. CT vs PT vs Trinity

[cody_119]

thats understandable, ive been looking for a bare metal pipe for my R, i thought that trinity might have been a built paul turner. looks more like a trinity though. thanks anyways.

[k10seibel]

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp334/k10seibel/LanceSchoonmakerTRXdeserttank4.jpg


Found one of the old school tanks. It looks to be the same Lance Schoonmaker style as the two below pics previously posted by ytman and jms-1. Still waiting for it to arrive, and am curious to how they mount up. Looks like springs hold it down from the various tabs?? Maybe some short bungee straps (battery box style)???
I guess I could just PM you guys, but I thought others (Troy) might be interested as well possibly.
Here's a pic (above) of what I'm getting. Hope it's a good one..... Price was right. Any help with installation tips is greatly appreciated!


http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp334/k10seibel/LanceSchoonmakerTRXdeserttank1.jpg


http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp334/k10seibel/LanceSchoonmakerTRXdeserttank2.jpg

[SilverLake250R]

I would love more pics of that white framed quad which looks like a very early variation of a Roll Lobo... so interesting!

[troybilt]

Nice find Andy! that is definitely a Schoonmaker tank. The bike in the lower pic looks sweet, love it, did you pick that one up? That's the kind of bike I want to build for Round 4... LOL! What's the bottom of the tank look like? I've been working on my own design of aluminum tanks, (those Schoonmaker tanks are hard to find btw...) If I remember right they were 6 gallons...

EDIT: just realized that bike was a pic previosly posted by ytman... LOL!


Here is a coupe articles from DW that shows the tank in action...

http://www.trx250r.net/forum/magazine-scans/3892-1993-baja-1000-winner-team-kwik-s-250r.html

http://www.trx250r.net/forum/magazine-scans/4058-inside-baja-1000-winner-what-takes-reach-la-paz-first.html

http://www.trx250r.net/forum/magazine-scans/4059-drd-d-500r-fourtrax-when-your-250r-simply-not-fast-enough.html

[troybilt]

Those front Dunlop Rovers are hard to find as well, wish it had the rear Rovers too. Does anyone know where one can find those tires? Those were used pretty much exclusively on the Baja bikes back in the 90's...

[troybilt]

BTW, If anyone has a Schoomaker tank (or old desert sled) and has an itch to get rid of it let me know... I'd like to stock pile some parts for a desert build! Thanks! T

[k10seibel]

Thanks for posting the links and articles Troy.
If this tank doesn't work out for me I'll let ya know. I'll have to see how she fits and shines up when I get to it.
Yet another build morphed into something different.... Now I'll have to get a set of front fenders to chop up and mate. It may not see Baja, but will make a nice duner tank for sure.

[liverideatv]

Originally posted by jms-1
cool pics, i can't get enuf of the old desert bikes. on a side note, i had Schoonmaker build me a tank for my R a few years ago. he said there wasn't much market for them so he wasn't building to many anymore, but if someone wanted one he would build one. next time i am in Santee i will go buy his shop and see if he is still there and what he says.

What is the price of them new?? Thanks, Dallas

[Jonny B]

I seen that tank you bought for sale...you must be HAPPY! ;) Price was def right.

[k10seibel]

Shhhh.....
Didn't want to elaborate too much. Don't need a scoundrel trying to snatch it out from under me... :)
I guess I couldn't contain myself though. It made my day! Thanks.

[DezSled]

Man this is a thread of past desert racing history....

I remember that Lance Schoonmaker made tanks for Banshees, blasters, 250rs. I have a old flyer from Lance's aluminum tank fabrication business. I'll dig it up and post a pic. I have a stack of Roll Design product catalogs too. Frisk racing was the first to come up with the triple light frames, Matlock had one of the first, Waynes dad.

Those Schoonmaker tanks were held on by exhaust springs with fuel line covering them, not much else! You also had to cut the head stay in half to mount the tank, but I modified mine to not have to. Before then you had to get ahold of Rob North to get tanks like that made. I have some old pics from those days....

Thanks for bringing up stuff from the old days.

[k10seibel]

DezSled
Thanks for the info. Please post any literature you find.
-Andy

[ytman]

The springs actually let the tank move around enough to keep it from cracking. The Golden West team welded some tabs on one and bolted it to the bike with rubber bushings. By the end of the event gas was pouring out the crack in the bottom,onto the riders' legs.

[ytman]

K 10 Everything had to be modified in those days. I forgot that you had to cut off most of the front tank mount. On a later bike I welded a plate there so I could bolt a stock tank mount back on. The tank rests on the frame rails and there is a dropped down section in the center to hold it in place. Then you have to drill two small holes in the front tank mount and two in the rear shock mount for the springs. It's important to protect the tank from touching the frame. I used heater hose but some guys used Banshee tank rubbers. If the tank rubs on the frame you will get a hole. The tank is alot wider than a plastic tank,especially noticable right in front of the seat where it tapers out.The bottom is a corner and the inside of your legs will feel it. Knee guards are a must. My two cents just turned into a buck.sorry

[k10seibel]

My two cents just turned into a buck.sorry

THANKS, the best info a buck can buy!
It looks a bit obtuse to ride behind in the pictures, but I guess it got you from A-B. No fuel ...no go.
Regardless, I'm stoked to play around with one. I do appreciate your candid thoughts positive or otherwise. I did have in my head to possibly add some tabs for "rubberized bolt on" use, but that is a dead end for sure. I'll glue down some flat rubber strips for the frame rails similar to the little tiny black (OEM) square rubbers used from the factory.
A very interesting project to say the least. I've got a few extra OE tank mounts and head stays to ruin if need be... :)
Thanks again for the info!

[jms-1]

Sorry I’ve been away for a while but I haven’t forgotten about you guys. I still haven’t had the chance to see if Shoemaker’s shop is still there. Also I would like to add, when you cut the plastic for the tank, make sure it doesn’t rub also. For a little added insurance I took some carb vent line and split it down the middle and slid it over the top edge of the plastic just in case it came in contact with the tank.

[k10seibel]

Big 10- 4 on that....

Seems a taunt shoe string could rub a hole through soft aluminum over time! ;)
Thanks for the help jms-1.

[DezSled]

One trick was to carry a bar of soap so when a crack in the tank developed, you would rub the soap into the crack to stop the flow.

Lance or his son raced the last D 38 race last weekend....

[jms-1]

Ok, I made it a point today to go by schoonmaker’s shop to see if he was still there and yes he is. He wasn’t open so I didn’t get to talk to him but I did get the shop phone number. Pm me if you are interested and I will gladly give it to you guys.

[ytman]

Silver Lake, Didn't mean to ignore you. I plan to fix up that white framed bike as soon as I get my new shop finished, with pictures. It's a pre Lobo Roll frame built for the Mickey Thompson series. Not knowing any better, I made it into a desert bike. A lot of stuff got hacked up in those days. Who knew?:ermm:

[k10seibel]

ytman,
Please keep me in mind if you ever want to let go of your 650L "superfin" powerplant. ;)
-Andy

[ytman]

Well I rescued one of my old girls from my Dad's garage. I'm off to the hybrid section

[k10seibel]

Dreams dashed..... :-(
See ya on the flip side. :-)

[DezSled]

Wow, I forgot about all this, when I bought a lt500 to rebuild. I'll dig up what I can find.. Great stuff ytman

[DezSled]

Heres the flyer from the '90s

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j300/Dezsled/photo64.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j300/Dezsled/photo65.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j300/Dezsled/photo63.jpg

Remember this is a very old flyer, so the phone #, address, prices are probably NOT current.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j300/Dezsled/photo72.jpg

[k10seibel]

DezSled
Love old school scans.
Thanks for posting that stuff. Wow those R tanks were a big nut to crack back then. Pretty spendy!
Thanks again.

[ytman]

I remember how excited I was when I'd put aside enough $$$ to get one. Cool flashback. I keep thinking I might try to make one. Nice lobo too dez.

[GO OVRIT]

Originally posted by ytman
Well I rescued one of my old girls from my Dad's garage. I'm off to the hybrid section

You sure don't see many R's with Trail-Pros. Was that a common desert tire back in the day?

[ytman]

GO OVRIT, I used them alot because they were tall, to get my skid up out of the rocks, and because they were tough and had a lip around the bead which protected the rim. They were also fairly cheap and the 650 could turn 'em.

[troybilt]

I wish you could still by the dunlop rovers!

[ytman]

I had one pair of front Rovers that came on a used r that I bought and I was so surprised at how thin they were. They didn't last 40 miles. There were so many sticks sticking out of them they looked like porcupines.

[DezSled]

Yeah they were heavy too. I remember running tubes in them making them even heavier. Pro comps were the tire we ran, which were only marginally better.