#and Racker's back to Tracker

[emotionally-starved-archive-2024]

Of course they would, you're far from the first person that's been turned into a bot. I'm sure they'd be glad to see you again, no matter the state

...ALRIGHT. I TRUST YOU, AS MUCH AS I SHOULDN'T. WHO SHOULD I FIND? IT'S YOUR CALL, GREY.

[olivereliott]

Flat Out: Jillian Deschenes’ Royal Enfield flat tracker

Minnesota native Jillian Deschenes is not a pro custom motorcycle builder: from Monday to Friday, she’s a hospice nurse in the suburbs of Minneapolis. But on the weekends she’s a flat track racer—and a fierce one, too.

In just her second year of racing, Jillian’s already the number one plate holder in the women’s class in her AMA District. Her success piqued the interest of Royal Enfield, who invited her to test out their Himalayan-based flat tracker—the FT411.

Jillian’s affable nature left such a mark on the team, they earmarked her for future projects.

One of those projects was ‘Build. Train. Race.‘—a grassroots female-focused flat track program. Royal Enfield picked four North American women motorcycle enthusiasts, and hooked them up with a new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 each—to transform into a race bike and ultimately take to the tracks.

Despite having no bike building experience, Jillian made the cut. In no time, she had a brand new Interceptor 650 in her garage—but she also had a three-month deadline, and an eight-year-old daughter and full-time job to juggle.

Through hard work and a significant lack of sleep, she delivered a flat tracker that looks like it rolled out of a pro shop.

Jillian had a pretty solid team supporting her, too. Her father Jim Deschenes owns Superior Tool Grinding, and helped to machine a number of custom parts. And she roped in her fiancé and fellow racer, Erik Moldenhauer.

What makes this a killer build is how Jillian’s nailed that classic flat tracker silhouette, and a lot of that is thanks to the bodywork. There’s a modern Harley-Davidson XR750 tank cover from Gopher Glass up front, and a Saddlemen tail section out back, trimmed to fit the Enfield frame. The frame was cut-and-shut to match the length of the new tail piece too.

Fuel now sits under the seat, in a one-gallon fuel cell from Boyd Welding with a modified flange for the OEM pump, installed with help from Retrodyne. Peek under the tank cover, and you’ll find a lightweight Lithium-ion battery from Antigravity.

Moving to suspension, Jillian swapped the Interceptor’s front end for a set of Yamaha R6 forks, with Race Tech Gold valves. They’re held in place by a pair of modified R6 bottom yokes. The rear shocks are stock, but they��ve been re-sprung and re-valved.

Both wheels are a pick-n-mix of suitable parts. The front uses a Suzuki Savage hub that’s been shaved down, with a 2.50×19 Warp 9 rim. The rear uses a Cheney quick-change hub, laced to a 3.0×19 Warp 9 rim. The tires are Dunlop DT4s

Getting everything to fit required a plethora of custom parts. So Dad Jim machined up a new 20 mm axle for the front, a set of wheel spacers for both ends, and a custom brake caliper mount at the back. There’s also a custom-made quick-change brake rotor adaptor for the 10 1.2” rotor.

The Enfield also features custom-machined handlebar clamps, a modified left peg bracket to sit higher (for more clearance in corners), and a machined front sprocket.

The cockpit is delightfully minimal; a set of wide tapered flat track bars, with a Motion Pro throttle housing and run/start switch. The ignition switch has been replaced with a simple ‘on/off’ toggle switch too.

There’s nothing wild going on with the motor here, just an air box removal with a pair of K&N pod filters taking its place. Fellow American Midwesterners S&S Cycle came to the party too, with a stunning two-into-one exhaust system that’s sure to unleash a little more grunt.

Jillian kept her new race bike’s livery simple and extremely classy. The execution is robust too, with vinyls laid over a base of auto paint, and then clear coated. The race plates are actually clear acrylic, with vinyls stuck to the inside.

Jillian hit her deadline, and in the process delivered not only a hella neat flat racker, but also a great example of the Interceptor’s potential.

Unfortunately racing in the US is currently on hold, so she hasn’t had a chance to fire it up in anger yet. But we’re just as eager as she is to see it out on the track.

Royal Enfield NA Build. Train. Race. | Facebook | Instagram | Jillian Deschenes Instagram | Images by Brandon LaJoie

Partners: Dunlop, S&S Cycle, Saddlemen, Gopher Glass, Vortex, PDR Performance, Race Tech Inc., Superior Tool Grinding, Jacks of Spade, Retrodyne, Warp 9 /Amanda Wilson Design, Mike Holmgrem of Plugs Garage, Icon Motorsports, Moon Motorsports, Lightshoe, Moto Gear US, Go Moto, Fasthouse

[kiidarachniida]

Hey hey! I miss doing the little tracker things that I used to do over on Shuri, so I’m thinking of bringing them back. It makes me feel a lot more organized, and I like letting you guys know where I’m at. I’ve got a little bit of time before I have to head off to work, so I’m gonna head over to my drafts and see if anything sparks my muse. <3 

Anyway, here’s what I’ve got so far!

IN PROGRESS

2 plotted starters to write 

THREADS

tracker

3 posts to reply to and add to tracker

INBOX

2 project partner - open!

2 ‘visit my muse in the hospital’ - open!

3 scooby doo - closed!

1 shane and squad - closed!

[emotionally-starved-archive-2024]

*Spring. A wonderful time. A time of blooming flowers. A time of rain. So much rain. And yet, Tracker wouldn't be awake to feel the drops hit his skin. Frankly, it's probably for the best. Now, he didn't need to listen to Jeremy's constant chatter. Or Jane's loud orders. Or Ludwig's... well, Ludwig was always rather quiet, actually. Outside of battle, the doc usually kept to himself. Regardless, Tracker didn't have to hear it. Not anymore. Hey, at least he finally got some sleep like Pyro wanted...*

...

*PYRO! Aw damn it, they'd be worried sick. Poor mann's gonna search half the barracks before they even think of searching the woods. Even then, he was in pretty deep... Doubt anyone would find him. No, this was a break, yeah? A permanent one, but still. All Tracker had to do was lay here. He didn't have to worry about whether or not Ludwig took his kidney in his sleep because he was dead. Medic could take all the kidneys he wanted, for all he cared.*

. . .

*Speaking of Medic, was Otto alright? It wasn't like he could check, but it was for the best. Arther, too. Eh, the two were probably catching up with Mechie. There's nothing to worry about.*

. . .

*The announcement. Right. Mechie's probably on the run. Arther and Otto, too. Eh, they have Engi.*

. . .

*Goddamn it, Engi's probably on the run, too. Engi was like an uncle to the bots. He even claimed one as his son.*

. . .

*Gah, who was he kidding. Shit's all hit the fan, and where was he? Dead in the fuckin' woods. Each and every person he cared about was on the run. He couldn't take a break now. He wouldn't take a break now. Get up.

. . .

*Get. Up.*

. . .

*Get. Up!*

. . .

*I said get up!*

...OW.

*Tracker slowly rises. Hunger. Food. He frantically looks around to find a pouch of quarters on the floor near him. Without a second thought, he pours the entire thing into his mouth. Now that's done... where was he? Oh, right. On the hunt for Otto and Arther. How long had it been since he... well, died? Judging by the fact it's rather wet, it's probably spring. Meaning it's been at least a month. Something's wrong. He should be dead, but he isn't. Why? He scratches at one of his rust spots and ponders... wait, where did the rust go? Sure enough, some of the rust had given way to show holes plastered all over his hull. Were those... there before? Obviously, otherwise, the rust would have nothing to congregate around. But what did they do? As if to answer his question, spouts of seam began to flood out of him. What the...*

Cooling, standby...

WHAT THE [Fifty percent off all [sandvitch.]]

*...Well, that was weird. That didn't sound like his own inner monolog. So, there's something else in here with him. Weird.*

Cooling completed. Steam levels at 20%. Consume water immediately.

*Ah. That made sense. Not only did he need to scarf down quarters, but he also needed to slurp down water. There's a lake nearby. Surely, he could just drink from there. Alright, he'll drink some water, then head back to base. The team probably didn't even notice he was gone.*

[emotionally-starved-archive-2024]

*The silence of the forest is deafing. Though Otto and Arther were saved, thank god, one robot still remained. Rusted Tracker. Lying in the snow, the husk of a former human. He didn't fall from starving, far from it. He brought a pouch of quarters just for the treak and two twenty doller bills for the brothers. He even brought some motor oil in case he got "bored." No, he fell due to internal hardware failure. Being a little damaged as is, having a hike in the freazing cold didn't do wonders on Racker's internals. Soon, surely, someone would find him. Maybe Mechanic would come back. He was the one to tell him to go, so maybe he'd come looking. Or maybe someone else. Who knows. For now, however, Racker lies.*