The Godfather Of The Street Tracker Part II: Racer

While Richard Pollock was still in Florida, his first job in the motorcycle industry was at a shop called Honda Bob’s. The owner, Bob, was an avid flat tracker, and had a Honda XL250 with a Redline frame, which was a highly coveted racing frame designed specifically for flat tracking. Pollock had never flat tracked before, but certainly knew of it: it was considered the NASCAR of motorcycle racing at the time. Bob sent his XL250’s engine over to Yoshimura in California to get it tuned, and when it came back Bob invited Pollock out to the next local flat track race where he let Pollock test ride the bike. Young Pollock was captured by the nickel-plated frames, the custom leathers, and the thrill of the race. He was hooked.

Shortly afterwards, Pollock graduated from the American Motorcycle Institute in Daytona and moved to Southern California to become a motorcycle mechanic. When he started working, he wasn’t making enough money to race, but went to the local tracks and watched every race he could. In 1996, a flat track course was built 10 miles from his house, and he used it as an excuse to finally buy a bike, set it up for flat tracking, and get into racing. He had no idea it would be the first step towards becoming one of the world’s best flat tracker builders and a pro level racer.

As a racer, he quickly realized that upgrading his bike was an absolute necessity if he wanted to get ahead of the pack. He stripped everything he could off his bike and started rebuilding it from there. The parts he chose would inspire him later in life as he began to design his own custom motorcycle components.

To help him get the leverage and control he needed when he was getting sideways on the track, Pollock developed the Mule Tracker Bars. The Tracker Bars are designed with carefully chosen specifications to vastly improve the bike’s ergonomics and the rider’s control over their motorcycle, and they’re made from high quality materials for long-lasting durability.

Pollock found as he later began building his famed street trackers that shedding weight isn’t just for racers. Weight savings not only increase horsepower, but also improve handling and aesthetics. Pollock’s Front Sprocket Covers replace the heavy, bulbous stock front sprocket cover with a low-profile, minimalist sprocket cover that not only saves a couple pounds but also gives the lower part of the bike a sleek appearance.

As Pollock gathered experience racing, he climbed through the ranks to the pro level. As he did, he also gained confidence working on his bike, as he went from upgrading parts to modifying his frame and hand making his own components. Over years of doing this, he would grow to become recognized as one of the world’s finest custom motorcycle builders.