Author Topic: Cafe racer  (Read 16516 times)

Offline Cholla

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #20 on: May 20, 2011, 08:47:41 PM »
A 400F only able to do 80? It must be sick! My 350F would do the ton and change indicated and the speedy meter wasn't that far off.
If you can find one a 400 Bandit wuld make a great cafe bike.
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Offline Furbo

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #21 on: May 23, 2011, 01:23:05 AM »
Awaz,

A 'Cafe racer' is a pretty open catagory.....  And when you say 'build' - what you really mean is "Stuff $20 bill into a small brass cannon and fire until finished".....

That said - if you're looking for something from the 70's that's NOT European (the 850cc moto Guzzi's make good cafe racers), take a look at hte following:

Yamaha:

XS 650 - the early standards are excellent platforms, pre...'76? After that they went with a 'custom' which meant smaller rear wheel, tiny gas tank.  The earlier ones with larger hoops look better.

RD Series - yes they're 2 stroke, but they look the part and parts are still around. The RD400 would be my choice, but hte 350's are goo too. There's way cool body work available form AirTech.

SV 600. Great 4S single. A natural.

Kawasaki:

KZ400 - looks almost exactly like the Yamaha above. Same gig - pre 76/77 for the same reasons. Parts aren't as readily available for the 400's as the yamies tho.

KZ 650 Four - these were bargain bikes sold alongside the famous Z900's/Z1000'a and look almost identical to them.

H2 750 - Yes, a 3 cyl 2 stroke. Three motocross engines tied together. I called mine Cerberus (the 3 headed hound of hades). These are now made almost exclusively of unobtainium, but  I recommend it over the more collectable 500 as many of the initial chassis issues of the 500 were solved with the 750 - and good thing too. 

Honda:

Those already mentioned and two others:

CB 750/550 SOHC -  the SOHC 750 had a great racing history and still runs in vintage events. There are many parts avail and lots of good looking body work for a transformation - BUT, it's become very collectable (and to think I used to buy 'em in the shop for $3-400 back in the mid 80's).   A good substitue for a personal toy is the smaller 550 cousin. It already looks classi - a set of clubmans, rear sets and a faring and walla - you're in business.

Of course, you WILL SAVE YOURSELF a huge wad of $$ and buttpain if you just ride your skateboard down to the Triumph dealer and buy a clubman outright. :chugbeer:
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Offline mjrfd99

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #22 on: May 23, 2011, 07:12:50 AM »
Heres a good one to make a cafe. Many were and are 2-strokes.  Offers being taken

Offline Connito

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #23 on: May 23, 2011, 07:43:39 AM »
Nice!
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Offline Jim M.

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #24 on: May 23, 2011, 08:31:50 AM »
The suzuki s40 makes a good looking cafe, and they're cheap, to boot!

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/05/19/ryca-cs-1-suzuki-s40-cafe-conversion/

That is pure motorcycle porn right there!!!!  OMG!  :P

Offline RFH87_Connie

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #25 on: May 23, 2011, 08:49:15 AM »
To the OP - I told you my mom has a CT-175 .....
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YoDoc

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #26 on: May 23, 2011, 02:37:05 PM »
That is pure motorcycle porn right there!!!!  OMG!  :P

Aint it though? Just sexy. I mean, for less than what you'd think, and not alot of elbow grease, you can build a brand new, cafe-racing thumper! I wish I had the scratch, man... I'd be on that like white on rice...

Offline Uglydog56

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #27 on: May 26, 2011, 09:08:26 AM »


Clubman bars, napoleon bar end mirrors, billet mounts everywhere, rebuilt but stock engine, pod filters, ontario pipe, cafe seat, hacked frame, remote reservoir shocks.  Future plans include 520 conversion, emulators up front, and dyno tuning.

She will do more than 80, I just don't like how she strains when she's up there.
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Offline Connito

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #28 on: May 26, 2011, 09:17:37 AM »
Thanks! - Looking veeery good! Drooling over it!
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Offline RFH87_Connie

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #29 on: May 26, 2011, 10:20:47 AM »
Wow, that looks pretty cool.  That thing would look really sweet as a matte black rat bike!  Use some bedliner paint on it!
“I can truly say I had rather be at home at Mount Vernon with a friend or two about me, than to be attended at the seat of government by the officers of State and the representatives of every power of Europe.” - George Washington

Offline accbiker

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #30 on: May 30, 2011, 08:10:39 AM »
Trying to find a bike that I can turn into a cafe racer. Saw this bike very close to where I live. What do you guys think?

http://springfieldil.craigslist.org/mcy/2382083591.html

Thing is it is two stroke. Dunno if cafe racers were two stroke.

If you can find a Suzuki Savage, there is a great kit to turn it into a cafe racer.  I almost did it, but my wife said that one of the bikes had to go when I got the C-14. :(

http://rycamotors.com/

Offline Awaz

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #31 on: June 05, 2011, 11:37:51 AM »
wow ! that is an awesome kit. The yamaha did not pan out. The guy did not have a title. And it is a pain to title something in illinois without a title. so, I did not buy it. I figured might as well keep my eyes peeled for a bike that I can make into a real cafe racer.
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Offline ZG

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #32 on: June 18, 2011, 09:49:54 PM »
To the OP - I told you my mom has a CT-175 .....

That's awesome!!  8)   ;D

Offline Strawboss

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #33 on: June 18, 2011, 10:09:48 PM »
I'm looking at that Suzuki kit, how do you shift the thing with the shifter still located so far forward? With the rear sets its got to be fairly awkward.
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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #34 on: June 19, 2011, 08:15:25 AM »
That's not the shifter.

Offline alexx45

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Re: Cafe racer
« Reply #35 on: July 11, 2011, 03:43:58 PM »
I gotta get me one of those savage conversion kits. That is just too cool.
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