Looks like a modern interpretation of the Springer front-end:

http://www.american-made.com/dna/images/FE_springer.jpg

Norton 500

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1208917645.jpg

That's a Confederate Wraith...I visited the company in NOLA before Katrina destroyed it. Very radical group of guys. They let me test ride one of their Hellcats. Very wild ride but I drug the pegs without trying.

After Katrina they moved to Leeds Ala with the help of Barber (as in Barber Museum).

Their website is quite interesting: http://www.confederate.com/confederate2/c2-links/home.php

Another view of the Wraith
 

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1209107556.jpg

Bigger view at this link:

http://www.confederate.com/confederate2/c2-downloads/Sloss-Wraith-Lrg.jpg

It looks like the cafe racers are starting to get noticed around these parts. Cool article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/360306_needle24.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1209130358.jpg

Agreed. Seems all the (younger) Harley/Mustang poseurs realize they aren't getting noticed anymore (heck...there seems to be more Harley's & (new) Mustangs out there than anything else on wheels!), so...predicting cafe racers will be the next fad. Can't wait to see "bloated middle-aged, mid-life crisis, earring-adorned man" pull up on one! That's when you know the fad has peaked...


http://dvisible.com/wp-content/uploads/bike.jpg

Thanks Jeff, I just printed that story off to show my wife. For the last few weeks I have been toying with what I thought was crazy idea of starting an old bike repair/custom cafe build business.

I recently have been flooded with old bikes to fix by friends and family and in doing so, realized that I really enjoy taking on these small manageable projects (compared to airplanes that I currently work on as a side business).

It would be so cool to actually have a job that I love and am very good at. Saying to hell with my engineering degree seems scary, but man it would be fun.

I will be getting a free CB450 from a friend soon and will "cafe" it....If it generates interest, I may start advertising and see where it leads. :)

Here's a 'cafe' racer for you. Honda RS250R. Not street legal though.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1210027660.jpghttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1210027821.jpg

http://www.caferacer.ca/cafegallery/...pics/Zero1.jpg

http://www.caferacer.ca/cafegallery/...s/PICT0144.JPG

http://www.caferacer.ca/cafegallery/...ics/bike_5.jpg

http://www.caferacer.ca/cafegallery/...p_b1773e91.jpg

http://www.caferacer.ca/cafegallery/...p_f63e0def.jpg

You would not be "saying the hell with my engineering degree", you would be using it in a different direction. Motorcycles require proper engineering too in order to work correctly. Watching the "custom" chopper shows illustrates what passes for engineering to the public today. Makes me cry.:eek:

Don't be a girlyman, do it. Do it now! (Note: must be shouted with a Arnold accent for full effect)

It's been over a year since I started this thread and the Ducati has racing carbs on it and the Powerbronze head lights on it....now it's too nice to chop up :(


And with people periodically bumping the thread....I now find myself surfing the local classified ads for an old bike to chop and turn into a cafe racer....damn you guys...damn me! :)

I've often considered selling one of the cars to make room for more motorcycles....but the wifey has fallen "in like" with the one 911 that I would sell...and she won't be too happy if I bring home another project...bike or car...so I'm hatching a plan to buy an old bike and hide it in storage LOL!


From the other thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219456736.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219465305.jpg

Still have "the fat pig"?


Haha, all these Ducati threads haven't been helping me. Good thing I'm poor and have no garage.

[QUOTE=Sarc;4139548]Still have "the fat pig"?QUOTE]


Yep, that's the one (aka "Fat Bastard") the wifey wants for her summer car....that I've often thought of selling!


The thing is that I can buy like 10 motorcycles for what I have in the Fat Bastard. There are a lot of cool old bikes that one can buy for cheap...and to turn them into a cafe racer is mostly taking unnecessary parts off them! Add a clubman bar and a seat and voila! :)

FYI that fork on the Confederate is called a girder fork. It's basically a newfangled version of the fork found on the Vincent Black Shadow, among other bikes.

Come on Souk..... this is good cheap fun! ;):D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/406169-new-project-cb450-soon-cafe-racer.html?highlight=cafe




http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219702740.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219702816.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219702839.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219702877.jpg

I ended up buying a VFR for more DD riding. I had this for sale briefly and had two guys commit and then flake on me. May end up just keeping it and doing some slight mods as time goes. If anyone is dying for a nice cafe platform, pm me.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219708426.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219708443.jpg

Jerry, that's a great looking bike. Too bad (for me...adn you!) you're on the west coast...... :)


Tim...you are sick man. Great illness to have tho' :D



Here's an oldie but goodie...

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5...guzdock6js.jpg

Went to a 2-stroke bike show this weekend in a local park. Man, I have never seen so many RD400s, RZ350s, Mach IIIs, etc all in one place. Too bad I went on my bike, so I didn't have a camera with me. Would have been great inspiration for this thread.

Here's a picture of my Bultaco Metralla...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1219798711.jpg

Oh, wow...I just got a little excited! For sale?