Cafe Racer Thread - Page 20

MotoSook · 10:35 PM

Since I bought the bike I've been wanting a Superlight tail section. A minor incident pushed me over the edge...now I can't decide if I want to get some CR side fairings and cut them up to make it more of a cafe racer than the factory 900 SS/CR. Basically just cut off enough to make the front look more finished but without the vents on the factory CR.

I may just do it to see...so I'll have the option to dress it up as a SS/SP or SS/Soukus-CR!

MotoSook · 07-15-2011, 10:32 PM

Tapatalk sucks!

MotoSook · 07-15-2011, 10:34 PM

pavulon · 07-17-2011, 04:24 PM

As seen at Road America this weekend:

micheloaks · 07-26-2011, 06:12 AM

RPKESQ · 07-26-2011, 09:33 AM

That Ducati looks very nice, except for the crappy appearance of the welds on the frame.

Holy shyte, it looks like it has oatmeal drips on all the tube joints.

trader220 · 07-26-2011, 10:50 AM

I picked up a Ducati ST4 this past Friday. Ill post some pics soon

Busta Rib · 09-14-2011, 05:25 PM

Not exactly a cafe-style bike, but has anyone tried the new Royal Enfields Royal Enfield Motorcycles - The Official Home of Royal Enfield in the USA? Old-school looks with modern mechanicals + a 2-yr warranty. They also sell a cafe racer kit to outfit your Bullet. I am thinking of getting one of these bad boys and would appreciate any real-world experience/impressions.

Cafe Racer kit

Bullet 500 B5

Bullet Classic C5

maxnine11 · maxnine11's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by trader220

I picked up a Ducati ST4 this past Friday. Ill post some pics soon

Congrats Trader !!

Post up some pics.
Sport touring abilities with the sweetest exhaust note ever!

munsonbw · 09-15-2011, 03:05 AM

Might want to do a little more research on the Enfields. My understanding is they are more or less WWII vintage (BMW?) technology made in India. I talked with a local dealer about 5-6 years ago and he said they were struggling to really get the quality in check. Could likely be fixed by now. Oh, and they are miserably underpowered, if that matters to you. If I was looking for a vintage look I would head straight for the Triumph modern classics. I have owned the Thruxton and the Scrambler. They are fantastic machines. Super reliable, extremely tough, and do an excellent job of preserving the classic look while getting rid of drum brakes, oil leaks, Lucas electrics and so on...

I'll be selling my blue on white scrambler soon if my Tiger turns out to be the bike I am looking for. Drop me a line if you want more info.

Scott Watkins · 09-15-2011, 06:04 AM

The CB750 project on the episode of Cafe Racer last night from Joker Machine is AWESOME!

Joker Machine's Cafe Racer Catalog

dienstuhr · dienstuhr's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by munsonbw

Might want to do a little more research on the Enfields. My understanding is they are more or less WWII vintage (BMW?) technology

"BMW"... Bite your tongue!

Royal Enfield was a respected British marque for many years... the name was acquired by an Indian concern that originally used UK sourced parts but manufacture was completely taken in-house in India. It's a British design, not German, and nothing to do with BMW as far as I'm aware. RE made the "Continental GT" in the late '60s and how sexy was that:

(You might be thinking of "Ural", the Russian company that makes flat-twin bikes and sidecar hacks from designs the Russians "appropriated" from BMW after WWII)

Cheers

d.

HardDrive · 08:42 AM

@Busta Rib, I have an Enfield. They're good bikes for Seattle city riding. Lots of torque to pull you up the hills. Capable of highway driving, but not the best choice if you have a long commute on I-5.

I was planning to cafe my Enfield, but I'm enjoying riding it just the way it is.

Busta Rib · 09-15-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardDrive

@Busta Rib, I have an Enfield. They're good bikes for Seattle city riding. Lots of torque to pull you up the hills.

I was planning to cafe my Enfield, but I'm enjoying riding it just the way it is.

Thanks. An RE and P-car is a wicked combination. I don't want/need a fast bike, just something to ride around the city on a nice day. Probably going to pick one up next spring. Let me know if there is ever an RE club get together. Would like to check out one in person.

Jim

HardDrive · 09-15-2011, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by munsonbw

Might want to do a little more research on the Enfields. My understanding is they are more or less WWII vintage (BMW?) technology made in India. I talked with a local dealer about 5-6 years ago and he said they were struggling to really get the quality in check. Could likely be fixed by now.

Yeah, your info is a bit dated. In 2009 they came out with a completely new machine. Fuel injection, and the fit and finish is lightyears ahead of the old bikes. I have a 2004, and it is indeed a very crude machine. Keeping the oil inside is a challenge. But that being said, it always starts for me, its easy to work on, and the parts are cheap. Damn thing looks pretty cool to. People are always very curious about it, and they love the look.

Ducati Seattle is a respected dealer, and they are now also an Enfield shop. I've started to see them a lot more around here.

trader220 · 09-15-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxnine11

Congrats Trader !!

Post up some pics.
Sport touring abilities with the sweetest exhaust note ever!

Thanks I have put not quite 1000 miles on it since I picked it up. Made a few adjustments, new seat, new levers, new clutch slave just to make it a bit more comfortable. Needs some new rubber.

I have really enjoyed it despite the record rain fall since I picked it up. I believe this winter I may do a total tear down in search of some more hp. I puts out 100 bhp from the factory but I would like a bit more. I also need to tweak the final drive ratio and give it some more sound. Until the cold weather sets in I am keeping it on the road.

I'll take some shots soon and post them.

munsonbw · 09-17-2011, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Yeah, your info is a bit dated. In 2009 they came out with a completely new machine. Fuel injection, and the fit and finish is lightyears ahead of the old bikes. I have a 2004, and it is indeed a very crude machine. Keeping the oil inside is a challenge. But that being said, it always starts for me, its easy to work on, and the parts are cheap. Damn thing looks pretty cool to. People are always very curious about it, and they love the look.

Ducati Seattle is a respected dealer, and they are now also an Enfield shop. I've started to see them a lot more around here.

I stand corrected. I was thinking of the Urals as the BMW based bike. Good to hear Enfield has improved their machines. They really are great looking bikes and deserved a good motor.

Dueller · 10-15-2011, 08:18 AM

Any new projects on the winter horizon? I'm finally getting around to my Buell build up (or is it down?)m

LJ851 · 10-15-2011, 10:03 AM

Saw these at Barber last weekend at the vintage festival

This bike was built by a 22 yo kid, Suzuki Savage frame and engine. Had a rear disc on the c/s sprocket.

Teutonics · Teutonics's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJ851

Saw these at Barber last weekend at the vintage festival

This bike was built by a 22 yo kid, Suzuki Savage frame and engine. Had a rear disc on the c/s sprocket.

That's Trucker on DMF. You can see part of the build here, the guy has got some talent. The entire thread is worth a browse if you like to see stuff built from scratch.

Trucker's Monster Rebuild thread

Whoops, forgot pic... although not required (also Trucker's):