Cafe Racer Thread

[Gogar]

Looks like I'll be putting this around town, at least for the summer. 1973 CB350f with a 400f header. Sounds great!!!!! Very slow.

[motion]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Looks like I'll be putting this around town, at least for the summer. 1973 CB350f with a 400f header. Sounds great!!!!! Very slow.

Really nice! Small bikes are so sweet.

[motion]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

Apparently I met a girl in Tamarindo... complete and utter distraction.

Do tell!

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by jhelgesen

She's home and in good company. First bike night for her this week. Taking some practice to get used to the right side shifter.

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

Nice! I'll keep an eye out for it. What shop is that? Steels?

Yes, my buddy is one of the owners of steeles.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Looks like I'll be putting this around town, at least for the summer. 1973 CB350f with a 400f header. Sounds great!!!!! Very slow.

Awesome find! There are a few of those, plus the later 400 versions, that show up every month at one of our local motorcycle gatherings, "Backfire Moto". Dedicated to cafe, rat bike, and homemade customs. Keep waiting to see one up for sale...


Backfire Moto - Main

[motion]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

Ha.I might get this bike together sometime.

Hot, sexy, long legged, fiirey, and beautiful Latina. I'm going back next month

!!!!!!!!!

I rented a Honda XR250 in San Jose a few years ago and drove all over the country. Lemme know if you need the contact info.

[Ro Co]

I'll bite. Finished mine about 5 years back now.

[Jeff Higgins]

Not being the least bit familiar with airheads, are they known (like so many old bikes) for being a bit "flexible" in the chassis? Are those braces a well known "fix", or one man's shade-tree engineering? Freaking awesome bike either way, by the way.

[Ro Co]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

That is super sweet. Well done! I wish I still had my airheads (and all the other bikes I should never have sold). It is no longer a rubber cow with those braces.

Is it a newer bike with old style valve covers on it? (I have a hunch you might have them flipped)

Most of the bike is a '75 The motor is a '74, 900 S spec.

[Ro Co]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Not being the least bit familiar with airheads, are they known (like so many old bikes) for being a bit "flexible" in the chassis? Are those braces a well known "fix", or one man's shade-tree engineering? Freaking awesome bike either way, by the way.

I think 'hinged' was the term that was used back in the day. Although 'rubber cow' is a good description too.
The frame braces were made by a popular 80's after market company, luftmiester. I found them locally, NOS, hidden away for years.
With the frame braces, billet triple clamp, fork brace and progressive suspension she now handles very well.

[Gogar]

Fiery on the way in = Fiery on the way out. Just like jalapeños. Have fun!

[Rinty]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Not being the least bit familiar with airheads, are they known (like so many old bikes) for being a bit "flexible" in the chassis?...

They flex in various areas, including the steering neck, rear sub frame, and the swingarm; thus the German moniker: "Gummikuhe".

On my former RS, this was completely cured by installing a billet aluminum upper triple tree, a braced swing arm, and aftermarket springs.

Are those braces...one man's shade tree engineering?

Luftmeister's Matt Capri had plenty of detractors, but the side braces help.

[Gogar]

Did about 75 miles on Sunday. I bet you can guess how comfortable it was. Fun anyway!

[Gogar]

Not too buzzy. It sounds amazing but at that 5-6k spot where a larger or more modern Honda comes on this thing just keeps on slowly creeping up to 10 or 11k. I don't mind, I don't want to go fast anyway.

[Ro Co]

That's nice, very smart looking. Jealous of your seat!

[greglepore]

OMG, very nice 350

[motion]

That Honda is so sweet!!!

[Gogar]

LOL! You probably walked by a few other Gogar bikes without knowing!

[Schumi]

little bike update from me, comments appreciated from this group of fine motorcycle connoisseurs we have here:
I haven't worked much on my track bike lately but I am starting the manufacturing of some of the small frame components and put in the order for all the titanium hardware. All the component design is done except for the monocoque bodywork and radiator head tank and bleeder tube. Still a good amount of CAD and analysis to do on the monocoque section before I have moulds made.

B.O.M. is essentially done and so I have a very accurate prediction of the final weight of the bike. As it sits, with oil and water but without fuel, It should be 196 lbs +/- about 2 lbs.

The upper body design is still slightly being tweaker as I said, but it was far enough along to do some rendering/sketching, so here is the 'artist's conception' of the final bike, directly based off the CAD:



Now the hard part begins... and step 1 is I move everything out of my Hermosa Beach beach house and into a proper shop....