Cafe Racer Thread - Page 6

fastpat · 01-05-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Souk
Love this one:

That reminds me of the time I was up at Alice's Restaurant (SF Bay area riders know this place) and saw six Vincent motorcycles parked all in a row. I was thunderstruck, having never seen even one in the past. Seems the Vincent Owners Club of CA (or some such) was on a ride and had stopped for human fuel. That was before digital cameras, and I didn't ride with my film camera then.

Too bad.

MotoSook · 01-05-2007, 11:39 AM

Here's an older TESI (circa 1980). There was a writeup un Cycle World a few months ago on the "current" TESI.

(The picture I posted with the tubualr arms is the latest iteration.)

Here's the oldest I've seen:

And something else....

Superman · 01-05-2007, 12:01 PM

I've haven't ridden a motorcycle in many many moons, but used to ride nothing esle. I have always been particularly fond of the cafe racer style, and of Nortons.

Sarc · 01-05-2007, 05:09 PM

Here's some more eye candy...

Sarc · 01-05-2007, 05:11 PM

MotoSook · 01-05-2007, 10:00 PM

I read somewhere that the Mike Hailwood Ducati was a terrible bike to ride. But then some people think my Ninja is a terrible bike, but I think it's damn comfortable (shrug)

Anyhow! It seems that we are not the only group of fools that fell in love with that Guzzi and Katrien. The bike is owned by Ewan McGregor (anyone else see "The long Way 'Round?" I loved watching that documentary. They actually stopped in Naperville, Illinois durign that documentary...a couple of towns over from me.)

From other BBS':

Ah the mythical Zagato Guzzi! Here's the info on it from it's builder/rider Ben Part - straight from the horse's mouth following my enquiry with him about the cool looking oil filler in the rocker cover. I've stored pics in my Yahoo album which are available to view/download if you follow the link at the end:

Quote"

The said ‘Zagato Guzzi’ is my take on the Brit style cafe racer but
with MORE SPEED & MORE RELIABILITY !

I’m not a pro bike builder per say, but ended up building a replica for Ewan McGreggor of Trainspotting & Star Wars fame. My bike has been built funding & time permitting over the the past 14 years of ownership with one-off, second hand/vintage, + a few High tech bits.- I actually started with a complete SP100, but there’s nearly nothing of the original bike left.

The oil filler- as you will appreciate, is to combat very user-unfriendly original hiding place, is made using a Kawasaki oil filler cap that uses its original thread in a new threaded tube welded into the rocker cover . I first tried a non-screwing Harley (rubber bung) oil tank chrome cap , but it kept coming loose. Then I looked into making up one from scrtach, but this much more simple & has a fin (so you can un-do it by hand) that matches those of the cover. The German Guzzi parts SteinDinse do one too.

OB1 was built in a year using new parts & much more money ! OB2 is the bike I’m working on now

"end quote

Other forums that discussed the bike:

http://www.scooterbbs.com/board/DCForumID10/842.html#1

http://www.motoguzziclub.co.uk/bike/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=170&

5axis · 01-05-2007, 10:02 PM

Let me the angel errr.. um devil on Souks shoulder whispering track bike ..... track bike

http://www.chicagolandsportbikes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50500

MotoSook · 01-05-2007, 10:04 PM

And you guys have to check out this shop:

http://www.thetankshop.com/

...but for kicks...here they are again!

MotoSook · 01-05-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 5axis
Let me the angel errr.. um devil on Souks shoulder whispering track bike ..... track bike

I lurk over on the ChicaglandSportbike site, David.

And believe me, I would love to track my (a) bike, but if I did, I would have to find another "wife to be."

And I'd probably give up tracking my 911. IT's probably cheaper to tracka bike, but man I just would never ever hear the end of it. OK...I'm a wus...

...but if I ever show up to a moto track day...no one....NO ONE speak a word of it afterward.

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

good work souk. i loved watching ewan and his buddy go 'round the planet. the mongolia and china parts were the best. cool thing to do but easier w/ the support they had. nonetheles, i ain't seein' brad or johnny doing it. at least the bike, if not the ruski are in his hands

MotoSook · 01-05-2007, 10:22 PM

Yep...the Road of Bones and the Mongolian marsh parts were great. I had it on Tivo and I dedleted it. I should have burned them to DVD. I got a kick out of the Russian mafia dinner too. LOL...I can see that happening in some of the parts of the world I remember.

5axis · 01-05-2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Souk
I would love to track my (a) bike, but if I did, I would have to find another "wife to be." IT's probably cheaper to tracka bike, OK...I'm a wus...

...but if I ever show up to a moto track day...no one....NO ONE speak a word of it afterward.

The future Mrs Souk can ride her own bike at the track for the $ it takes

Nick is asking $3800 for that SV and tires are not bad either. My brother did 14 days with 2 sets on his SV. aprox $500

We can keep a secret .... get signed up for autobahn this summer, at least do the free intro sessions

besides Guzi girl is hot for track riders

MotoSook · 01-05-2007, 10:27 PM

LOL...I will likely come out to the ACC this year to hang out...but man o man! "Free intro sessions!" You are a bastard! I'm gonna get a devorce before I even get married. LOL!

5axis · 01-05-2007, 10:49 PM

http://www.nesba.com/Info/Intro.aspx
7/28 or 29 at autobahn

get signed up they only save a few freebie spots. And if you no-show there will be walk-ups to take your place anyway.

shhhhhh this message does not exist.

Joeaksa · 01-06-2007, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Souk
Yep...the Road of Bones and the Mongolian marsh parts were great. I had it on Tivo and I dedleted it. I should have burned them to DVD. I got a kick out of the Russian mafia dinner too. LOL...I can see that happening in some of the parts of the world I remember.

Get TIVO desktop and copy it to your computer. I then get a external USB drive and back it up there as well as burn it to a DVD.

MotoSook · 01-06-2007, 07:19 AM

The devil made me do it! I'm registered for the 28th at the ACC, Dave! You are a bastard!

Joe, Heather takes care of that stuff. She's got the whole living room wired. I can't hardly use the computer in the family room anymore these days. It's either transfering something or burning something. I just never thought to ask her to burn the "..'Round" documentary.

fastpat · 01-06-2007, 08:06 AM

I guess I should post my old Yamaha FX750 now. Not a cafe' racer per se, but I was thinking of making it into one. Already had the Suzuki USD front forks on it, with the big four pot calipers and floating disks, and rear sets. I just needed the custom swing arm for the fat rear tire, and to paint the frame red, and the tank and body work a dark metallic color to make it one.

The photo is before I added those extra things.

That's a Corbin seat, with leather where your butt goes.

5axis · 01-06-2007, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Souk
The devil made me do it! I'm registered for the 28th at the ACC, Dave! You are a bastard!

It's all in the pitch fork

Nice ABN vid
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-147983040749262341

5axis · 01-06-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fastpat
I guess I should post my old Yamaha FX750 now. Not a cafe' racer per se, but I was thinking of making it into one. Already had the Suzuki USD front forks on it, with the big four pot calipers and floating disks, and rear sets. I just needed the custom swing arm for the fat rear tire, and to paint the frame red, and the tank and body work a dark metallic color to make it one. The photo is before I added those extra things.

cool bike. I remember wanting one of those!
I would not get crazy about a fat rear tire. I would just try and run something that will let you use 17" rubber. It is dufficult to find good stickies in 16 or 18. You don't need huge rubber for the relativley low HP of that bike. A 120 front and 160 rear (SV sizes ) will do just fine.

fastpat · 01-06-2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 5axis
cool bike. I remember wanting one of those!
I would not get crazy about a fat rear tire. I would just try and run something that will let you use 17" rubber. It is dufficult to find good stickies in 16 or 18. You don't need huge rubber for the relativley low HP of that bike. A 120 front and 160 rear (SV sizes ) will do just fine.

I agree, but don't own the bike any longer.