my cafe bike project......

[84CAB]

Bell - I had the same thoughts as you after selling my 911; I was going to make a cafe bike from a CB750 but decided to do this... It is now "more naked" and upgraded. Need to get some current pics. This bike was cheap and is tons of fun...very torquey.

[HardDrive]

[maxnine11]

the 650/750 models ending with "G" or "E" were the sportier versions of the early 80's GSs.
You might be able to source some parts or inspiration from them.



have fun!!

[holtjv]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I love that header wrap. Very ratty. Love the duc, too. Pure violence.

[holtjv]

Originally Posted by nynor

i'd ride that thruxton. i want one of those fly screens. it'd sure make riding on the freeway more comfortable.

It does help just enough but not so much that it doesn't blow you back a bit to lessen the pressure on your wrists.

What's the 2/1 exhaust you have?

[holtjv]

Here's an ebay of a flyscreen.

[http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120357051975&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123&viewitem=#ht_500wt_1137

[nynor]

Originally Posted by holtjv

It does help just enough but not so much that it doesn't blow you back a bit to lessen the pressure on your wrists.

What's the 2/1 exhaust you have?

its a mac. its pretty good quality and fit right without any modifications. i may do the header wrap this year.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by holtjv

Here's an ebay of a flyscreen.

[http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120357051975&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123&viewitem=#ht_500wt_1137

i'll be bidding on that. its the right color, too. thanks!

[bell]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

this is what i want to do with the rear, i'll most likely make it out of fiberglass as i'm fully setup at work for custom fiberglass stuff.......

today i was playing with the electrical, needs a new battery but no big deal.
the carbs/idle need adjusted, and need to figure out what tires to put on it (the ones on there now are too old), and i think i'm going to go with silver paint for the tank/rear.......

more to come....

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by bell

this is what i want to do with the rear, i'll most likely make it out of fiberglass as i'm fully setup at work for custom fiberglass stuff.......

today i was playing with the electrical, needs a new battery but no big deal.
the carbs/idle need adjusted, and need to figure out what tires to put on it (the ones on there now are too old), and i think i'm going to go with silver paint for the tank/rear.......

more to come....

FWIW, current gasoline is just aweful. I have had problems with several motorcycles, generators and mowers due to clogged carbs (especially the low speed jets). I have seen problems with even 4 month old gas. I have worked on and owned small gas engines all my life, but never have seen gas cause so many problems in such short time frames.

A lot of the guys doing these cafe bikes like Avon tires. I will likely pick up a set myself.

Go to the projects forum on www.dotheton.com for some ideas and inspiration.

I also will probably go silver. I really like this look (the bike, not the skanky pale chick).

[lyon]

I love the Triton. Some day....

[Nader]

Here is a good site to waste a lot of hours:
www.caferacer.net

My little flock of '65 Honda CL160s (a fourth is in the works):


Of note, the yellow racebike in the back has clip-on handlebars that bolt directly to the fork tubes (as do all modern sportbikes) and allow infinite adjustment and lowering. The Gulf Blue has Clubman bars that bolt to the stock top triple clamp. This is the most common handlebar conversion for a cafe bike, but you'll need to reposition the footpegs back and up by using rearsets to take advantage of the more aggressive riding position. The near yellow streetbike has drag bars (no rise) which is a comfortable but sporty riding stance around town. The combination of Clubman bars and stock forward mounted foot pegs are verboten.

Rearsets move the footpegs back and up for a more aggressive stance and avoids grinding in turns. All three of these bikes have late model Suzuki GSX-R rearsets adapted to the frame with 1/4" Al plate. You commonly find rearsets on Ebay for cheap. Not sure what will bolt up to the shifter and brakes on that model of Suzuki you have.

This is fun stuff, huh?

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Nader

Here is a good site to waste a lot of hours:
www.caferacer.net



Of note, the yellow racebike in the back has clip-on handlebars that bolt directly to the fork tubes (as do all modern sportbikes) and allow infinite adjustment and lowering.

This is fun stuff, huh?

Yep! More pics of the race bike please!

[Nader]

Better detail of the Clubman bar and rearsets. Stock footpegs would have been farther up beside the engine cases like your present configuration:





If you need a source for decent fiberglass parts or ideas of how they should look, google "Glass From the Past."

[SLO-BOB]

Nader - do you have a shot of the pipe side of the bikes. I'm very curious about the exhaust. I never heard of a CL160, only CL175. Very neat little bikes. Look a lot like my CBs, which are a very common cafe starting point. Here's my black one -





Just plain ole fun little bikes for zipping around on. The black bike has lower bars from a CB400ss. No other mods. The red CB in the 1st pic is a project bike for my son and I. Not sure if we'll go cafe or stock.

Like Tim, I need to get motivated to get working on it. I have more projects that come 1st. I avoided redoing my wifes CA95 by simply buying her a nicer one - less work and money! I have a CT90 engine sitting on my workbench awaiting kick start gear replacement. Once I get that bike sorted I should be able to focus on the CB.

[SLO-BOB]

You beat me to it. Okay, how about rearset pics and details?

[HardDrive]

WOW!

Originally Posted by lyon

I love the Triton. Some day....

[HardDrive]

Wife is from India, and I have always loved Royal Enfield Bullets. They sell a factory cafe kit, but they want some crazy amount of money for it.

[nynor]

i need the front brakes on that triton.

fwiw, i use avon super venoms on my cafe bike. they are no longer available in DOT, apparently, they are race only. but no one looks and the grip like hell!

[Nader]

For a vintage bike's brakes, this is the equivalent of Brembo F1 calipers and carbon rotors.... behold, the Menani-Fontana 210mm, all magnesium, 4 leading shoe front drum brake:



Only $3000.