I don't get Cafe Racers

[Banditbandit]

Too bad if it isn't, it makes me hard.

That seat would make me sore ...

[Big Dog]

That seat would make me sore ...

That's what makes him hard?
Question is are we talking prostate stimulation? Or is he suggesting he's a hard bastard because he can live with that seat?


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[ducatilover]

it has foam now.

[husaberg]

I guess there's cafe racers and "cafe racers". The ones on Trademe that have had a set of cheap clip-ons slapped on them, a tinny shit muffler and some bits painted rattle-can black but no attempts at improving performance are "cafe racers".

I think a lot of people would label me a hipster. I'm 25 and I'm on my second bike which is an SR500. Bought it because I had seen people do cool things with them, they're easy to work on and are fun to ride.
I'm turning mine into a cafe racer. I like bikes with a lean-forward feet-up riding position. It's going to have clip-ons and rearsets. I found a good quality stainless header and reverse megaphone muffler for it (fire sale after Deus Ex Machina closed up). But I'm also using it as a project to teach myself how to work on and improve a motorcycle. I want to get the throttle response dialed in until it's sharp enough to shave with, tighten up the handling and improve the braking power.

So I've been redoing the entire electrical system, looking at adapting VM or CR carbs to work with my intake manifold and airbox, (successfully, though nerve-wrackingly) shaving 0.50 off the throttle slide cutaway to clean up fuelling in the lower end and rejetting to suit. Got right proper Works shocks for the front and rear, looking at 11 or 12 mil master cylinders to bring the MC ratio more into line with what the caliper needs (they used the same 14mm MC as the XS650, which runs dual discs). It's gonna be loud, rattly, quite a bit lighter than stock. Maybe if I get really brave, think about a mild Megacycle cam. By the time I'm done with it, I'd like to pull the chrome off a towbar from a standing start and stop just as quick, and be a lot of fun carving up a twisty road.

And I know I'm never gonna get a cent of what I spend back when it's time to sell. I'll probably swap it all back to stock and sell the aftermarket bits individually, make more money. I'm considering it an investment in having fun and learning a lot.

Ten carrots

[OddDuck]

OK, it's a bit late down the track now but here goes... an attempt to reply to the OP:

Cafe Racers were 40's / 50's / 60's / maybe 70's era standard motorcycles home-tweaked for street racing. That's the guts of it.

The style evolved in an era before superbikes. You got some british made single or parallel twin (or just maybe a V-twin) with appallingly low compression (because they had crap gas back then) and you did whatever you could to keep up with the rest of the delinquents. It was all done on basic salaries in some backyard shed or garage. Your status was equal parts how you rode, what you could build on a budget, and who you could score on a Saturday night.

Most of the modifications followed from it being a standard motorcycle: you wanted to reduce windage at speed, so lowered handlebars allowed the rider to tuck down. Raised footpegs or rearsets helped. Bench seats meant you could slide your arse back to get even lower, tucking right into the tank for the last couple of extra mph.

Taking weight off meant faster acceleration / better braking, so off with heavy fenders / grab rails / bash bars / chainguards etc.

Engine mods were usually limited to open carbs with jetting tweaks and opened exhausts or sometimes even completely open pipes. The really keen would fit hot cams and so on, but mostly it was about going fast with basic kit.

Personally I think it's a really appealing style - utter simplicity if you will - and I really like it. Check out Returnofthecaferacers for a look at some seriously keen modern work.

[TheDemonLord]

OK, it's a bit late down the track now but here goes... an attempt to reply to the OP:

Cafe Racers were 40's / 50's / 60's / maybe 70's era standard motorcycles home-tweaked for street racing. That's the guts of it.

The style evolved in an era before superbikes. You got some british made single or parallel twin (or just maybe a V-twin) with appallingly low compression (because they had crap gas back then) and you did whatever you could to keep up with the rest of the delinquents. It was all done on basic salaries in some backyard shed or garage. Your status was equal parts how you rode, what you could build on a budget, and who you could score on a Saturday night.

Most of the modifications followed from it being a standard motorcycle: you wanted to reduce windage at speed, so lowered handlebars allowed the rider to tuck down. Raised footpegs or rearsets helped. Bench seats meant you could slide your arse back to get even lower, tucking right into the tank for the last couple of extra mph.

Taking weight off meant faster acceleration / better braking, so off with heavy fenders / grab rails / bash bars / chainguards etc.

Engine mods were usually limited to open carbs with jetting tweaks and opened exhausts or sometimes even completely open pipes. The really keen would fit hot cams and so on, but mostly it was about going fast with basic kit.

Personally I think it's a really appealing style - utter simplicity if you will - and I really like it. Check out Returnofthecaferacers for a look at some seriously keen modern work.

This I get - what I don't get is taking a modern bike, 'modding' it, and selling it for the same price as a decent used 1000cc bike

[OddDuck]

Yeah, I see your point. I hadn't realised how bad it had become.

Bright news: nobody's bidding. Seems the sellers are bigger dupes than Joe Public.

Reading the text in this ad: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-883715167.htm is pretty revealing.

[mossy1200]

Yeah, I see your point. I hadn't realised how bad it had become.

Bright news: nobody's bidding. Seems the sellers are bigger dupes than Joe Public.

Reading the text in this ad: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-883715167.htm is pretty revealing.

Some bits on that bike are well done but I hope hes not expecting much more than 3.5

[F5 Dave]

It actually doesn't look too bad, but another- I just built it, realised it's still a piece of shit maybe I could sell it to some sucker and get a Hornet.

[98tls]

Kinda like the thing myself,as for what its worth i couldnt give a fuck it looks sweet and would probably put a smile on ya dial come a hot Sunday arvo.Didnt read his ad but good luck to him whoever he is.

[mossy1200]

Kinda like the thing myself,as for what its worth i couldnt give a fuck it looks sweet and would probably put a smile on ya dial come a hot Sunday arvo.Didnt read his ad but good luck to him whoever he is.

Not sure what he is expecting but last time listed was 5k starting bid and that wasn't reserve.

[98tls]

Not sure what he is expecting but last time listed was 5k starting bid and that wasn't reserve.

Nothing wrong with trying your luck eh....that said reserves been met,for that sorta money its a Gem.

[OddDuck]

OK, still learning how to do quotes:

This I get - what I don't get is taking a modern bike, 'modding' it, and selling it for the same price as a decent used 1000cc bike

I think there's a lot of emotion tied up in these. Looks like the major pitfall is where they start - take something old, cheap, and not particularly good even when it was new, then throw hundreds of hours and thousands of bucks at it. Then wonder why other people aren't going crazy about it.

This Honda GL400 is probably a good example: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-862960639.htm

8K he wants for this. Granted, aside from the carbs needing refinishing, it's immaculate, but still... it is and always will be a Honda GL400!!

[F5 Dave]

Worse than that; it won't be a GL400. People get the best money for std bikes.

[husaberg]

Worse than that; it won't be a GL400. People get the best money for std bikes.

To tell you the truth I rode a CX500 once it was a decent bike (ugly as fuck) but kind of like a 70's RC31 Bros/Hawk engine wise.
I used to give the guy who owned it shit but he convinced me to ride it one day.
Someone in the South Island on KB has quite a few of the Honda Ugly Duckings. Can't remember who?
They had a few teething problems but when those were fixed they were one of the most reliable bikes ever.
I thought of one of the best factory Café Racers the other day. I would still love one.