Post up your Cafe ("Kaff") Racers

[ital916]

Hey all

Just wondering if anybody else on kb (apart from xersesesexeseses and his legendary cb250rs) owns a cafe racer.

It would be awesome to see pictures of them and maybe if up in auckland a gathering at a cafe on a sunny sunday arvo could be in order. We could kick tires and show off respective machines.

Im sure there are some great streetfighters/cafe racers owned by kb'ers, and inspiration for further mods will ensue. I will hopefully be posting pics of my bike soon (i.e a week or two), a few more modifications to go (clip-ons need installing, headers need to be redone and chromed and the seat needs a recover, as well as the motor needing a run in). Thanks again to many people who led me down the right track to creating a bike that is my own. (And for ixion for warning me that working on a carby in the kitchen might piss off my mum...which it did haha).

Ride safe all.

Drider

[ital916]

Here's a cool little clip on "the cult of the cafe racers", the blog is also bloody great, lots of nice pics and cafe racer project info.

http://http://caferacersreturn.blogspot.com/2008/02/cult-of-cafe-racers.html (http://caferacersreturn.blogspot.com/2008/02/cult-of-cafe-racers.html)

[ital916]

Oh dear..i guess there aren't many cafe racer owners on kb :sweatdrop , hmmm well always a good time to start then eh :laugh:

[TOTO]

its only been 2 days bro. give it time. they are probably on the kitchen table working on their carbs.

[bob181]

I'll put the first one up, I'm not shy. Check this Bad Boy out, GB600-more pulling power than a school boy!

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=66108

[McJim]

Well I cracked a fairing and it's away getting repaired. Meanwhile I'm riding the bike without the side fairings - it's ugly but in a kinda cute way.

Cafe racer? Prolly not but at least I'm bumping your thread.:rofl:

[fridayflash]

Hey all

Just wondering if anybody else on kb (apart from xersesesexeseses and his legendary cb250rs) owns a cafe racer.

It would be awesome to see pictures of them and maybe if up in auckland a gathering at a cafe on a sunny sunday arvo could be in order. We could kick tires and show off respective machines.

Im sure there are some great streetfighters/cafe racers owned by kb'ers, and inspiration for further mods will ensue. I will hopefully be posting pics of my bike soon (i.e a week or two), a few more modifications to go (clip-ons need installing, headers need to be redone and chromed and the seat needs a recover, as well as the motor needing a run in). Thanks again to many people who led me down the right track to creating a bike that is my own. (And for ixion for warning me that working on a carby in the kitchen might piss off my mum...which it did haha).

Ride safe all.

Drider
ive got a gb500 also, bare metal tank [with clear powdercoating] stainless
megaphone, clippons lowered [under tripleclamp] etc etc,will post photo soon
p.s great idea for thread...theyre out there somewhere

[Paulo]

You're not alone, I lurk about KB only interest is cafe's, I have a fairly stock GB500 except for some tomaseli clipons , But my winter project is a 1978 CB750 I'm, meant to be working on except I've been too busy, Here's a picture I mocked up in photoshop, It's still Yellow and I have to get the Seat and new lights on (I got these from Carpy at CB750.com they arrived in less than a week) Friday Flash It'd be great to see some pics of your GB sounds really nice.

[PirateJafa]

That's one dang nice bike Paulo! Really it's a pity that the numberplate will need somewhere to go. :(

[Paulo]

Thanks Pirate, Yeah I might just glue it to my back instead ;)

[PirateJafa]

Would be worth it not to scar the beauty of such a thing.

Speaking of which, I should find my camera so I can make a contribution here.

[98tls]

You're not alone, I lurk about KB only interest is cafe's, I have a fairly stock GB500 except for some tomaseli clipons , But my winter project is a 1978 CB750 I'm, meant to be working on except I've been too busy, Here's a picture I mocked up in photoshop, It's still Yellow and I have to get the Seat and new lights on (I got these from Carpy at CB750.com they arrived in less than a week) Friday Flash It'd be great to see some pics of your GB sounds really nice. Looks very tasty that,when i was a young fella the old man had a guy working for him from Kaikoura that had a 750 with Dunstall tank,seat unit and fairing,very nice it was to.

[AllanB]

some below check out that zipper eh :buggerd:

[ital916]

Yay there are a few out there:woohoo:. Hey bob, that sure is a gorgeous gb, what was the sort of time period spent doing her up? Same to friday flash and paulo, would be awesome to see the bikes in person, * hehe cross country ride excuse found :shifty:*.

My clipons arrived today paulo. They're the 38mm 900ss tommaselli ones. They look great and didn't break the bank haha. Unfortunately due to the cylinders on my bike being bored *they will arrive back tomorrow*, my bike it looks like will be back home sunday latest. Gah every setback eans more days waiting and makes me wanna :sick:, but calm she shall be back :soon:.

I'll run the clipons above the triple clamp to start with *I believe that is the way they are being installed at the mechs* but who knows I might move them lower if I reckon they are too high.

My srv will hopefully be cafe-ish as I totally love the bike *mind you I am cheating by having a jappa, but a norton/vincent is slightly out of my price range :crybaby:*

Here is a link to a great cafe racer gallery,

http://www.caferacer.ca/cafegallery/index.php

Oh an mcjim, i reckon thats cafe enough haha.

Dying to get back on the road on my new kaff after three months off road :shit:, t minus three days :headbang:

Drider

[ital916]

ive got a gb500 also, bare metal tank [with clear powdercoating] stainless
megaphone, clippons lowered [under tripleclamp] etc etc,will post photo soon
p.s great idea for thread...theyre out there somewhere

question about the tank, did you just remove that paint off the stock tank your bike came with and then clear powder coated or did you make a whole new alli tank *bare metal is sexy :drool:*..........temptation haha mind you my bike is a sexy blue....decisions decisions. lol

[James Deuce]

Just building mine.

It will be done in a couple of months.

[ital916]

Just building mine.

It will be done in a couple of months.

Ooh..what bike are you using?

Details?...

speculation needed maybe?

:sherlock:

I was reading up on the history of vincent and norton the other day when I should have been studying *all study just turns into drool at bikes on net time*.

The black widow it said was banned in 42 or was that 48 states in america for being to lethal to ride...awesome. The combination of it's brilliant motor, awful brakes and "interesting frame" led to a bike that was quick, but horrifically difficult to handle, with handling that changed rapidly with that of the engine and frame temp. If you could ride one quick then you were noted and snapped up. Mmmm I love infamous bikes.

I hear they are a rare gem nowadays.

[Motu]

Been there,done that.Wideline featherbed and 1961 T110 engine and gearbox,alloy head,E3134's and all the guff.The full Cafe deal - sweptback pipes and shorty Dunstalls,rearsets,clip ons,central oil tank.This bike was originally built by Mathew McCahon who passed away last year.

[McJim]

This is what I would like to be able to afford to do to my SS. Flat Red by JVB Moto. Yum.

[ital916]

This is what I would like to be able to afford to do to my SS. Flat Red by JVB Moto. Yum.

Ooh that is nice, but I would fall off the end of the seat haha. Check out these lovelies.

[ital916]

And a few more :D

[James Deuce]

Mine's just a little one. An NZ250 that I'm stripping and repainting.

[HungusMaximist]

Enough alreadly, I might just have to get rid of the 929... hahha...

But yes I fully agree, those bikes are HOT!

[Paulo]

More cafes' then Ponsnoby road, some cool links.

http://www.caferacer.net/page1.html

http://www.deus.com.au/shop/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=29

http://www.cb750cafe.com/

[k1w160]

Gidday,

Here's a shot of my old 650 cafe racer 'El Diablo Bastido'

It started out as a 650 custom, fitted an 18" rear wheel, GS450 tank, 900SS seat, home made headers, dunstall replica mufflers, clip ons & home made rear sets, mini clocks, and dark blue / black metallic paint.

Why 'El Diablo Bastido' - she got named that after it kicked back one day, putting a 10cm rip in my calf muscle, so I finally got rid of 'the demon bastard' three years ago for a modern bike with leky start.

The bloke who bought it lives a block from me, and still rides it regulary, and I often see it in the bike park at Pukekohe classic meetings.

[Paulo]

Nice one Kiwi, Ive seen your old bike on the internet somewhere, (googling Cafe Racer + NZ) She looks mean and lean. Nice work The ss seat sure fits in well.

[nosebleed]

This is what I would like to be able to afford to do to my SS. Flat Red by JVB Moto. Yum.

:niceone:

(The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.)

[popelli]

possibly not quite what you had in mind, this is pretty much original and unmodified

[Pinstripe]

My contribution, the mighty 86 GB500TT :cool:

[ital916]

possibly not quite what you had in mind, this is pretty much original and unmodified

What year xlcr is that? They are quite sort after are they not?...i might be wrong though haha. PRetty cool, an american version of the cafe racer....mind you I guess it should be a diner racer *american cafes are called diners?*. What does she ride like?

[ital916]

My contribution, the mighty 86 GB500TT :cool:

The might GB...she is on my to buy list now. A must for any collection haha. There is a gorgeous nortn commando on trademe for 10grand, a white one, looks very very nice, mmmm if only I had my full and a lot more mulah. ;)

[popelli]

What year xlcr is that? They are quite sort after are they not?...i might be wrong though haha. PRetty cool, an american version of the cafe racer.... What does she ride like?

1977

goes bloody well the exhaust system actually works

the brakes don't so it can be a touch interesting at times

tiny bike compared to my ducati, ducati is both higher & wider

[ital916]

Hey people!

My bike is done and i'm currently pootling around on her everyone. It's awesome to be riding again.

The seat has yet to be re covered *it will be done a tan colour...mmm nice* and that exhaust will be coming off for a nice shiny new one, but thats all down the track, apart form the seat. *holes in seat + water = bad haha*.

I love her to bits, as bad as it sounds belle *yup she has a name* suits my riding style a heck of a lot more than my old rg. I like to cruise around, and I don't really knee down corners haha. I've found her little v twin to be very pleasant with lots of torque, allowing me to sit in third/fourth gear in town and be able to handle everything. I'm still running the engine in so have yet to really redline her, but i'm slowly upping the amount I thrash the engine.

The saddle bags i've borrowed from a mate to try them out and see if they are any good, the extra luggage comes in really handy and doesn't knock the bikes look too much.

As far as comfort goes, she is brilliant, the seat is nice and cushy and the bars being wide and promoting an upright seating position don't put me under any strain at all. I've decided against clip-ons as I like being comfortable haha.

Anyway here are some pics below, sorry for the crappy quality, the heavens opened as I started taking pictures. Oooh I love her to bits.

[Taz]

Here's mine