"Cafe Racer" style bikes

[wbks]

Only really just noticed them. Seem pretty cool, and look a lot like classic GP racers (well some do anyway). Obviously aren't the fastest bikes on the road compared to race reps but you don't need that for the road huh. Also seem pretty cheap. '75 CB750-$2000, put some clip-ons, cafe racer style rear, some loud upswept pipes and a few performance mods. -Can't cost more than $2000 or 4k all up for a really nice bike. Anyway, I was wondering what other riders (you guys) think of them? Gay? Cool? Nice but you'd never own one?

[Bren]

Nothing wrong with cafe style...it's a custom style...you do what you want...some people just do a Bikini fairing and clip ons, some go hard out and strip off all the bullshit. I wouldnt mind a BMW R series made into a cafe racer...the other one I see as a good contender for a conversion is the Suzuki GS range

[EJK]

It's surely not within the $2,000 bracket however it is one of em which I like...

http://motoaus.com/images/stories/triumph/Thruxton-2008-action.jpg

What do I think? It's Cool.

[Storm]

Cafe Racers are cool- but then I would say that, having owned a Goose.

[wbks]

The new Triumph and Norton cafe-style bikes are nice but it doesn't seem authentic to me to have something with a look based on 1950-'60's gp bikes made in 2009. Well that and the older ones look more "raw" and without the chrome everywhere. I do like this new one tho: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtNlRgKsLb4&feature=related

[Motu]

Only really just noticed them.

Where have you been the last 40 years? It was something the Pom's did in the '60's - make their bike look like a race bike.It never really caught on here,at the time choppers were the way to go for a custom bike.I had a cafe Triton in 1973/74 - and I stood out like a sore thumb with the crowd I hung out with.So the cafe racer has been something that keeps coming back at an ever increasing rate.

[wbks]

Tritons are kind of an iconic cafe bike, right?
And as for the last 40 years... I was a taddy up untill '93... So sorry I didn't get in with the rocker crowd! lmao

[wbks]

WHat do you guys reckon a guzzi 750 would be like for a caffe racer

[jonbuoy]

Guzzi's look great with a set of clips ons. I still got my Honda 750 cafe,the "new" Ducati Paul Smart is sexy as hell - there are a few still floating round the dealerships in the UK with demo miles on them. Not sure why as I thought they would have been snapped up long ago - maybe its a comfort issue? The riding position on some cafes like the paul smart is pretty extreme - like some of the 80's/90's superbikes - big stretch to low clip ons. But then it is a mans bike :P

[wbks]

Just thought: Wouldn't shaft drive be nasty as hell... Bet a bonnie would look sweeet

[piston broke]

i already posted this,dunno if it's really a cafe racer.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=113191&d=1229242135

[James Deuce]

Fat Cafe Racers
<img src=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7gYNb3GSh4M/RlXttR4l-gI/AAAAAAAABDg/9V7CiMTsP7M/s1600/1lille.jpg>

<img src=http://thekneeslider.com/images/randakksgl1000.jpg>

Thin Cafe Racers
<img src=http://hellforleathermagazine.com/images/CCM-CR-40.jpg>

<img src=http://www.caferacer.ca/caferacer_cms/images/stories/caferacer/photoid30500.jpg>

[Sully60]

Check this site (http://www.deus.com.au/) dude.

Modern engineering used to make cafe racers with serious ol' skool cool. Nice and minimalist too, not OTT on the chrome.

[wbks]

96 600ss: You would call that one I guess. Problem is that all anyone ever does to a cb750 to make it a "cafe racer" is ad clip-ons, maybe a different headlight and guage and a cafe racer rear set. Mind you, you could say all anyone ever does to make a chopper is make a ridiculous rake, tiny tank and hardtail chassis or just take off the fairings and add an ugly headlight for a streetfighter etc etc

[piston broke]

96 600ss: You would call that one I guess. Problem is that all anyone ever does to a cb750 to make it a "cafe racer" is ad clip-ons, maybe a different headlight and guage and a cafe racer rear set. Mind you, you could say all anyone ever does to make a chopper is make a ridiculous rake, tiny tank and hardtail chassis or just take off the fairings and add an ugly headlight for a streetfighter etc etc

it's actually a 400/four supersport.
you can do what ever the hell you like to any bike to cafe it.that bike is pretty well natural.

ed,bars and seat are changed

[Taz]

My project......
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=89837

Will look a little different when finished.....

[jonbuoy]

96 600ss: You would call that one I guess. Problem is that all anyone ever does to a cb750 to make it a "cafe racer" is ad clip-ons, maybe a different headlight and guage and a cafe racer rear set. Mind you, you could say all anyone ever does to make a chopper is make a ridiculous rake, tiny tank and hardtail chassis or just take off the fairings and add an ugly headlight for a streetfighter etc etc

The original idea of a cafe racer was to turn a cruiser/commuter into a "racebike" - clip ons, streamline the bike, remove anything not really needed. All done on a small budget, mostly fabricated by hand.

[Paul in NZ]

Only really just noticed them. Seem pretty cool, and look a lot like classic GP racers (well some do anyway). Obviously aren't the fastest bikes on the road compared to race reps but you don't need that for the road huh. Also seem pretty cheap. '75 CB750-$2000, put some clip-ons, cafe racer style rear, some loud upswept pipes and a few performance mods. -Can't cost more than $2000 or 4k all up for a really nice bike. Anyway, I was wondering what other riders (you guys) think of them? Gay? Cool? Nice but you'd never own one?

Why do you care what others think of them? It seems to me that you need to find something YOU want because building a special requires commitment and a stuff the budget mentality...

And....

While I don't like to 'define' things and could not give a fats rats bum what you want to ride, the reality is a bike made in 1975 really can't be a cafe racer can it? The cafe scene was well dead by then, choppers were withering and yet the endurance racer thing was taking off. Things belong in their era (apart from Neil Young and Bob Dylan)..... No rocker ever built a CB750 cafe racer....

As for a 750 Guzzi? Same deal except when the brit bikes dried up the bad boys that could not handle japanese bikes hopped onto Guzzis and Laverdas while the panty waisted adopted Ducati... A proper Guzzi makes a cafe racer for some reason (out of era) but NOT a small block 750 and cutting up a proper big block 750 could just cause you to be kicked to death by the euro Guzzi Anorak Klub....

[wbks]

Well considering a the bikes were defined "cafe racer" by their style, anything with the same style falls under the same category regardless of age. I don't care if people would think I'm a raging homo for riding a type of bike that I like, I was just wondering what the general perception of them was. I think a Bonneville cafe racer would make a better looking one than any japanese bike ever made despite probably being slower than a lot of japanese bikes made at the time.
Its about 7 months before I can actually legally ride a 750 Triumph though so no serious decicions here. And nice bike anthrax.

[James Deuce]

I think a Bonneville cafe racer would make a better looking one than any japanese bike ever made despite probably being slower than a lot of japanese bikes made at the time.


Ride them back to back, then think carefully about what constitutes "faster" in the real world. We have corners here.

[Ixion]

Well considering a the bikes were defined "cafe racer" by their style, anything with the same style falls under the same category regardless of age. I don't care if people would think I'm a raging homo for riding a type of bike that I like, I was just wondering what the general perception of them was. I think a Bonneville cafe racer would make a better looking one than any japanese bike ever made despite probably being slower than a lot of japanese bikes made at the time.
Its about 7 months before I can actually legally ride a 750 Triumph though so no serious decicions here. And nice bike anthrax.

GB500 ?

Rule with cafe racers is : closer they look to a Manx Norton, the more the cred.

Go look at some pictures of a Manx, and try to imagine a CB750 in the pic. Just doesn't work.Yeah, I know about Ago and the MVs. And the Gilera V8. Still doesn't work.

Oh, and a picky soul would point out that none of the 750 Triumphs would really classify for Cafe Racer status. Needs to be a T120 . Or, even better an all alloy pre unit 500.

And yeah, what the binary gentleman said. Back in the day, in NZ, the T120/650ss/ etc were probably faster point to point that a CB750. Yamaha RD350 - maybe not. RZ350, nope, but that was 10 years after the end of the cafe racer era.

[Big Dave]

Triumph Thruxton.

‘Yeah Baby!’

If I could do a halfway decent Austin Powers impersonation I would have let dozens more rip than the humble quota I did manage.

It was still enough to drive the Co-pilot spare, but I just couldn’t look at this Red and White striped honey without a ‘Yeah Baby!’

Much of what I found attractive about it harkens back to my images of motorcycling as a youth – embodied, right there in its classic line.

I’m too young to have experienced the halcyon days of British motorcycling. Just.

Back then the British icons of cool in my formative years were priced beyond my reach.

How I used to drool at the bikini babes draped over Norton Commando Interstates, or wished I had the shtick of the Café racers that personified the image of the motorcycle ‘rebel’ I felt inside.

Unfortunately a second hand CB450 was all a copy boy from the south side of Sydney could muster, but the images were burned longingly and deep.

And now they give me one!

The main change from the ’04 tested (in June KR that year) - to the ’07 is a bump to a claimed 70 Horsepower and changes in the livery.

Red with white stipes and no checkered tape will make some pundits happy. Unlike the full-faired 1967 original it has to be one of the best looking bikes on the road. The old one had some nice angles – but it also had some ‘steamer’ ones too. The new one is drop-dead-off-the-showroom-floor gorgeous.

So, it was grab the Davida Jet Classic open face helmet - or the Arai Union Jack Viper, don the plain black Rev-it leathers, adjust the aviator goggles and thumb the beastie into life. (Stopped short of the socks over boot top look though).

The stock Euro-compliant pipes have a quiet sort of note, not quite in keeping with the ‘Rebel without a Clue’ on board. It sounds fine on the move, a little ‘Jetsons’ off the gas.

Easily fixed with a de-baffle or a selection from wide range of aftermarket reverse cones available, but other than that there is much to like.

It’s not one of those ‘lazy’ 130hp bikes where all I seem to do is idle about everywhere; you have to ‘ride’ the Thruxton. Its 70hp and 204kg requires rider input to extract the best.

But when you get it on song it’s a mighty sweet tune. Lovely torque and it really pulls out of the corners. The way the big twin pulses dares you to drop it down a gear and nail it on exit.

And unlike the big litre bikes – you can nail on the street it in third gear without fear of instant disqualification. Beautiful! Fun as well as looks.

The ergos worked OK for me this time around. It induced some knee ache after an extended stint in the saddle, but apart from that it was pretty comfortable as a round town and short hop machine. The big grin factor made up for the knees. I’m too big to tour on it, normal height riders could put in a longer day, because unlike the early Hinckley Bonnes, the saddle is great. Even the back seat is pretty good. With the seat cowl removed the co-pilot rated it as ‘Surprisingly comfortable’.

It was having the best time, punting it around the Auckland Bays on a blue Saturday morning, glorying in all this Café racer imagery and costume, dining out on the associated nostalgia, that it struck me that I needed to find out more about the era and the machine this bike tips its lid to.

First I consulted Ian Chadwick’s Triumph Time line online (Google it):

‘1964 saw the first Thruxtons produced. ‘This year only eight Triumph Thruxton machines are made, basically standard production Bonnevilles pulled from the line and sent to the special projects department for upgrading. They produced 54bhp and many of their modifications become standard on later production bikes.’

‘1965.
This year, 52 Thruxton Bonnies are made in May, the most ever produced. Triumph is making 600-800 bikes a week, 80 per cent of them bound for the USA.’

’65 was also the year Hugh Anderson won the 125cc World Championship on a Suzuki, the final season of Hailwood’s four in a row and the year before Agostini won seven of the ‘500cc big dances’ in succession. (Seven!)

Cool, the Thruxton name has an impressive pedigree.

Endurance racing was also popular at the time and a Thruxton notched wins at Brands Hatch in 1966 and won the IOM TT in 1967.

By the time I got back on board I was ready for ‘Mike the Bike’ and ‘Ago’ - anytime baby!

As the flag dropped on the Ellerslie on-ramp grand prix it was on - all the way to Mission Bay. But was that the spirit?

I had the bike, the gear and the vibe…but an Al fresco Latte overlooking a sapphire blue harbour and volcanic ramparts next to a drop dead gorgeous bike was about as tough as it sounds, but it wasn’t exactly the Ace Café. Was it?

You can’t study the history of motorcycling without seeing some reference to the ‘golden age’, the Ace Café, aces of clubs graphics and imagery. Iconic.

Peter Jenks runs ‘Jenks Bolts’, a Specialist Bonneville parts and accessories business, in Salisbury. He now rides a new Thruxton.

I asked him about the Ace Café ‘Now and then’, and for his recollections of the ‘Halcyon days.’

‘Back then it was one of tens of thousands of transport Cafes where truck drivers stopped to eat. In those days bikers and the ‘young’ weren't welcome in pubs, or anywhere.

They found a welcome in the transport cafes. Although there was no drink, just cigarettes, very bad coffee made from ‘Camp Brand Coffee Extract’ and strong tea.’ He reported.

All of a sudden I had a handle on the ‘Café’ in ‘Café racer’. Rather obvious, David.

‘The Ace happened to be on a road that allowed some interesting road racing. In the NW London outskirts it was easily accessible by bus to many, many young kids who aspired to a bike, but couldn't ever get one.

All Transport Café’s had juke boxes so music was a key part of the atmosphere: food, tea, music, bikes, noise – it was a place to be.’ Continued his insights.

Meantime, I’m getting misty eyed and ‘yeah baby’ all at once.

I imagined tearing around on machines that performed quite similarly to the 2007 Thruxton.
Just that the new one is not hampered by Lucas electrical and copious oil leaks. Nonetheless, I could see the Bedford vans and Tobacco cards and Joananna Lumley pinups in my minds eye.

We don’t need no steenkin’ muscle cars.

But then he concluded: ‘Now: It’s a pastiche of a lot of memory cues and other than being in the building it started out in, not much is like it was.’

‘Not so the bike.’ I thought. Give me nowadays and the reliability of the new one.

Derek Peters, a career ‘Bobby’ doing his National Service during the first Thruxton era used to call in to the Ace.

His recollections began: ‘There, strategically situated, sat the Ace Café. A rather dowdy trucker’s cafe that stayed open 24 hours a day.

The cafe was a natural meeting spot for motorcyclists to slowly drink their beverage or soft drink and meet up with their female company.

The blare of the Juke Box, knocking out the music of the day, added to the atmosphere.

It was not a particularly attractive place and could never be described as comfortable, but the tea and hot food was consumed in the main by truckers and was therefore wholesome, to say the least.’ Was the picture Derek painted.

Now I was right in touch with the joint.

He continued: ‘I witnessed motorcyclist travelling at ‘highish’ speeds around the North Circular in an irresponsible manner, just like the modern sports bike riders.

I saw bikes leave the Ace Cafe driven by obvious idiots, but I can't honestly say that I ever saw riders trying to cover a given distance before a record ended. I think this is very much a myth thought up at a later date.’

Of course we weren’t racing Officer!

‘The Cafe was a useful acquisition in its day and certainly provided a meeting place for motorcyclists, but a lot of the glamour has been added since by people looking through those rose tinted spectacles.’

At this point an unmaned source online chimed in with a positive ’07 perspective: ‘Two redeeming features of the Ace: The Slovakian or possibly Polish bird behind the counter and the cheese omelettes.’

Contemplating this, the fern leaf pattern in the froth of my soymilk latte - served in the shadow of Rangitoto - and a shimmering blue south pacific brought me back to reality with a thud.

Unlike the romantic notions I harboured about the history of the Thruxton, the latest version is much more substantial than ‘a pastiche’ of its past.

It’s a solid, mid-power hunk of cool.

A bona fide ride on its own merits with dollops of feel good about motorcycle history, but most importantly it’s just really good fun to ride.

Peel away the reminiscences and there’s a tight, modern bike with globally sourced components, performance, brakes, cornering, handling and reliability.

It’s a nice, easy motorcycle that puts a huge grin on my face. And it taught me something.

Nostalgia ISN’T what it used to be.

Yeah baby!

[Ixion]

Yeah yeah. I rode one! I was underwhelmed. It so BIG and CUMBERSOME. And clunky. The T120 was a LITTLE bike. Lean. Lithe. Like a greyhound compared to the bloated offerings from Hinckley. And the Hinckleys arent even as fast I reckon, despite a lot more cc and a lot more (claimed ) HP. Mind you I may be biased, I never really though the T140 was as nice a bike as the T120. Or, for that matter, the 650SS Norton as nice as the Model 99.

I suppose the Hinckley Bonnie is a suitable bike for old men pretending to relive their youth, who nowadays want brakes. Old men, cruising into the sunset.

(Oh, and whoever came up with the Thruxton name should be butt raped by an elephant. There is only ONE Thruxton, the immortal Velocette.)

[wbks]

Thats a big read, I'll read it in the morning when i can take it all in. Xion- I was looking at one (manx) on trademe today, struck me as beautifull. Surprisingly (lol) it was starting at 60K. Wouldn't say that something which isn't a t120 cafe bike, I mean not every one on the scene was on one. Then there wouldn't be much individual about it would there.

[Sully60]

set.

(Oh, and whoever came up with the Thruxton name should be butt raped by an elephant. There is only ONE Thruxton, the immortal Velocette.)

By that logic there should only be one bike that uses the name Daytona.

[wbks]

So what could you expect to pay for an average condition T120?

[Ixion]

That was (is) a Manx Norton! And yes it is beautiful. And $60K is probably quite cheap.

Of course not everything in the cafe racer scene was a T120.

There were BSA A10s, A65s (and A7, especially the A7SS) - dunno that the A50 Royal Star every made it; Matchless G15s and CSRs and G80s; the equivalent AJSs; T100 Triumphs , even 5TAs. Oh, and T110s naturally . Goldies of course for the lucky ones (the ultimate cafe racer, probably) , and ES2 Nortons. Even (swoon) maybe a Vincent. Ariel Red Hunters were in there too. The occasional Renfield (though they didn't seem to attract that sort of person);

Lots of possibilities, and of course everyone always reckoned on the superior merits of the marque of his choice. Lots of customising options too.

[Ixion]

By that logic there should only be one bike that uses the name Daytona.


Of course. there can only EVER be one Daytona. The Meridan T100 twin carb.

Only ever one Thunderbird too. The Meridan 6T/6TA. Anyone else who tries to appopriate those names should be butt raped by an elephant. Same with Ulster. And Gold Star.

[Big Dave]

It's you who is getting old and fuzzy sunshine.

I rode mint condition examples of both on the same excursion.
I also owned a '76 Bonne.
There is hardly any difference in performance or handling.

Oil leaks reliability and electrical are another matter

[wbks]

So I take it the manx was a gp bike in the 60s... Not a lot of info on them so I dont know. Don't seem to be an awefull lot of those bikes you mentioned around these days.

[Ixion]

So what could you expect to pay for an average condition T120?


An average condition T120? You don't want one. Run away. Fast. Don't look back.

A GOOD T120, preunit ? $30000 for a genuine one. Unit ones, $15000 maybe, going down to maybe 8 -9 $k. Depending on the definiton of 'good'. The older, the dearer.

Bear in mind, that a T120 is a bike that has issues you have never dreamt of. They won't start. Bits will fall off them. They will leak oil. They are TOTALLY unlike your idea of a motorbike. They are slow. They vibrate. They don't have electric starters. Their lights are laughable.

Only a raving idiot would want one. Sort of like the sort of idiot that would want a two smoker. A masochist , like. Who likes throwing money away with nothing to show for it.

And the T120 is about the easiest to get along with of all the old Briddihs iron. If you want REAL pain, go for a Velo. Or a Goldie.

[Ixion]

It's you who is getting old and fuzzy sunshine.

I rode mint condition examples of both on the same excursion.
I also owned a '76 Bonne.
There is hardly any difference in performance or handling.

Oil leaks reliability and electrical are another matter

Ah , naturally. By 76 the Bonnie was crippled, a sad and decrepit shadow of its once glory.

Compare it with a 1960 Bonnie.

EDIT: And it's STILL a big cumbersome whale.

[wbks]

So what would you suggest for a reasonably cheap, well made bike to make into a cafe racer? Preferably without bits falling off, able to start and will at least put up a fight with a honda civic...

[Ixion]

So I take it the manx was a gp bike in the 60s... Not a lot of info on them so I dont know. Don't seem to be an awefull lot of those bikes you mentioned around these days.

No such thing as a "GP" bike in the 60s. The Manx Norton was the iconic Senior TT machine (and Clubmans racer) of the 50s and 60s. Go google "Senior TT".

Nope, not a lot left ,though there's more thanthere seem, just those that have them don't bring them out very often, and certainly not anywhere where callow and unappreciative youff might see them.

If you want to feast on an eyeful of classic racing Briddish iron, go out to the Classic racing weekend at Puke in (about ) February.

[Ixion]

So what would you suggest for a reasonably cheap, well made bike to make into a cafe racer? Preferably without bits falling off, able to start and will at least put up a fight with a honda civic...

M'self, I'd say that a VERY good starting point would be that GB500 Honda. It's two thirds of the way there, and I've seen some VERY nice examples, that would have been very well accepted at the Ace. Or the TT500 Yamaha, that can also be a beautiful bike. SRX600 also has potential .But nothing in this sort of thing is 'reasonably cheap'. No matter how well intentioned it always ends up costing a shitload more than you expected. That at least hasn't changed since the 50s. They kept me broke then, and they keep me broke now.

If money is real short, the CB250RS , or SRX250.

[wbks]

gb's seem cheap. Pretty nice one here for real cheap: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-197112186.htm Its almost too much of a cafe racer looking thing already, rather then something not mass produced. Black anodised hub and rim with rechromed spokes, baremetal pipes and take that headlight shroud off. Look nice, you think?

[Ixion]

The big problem with any of the Jappers is the front brake. A disk front brake on a cafe racer is obscene. Like a zipper in y' Norfolk breeches. TLS drum is essential (and SLS reas). Only modern 2LS Japper I know of is the ST400.

But I always like the look of the GB series. Different tank, seat, stainless mudguards, clipons, 7 inch Lucas headlamp, and a Dunstall mega, and it could be very sweet indeed. Apart form that front brake. The Dunstall is de rigour.

[Big Dave]

Ah , naturally. By 76 the Bonnie was crippled, a sad and decrepit shadow of its once glory.

Compare it with a 1960 Bonnie.

EDIT: And it's STILL a big cumbersome whale.


The unit tested was a '67.

The aspersions are unwarranted and without foundation.
You should perhaps have checked tyre pressures, ya noob.

[Big Dave]

Thats a big read,\

yeah - a kiwi rider bit that is quite dated - i thought the bit of cafe racer background might be of interest.

[jonbuoy]

Why do you care what others think of them? It seems to me that you need to find something YOU want because building a special requires commitment and a stuff the budget mentality...

And....

While I don't like to 'define' things and could not give a fats rats bum what you want to ride, the reality is a bike made in 1975 really can't be a cafe racer can it? The cafe scene was well dead by then, choppers were withering and yet the endurance racer thing was taking off. Things belong in their era (apart from Neil Young and Bob Dylan)..... No rocker ever built a CB750 cafe racer....

As for a 750 Guzzi? Same deal except when the brit bikes dried up the bad boys that could not handle japanese bikes hopped onto Guzzis and Laverdas while the panty waisted adopted Ducati... A proper Guzzi makes a cafe racer for some reason (out of era) but NOT a small block 750 and cutting up a proper big block 750 could just cause you to be kicked to death by the euro Guzzi Anorak Klub....

"Cafe" is just a style of bike/build method in my opinion - naked, clip ons/clubmans, minimalist. Built to put a smile on your face. Just like chopper, race replica, cruiser, moto, tourer each have their own niches in the bike world. Maybe its seeing a bit of a resurgence with the manufacturers - long may it continue - cafes rock. :Punk:

Anthrax - your bike looks awesome mate - love the style - very Vincent :cool:

[Paul in NZ]

The unit tested was a '67.

The aspersions are unwarranted and without foundation.
You should perhaps have checked tyre pressures, ya noob.

Unwarranted? Well triumphs importers and retailers might think so but i tend to agree with Ixion...

Hey - build any bike you want and call it fred if you need to - I like specials....

[Big Dave]

To infer that the bikes are whales and poor handling is just wrong. Incorrect and unwarranted.

(Adds after potatoes become unsteamed by the apparent corporate line inference.)

They have the accouterments that are required by riders who are not anchored in the past, but enjoy the style.

Big 12 volt batteries, working starter motors, constant oil temperature (big arse coolers) and they are burdened by pollution equipment and noise regulations.

Subsequently they have slightly larger capacity and 30 years of engine and suspension technology behind them.

Thus they go, handle, tip pretty much the same. They stop a shitload better and when you put the key in the ignition they go.

Whale that.

[vifferman]

I do like this new one tho: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtNlRgKsLb4&feature=related
That's hideous! :crazy:

[wbks]

That's hideous! :crazy:Shutup with your BLASPHEMY!!!!:angry:


yeah - a kiwi rider bit that is quite dated - i thought the bit of cafe racer background might be of interest.Yea it was of interest. Good article. As for the record racing being a myth: I have proof that says otherwise! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqyxl5ttb-Q :laugh:

[Sully60]

Shutup with your BLASPHEMY!!!!:angry:



Some may say a supercharged Harley XR powered machine made to look British is tanatmaount to blaspheme. Then again it is the Ace cafe racer so who am I to say. Doesn't really meet the minimalist criteria very well.

I'd buy that for a dollar though.

[wbks]

I don't care that it is an oil leaker harley or that they aparantly stole something out of my washing machine to make the intake, I think it looks like a nice modernised cafe racer. Telescopic forks look good on it

[Sully60]

Telescopic forks look good on it

So how many cafe racers have you found with Hossack or Saxon front ends?

[Big Dave]

So how many cafe racers have you found with Hossack or Saxon front ends?


I've seen a springer on a vincent.

[vifferman]

I don't care that it is an oil leaker harley or that they aparantly stole something out of my washing machine to make the intake, I think it looks like a nice modernised cafe racer. Telescopic forks look good on it
There's too many things wrong with it: engine's too heavy, the mufflers look worngA, the front tyre looks too fat.
The tank's good though, and it sounds OK.

[Ixion]

I gotta agree with Mr V . If the ideal is to recapture the ethos of the Ace era.

Disk front brakes, exhaust and header is all wrong, seat's wrong.Tyres are ludicrous big, far too fat for decent handling on the mountain circuit. Bear in mind that the ultimate purpose of every cafe racer was to ride the Isle of Man TT circuit at speed. Improbable though that would ever have been for the majority.

It's an interesting bike in its own right but not a classic cafe racer .Unless we redefine the term cafe racer

EDIT: Put a headlamp on this, and you have the definition of a cafe racer

[Oscar]

Cafe Racers


<img src=http://www.caferacer.ca/caferacer_cms/images/stories/caferacer/photoid30500.jpg>

Have you read the story behind Nortorious?

Proof that engineers are nutters..."Hmm, lets take one cylinder off of a Harley, make it look like a Trumpy, blow it with a Rotax supercharger so as it won't be that easy, and then wrap it up in a faux-Norty look....and I'll hide all the wiring and hydraulic lines and build some disc brakes that look like drums...":gob:

Result - A 965cc Supercharged stunner.

[HenryDorsetCase]

So what would you suggest for a reasonably cheap, well made bike to make into a cafe racer? Preferably without bits falling off, able to start and will at least put up a fight with a honda civic...

Honda CB450 twin, GB500, CB400F

edit: CB550, CB750, XS650, SR500, RD400 (not really) /edit

[Paulo]

Only really just noticed them. Seem pretty cool, and look a lot like classic GP racers (well some do anyway). Obviously aren't the fastest bikes on the road compared to race reps but you don't need that for the road huh. Also seem pretty cheap. '75 CB750-$2000, put some clip-ons, cafe racer style rear, some loud upswept pipes and a few performance mods. -Can't cost more than $2000 or 4k all up for a really nice bike. Anyway, I was wondering what other riders (you guys) think of them? Gay? Cool? Nice but you'd never own one?

Cafe's/ Kaffs, well I love em, I'm not hung up on whether they are true british steel or jap classics, I think the whole ideas at the time was to take your ride , strip the extra crap off it and make something that is your own. I love the tritons, Nortons Ducati's etc from the 60's but not being rich I've found a CB750 to be an affordable project option, Yes a CB750 does not handle like a Lighter leaner 500 single but who cares (not me) There are countless internet links to cafe custom sites and parts and pictures for ideas, heres a few...Mostly Jap builders some mixed.

http://www.wrenchmonkees.com/
http://www.cb750cafe.com/bikes.php?cat=1
http://www.perthstreetbikes.com/forum/f14/cafe-racers-thread-44173/11
http://caferacersreturn.blogspot.com/
http://dotheton.com/
http://www.deus.com.au/#/bikes/
http://www.benjiescaferacer.com/home.html
http://www.antiquetyres.com.au/brand/vintage-motorcycle
http://caferacersociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Books%20and%20Publications
http://www.vanem.com.au/
http://www.caferacer.net/page1.html

[imdying]

Disc brakes are an acceptable evil, there's good reasons why drum brakes went the way of the dodo. No matter what you build mate, make sure it's still fun to ride. No point having a bike that's looks hot shit but is a heap to ride.

What turns you on in a bike? No reason why you have to follow an old narrow intrepretation of what's 'cool', blaze your own trail :yes:

[wbks]

What turns you on in a bike? No reason why you have to follow an old narrow intrepretation of what's 'cool', blaze your own trail :yes:I go through fazes... I was actually looking at old 350's until I determined they were too slow:rolleyes: I just thought the old cafe style ones look nice and sound cool.

[Paul in NZ]

To infer that the bikes are whales and poor handling is just wrong. Incorrect and unwarranted.
.

Fairy nuf.... I could see meself on a thruxton if someone gave me one but I'm in my summer water god phase at the mo.....

[Taz]

It's getting there.....

[Paulo]

It's getting there.....

Bloody nice!

[Big Dave]

Fairy nuf.... I could see meself on a thruxton if someone gave me one but I'm in my summer water god phase at the mo.....

Yup - you can comfortably bolt 10hp on if needed too.

If I worked entirely solo a Bonneville would do me. Big bloke tall girl needs more oomph.

Keen on the upcoming Thunderbird 1600 I is.

A 1600 cruiser style I would not so adamantly defend either. Call me Moby, Dick.

[jonbuoy]

I guess we could all let the cafe name die along with the bikes that made it so famous. But when people are making bikes like this why would we?

[Forest]

That was (is) a Manx Norton! And yes it is beautiful. And $60K is probably quite cheap.

That price is a little on the high side.

The Hugh Anderson Manx (number 10M77295) is the most successfully campaigned Manx known to exist within NZ. It sold for only $42k NZD plus buyers premium at an auction in July 2008.

[madman]

Ive been humming and haring about a style to mod my bike until the natural instincts took over and now with my "jappa" back ground has taken this boring ls650 to a whole new style "cafe racer" slash chop. Still in progress though

[Laava]

Yes, cafe racers are cool! Not so much to ride or clean, but to look at!
Here's one I made earlier! Sorry to bore those of you what seen it before!

[roadracingoldfart]

it's actually a 400/four supersport.
you can do what ever the hell you like to any bike to cafe it.that bike is pretty well natural.

ed,bars and seat are changed


I never saw a CB400/4 with a drum front brake . What year was it ???
I used a 400/4 to base a cafe bike on and it served me well both on the road and the track for many years. Mine was a young one though , a 1976 model.

[roadracingoldfart]

Yes, cafe racers are cool! Not so much to ride or clean, but to look at!
Here's one I made earlier! Sorry to bore those of you what seen it before!


I never really liked the brand but that is a very nice bike visually. Nice detail and lovely condition. :2thumbsup