Cafe Project

[DrunkenMistake]

Hey guys,
So to start off Im going to book my 6R on wednesday which leaves me 12 to 18 months depending if I do defensive driving before I can get my full,

So as TT knows, I love Cafe racer styled motorcycles for some time now I have wanted one or to build one,
which brought to a sudden Idea, I want to get either a beat up older motorbike cheaper the better, must run of corse or a rolling frame and work from there, what im not to sure on is what I want to start my base off as,
I was looking at 400 kwak eliminators or bikes of that shape and type, the main reason I want a 400 is becouse I can get my short ass ontop of it,
for those of you who witnessed my poor attempt of getting my hobit leg over my CBR at magpie will understand,
If there is room in the frame I might consider dropping in a 600 but thats all for later, right now I am looking at suggestions as a start I dont want to pay to much my max maybe $700 if that seems reasonable, if you don't think so please let me know.
My Plan is to have a 12 month project bike, so I can do a total strip and rebuild without the hassle of it been off the road, then once I get my full I have a motorbike I can ride so I can sell the CBR which leaves me debt free and pocket half full with cash.

[Dodgyiti]

You might get a starting bike for $700 but as with these things, the better the bike you start with the less it will cost you later. Anything that is a good runner with rego on hold is way better than something that is a rough runner and dead plates as far as spending money later on. It is very easy for your initial $700 to creep up to way more than you will ever get back..

If you doubt my advice, go and price up the parts to recon the engine (4 x pistons, rings, bearings, guides, springs etc etc) and carbies x 4 (don't forget the diaphrams!) then add machining and balancing, freight and possibly duty, then add a new clutch...3.5k already? More? Then add the pipes, a dyno tune to get all your mods to fuel correctly plus the initial $700 purchase price and your left with a bike that will owe you over 5 grand and probably fetch less than half that if you go to sell it later on.

[KiwiGs]

Listen to Dodgyiti! Take a look on trademe, there always a few examples of people’s attempts at cafes/specials or whatever. They are almost always overpriced, 'cause the owner is trying to recoup some of their 'investment'.
Cafes done right can be a labour of love and in a lot of cases they are money pits, but if you are building your dream bike then none of the above matters.......

[Dodgyiti]

Heehee, I have actually made money on some of the ones I have built but it is a big ask and they have to be the 'right' bike to begin with.
Built this one last year after it and me were hit by a boat




Total build cost and doing absolutly everything myself was 6,500 sale price 7,500
Hourly rate for building it $0.50 per hour But loved doing it and you have to.

[R6_kid:Me]

CB200 or CB350/360.

[popelli]

before you start look at disco volante website (google it as I am crap at posting links)

they have nice stuff but if you want to do it properly its going to cost

unless you are building the bike as a keeper this money making idea may be a non starter

[Voltaire]

Heehee, I have actually made money on some of the ones I have built but it is a big ask and they have to be the 'right' bike to begin with.
Built this one last year after it and me were hit by a boat




Total build cost and doing absolutly everything myself was 6,500 sale price 7,500
Hourly rate for building it $0.50 per hour But loved doing it and you have to.

Nice shocks....whats that attached to it....

[Sable]

Go look up prices for reshaping stock seats or getting fibreglass seat units. Prices for clipons. Someone else mentioned four stroke engine rebuilding. Seven hundred dollars? You might get a dereg GN250 or something. Happy dreaming

[HenryDorsetCase]

Hey guys,
So to start off Im going to book my 6R on wednesday which leaves me 12 to 18 months depending if I do defensive driving before I can get my full,

So as TT knows, I love Cafe racer styled motorcycles for some time now I have wanted one or to build one,
which brought to a sudden Idea, I want to get either a beat up older motorbike cheaper the better, must run of corse or a rolling frame and work from there, what im not to sure on is what I want to start my base off as,
I was looking at 400 kwak eliminators or bikes of that shape and type, the main reason I want a 400 is becouse I can get my short ass ontop of it,
for those of you who witnessed my poor attempt of getting my hobit leg over my CBR at magpie will understand,
If there is room in the frame I might consider dropping in a 600 but thats all for later, right now I am looking at suggestions as a start I dont want to pay to much my max maybe $700 if that seems reasonable, if you don't think so please let me know.
My Plan is to have a 12 month project bike, so I can do a total strip and rebuild without the hassle of it been off the road, then once I get my full I have a motorbike I can ride so I can sell the CBR which leaves me debt free and pocket half full with cash.

www.rycamotors.com

[HenryDorsetCase]

You might get a starting bike for $700 but as with these things, the better the bike you start with the less it will cost you later. Anything that is a good runner with rego on hold is way better than something that is a rough runner and dead plates as far as spending money later on. It is very easy for your initial $700 to creep up to way more than you will ever get back..

If you doubt my advice, go and price up the parts to recon the engine (4 x pistons, rings, bearings, guides, springs etc etc) and carbies x 4 (don't forget the diaphrams!) then add machining and balancing, freight and possibly duty, then add a new clutch...3.5k already? More? Then add the pipes, a dyno tune to get all your mods to fuel correctly plus the initial $700 purchase price and your left with a bike that will owe you over 5 grand and probably fetch less than half that if you go to sell it later on.

yup.

ten characters.

[avgas]

GB400 and your half way there already.

Shame you did not contact me earlier.......3 weeks ago I sold of an SRX400 for $1200.

I sold a GB400 with a box of cafe parts about 3 years ago for $800 sadly I doubt you will find such a good buy around anymore.