Cafe Racers - Am I wrong?

[flashg]

That rd350 which was a mix of later bits as well was missing heaps of stuff that would need to have been tracked down and purchased to restore.
you should never try to restore anything that incomplete.
Here is one of the most famous RD cafe builds from Spirit of the 70's
Thats an R6 front caliper cartridge forks and Triumph wheels. RGV carbs.
Attachment 327406Attachment 327407Attachment 327408

The emblem on the tank was wrong. The Yamaha music emblem has the points of the tuning forks stopping short of the outer circle as on that tank.
Yamaha motors has the points of the tuning forks entering the outer circle. Just saying
But a very nice build indeed.

[husaberg]

The emblem on the tank was wrong. The Yamaha music emblem has the points of the tuning forks stopping short of the outer circle as on that tank.
Yamaha motors has the points of the tuning forks entering the outer circle. Just saying
But a very nice build indeed.

You will hate this one then
This is what i want to do. It might change though, I hear tales that the std frames weigh close to 30KG
A RG250 frame is about 5KG, so it might end up more a spondon TZ350G/H replicaish

[KawasakiKid]

Guilty. I think I improved the bike though.

What a beautiful motorcycle you have now made....but in my opinion, on the borderline of being a classic

[Moi]

Guilty. I think I improved the bike though.

Something you are proud to park in your driveway...

[mossy1200]

Something you are proud to park in your driveway...

Nah. I sold it on trademe.

Only reason was my wife said I could buy an Agusta to replace the zx14r but idd need buy a 2up bike in place of the Beemer also.
I enjoyed the building process. That was the main reason to do the bike. I think I would have lost about a grand after selling.

The problem is with most bobber and cafe builds is people tend to cut things off and call it a finished product plus expect to make money doing it.

[Voltaire]

Guilty. I think I improved the bike though.

Apparently the K1 is 'the next big thing"...... I only rode a K100 once, for a day around the hills of Chang Mai....much like German cars, boring and reliable.

[AllanB]

Most of the trademe stuff is poorly executed junk trying to imitate something cool they liked the look of on-line. The poor old GN250 appears to have have a hacksaw hammering most recently.

There are some beautiful examples on the internet of superbly done cafe or bobber builds I'd be proud to own. Problem is the work and hours involved would cost a fortune.

Don't beat on the style just because of a pack of shit rides popping up on TM.

[flashg]

You will hate this one then
This is what i want to do. It might change though, I hear tales that the std frames weigh close to 30KG
A RG250 frame is about 5KG, so it might end up more a spondon TZ350G/H replicaish

I actually really like that, look forward to seeing pic's and remember to keep the emblem true.

[rastuscat]

Most of the trademe stuff is poorly executed junk trying to imitate something cool they liked the look of on-line. The poor old GN250 appears to have have a hacksaw hammering most recently.

There are some beautiful examples on the internet of superbly done cafe or bobber builds I'd be proud to own. Problem is the work and hours involved would cost a fortune.

Don't beat on the style just because of a pack of shit rides popping up on TM.

Yes, my bad really. It's the loss of classics to the fashion that irks me. I recently almost bought an R100RT because it was very close to the R80RTP which I started as a traffic cop on.

So many K75, K100 and Boxers have been lost to the cafe racer fad. Some well done. Most not. You only ever see the well done ones. The sad ones don't get shown off.

[mossy1200]

Yes, my bad really. It's the loss of classics to the fashion that irks me. I recently almost bought an R100RT because it was very close to the R80RTP which I started as a traffic cop on.

So many K75, K100 and Boxers have been lost to the cafe racer fad. Some well done. Most not. You only ever see the well done ones. The sad ones don't get shown off.

K100 forum

There is some very well looked after original looking k100s out there and some very good cafe racers.
The k100 quantity likely means they wont ever be rare or hard to find.
Boxers are a lot harder to find. I dont think I could cafe race one. I would rather restore one.

[AllanB]

K75 or K100 are only iconic in the horrid error of customer faith to the brand that BMW made when touting them as a replacement for the boxer twin.

Provided BMW have one example of each in their museum that is fine in my books. I've seen some really cool modified ones though!


I think when referencing classics they really need to be significant. Honda churned out so many different models of bikes in the early 80's after total world domination. F-all of them are classic (or at least significant models). I look at these bikes from my youth in the same way as photos of old girlfriends - most can be thrown away but there may be a keeper packed back in the box and replaced at the back of a dusty shelf.

[F5 Dave]

I actually really like that, look forward to seeing pic's and remember to keep the emblem true.

Hahahaa
Hahahahahah

Pictures of the finished one. Oh dear. Snuffle.
Sigh.
Oh that's a good one.

Pant.

I can'tstop.

[husaberg]

Hahahaa
Hahahahahah

Pictures of the finished one. Oh dear. Snuffle.
Sigh.
Oh that's a good one.

Pant.

I can'tstop.

Fair call.
Photoshop is faster

[F5 Dave]

Or the motivation to prove me wrong. Be proactive.

[OddDuck]

I'm in agreement with AllanB here - there's some fantastic builds out there, just look at this:

http://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/

(Danger: gateway site. Addiction may follow)

But you're right Rastus. Loads of the kiwi home builds are just horrible. I reckon there's good reason. It's part of the national psyche to just get stuck in. Don't think too much and for fuck's sake don't study first, just rip on in, there's a good bugger. And never admit to anyone, least of all yourself, that just maybe this is a bit much to take on. It's great for getting shit sorted out, it doesn't work too well when precision or good taste is required though.

Personally I've always had a thing for cafe racers and would love to build one some day. Need a really decent shed and a pile of cash first though.