Cafe racers

**Spyked** · 22nd January 2007, 20:10

Drop bars, rearsets, fettled motor, open pipes (Dunstalls were hot) and as Ixion said a single or twin.
But twas always open to interpretation.

**Dodgyiti** · 22nd January 2007, 20:39

Did someone say cafe racer?
Cafe Racer Hall of Fame;
Ducati 750SS
Moto-Guzzi Mk1 LeMans
BSA Gold Star
Norton 750S
And anything else with rearsets and clipons that kills your body after an hour..
Some pics of mine, past & present plus a scan I like

**Richard Mc F** · 22nd January 2007, 21:24

hehehehehe...dream on all of you this is what it is for me S2900 loud,clip ons, rear sets,....sigh suppose i have to live with the trippple discs andFPS alloys

**nudemetalz** · 22nd January 2007, 21:25

Originally Posted by Dodgyiti

Did someone say cafe racer?
Cafe Racer Hall of Fame;
Ducati 750SS
Moto-Guzzi Mk1 LeMans
BSA Gold Star
Norton 750S
And anything else with rearsets and clipons that kills your body after an hour..
Some pics of mine, past & present plus a scan I like

I love your "Guzzi-Influence" on your pics but I'm might be biased also.....

**xwhatsit** · 22nd January 2007, 23:03

Typically you don't build a new frame -- most people keep what they've got, and just modify things like the seat and stuff. Of course, there was the Norvin et al; but that was using an existing frame and putting a different engine in it.

I'm really quite keen on café-ing up my CB250RS. I think there's a little bit of potential there -- it's a thumper, at least. First thing to do would be put a round headlight in. Where the real work lies is in the seat -- I would like to just put in a flat single seat, with the vinyl hump at the back, but the CB250RS frame has a pronounced dip where the seat is which would require a small subframe, I think. Get rid of the mudguard and tail section. The tank already looks passable. Sidecovers may need some work.

Could be fun -- if I could afford it.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 23rd January 2007, 09:09

there are some completely bitchin' CB750 cafe racers: there is an english guy in the states (Carpy Carpenter) who builds cool ones.

http://www.cb750cafe.com/

But if anyone has a Triton they want to sell me for $500 I would buy it.

**degrom** · 23rd January 2007, 09:42

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

there are some completely bitchin' CB750 cafe racers: there is an english guy in the states (Carpy Carpenter) who builds cool ones.

http://www.cb750cafe.com/

But if anyone has a Triton they want to sell me for $500 I would buy it.

Yes!!! I like this one the most...
http://www.cb750cafe.com/bikes.php?cat=1&id=10

**HenryDorsetCase** · 23rd January 2007, 11:24

oh, you've seen the disco volante, right?? note the "We could be tempted to build a street legal version" . mmmmmmmm

http://www.discovolantemoto.co.uk/viewpart.do?id=24

and there is a company in Aus that builds some cool stuff:

www.deus.com.au

oh yeah!!

**toebug** · 23rd January 2007, 13:43

Todays streetfighters are yesterdays cafe racers. Take any bike you like and just run amuck with your own custom ideas. see www.nzstreetfighters.com

**xwhatsit** · 23rd January 2007, 13:59

Originally Posted by toebug

Todays streetfighters are yesterdays cafe racers. Take any bike you like and just run amuck with your own custom ideas. see www.nzstreetfighters.com

Not even close. Café racers were about getting rid of all the bullshit extra heavy stuff, lightening the bikes, making them handle better, making a more sportsbike-style seating position with rearsets and clipons.

On the other hand streetfighters seem to be about adding bling, making a more upright seating position more suited to commuting and wheelies/stoppies etc -- nothing to do with speed at all. How can you say one of those huge tails and ridiculous half-fairings does anything for lightness or speed? It's much more of a looks/style thing.

Completely different philosophy.

**xwhatsit** · 23rd January 2007, 14:01

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

oh, you've seen the disco volante, right?? note the "We could be tempted to build a street legal version" . mmmmmmmm

http://www.discovolantemoto.co.uk/viewpart.do?id=24

Ooooooooh mama....

Nup, hadn't seen one of those

**riffer** · 24th January 2007, 07:31

Originally Posted by degrom

Yes!!! I like this one the most...
http://www.cb750cafe.com/bikes.php?cat=1&id=10

You'd love the Irving Vincent then. This is my idea of a Lotto bike.

**bistard** · 24th January 2007, 07:42

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

there are some completely bitchin' CB750 cafe racers: there is an english guy in the states (Carpy Carpenter) who builds cool ones.

http://www.cb750cafe.com/

But if anyone has a Triton they want to sell me for $500 I would buy it.

He does fantastic stuff
I would give my left bollock for that 810 Selley he has there,restored that would be a fine addition to any collection