CB250RS café racer project

[jester_parks]

to keep the thread alive, herewith another fine example of a cafe-racer and and good way to go too...

[lancerlot]

I'm loving the pipework on that one!

p.s - in other news, my cousin (who is nine) decided to hang off my RS via the clutch lever. So the lever promptly snapped (which is rather strange - thought that it would be stronger)...so now I have no bike to ride, until i find a new clutch lever.

This makes me

[HenryDorsetCase]

I'm loving the pipework on that one!

p.s - in other news, my cousin (who is nine) decided to hang off my RS via the clutch lever. So the lever promptly snapped (which is rather strange - thought that it would be stronger)...so now I have no bike to ride, until i find a new clutch lever.

This makes me

ah crap. Still, it shouldnt be that hard to find or expensive. Buy two (and a spare brake lever), so you've a spare in your toolbox. they can be useful. I saw a guy step off a ZX10 at a trackday last month and among the damage was a front brake lever: $75 apparently! Yours wont be anything like that expensive..... I bought pattern ones for the VFR and they were about $15 each IIRC.

[Wobbles]

Hey Jester;
Loving the red frame on that one - v. classy. Always fancied doing that.

Lancerlot - yeah - console yourself that pattern levers are readily avalaible, and very importantly..................cheap!!
Hope you're back riding soon

[HenryDorsetCase]

by the way, I got the latest (Feb 09) Classic Bike to read on the plane last week: its got an article on a CB350 cafe racer and it has the red frame/silver tank and seat combo going on. Its a good read, check it out in a magazine shop if nowhere else.

[lancerlot]

So thankfully I bought the new clutch lever over the weekend. Just a Pavarotti (10-er) from the local Honda dealer.

Happily riding around now.

Though, importantly, it's given me back the drive to find a new cafe racer seat and really start with the project....

[tychver]

Xerxes:
How's the bike with a pillion on? Hard to stop?

[xwhatsit]

Xerxes:
How's the bike with a pillion on? Hard to stop?

It's not bad, really. As long as you date Asian girls Yes, it's hard on the brakes but I generally ride around town as if I had none anyway, looking ahead four or five or more cars to figure out what's going to happen. Goes around corners quite well, two-up peg scraping in the wet (not intentional); just got to sort of lift it up at the exit. Have to rape the gearbox and clutch to make any progress sometimes.

Seat's not really cut out for more than 100kms or so two-up, you'll end up with very sore nuts.

[jester_parks]

Hi guys, I returned from a vintage-bike and -parts sale over the weekend and I am happy to announce that I successfully bought some parts to complete my RS-CafeRacer:
I guess those pipes will fit nicely, although they are not precisely old style, as those days the pipes were straight.Pls. judge yourself:

[Squiggles]

Xerxes:
How's the bike with a pillion on? Hard to stop?

Its fucken scary

[NordieBoy]

Hi guys, I returned from a vintage-bike and -parts sale over the weekend and I am happy to announce that I successfully bought some parts to complete my RS-CafeRacer:
I guess those pipes will fit nicely, although they are not precisely old style, as those days they pipes were straight.Pls. judge yourself:

In silver maybe.

Or some reverse cone Dunstall type megas.

[tychver]

I like the wavy pipes. Have you thought about getting the rest of the exhaust sorted out?

I'm not sure, but I've had a good look at the headers and they don't look capable of flowing more than 30hp. With the 300+cc you might start running into the limit of the headers.

[jester_parks]

Quite frankly I haven`t done that - I am still busy with my Yamahas, then I will attend to the engine again. With the bigger valves , Keihin CR, hot-cam and open pipes I would think that 35bhp should be possible: thats what I am aiming for and would be satisfied with it - after all, it should be still rideable on the road!

[Wobbles]

Yep; liking the wavy pipes Jester- very MV Agusta, which can't be at all bad.

Really like the red frame.
Looking very nice indeed.

Looking at your photoshop bike Jester, reminds me of a question that's been partially talked about;
On the kickstart models, what do you guys do about the brake lever getting in the way when you've put rearsets on??
If you're not running a standard brake pedal(that moves with the kickstart) then the kickstart just bangs into it and won't go the full way down.
I got round this by making my brake plate detachable, but it's a drag if you stall at the lights and have to fart around while the traffic's going nuts behind you.
Any suggestions?

[maybegunnadoo]

yes: Greetings Gents from Darwin NT. I am now the proud owner of a large box of bits some painted bright vomit yellow, 15 yr old tyres, rusty bits and hopefully when all back together I will join this fine fraturnity. Ive wanted a new bike for ages, but all the new ones just don't ring my bell. I wanted something small light easy to work on, a classic shape and wire wheels. Anyway I went to a BBQ and under cover was this yellow thing (in one piece at the time) amongst 5 or 6 other bikes. I made a stupid offer and then it sat in my shed for 18 months or so...The idea was a quick do up and flog it to get some money for something better. Anyway I finally started taking it apart last month and was instantly struck by how easy it was to work on, the lovely classic lines and so thought that it would make a great little cafe racer. Then I saw 'Wobbles Wonder Machine' and am totally smitten. So I'm going to join to in and devote my evenings to a worthy cause of The CB250RS Appreciation society. I'l get some pickies out soon...