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Cafe Racers?

524K views 1K replies 402 participants last post by  panhead_pete 
#1 ·
Just a quick question. Are cafe racers welcome on this board?

Primo
 
#286 ·
I am riding a 550/4 at present Cafe style, Twin contis, tea strainers, a Duke fairing, a custom seat, 18 inch front and rear rims of the manini type, drum breaks front and rear, A super sweet paint job From VON STEHN a real joy to ride, do what feels right with the bike and ride the fucker hard, its a honda
 
#6 ·
40Tudor said:
Cool...dig this. One of my favorites.
http://public.fotki.com/40Tudor/combat/

This guy has some neat stuff, too.
http://www.benjiescaferacer.com/morbikes.html

...and there's always...
http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/php/f2_4.php

...damn...first the HAMB and now this...:)
Thanks! That second site had some cool shit as did the first, is that your stuff on fotki?

To me, chopping up my Honda into another jap bobber seems like the easy way out. I think that is better left to a Trump or BSA. I can see hammering out a cool fairing and doing up a cafe style bike however. Been buying the British cycle mags for years. I like how they use em for utilitarian purposes not just as a fashion accessory!

Plus, my new house is 20 miles out. Getting the bike on the road would be a good way to make a cheaper commute.
 
#7 ·
Cafe racers rock. I had an 04 thruxton. It hauled ass but wasn't very comfortable. RPM cycle here in dallas has some preety bad ass stuff tucked away in the back. Its not on the show room but if you ask keith he will usually let you look in the back. They have some cool triumph and norton cafe bikes in the back. Maybe a triton too :)
 
#8 ·
Tman said:
Thanks! That second site had some cool shit as did the first, is that your stuff on fotki?

To me, chopping up my Honda into another jap bobber seems like the easy way out. I think that is better left to a Trump or BSA. I can see hammering out a cool fairing and doing up a cafe style bike however. Been buying the British cycle mags for years. I like how they use em for utilitarian purposes not just as a fashion accessory!

Plus, my new house is 20 miles out. Getting the bike on the road would be a good way to make a cheaper commute.
Yep, those are my pictures on fotki. I've shown the touring once or twice on the hamb. I am at the moment bikeless, since I keep wasting money on old cars:rolleyes:, but would like to do an XS or CB cafe racer.

Are you familiar with the Honda GB500 (factory built cafe bike)?

C
 
#9 ·
40Tudor said:
Yep, those are my pictures on fotki. I've shown the touring once or twice on the hamb. I am at the moment bikeless, since I keep wasting money on old cars:rolleyes:, but would like to do an XS or CB cafe racer.

Are you familiar with the Honda GB500 (factory built cafe bike)?

C
No I am not, please tell me about the GB500!?
 
#10 ·
Tman said:
No I am not, please tell me about the GB500!?
Single cylinder 500 sold in the US around '90. Cafe styling, XR engine.

<IMHO>One could call it a big marketing failure due to the timing of it's release. I think the late '80s were all about sportbikes and the very beginning of the HD surge. Nobody cared about retro, so they didn't sell well.</IMHO>

Seems like I had a good web resource, but can't turn it up at the moment. So...

pictures
http://images.google.com/images?q=honda%20gb%20500&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi

specs
http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/honda_gb_500_clubman_1992.php

detailed faq
http://www.thumperpage.com/articles/gb-500faq.html

I see them occasionally at the local bike night. Nothing like the Commando in my fotki pics, but definitely headed that direction.

...or how 'bout the Dream?
http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/sport/model.asp?ModelName=Dream+50R&ModelYear=2004&ModelId=CB50R4

Saw one at the local dealer - it's perfect, but looks like it's 3/4 scale.:D

C
 
#20 ·
Re: cafe bikes

I just sold out and bought an 05 Triumph Thruxton that Im tweaking out. THis cat bought it, put 500 miles on it, and had to get rid of it because he blew the motor in one of his race bikes. So I got the deal of the century... couldnt turn it down.

the othe factor was that it's gonna be my commuter bike - my shop is 50 miles from my apartment, so I dont have anywhere to keep a bike here in Boston. I feel more comfortable leaving an 05 on the street than I do my 67 triumph...

Plus, it's a fun ass bike to ride!
 
#22 · (Edited)
Re: cafe bikes

destroywes said:
i was wodnering if we could get a cafe racer post going,,, i know some of you guys own em, or have owned em. lets see pics,
Mines in pieces, but here's a pic of my flat tracker.

By the way anyone interested, I'm making a buck up to do Dresden style cafe tanks, hopefully this winter. I'm sick of seeing 700 for a gas tank. Probably be Stainless instead of alloy, as alloy dents to easy, too.
 

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#23 ·
Re: cafe bikes

Truth said:
I just sold out and bought an 05 Triumph Thruxton that Im tweaking out. THis cat bought it, put 500 miles on it, and had to get rid of it because he blew the motor in one of his race bikes. So I got the deal of the century... couldnt turn it down.

the othe factor was that it's gonna be my commuter bike - my shop is 50 miles from my apartment, so I dont have anywhere to keep a bike here in Boston. I feel more comfortable leaving an 05 on the street than I do my 67 triumph...

Plus, it's a fun ass bike to ride!
Hey I like the new Thruxton, though dealers price it way too high. For the money though I'd eye up one of the new RE cafe's.
 
#26 ·
Re: cafe bikes

I've wanted to build this for years, but I can't find anybody crazy enough to do it. I read back in the early '90s in Classic Bike magazine there was a guy in europe who was repoping Manx singles. Kind of like S&S does with H-D engines. Magnesium parts and all. They did a feature on a brand new repro manx (frame too) and it was beautiful.

I know it'll piss a lot of guys off, but I'd build mine with a 200x17 front and a 240x18 rear. Grimeca drum brakes and all!

(Back when I did this drawing I was a huge fan of "Tank Girl". Sorry Jamie, I know she was a Vespa chic.)
 

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