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Good Choice for a Cafe Build?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark M
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark M

Guest
I'm getting more and more captivated with the cafe specials I have seen lately and am starting to think I need one of my own. I am not going to chop up my 1100E for this and want to buy a rat bike solely for the purpose of chopping it up. Many of the bikes on cb750cafe.com are where I want to end up, they are amazing pieces of work.

Question is - are there some models/years that are better than others for this? I am partial to the 80-82 750E's as a starting point, any reason not to go there? I am in no hurry, if it takes 6 months to find a bike, no problem.

Thoughts/opinions/choices/etc.?

Thanks,
Mark
 
Only reason not to would be weight. They weigh the same as the 1100's, I believe.

Otherwise, have at it.
 
Mark M said:
I'm getting more and more captivated with the cafe specials I have seen lately and am starting to think I need one of my own. I am not going to chop up my 1100E for this and want to buy a rat bike solely for the purpose of chopping it up. Many of the bikes on cb750cafe.com are where I want to end up, they are amazing pieces of work.

Question is - are there some models/years that are better than others for this? I am partial to the 80-82 750E's as a starting point, any reason not to go there? I am in no hurry, if it takes 6 months to find a bike, no problem.

Thoughts/opinions/choices/etc.?

Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...

Pre80 750s would be my choice. obviously :) 8valve motors have a lil more retro look to them, and if you can find a bike with spokes (77 or early 78) then awesome. Or you could put spokes on after if you can find decent ones. If you do serious motor mods to it, you'll get bigger displacement #s out of the 8valve (844 with a bore kit, slightly smaller on the 16v, dunno why. ) Plus, IMO the old rounded tank looks a hell of alot more retro than the post 80 squah-ed off tank. Just my opinion however.
 
In my opinion a cafe racer, above almost everything else, has to have a kickstart so pre-80 750 or 550 is the way to go.
 
Good one:) like where your heads at! I had been looking into doing what Dardoonk and 8Track did with rearsets, but refuse to give up my kickstarter.
 
Always loved the 650 yamaha vertical twins. They have the classic british look and feel. I know that the street tracker crowd loves them, but always thought that the original brit cafe' racer looks fit them well. A timeless style of motorcycle in my opinion. (and a kickstarter). And don't forget all kinds of new and used parts available for them too.
 
I've never posted here and having owned a 1982 CB 650, wouldn't really want to see one chopped up. That being said, it was a very dependable scoot but does have the 80's inline four look. If your partial to the inline motors, go with an early 70's 750 Four Honda, great engines and thier curved line finns look more at home on a Cafe. I have to agree that the upright twins from Yamaha look a great deal the part. To me, they look a lot like the ond Nortons, BSA's, Vincent's ect. If ever I were to do a Cafe style bike, me tinks I'de pick on one of those...that and .02 cents. :)
 
i think that the gs 750 e is a great choice. i plan on going the cafe route with my T if i ever get my other bikes together. i wanna keep the cast wheels and polish them and the engine as well. figured on keeping the squarish tank and kinda copying it for the tail section. or black everything out. too soon to tell.
 
TheCafeKid said:
Pre80 750s would be my choice. obviously :) 8valve motors have a lil more retro look to them, and if you can find a bike with spokes (77 or early 78) then awesome. Or you could put spokes on after if you can find decent ones. If you do serious motor mods to it, you'll get bigger displacement #s out of the 8valve (844 with a bore kit, slightly smaller on the 16v, dunno why. ) Plus, IMO the old rounded tank looks a hell of alot more retro than the post 80 squah-ed off tank. Just my opinion however.
Click to expand...

I was thinking that I would do a blend of old and new, with new USD forks, wide 17" wheels and radials mated to the original chassis. I like the Honda CBR F3 and F4i wheels for the multispoked look. I think they would look great finished similar to many of the cast wheels on CB750Cafe. That way, I would get radial performance with much of the retro look.

I agree the pre-80 750 tank looks better, and it is a good shape to bash in knee cutouts without welding. I was thinking the 80+ 750 tank would work OK for that too, but I would have to work with the existing slash on the side.

Thanks for the thoughts, I will keep my eyes open for suitable bikes and see what comes up. I really don't want anything smaller than a 750, I like excess amounts of horsepower.\\:D/:-D

Mark
 
Well if you're using USD forks and modern wheels, it, in my humble opinion kinda defeats the purpose of a cafe. Becomes more of a streetfighter, again in my opinion. Not saying it wouldnt be cool by any means however. I had thought to use a pre80 tank on a post 80 frame. Doesnt work, unless you feel like beating the tunnel in a bit. Shoulders on the post80 frame are too wide. Demit.
 
CafeKid,

That is a fair enough assessment. I love the look of the old GS's, but not the way they work. I can't help but look at the spindly forks and skinny wheels and want to change them out...

For whoever suggested a single cam Honda, that is a solid choice and this is about the coolest thing I have ever seen:

http://www.cb750cafe.com/bikes.php?cat=1&id=11

I would look hard for a replica CR half fairing, or add a small flyscreen over the headlight but it is near perfect to my eye.:shock::-D

Mark
 
BAH! It is pretty indeed. But im sick of the SOHC Hondas being all anyone ever does. BCR does them, Carpy does them exclusively. They've become near cookie cutter re-hashs just like modern day sport bikes. There's no passion in them, one looks the same as the rest. Different colour, maybe a different tail piece. They handle like crap comparitively speaking ( i owned two, so i have a platform to base this off of) They are just as heavy as our GS's and make less power. Im not saying there arent some superbly done ones out there, such as Carpy's. But he takes it to an extreme. Those bikes might as well be new. The motors are completely rebuilt, often bored out, and everything is made by hand. THATS what I think is awesome. Now days guys think they can slap some clubmans on it, maybe some bar-end mirrors and some make shift rearsets and its a cafe bike. Sure and it may be. But there is no passion in it. Everyone and their mother has a CB cafe. Fibreglass seats are a dime a dozen for em. Everyone makes stuff for them. Its EASY to do a CB cafe. Thats part of the reason i chose a GS for my project. And once i did, i flat fell in love with it. Yeah, there's nothing out there for em. You got to do it yourself, but thats part of it. You have to buy REAL vintage parts. You have to fabricate stuff yourself, or have it done, if you dont have the means. Im not trying to knock those who have built CBs, but i would just like to see someone use something else. I think the XS builders do some AMAZING stuff. and whats more, they are true to form. Classic thumpers, the way the cafe started out. They, for the most part, are just too darn small for my fat ass. I have an XS400 out back that will be next on the board. But, alas, other than some shakedowns, i'll never ride it. Some guy will buy a turn key cafe, hopefully, which again, defeats the purpose of building one. BUT some people just dont have the desire, knowhow or means.

Ok Rant over..sorry...
 
Now that ive cleared my mind..heh... If you had such a bike, and WANTED a CR replica fairing, one need look no further than Airtech. Again.. they make a million things for the CBs.. Thankfully they make quite a bit for everyone else too.
 
TheCafeKid said:
Good one:) like where your heads at! I had been looking into doing what Dardoonk and 8Track did with rearsets, but refuse to give up my kickstarter.
Click to expand...

I am working on figuring that out. I WILL end up with a kicker when it's all said & done.:)
 
hehe. well when you figure it out, share. But i think i may have an idea. Just not entirely sure how to impliment it yet. Also, as an aside, the battery relocation will happen, but not untill next winter ive decided. I want to get it done for the spring, and i've a bunch of stuff to do, i dont need another thing on the plate right now.
 
TheCafeKid said:
Good one:) like where your heads at! I had been looking into doing what Dardoonk and 8Track did with rearsets, but refuse to give up my kickstarter.
Click to expand...
Remake the kick starter so that it clears the rear sets or make the brake pedal fold up. A lot of old Pommie bikes had a folding brake pedal so that the starter would clear it.

I agree about the Honda thing too - nice bikes but overdone. That's why I bought an XS500. They are quite a rare little beasty.

I think heaps of bikes from the 80's would lend themselves to Cafe style - Honda CB, CX, VF, VT, Yamaha FJ, XS, XJ, XV, SR, Kawasaki GPZ and of course Suzuki GS.
 
TheCafeKid said:
BAH! It is pretty indeed. But im sick of the SOHC Hondas being all anyone ever does.

<snip>

Ok Rant over..sorry...
Click to expand...

Don't hold back, tell us what you really think!:shock::-D

I agree on the Hondas. Actually, any Honda. They just don't speak to me. What I like about Carpy's cafes is the work, not the platform. The CR is an exception because of the history that model has. That's why I am on a GS site instead of a Honda site...

That said, a GS built like Carpy's CB cafe bikes would awesome. I will keep thinking about it and eventually the right bike will come up for sale when I have cash in hand to buy it.

My other option is to build a custom chassis for an RD400 engine I have access to and make a super light 2 smoke cafe special out of it. That would definitely get the full USD forks/17" wheel/radial tires/big brake treatment. At least it would have a kickstarter...:-D

Either way, it's a lot of work. Very satisfying as well, though.

Mark
 
having said that a kick start is essential, one of the best cafe racers i've ever seen is a........BMW. Pig ugly and clonky engine but when you see what this guy's done. Real minimalist and aggressive. I've got a R100RT shed awaiting this treatment (been waiting about 5 years but I'll get round to it).
badboxer.jpg
 
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