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Good Choice for a Cafe Build?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark M
  • Start date Start date
Just looking through that site brings up a subject we've seen before about tubeless tires on spoked wheels.

They use household silicon to seal the inside of the rim and then run without tubes. Apparently a common classic racer practice, and he says he's been running the bike like that for three years without problems.

Interesting - or it would be if I had any spokes :-D
 
I'm a fan of Carpy's CB's. He does a great job. I like the look of a well done CB750 Cafe, but it is great to see what people can come up with on other bikes, whether it's a classic British bike or a newer Jap bike.

That's one of the reasons why I try to do as much as I can on my GS650, because people never know what it is, they're not expecting a Suzuki. Granted mine isn't the greatest platform for a Cafe Bike with the shaft drive and no option of spoke wheels, electric start, etc. It's unique and I think a lot of people, especially those in the scene, appreciate that more, because they've seen a nicely done CB a hundred times, but barely ever see a GS done up. So I try to keep that as my inspiration to keep working on mine.

I don't have a problem with pre-made parts for cafe bikes. Some people don't have the option, tools, or the know-how to fabricate. I just think it's all in how you use those parts and combine them for an over all look. If you're just going to take a stock bike, throw some clubman bars and a bullet fairing on it, then no, you're not really trying....you're just buying accessories, but if you going threw the whole bike striping off whats not needed, taking a minimalists approach and making a lean and mean machine, then use what resources and parts you have to accomplish your concept. I have respect for that.
I don't have a brain full of Motorcycle Knowledge, but I do what I can with what I know.

Cheers
 
My point was more of one that everyone makes bolt on parts for CBs. Im not knocking those who dont have the know how as i said. Ive had a couple CBs. Ive used bolt on parts. But this GS has been a better, more fulfilling experience for me, simply because, ONE im NOT a fabricator really. I had to learn or have someone show me ways of doing just about everything ive done to it. TWO, I did everything to it. Its been a b!tch sometimes, and frustrating as well. But i think i will get more satisfaction out of it in the end than i did with the CBs. again, this is all just my opinion.

And Hap..tell your mom we'll go for pinks, her Honda and my GS any day of the week*:-D
 
Ok so I'm ready for a little education.... Can you guys please list the differences between Cafe Racer and street fighter. Possibly with pictures.
 
Here's a little Wikipedia action:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafe_racer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetfighter

The way I look at it is that a Streetfighter is today (on more modern bikes), what Cafe Racers where back in the 50's (on what are now classic bikes). Cafe Racers/Streetfighters are stripped down to bare minimum and modified engines to get the best performance and power to weight ratio.

Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvWBXHRIauA

Cafe Racers seem to have an overall culture along with it, to where a Street Fighter doesn't seem to have that, at least I've never really seen a Street Fighter culture around Chicago.
 
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Cafe racers and street fighters. Well, to start there is ALOT of history, and culture as darkbane said behind the cafe racer, but if you want to get down to the bare bones of it, as far as a bike goes, IMO

Cafe Racer: Stripped, modded, lightened and nothing on it that doesnt make it go stop or turn faster, using PERIOD parts, or at least building period parts, with period tech. You'll find no turbos, big diameter USD forks, monoshocks or any such modern acutrements on a cafe racer.

Street Fighter: Same as above, except using modern components on an old school bike, or a modern bike. You'll often see those USD forks, monoshocks, wider rims and modern rubber, as well as anything that can be converted to aluminum for weight savings. Usually, if its a more modern bike, all the plastic will be stripped off.

There are some amazing bikes produced by both sides. But i think one of the draws for me to the cafe scene was the history, culture and attitude behind it. After all, alot of the bikes you see today may not have been ever built if it wasnt for the Ton Up Boys way back when.
 
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...

I'd do a 550 with 650 jugs. Get the earlier, VM carbs for easy jetting when you inevitably ditch the airbox. Chain drive, so you can run whatever wheels you want - spoked, inevitably.

The 750s are easier to hop up, mostly because you can buy the flat-slides for 'em. But I think a 550 would be truer to the look, lighter too.
 
Does the 80-82 have a kick start? My 83 650 doesn't. Kick start gives the bike a much cooler look. Plus you look cool kicking your bike.
 
Dunno bout the 550s but the 750 lost the kickstart in 80. The 1000 never had one, and i think the 850s lost it in 80 as well? anyone?
 
Kick start would be ok.... But I'm happy just touching the little button and the bike is running. No muss no fuss.... way to old to worry about looking "cool" now
 
True. I like that little button too, but its also nice not to have to find a hill if your starter clutch or motor goes out on you too. :shock:
 
Kicker is not necessary - just bump start it like the rest of us.

Magneto ignition on the other hand :-D:-D:-D
 
If i can avoid it, ive no real desire to bump start a 500+ lb bike. I tried bumping my step dads Vulcan 900 classic last summer. Lets just say, after the non sucess, it was a long hard push back up the alley. :?
 
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