Another cafe racer........

[nvr2old]

When I took the old tires off my S to replace them with a new set of Continentals, the front wheel was tubeless and the rear had a tube. The front wheel constantly went flat. Just would not hold air. I wanted to try and go tubeless on the new set, but found I had to change the valve stem, which to get the correct one, meant drilling the hole slightly larger. Before doing that I went in search of new valve stems. Suzuki dealer first..where I found that the stock wheels are supposed to have tubes. That was good enough for me. The wheels are designed to have tubes, so I went with tubes. I do not want these babies to let go at high speed when they get good and warm, or to constantly have slow leaks..just not worth it.

[DMorris]

More nice clean work, Yaddy! I'll be watching for the latest pix of the whole bike.
It occured to me that part of what draws me to your bike is the relative proportions of the parts. I have been drooling over cafe bikes since the early 70's and have noticed some trends. Seems like some of the early cafe bikes I saw had larger fuel tanks than standard. Seems that if someone was going to build a solo bike anyway more space could be alloted to fuel. I remember seeing bikes and articles about bikes that had 6 and 7 gallon tanks.
While you did not expand the capacity of your tank, the extension gives that impression and I like the look and the concept. You can also see the look on some of the period race bikes from the 50', 60's and early 70's.
Any way, while objectively your build is not special in the technology you have incorporated (no usd forks or monoshock etc.) it is a very fine example of quality design work -- it has a "look". It could just as easily be mistaken for a factory special. It just looks "right". I might change a detail or two if it were mine but not much.

Props on a tight and tasty design.

Maybe I could talk you into sending me a couple of hi-res shots of the bike when it's all together.

Best, Don

P.S. I once saw an article in a hot rog mag by Lil John Buttera describing how he got a fine matt finish on his aluminum parts with WD-40 and red scotchbrite pads.

[yaddy]

set it up in the brake

Brake press? Hahah
Manual folder more like!
I was telling him how to adjust the blade settings so that it would have a gap between them, this would allow the alloy to bend in a radius rather than a sharp corner, I only want 62º according to my angle setter. He wouldn't let me at it though, said it would "upset" his folder, it's only set for 22 gauge at the minute so would deffo of cracked in one fold attempt. I suggested he make the fold in 3 stages but no, not having any of it. Waste of time, some people eh?..... i'll knock a simple folder up using my trolly jack, a piece of pipe for the "push" and two 50x50 angles to push against. Done it before and it works, just thought i'd go the "easy" route this time..................

Really enjoy watching the progress. Keep it up.

Thanks dude, i really enjoy making progress too.

****, im gunna have to read this whole thing!

Lol, knock yourself out buddy, let me know what you think, cheers

[DMorris]

Yaddy,
Couldn't you get the bend and the radius using 3 1/4 inch dowels and a press?

One dowel taped to the inside of the bend and two bracketing the bend on the outside of the bend. Put the whole works in a press and squeeze.

just a thought....

Don

[yaddy]

while objectively your build is not special in the technology you have incorporated (no usd forks or monoshock etc.) it is a very fine example of quality design work -- it has a "look". It could just as easily be mistaken for a factory special. It just looks "right". I might change a detail or two if it were mine but not much.

Thanks again Don, valued comments indeed. Factory special eh? I wouldn't go that far but thanks all the same. Going for usd's, monoshock etc is all very cool, but not for me on this particular project. I will be considering a bobber or semi chop project next, with changed out forks etc. This build was never meant to be what it has turned into, all i wanted to do was slap some ace bars and a seat n tank on and have done with it!

Sure buddy, "proper" pics once finished is no problem. I'll trade you for some of your own project .

The whole reason for sharing the project on the forum was for inspiration and advice from others, what would you change if it were your bike? I just might like what you think and go with that instead. If i'm honest, i have a couple of things i'm not "happy" with myself.......i think that's a given with every build and they are all "working progress", heheee

[yaddy]

Yaddy,
Couldn't you get the bend and the radius using 3 1/4 inch dowels and a press?

One dowel taped to the inside of the bend and two bracketing the bend on the outside of the bend. Put the whole works in a press and squeeze.

just a thought....

Don

Sounds very similar to the way i intend to do it, i'll be using a trolley jack as the press.

[DMorris]

Yaddy, since you asked....

I would remove the thing on the front of your headlight and once I found the proper fit for your bars, I would have a set made so that the bars looked cleaner.

Like I said, pal, very minor details.

I'm just getting back into bikes but as soon as I have a project going, I will definitely share.

Best, Don

[yaddy]

Yaddy, since you asked....

I would remove the thing on the front of your headlight and once I found the proper fit for your bars, I would have a set made so that the bars looked cleaner.

Lol! I've been trying to find an 8 or even 9 inch headlight for the last six weeks and as for bars, i bought a brand new set of "clubmans" but they won't fit without bashing into the clocks so i removed them. I think they are actually "junior clubmans" or something, not very wide at all. Might have to scrap them and find another set or as you say, make some myself perhaps....

So if anyone wants a set of brand new clubman type bars that won't fit a standard set of clocks, i'll trade for a front lighthouse!


Edit:
Just thought, the reason they don't fit could be because i dropped my clocks down on the yokes?

[DMorris]

Yaddy,

There are a couple of bike breakers near me. I'll give them a check if you'd like...

Don

[yaddy]

Yaddy,

There are a couple of bike breakers near me. I'll give them a check if you'd like...

Don

That would be cool buddy, thanks in advance for any help you can give with this, much appreciated.

[DMorris]

I'll stop in tomorrow after work and see what they have.

Don

[DMorris]

Hi Yaddy,

I stopped into "Bent Bike" and took a look around for an 8 or 9 inch headlight for you but had no luck.
It was a little overwhelming and disappointing. All of the headlight assemblies had been broken down to seperate parts. The trim rings and retainers were not attached to their buckets but loose in big tubs, leaving it up to the customer to try to make a match.
I saw some pieces that I might have tried to work with myself but nothing clean enough to send to you sight unseen. On top of that, they were very, very proud of their stuff.... $25.00 & $30.00 and up for empty buckets!
On a perhaps more positive note, I saw a mid-80's Yamaha 650 Seca (not the SecaII) and realized that the headlight looked to be easily 8 inches and quite clean in design. Maybe that will provide you another avenue to search.

Sorry....

I will keep an eye out; maybe something will turn up.

Best, Don

[yaddy]

Hey Don,

Thanks man. I didn't expect you to go routing through boxes of sh**e on my behalf, i do kinda like going through the breakers bins myself though, heheeeeee.

Thanks for the time and effort you put it, i appreciate it very much. Shame you didn't find anything but that's been the story for me too.

Yamaha Seca? Dunno what that is but i presume it's the same as an XJ650? I know that they had HUGE lamps back in the day, i'm having trouble finding one though! That's mainly what i've been looking for as i remember them being way bigger than most others at the time. Some bandit's have 8 inch i believe and some Ducati monsters as well (the ducati has a particularly nice flat front to it).

Cheers for the help anyway Don,
I'll get something that suits one day.............

[DMorris]

No sweat, Yaddy, Glad to do it.

I learned some things while I was poking around in the mountains of parts that will help when I start a build of my own.

If I can serve as eyes Stateside, I'd be only too happy to help.

Can't wait to see the next pictures.

[Bert Patterson]

This whole thread is just beautiful. The bike couldn’t be nicer in anyway I could think of. Wish I had the skills, so I didn’t have to live vicariously through people like you.