Just added spokes!

[dirtyfingers]

NICE! Spokes rock. I like the fat tire up front, looks awesome.

[oshanac]

Is that a plexiglass window for you ignition cover? Did you do it yourself? Very trick!

[gsryder]

Yes it is a plexiglass cover with a LED light inside.
Wish I could say it was my idea but it wasnt, their is another member on here with one. I got the idea from him.
Only thing different is, his bike is sweet as hell and mine has a real rat / cafe thing going.

[Rover]

Bike looks sweet I love spoke wheels...I like the wide tire front look as well..I would love to ditch my rims for spokes.....

What kind of bike do you have? I have two sets of spoked rims off GS1000

[redsoxvw]

Sent ya a PM Rover....(Didnt want to hijack this thread)

[MASSSCENE]

what tank is that???? I would like to score one for my 81 750 L model. I hate the wannabe harley tank that came on my bike.

[TheCafeKid]

what tank is that???? I would like to score one for my 81 750 L model. I hate the wannabe harley tank that came on my bike.

That is the stock 81 750/1100 tank. To fit that to YOUR bike, youd have to change the location of the front tank hangers. Not horribly difficult, but without a welder, it might be tricky...

[MASSSCENE]

i actually just bought a wlelder thanks

[TheCafeKid]

i actually just bought a wlelder thanks

Good deal then. I have looked at doing this to different frames for different bikes myself, and it, from MY vantage point, is pretty straight forward. If you look just under the steering neck on your L model you will see to holes, one on each side of the frame. On YOUR bike two plastic covers go there, but on the 'E' bikes, thats were the posts that the little rubber bumpers go for the tank mount. All one would really need to do is run a piece of rod thru the hole and weld it in place. Making sure of course, that it is centered in it. That might be slightly tricky, but no too much so i wouldnt think. Then once the rod is in place, you simply cut the new posts to length, and cut the ones for your STOCK tank off the frame, so there's no interference. Now, I am not entirely positive the rear mount changed at all in spacing, but you might have to make a bracket or some such to make that work, but it would be simple enough if you have any fabbing skills at all. Other than that, I think that would do it.

[PKcb650]

I believed that converting bike to cafe racer was supposed to improve handling, not degrade it for the sake of looks. That is usually reserved for choppers, no?

[redsoxvw]

I believed that converting bike to cafe racer was supposed to improve handling, not degrade it for the sake of looks. That is usually reserved for choppers, no?

Ouch...........Easy killer LOL......What might be degrading for one could also be upgrading for another.

Also different strokes for different folks. If it gets us all in the wind together then no matter what, its an accomplishment

[TheCafeKid]

I believed that converting bike to cafe racer was supposed to improve handling, not degrade it for the sake of looks. That is usually reserved for choppers, no?

Uhhh well, you're right, sort of...

You see, his "L" model has a dinky little pinsey tank on it. The REAL cafe racers, the guys LONG before I, let alone you, were even a twinkle in our daddies eyes, would often swap out for the biggest tanks they could get their hands on, because being able to carry more gas meant they didnt have to stop as often. In the old school street racing scene, that was a big deal. So, in essence, what he's doing is JUST THAT. yes, it just so happens the 80-82 750E tank kinda had the knee indents already that "cafe Racers" are known for having, so that helps to. (although personally, from the "looks" standpoint, I think the 77-79 tanks lend themselves better to a conventional "classic cafe" look with the rounder lines, but thats just me)

But, you're right. REAL cafe bikes are SUPPOSED to be built around the premise that there is NOTHING on the bike that doesnt make it STOP, GO, or TURN, FASTER. Everything else is unnecessary weight, and drag. Unfortunately, the whole "Cafe" scene has started to go the way of the "Chopper" and the hipsters and wannabes start chopping up perfectly good bikes to try and make some sort of cafe out of it, onlyto find that its harder than they thought, and that they really didnt think it through all that well. Which, in a way, is fine with me, cause it means i get to snap up their scabbed up bikes on the cheap, fix em back, or make them work right, and then sell em when i am done.

[Suzuki_Don]

I agree CAFE, and BTW a real cafe racer would not have the Ladies model forks on the front anyway. The "E" model forks would give better handling.

[PKcb650]

I was referring to the fat tire, not the gas tank. If the tank holds gas, its fine with me. 130 tire on the front is not likely going to improve handling. In fact I like the bike, tank and all, except for the fat front tire, which will probably make fitting of fork brace difficult.