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Has anyone ever converted to cafe racer?
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That 'Wing is a hoot. I can see some cafe elements in it, but it looks more like a motor with a bike wrapped around it.Dogma
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O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you! - David
Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep insights can be winnowed from deep nonsense. - Carl Sagan
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'80 GS850 GLT
'80 GS1000 GT
'01 ZRX1200R
How to get a "What's New" feed without the Vortex, and without permanently quitting the Vortex
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Originally posted by tkent02 View Post+1, the heaviest of the heavy, the most comfortable, it is silly to cafe one.
Besides, it's a shafty, so you are joking, right?
Heh, cant/shouldnt do it to a 850. Bla bla bla. I did and I love it.
Honestly I think I'd sell the Skunk before I'd sell the 850.
The bike is an absolute hoot to ride. A stock bike is BORING. Boring to build and boring to ride. Make it into something its not and thats what makes it fun.
Sure, an ideal cafe is a little twin or something lighter but I promise you my 850 will leave most any old Suzuki twin in the dust in any conditions, weight, shaft and all.
Can Cafe ANYTHING!
Last edited by Octain; 06-08-2011, 02:24 PM.sigpic
82 GS850
78 GS1000
04 HD Fatboy
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DCrippa
I have to agree with you Octain - besides its more a state of mind...
Lose the excess and get it to perform as best you can with what you can do... typically with little or no funds - but focusing on the art / ability of the builder... that said I have no problems with builds that clearly took a lot of money.
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ChicagoBob
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Originally posted by DCrippa View PostI have to agree with you Octane - besides its more a state of mind...
Lose the excess and get it to perform as best you can with what you can do... typically with little or no funds - but focusing on the art / ability of the builder... that said I have no problems with builds that clearly took a lot of money.
It has no safety switches(sidestand, clutch ect.) and no tach.
The brakes are new including stainless lines up front. All signals, lights and brake lights work like they're supposed to.
Cheap drag bars with cheapy bar ends.
Although it's not something I'd wanna do an Iron Butt ride on but it sure is fun hopping around town and always starts up some curious conversation.
It runs like a top even after sitting for a few weeks. Starts with normal choke, idles great and revs like a buzzbomb.
I do wanna make or find a fork brace, new shocks and springs and *maybe* a different paint job.
Other than these few items its just the way I want it and I would definitely do it againsigpic
82 GS850
78 GS1000
04 HD Fatboy
...............................____
.................________-|___\____
..;.;;.:;:;.,;.|__(O)___|____/_(O)|
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Originally posted by Octain View Post...but I promise you my 850 will leave any twin in the dust in any condition, weight, shaft and all.
Bob T. ~~ Play the GSR weekly photo game: Pic of Week Game
'83 GS1100E ~ '24 Triumph Speed 400 ~ '01 TRIUMPH TT600 ~ '67 HONDA CUB
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Originally posted by Octain View PostLOL, well...
Edited!Bob T. ~~ Play the GSR weekly photo game: Pic of Week Game
'83 GS1100E ~ '24 Triumph Speed 400 ~ '01 TRIUMPH TT600 ~ '67 HONDA CUB
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spyug
As mentioned, getting technical about it, a cafe is built on a parallel twin bike along the lines of the BSA, Triumph, Nortons etc that started it all in the 50 and 60s over in Limeyland. Having said that, anything goes and while some take better to it than others (in my mind that would be almost anything other than an inline 4) all can turn out nicely with a bit of planning and an eye for detail, like Octain's bike.
A few years back I was dead keen on building an XS650 cafe which might be the best known platform used for the resurgence in this style. Once I started it I realised that due to health issues it wouldn't work for me so I converted to the more upright StreetTracker. It was a fun build and a fun bike when finished.
More recently, I've been getting excited about the CX500 or 650 v-twins that look like mini Guzzis when done. The engine is silky smooth and to me sounds like a real bike and I've kind of fallen for them. Despite the style being hard on my body, that might be my next winter project. They too are a shaftie so I wouldn't worry about that.
Do what turns you on but for goodness sake keep it safe. I hate it when I see guys take off front disks or leave off turn signals or put on the smallest brake light just for the looks. Looking too cool can kill you.
Break out the cutting equipment and lets see what you come up with.
Good luck,
Spyug
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46hand
Wow, that is pretty awesome looking. I am toying with the idea as yet, may pull the trigger this winter, or if I get something else to ride in the mean time. If I decide to do this I reserve the right to hit you up for advice
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Prufrock
Was interested in this thread, and me being from"Limeyland"as one of the posters called it, well we invented the cafe racer...and the style was the type of bike used to race from cafe to cafe: like for example the Ace Cafe on the North Circular in London.
It was not just twins though, one famous racer that was a factory cafe bike was the expensive BSA DBD34 Gold Star, and the Norton International - both 500 singles.
Cafe racers in the 1970s were also very popular, I have an American Magazine that is dedicated to them - I'll post pictures if you like. You can"cafe"anything, but I don't agree that you should...I think the big GS's lend themselves better to the Wes Cooley look.
Always interested in what you guys call things...a headlamp"bucket"is a headlamp shell guys -"two great nations divided by a common language": Winston Churchill.
Prufrock.
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Flaming Chainsaws
Originally posted by Prufrock View PostWas interested in this thread, and me being from"Limeyland"as one of the posters called it, well we invented the cafe racer...and the style was the type of bike used to race from cafe to cafe: like for example the Ace Cafe on the North Circular in London.
It was not just twins though, one famous racer that was a factory cafe bike was the expensive BSA DBD34 Gold Star, and the Norton International - both 500 singles.
Cafe racers in the 1970s were also very popular, I have an American Magazine that is dedicated to them - I'll post pictures if you like. You can"cafe"anything, but I don't agree that you should...I think the big GS's lend themselves better to the Wes Cooley look.
Always interested in what you guys call things...a headlamp"bucket"is a headlamp shell guys -"two great nations divided by a common language": Winston Churchill.
Prufrock.
Yup, completely agree with you.
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Originally posted by Flaming Chainsaws View PostHeadlamp shell? I call it a headlight bucket . Then you guys call fenders mudguards. Etc, etc...
Yup, completely agree with you.
My favourite little gem is petcock... (and I know I've said this before) that's a friendly rooster over here...
Either way, a cafe is a cafe, and they look sweet when well done1982 GS450E - The Wee Beastie
1984 GSX750S Katana 7/11 - Kit Kat - BOTM May 2020
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450 Refresh thread: https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...-GS450-Refresh
Katana 7/11 thread: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...84-Katana-7-11
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Krunk_Kracker
Originally posted by pete View PostFender = guitar brand over here... mudguard's a mudguard... fuel tap is a fuel tap...
My favourite little gem is petcock... (and I know I've said this before) that's a friendly rooster over here...
Either way, a cafe is a cafe, and they look sweet when well done
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