Good bikes to cafe?

[Etchasketch]

starting a list of good bikes to make cafes out of so i know what to look into.

input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[JEEPRUSTY]

Some guy named Flaming chainsaws was doing a nice conversion of a GS450 until he got taken up int the rapture.

Pics may still be available is you do a search on his name.
It was looking very nice towards the end.

[FreshStart]

Its now called project elusive

[Octain]

Some guy named Flaming chainsaws was doing a nice conversion of a GS450 until he got taken up int the rapture.

Pics may still be available is you do a search on his name.
It was looking very nice towards the end.

Some were saying that very same thing about you a few days ago.

Any bike makes a good cafe.

[tkent02]

Any non shaft GS with an L in the name, the smaller the better.

[Hammered]

For a proper Cafe, any parallel twin. For the closest look of a BSA, Norton or Trump, Id look at a XS 650. Ass load of premade bolt on parts and theyre far cheaper than anything for a GS. Course Im cafeing a GS 650 shaftie.

[rapidray]

Any Kawi, Yamaha, Honda, or other brand is better to use than a Suzuki. Ray.

[Big Rich]

Xs650's are good candidates for the reasons stated above. Only problem is the initial cost- they are such a popular bike to modify that they are in demand.

Another great choice is the Honda cb/cl/sl 350. They are the most popular bike ever sold (plenty left) and Honda actually made them for racing. Factory mounts for a steering stabilizer, rare factory rear sets, and the early models (68 & 69) have a higher redline.

[Tim Tom]

Any bike that is not in very good shape and no harm can be done by chopping it can make a good cafe.

Some good looking cafe bikes.

Honda CB750




Moto Guzzi




Norton



Honda CB450R Dirtbike (I think this one is awesome)




Even a Harley Sportster can be cafe'd with a nice result.




Do you get my point? Anything with 2 wheels can be cafe'd.

[spyug]

Definitely a ++ on the Yammie XSs. The 650 is the classic blank slate for cafe and tracker builds but as mentioned, they have become so popular they are harder to come by and not cheap when you find them. The XS 400s in the late 70s early 80's are also a good platform but as TT states anything can be "cafed".

The only caveat I personally would put on it is that to be truer to form they should be twins rather than 4 bangers and the eighties "chopper" style bikes (like the L model GS series) don't really look right when done in that style.

Really whatever you do to a bike is a matter of personal choice and as long as the mods are safe and you like it go for it, just watch how much cash goes into it. These projects have away of sucking in all your spare change.....and then some.

When you figure out what you're going to do let us know.

Cheers,
spyug

[Dogma]

Definitely a ++ on the Yammie XSs. The 650 is the classic blank slate for cafe and tracker builds but as mentioned, they have become so popular they are harder to come by and not cheap when you find them. The XS 400s in the late 70s early 80's are also a good platform but as TT states anything can be "cafed".

I know an XS650 in Western NY that might be available.

[Etchasketch]

cb750 or xs 400

As of right now im thinking of a cb750 as they are pretty readily accessible in my area. that or a yamaha xs400. I want it to be fast so i'm trying to take weight and power to weight into account. Might try to bore the cylinders too. change sprockets and chain for acceleration. Thoughts?

[BassCliff]

Any non shaft GS with an L in the name, the smaller the better.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Big Rich]

The CB750's are a very common cafe. SOHC, right? The duals are a little modern looking and have fewer available cafe-ish parts. If you do go with a 750, google Carpy.

Only bad thing about the 750's are that they weigh a LOT. I think then engine alone weighs over 200 pounds.

[Graham]

As of right now im thinking of a cb750 as they are pretty readily accessible in my area. that or a yamaha xs400. I want it to be fast so i'm trying to take weight and power to weight into account. Might try to bore the cylinders too. change sprockets and chain for acceleration. Thoughts?

You can do a lot more to a CB750 engine then a XS400. You can get cams, headers and 1000cc big bores.

http://www.m3racing.com/products/parts.html