Cafe Racers,,,,WTF??

Steve G. · 11-25-2012, 10:17 PM

So, I originally welcomed the new 'cafe racer' fad with much relief. Yes, relief that is was a signal that the chopper fad was crawling back under it's rock where it belongs. But as we all see this fad develop, with magazines comminted to this new thing, I've come to the realization that I'm now done with it.
I'm done with the hacksawed and asbestos wrapped exhaust. I'm done with the cheap clips ons, the cheesy upholstered bumpstop seats. No fenders.
What I'm most pissed about is the stupid prices they're asking for these clatter traps. Guys taking perfectly nice looking 400-4 SS Hondas and doing their own version of a cafe, then asking double what a 400-4 is worth. Guys selling 1/2 finished cafe's of 78 Honda 750's for 5K+!!! And getting it!!!

Rant over.

BMWJustin · 11-25-2012, 10:22 PM

I agree with you. But I don't think the chopper thing is completely done. Every other Harley here has 18" ape hangers and they all look like douche bags.

Cowboy Don · 11-26-2012, 04:10 AM

When I think of all the Honda CB's (350, 500, 550 & 750) I mildly modified to suit my riding style back in the 90's, I think I was closer to true cafe racers than the modern interpretation. All I usually did was clubman or clipon bars, rearsets fabricated out of bits and pieces, some sort of modified exhaust with reverse megas, along with all unecessary weight discarded. The idea was to make them easier to get round the twisties quickly, with style as a secondary feature, which usually just happened as a by-product of what I'd already done.
Tire choice was for function. When I see a cafe racer with Firestones I cringe, those things are terrible. As soon as you fit a set of those, you're telling the world you've built your bike for show, not go. Everyone's entitled to express themselves with their bikes, but damn, some nice bikes are being ruined in the process.

I don't mind choppers, just not OCC theme shit or wide-ass rear tires, I like the original style, but much prefer bobbers.

It's a shame that all these bikes are being butchered, frames being cut up etc., but what can you do. When the fad is over, there'll be some cheap bikes on the market hopefully. They'll just need a bit more work to get roadworthy again.

norton73 · 11-26-2012, 08:02 AM

Stock standard airheads are going to be worth a bunch in the future

gravityisnotmyfriend · 11-26-2012, 08:14 AM

IMHO, taking a vintage bike and cafe'ing it is pointless. I own a '71 350 so I am a member of a board dedicated to these parallel twin bikes. I see so many people destroying these perfectly good bikes. For what?

Back in the day, you stripped all the excess weight, and re-positioned the handlebars and footpegs for maximum tuck. This could get you the most speed out of your bike and the cafe racer was born. But there is nothing you can do to a Honda CB 350 to make it compete with a 250 ninja. You want speed? Buy a fucking sport bike -any modern sport bike - and you'll have more performance and handling then you'll every get out of an old honda.

So what? You're doing it for the style? Cafe racers were never about style. They were about performance. Those clipons make the poor bike look sad. Like a dog with droopy ears. Most of the cheap cafe mods actually decrease the performance. I've seen people replace the stock airboxes with cheap pod filters, then actually have to jet down to get their bike to run right due to decreased airflow through the carbs.

I agree. This cafe resurgence is pretty sad.

Harry94025 · 11-26-2012, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gravityisnotmyfriend

IMHO, taking a vintage bike and cafe'ing it is pointless. I own a '71 350 so I am a member of a board dedicated to these parallel twin bikes. I see so many people destroying these perfectly good bikes. For what?

Back in the day, you stripped all the excess weight, and re-positioned the handlebars and footpegs for maximum tuck. This could get you the most speed out of your bike and the cafe racer was born. But there is nothing you can do to a Honda CB 350 to make it compete with a 250 ninja. You want speed? Buy a fucking sport bike -any modern sport bike - and you'll have more performance and handling then you'll every get out of an old honda.

So what? You're doing it for the style? Cafe racers were never about style. They were about performance. Those clipons make the poor bike look sad. Like a dog with droopy ears. Most of the cheap cafe mods actually decrease the performance. I've seen people replace the stock airboxes with cheap pod filters, then actually have to jet down to get their bike to run right due to decreased airflow through the carbs.

I agree. This cafe resurgence is pretty sad.

I built this up in the late 70's, sold it a couple of years ago...

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/a...ctures2029.jpg

Pigford · 11-26-2012, 11:53 AM

Cute -

......but looks 95% standard

High Country Herb · 11-26-2012, 01:01 PM

I disagree.

Saving every last vintage motorcycle is like designating every old building as "historical". Eventually you're going to run out of room and steel. The reality is that every bike will eventually be melted down and re-cycled; maybe in 5 years, maybe in 500. The whole point of the motorcycle is to have fun with it. Ape hangers or clip-ons; if it brings more people to motorcycling we all win from motorcycle friendly laws, more aftermarket support, etc. Sure, they charge way more than I would pay, but I don't care what they spend their money on.

For instance: What's wrong with cutting up an 80's dual sport to create something fun?

Harry94025 · 11-26-2012, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pigford

Cute -

......but looks 95% standard

Thanks for showing the photo; my Photobucket account was not working well... The bike had a few mods - Magura handlebars (short, with 1" rise), air forks (no springs), Muholland shocks, Dunstall rearsets, J&R 2 into 1 exhaust, K&N air filters, automotive ignition coils, SL350 rear fender and "350" stickers, Lucas tail light, removed fender struts, red lacquer paint job...

Harry

anonny · 11-26-2012, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve G.

the new 'cafe racer' fad

Just waking up from the 70's Steve?

I'm with the "do what you want to with it" crowd myself.

dpforth · 11-26-2012, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by High Country Herb

For instance: What's wrong with cutting up an 80's dual sport to create something fun?

Nothing, as long as you don't over-brake and over-tire it

Jnich77 · 11-26-2012, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve G.

So, I originally welcomed the new 'cafe racer' fad with much relief.

Ummm.. you do realize that the "New Cafe Racer Fad" started in England in the 1950's...lol.

KnowFear · 11-26-2012, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by High Country Herb

I disagree.

Saving every last vintage motorcycle is like designating every old building as "historical". Eventually you're going to run out of room and steel. The reality is that every bike will eventually be melted down and re-cycled; maybe in 5 years, maybe in 500. The whole point of the motorcycle is to have fun with it. Ape hangers or clip-ons; if it brings more people to motorcycling we all win from motorcycle friendly laws, more aftermarket support, etc. Sure, they charge way more than I would pay, but I don't care what they spend their money on.

For instance: What's wrong with cutting up an 80's dual sport to create something fun?

Assuming this thing is meant to ride, it won't be much fun without fenders...

Bigfeet428 · 11-26-2012, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnowFear

Assuming this thing is meant to ride, it won't be much fun without fenders...

We're talking about the bike right?

ikonoklass · 11-26-2012, 08:30 PM

What kills me--as always--is the perception they've sold to the non-riding public. In Mike Seate's Cafe Racers show, I heard one builder talk about how the bike was useless at anything but race speed: "It's just gonna go fast." We're talking about bikes where the builders have managed to double the horsepower ... right into the low 50s. The reality, of course, is that you would be hard-pressed to find a modern bike with worse performance.

Still, I prefer these bikes to anything with a Pro-Street frame ... .

11-25-2012, 10:17 PM	#1
Steve G. ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2004 Location: British Columbia Oddometer: 5,886	Cafe Racers,,,,WTF?? So, I originally welcomed the new 'cafe racer' fad with much relief. Yes, relief that is was a signal that the chopper fad was crawling back under it's rock where it belongs. But as we all see this fad develop, with magazines comminted to this new thing, I've come to the realization that I'm now done with it. I'm done with the hacksawed and asbestos wrapped exhaust. I'm done with the cheap clips ons, the cheesy upholstered bumpstop seats. No fenders. What I'm most pissed about is the stupid prices they're asking for these clatter traps. Guys taking perfectly nice looking 400-4 SS Hondas and doing their own version of a cafe, then asking double what a 400-4 is worth. Guys selling 1/2 finished cafe's of 78 Honda 750's for 5K+!!! And getting it!!! Rant over. __________________ Garage Residents: '72 Norton 750 Combat, '74 Honda CT70, '74 Norton 850 Interstate, '81 Laverda Jota '89 Honda RC30, '91 BMW R100GS '08 BMW R1200GS

11-25-2012, 10:22 PM	#2
BMWJustin Aerial Gunner Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Lost Wages, Nevada Oddometer: 350	I agree with you. But I don't think the chopper thing is completely done. Every other Harley here has 18" ape hangers and they all look like douche bags. __________________ 08 MegaMoto #99529

11-26-2012, 08:02 AM	#4
norton73 drinkin' Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Beautiful Downtown Springville, Alabama Oddometer: 8,074	Stock standard airheads are going to be worth a bunch in the future __________________ Loose nut holding the handlebars He’s one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith. Spread your arms and hold your breath, always trust your cape. Guy Clark "The Cape"

11-26-2012, 08:30 PM	#15
ikonoklass Kountersteering Krew Joined: May 2002 Location: Denver, CO Oddometer: 2,517	What kills me--as always--is the perception they've sold to the non-riding public. In Mike Seate's Cafe Racers show, I heard one builder talk about how the bike was useless at anything but race speed: "It's just gonna go fast." We're talking about bikes where the builders have managed to double the horsepower ... right into the low 50s. The reality, of course, is that you would be hard-pressed to find a modern bike with worse performance. Still, I prefer these bikes to anything with a Pro-Street frame ... . __________________ 2012 Speed Triple 2005 R1200GS 1998 FXDL

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11-26-2012, 04:10 AM	#3
Cowboy Don n00b Joined: Nov 2010 Oddometer: 6	When I think of all the Honda CB's (350, 500, 550 & 750) I mildly modified to suit my riding style back in the 90's, I think I was closer to true cafe racers than the modern interpretation. All I usually did was clubman or clipon bars, rearsets fabricated out of bits and pieces, some sort of modified exhaust with reverse megas, along with all unecessary weight discarded. The idea was to make them easier to get round the twisties quickly, with style as a secondary feature, which usually just happened as a by-product of what I'd already done. Tire choice was for function. When I see a cafe racer with Firestones I cringe, those things are terrible. As soon as you fit a set of those, you're telling the world you've built your bike for show, not go. Everyone's entitled to express themselves with their bikes, but damn, some nice bikes are being ruined in the process. I don't mind choppers, just not OCC theme shit or wide-ass rear tires, I like the original style, but much prefer bobbers. It's a shame that all these bikes are being butchered, frames being cut up etc., but what can you do. When the fad is over, there'll be some cheap bikes on the market hopefully. They'll just need a bit more work to get roadworthy again.

11-26-2012, 08:14 AM	#5
gravityisnotmyfriend Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Location: ((kg*m)/s^2), IA, USA Oddometer: 312	IMHO, taking a vintage bike and cafe'ing it is pointless. I own a '71 350 so I am a member of a board dedicated to these parallel twin bikes. I see so many people destroying these perfectly good bikes. For what? Back in the day, you stripped all the excess weight, and re-positioned the handlebars and footpegs for maximum tuck. This could get you the most speed out of your bike and the cafe racer was born. But there is nothing you can do to a Honda CB 350 to make it compete with a 250 ninja. You want speed? Buy a fucking sport bike -any modern sport bike - and you'll have more performance and handling then you'll every get out of an old honda. So what? You're doing it for the style? Cafe racers were never about style. They were about performance. Those clipons make the poor bike look sad. Like a dog with droopy ears. Most of the cheap cafe mods actually decrease the performance. I've seen people replace the stock airboxes with cheap pod filters, then actually have to jet down to get their bike to run right due to decreased airflow through the carbs. I agree. This cafe resurgence is pretty sad.

11-26-2012, 11:53 AM	#7
Pigford British Joined: Sep 2009 Location: North Dorset, UK Oddometer: 736	Cute - ......but looks 95% standard

11-26-2012, 01:01 PM	#8
High Country Herb Olds Cool Adventurer Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Sierra Nevadas Oddometer: 2,662	I disagree. Saving every last vintage motorcycle is like designating every old building as "historical". Eventually you're going to run out of room and steel. The reality is that every bike will eventually be melted down and re-cycled; maybe in 5 years, maybe in 500. The whole point of the motorcycle is to have fun with it. Ape hangers or clip-ons; if it brings more people to motorcycling we all win from motorcycle friendly laws, more aftermarket support, etc. Sure, they charge way more than I would pay, but I don't care what they spend their money on. For instance: What's wrong with cutting up an 80's dual sport to create something fun?