Cafe racers [pics]

[radguzzi]

Originally Posted by plugeye

you forgot the goofy seat or humped back fender.

Pssst, those are stock items there bub...

[zDollar Bill]

Originally Posted by radguzzi

Pssst, those are stock items there bub...

Good eye there.
Next time I buy a 1965 BSA that has a title and runs for $2000.00,
I should make sure it has all the original parts or correct Cafe parts on it.
The Brits have buyers over here buying up as many of their bikes as they can. They fill up shipping containers and send them home.
Just thought I would grab one before they're gone.
And I did like the looks of it.

[Honda Scoot]

My brother used a scrap pile of two CB450s to assemble this bike. He finished the project in October just four days before a bike show at Barber Motorsport's Vintage Days 2012 in Alabama.

He won "Best Modified Stock" in the Cafe Racer Bike Show. Great Job!

[Rob Farmer]

Originally Posted by zDollar Bill

The Brits have buyers over here buying up as many of their bikes as they can. They fill up shipping containers and send them home.

Damn right we have. cars as well. You guys are clearly not looking after them well enough so we're taking them home.

The Germans are doing it in the UK with Airheads.

[Rob Farmer]

Apart from the headlight brackets I like that. Nice photographs too.

Originally Posted by Honda Scoot

My brother used a scrap pile of two CB450s to assemble this bike. He finished the project in October just four days before a bike show at Barber Motorsport's Vintage Days 2012 in Alabama.

He won "Best Modified Stock" in the Cafe Racer Bike Show. Great Job!

[markjenn]

Extremely nice CB450. These (and Suzuki Titans) seem to make beautiful cafe bikes with just the right proportions.

- Mark

[Anders288]

I like the CB450 but don't get the tire choice.

[Honda Scoot]

Originally Posted by Anders288

I like the CB450 but don't get the tire choice.

When asked about the tires he told me he liked the look. They have "Firestone" molded in the sidewalls and were a horrible PITA to mount and balance. The front fender was raised an inch for clearance while retaining a stock look.

[MitchB]

No NO NO..! Not the Titans! Don't mention them on this thread. At least not until I buy mine for my Cafe Project....

You're going to drive my purchase cost up...



M

Originally Posted by markjenn

Extremely nice CB450. These (and Suzuki Titans) seem to make beautiful cafe bikes with just the right proportions.

- Mark

[killfile]

Originally Posted by MitchB

No NO NO..! Not the Titans! Don't mention them on this thread. At least not until I buy mine for my Cafe Project....

You're going to drive my purchase cost up...



M

I'm sure I'll get a ton of haters slamming my bike, but this is what she has looked like since '97. Currently putting on a GT750 front end and building rearsets (finally). I tried to take the clipons off before riding the bike on a 800 mile or so ride, but the wife said "You can't take those bars off, ride it like it is, ya pansy!"



Let me know if you get one and need anything.

I've had a bunch of Honda 450s, and I enjoyed them, but the Honda 350 and the Titan are the bikes I could never part with...

[Cowboy Don]

Why would we hate?! That thing is perfect.

[Honda Scoot]

Originally Posted by Cowboy Don

Why would we hate?! That thing is perfect.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Most folks farkle - Some step up to create what they want.
Both are good as the project gains personal value and increases the longevity of the cherished item.

[vernon dent]

[R85/8]

Originally Posted by Cowboy Don

Why would we hate?...

Obviously you never followed one in the rain. Your visor would get splattered with 2-stroke residue, turn opaque, and wiping it made it worse - that's if you were still capable of breathing.

But that's not why we hated them, it was because a properly tuned one was very hard to get past. :)

Great bikes!

[DesmoDog]

Originally Posted by DesmoDog

... Haven't worked on it in over a year now, and it's number 2 on my bike project list. Here's the one I need to finish first:


...snip...

I don't think I'd classify that one as a cafe racer but judging by some of the other bikes here, I think I'm safe posting it.

I finally got my 160 Monza Jr on the road last year, just in time for the vintage festival at Barber. The details are covered in my build thread. I still don't think a 160cc bike can make much of a cafe racer, but I think it has a certain attitude anyway. And if it inspires just one person to do more to their CBwhatever "cafe" project than ditch the fenders, hack the back of the frame off, and paint it flat black, then maybe it's done some good...







At Ducstock 2011


Now I need to get back to work on it's big brother...