A Cafe Racer anyone?

[Daevanam]

Hey,

Now i know i'm on the BMW forums but bare with me here

I've been watching this series called Cafe Racer for a little while now and i'm just itching to give it a go, but my mechanical know-how isn't the best. I was wondering if anyone in JHB would be keen to give it a go as a project with me.

Something along the lines of this :

 

[Raybimmer]

Ok some ideas worth 1/2 cent :
The old british bikes were done like this , it worked as many were single or double cylinder , no use a big motor sticking out .
You will be throwing money in a pit .
The ammount of custom work required will be lots .
If you had a 650 bm and used the frame and single cyl motor it will look better than using the boxer motor .
Using an older k motor with the electronics needs water proofing for the electrics etc .
God luck .

 

[Henry330i]

I've been watching and dreaming aswell cool program.

But I think you are better off looking for a used Triumph

Google Triumph Truxton

 

[Daevanam]

Well, i'd probably follow the model most of the Cafe Racer builders go with, which is old Japanese bikes.

They don't have much in the way of electronics, or components. Rebuilding one of those old carbureted engines doesn't seem to be that difficult, correct me if i'm wrong. With regards to the customising, it's fairly limited in my opinion. It's the tank, exhaust and handle bars. You'd be using the same frame, perhaps slight tweaks to the front end and rear shocks but once again, i could be wrong.

A mate of mine is doing one at the moment. He bought an old Suzuki GSX425. I'm interested to see how his turns out and how much he puts into it. He thinks he can do it for under 12, but we shall see.

Henry: Buying an old Thruxton kinda takes all the fun out. I would wanna personalize and customize the bike. Make it unique. You keen?

 

[Henry330i]

Well, i'd probably follow the model most of the Cafe Racer builders go with, which is old Japanese bikes.

They don't have much in the way of electronics, or components. Rebuilding one of those old carbureted engines doesn't seem to be that difficult, correct me if i'm wrong. With regards to the customising, it's fairly limited in my opinion. It's the tank, exhaust and handle bars. You'd be using the same frame, perhaps slight tweaks to the front end and rear shocks but once again, i could be wrong.

A mate of mine is doing one at the moment. He bought an old Suzuki GSX425. I'm interested to see how his turns out and how much he puts into it. He thinks he can do it for under 12, but we shall see.

Henry: Buying an old Thruxton kinda takes all the fun out. I would wanna personalize and customize the bike. Make it unique. You keen?

Sorry man all of my limited funds are going towards a e24 WIP. But would've been fun.

 

[herr bmw]

always wanted to do this.

a friend of mine did one back in the 1980's and thats where i got the idea from,but right now i dont have the funds,we are going through retrenchments at the moment

 

[Coisman]

imp:
Never even heard of the show?? :dunno:

PS: Are brooms allowed, cause them my mother in law can race on your behalf! :mmm:

 

[moranor@axis]

ive been thinking about doing something like this for ages... but i just know its not a good idea for me to get on a bike...

so far the best way ive found to do this is buying a dirt bike and modding that to look similar they quite cheap and give a pretty good base :rollsmile:

 

[Daevanam]

Problem with a dirt bike, in my opinion, is the frame isn't quite that of a cafe racer and the tone you get from those 2 strokes is horribly annoying. Haha. I want a nice deep throaty roar from my exhaust, hence the 450 idea.

Coisman, tell your mother-in-law she can race me when i'm done. But it's Le Mans style, so i don't want to be the death of any old ladys.

 

[moranor@axis]

the motor on that bike looks like a two stroke to me but i could be wrong :fencelook:

yes the frame is not the same but in may ways its also better but if you really want the oldschool look you have to get an old bike... i have a hybrid old/new school bike in mind for myself so its different...

you get large engined offroad bikes also they not all 125/250 buzzing annoyances :rollsmile:

 

[Daevanam]

Sorry! I meant it the other way round. Those off-roaders are 4 Strokes and produce that really high pitched sound. Well, at least that's how i remember it :biglol:

Well, i'm open to an old school look on a new school frame and mechanics, just really like that old school look and feel.

---

http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c...rs-1981-HONDA-CB650cc-BLUE-W0QQAdIdZ367356358

That's pretty perfect for a Cafe Racer! What you think Moranor?

 

[moranor@axis]

ether way i hope you do this and post lots of pics

unfortunately i know i will kill myself on a bike so its best i stay away

maybe i will get myself i bike instead of retiring one day :rollsmile:

 

[Daevanam]

Haha, i'm looking for a partner in crime here.

I highly doubt you'll kill yourself on one of those. They have 23kw!!! Numbers don't lie! :rollsmile:

 

[Coisman]

imp:
What if we modify a "skop-fietsie" with a leaf-blower motor?? :mmm:

 

[moranor@axis]

lol unfortunately i live to far away... ask anyone who has driven with me if i should ever get a bike they will all say the same thing :rollsmile:

I feel this is something you should do yourself... yes it will be nice to have someone to share the cost and help out, but the bike has to be yours designed by you for you so you cant really have two peoples input or it will end up a mess

this can be solved by you each building your own bikes :rollsmile:

 

[Daevanam]

True. Very True. But I have mechanical fear. I'm not sure if i have the technical know-how to produce a bike like this. I guess i'll never know till i try. You think bank's will give an unemployed student a loan to "FOLLOW HIS DREAMS!". :rollsmile:

 

[moranor@axis]

unless you have a very very good BEE plan i doubt you will get a loan for dreams :rollsmile:

get a part time job and make it happen

 

[kabal]

would be sweet.

lots of guys use old honda CB's

 

[Raybimmer]

The bike in the photo is a twin cylinder 4 stroke , looks like double overhead cams .
Use a 1980's Honda XR 500 as a base lol .
There are suitable twin cylinder motors around .

 

[Daevanam]

I emailed the chap who made the bike. He used a completely reconditioned Honda CB450. Said considering it was his first bike he wanted to go with something that everyone used as parts and advice were easy to come by. So if i do go ahead, i think that's the road i'll take too.