| Author | Message | ||
     Oconnor  |
am looking for opinions on a bike to start a project on. Looking for something under 750cc of course, wouldn't mind going as low as 400cc but want to be able to do 80 on the freeway and not blow the motor after 20 miles. So, lets see, want to eventually have ace style bars, spoke wheels, ( and yes I will try to find a disc brake conversion in the front for sure if it doesn't already have one). What else? eventually make a single seat.... So my restrictions, I have about 1500 bucks to buy in on this deal right now and am going to build form there and am wanting it to be a running machine. So if any of you folks have any ideas and opinions and input. I am all ears. And I am sure that I have left out all sorts of details and requirements. Thanks for the input . | ||
| Dino  |
There was a cafe job on a CB500F or CB550F in one of the mags about half a year or so ago that was to die for. Just looked to see if I had a scan of it on my hard drive...no luck. | ||
| Smoke |
rd | ||
| Phillyblast  |
CB350 were/are real popular with the vintage racing crowd - lots of parts available, it'll do 80 if you set it up right, and later ones had disk fronts. | ||
| Spen  |
Indian built Royal Enfield clubman, ready built cafe racer...........http://www.royal-enfield.com/clubmanpic.html Now have 5 speed box and disc brake up the pointy end. (Message edited by spen on December 18, 2004) | ||
| Norrie |
It sounds as though you are after an old bike but if not how about a Ducati Monster 600. My girlfriend has one and I have made it look almost Cafe Racer style. I didn't fit clip ons as I find them to uncomfortable but they are available. I reckon you will get one quite cheap if you buy one needing some TLC. Norrie. (Message edited by norrie on December 18, 2004) | ||
| Mark_in_ireland  |
Proper Cafe Racer....  | ||
| Timbo  |
I think Mark's very cool example would exceed the $1500 benchmark. Philly mentioned CB's, I had a '76 CB360 that was tons'o'fun to ride. It would cruise at 75-80mph easy, and had it as high as an indicated 110 on the speedo more than once. I put flattrack handlebars on it, but with clip-ons and rearsets I think it would be a cool budget cafe bike. Nowhere near Mark's example, but fun to ride and look good too. Here is a pic of me sitting on it from 1982.  Here is another.  Timbo | ||
| Timbo |
Or, How about a GB500? I think this has potential too.  Timbo | ||
| Mark_in_ireland |
Quote.....I have about 1500 bucks ....sorry thought you said 15000 bucks..  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4512413283&ssPageName= STRK:MEWA:IT | ||
| Bcordb3  |
Honda made a CB350F (four cylinder) at one time. I would bet that would be a real hoot to cafe er ize. | ||
| Firemanjim  |
I know where one(CB 350F) in really nice shape is----let me know and I can get some pics.It was given to me and I had engine rebuilt,tons of NOS parts,sold to a buddy.He bought a Buell now and might get rid of it. | ||
| Road_thing  |
 | ||
| Halffast |
Try cycletrader, lots of potential there. http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/9/3/75955893.htm | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
The early ('70's - 80's) Kawasaki KZ's were pretty good bikes and they can be had in 400 - 1000cc form. There is also a great support forum which I think is www.KZrider.com. I have an 81 kz440 which is showroom stock. It has a lot of get up and go for a little bike. Let us know what you pick. | ||
| Oconnor |
Sure a nice norton featherbed of course would be nice. Always was and will be a dream bike. That GB500 looks about right. Almost too right. I think that may be what I am going for. On another note, firemanjim, your in the bay area right? I am in San Rafael, If your buddy is interested in selling I'd be interested in checking it out and seeing if I like it and he's selling seeing if I can put together enoungh scratch to cover it. Thanks everyone. Keep posting cool picks and ideas. Realistic ideas so far: cb500f GB500 my favorite looking starting point firemanjims bike preprojectcb 350 | ||
| Ray_maines  |
I have NO idea who owns this bike or even where the picture came from, but this is the bike that gets me out of bed in the morning. Someday....  | ||
| Gundog |
What about a Yamaha XS1 650 vertical twin? The early models had drum brakes for the vintage look. | ||
| Timbo |
For an inline four in a small size, I think the CB400F Super Sport was way better than the CB350F. The 400 Four came with low bars and rearsets from the factory (well they called 'em rearsets anyway). My older brother bought one new in '78. I really liked that bike. I took this pic of one I saw in a museum.  I still remember watching him bolt on a Kerker four into one exhaust, rejeting the carbs and putting on the cone shaped K&N filters. I was fifteen years old at the time, and when he fired it up for the first time after getting it back together, I remember how you could hear the carbs inhale just a milisecond before the bark of the exhaust. I thought it was sooooo COOL. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
How about something like this 350 cc turboed 4 cyl. I built for Bonneville years ago only to have it rained out for two years in a row. It would easily break 120 M.P.H. Long gone now but it was much fun.  | ||
| Dino |
Timbo's CB400F pic appears to be of a '76. The '75 had color matched side covers and for '77 and later Honda caved to american lack of taste and installed higher bars, totally ruining the cafe look. Here's a pic of my '75.  Gotta love those pipes! | ||
| Firebolt020283  |
what about a blast converted in to a caffe racer? | ||
| Timbo |
Hey Dino, I wonder if my brother could have bought a new '75 in '78? Because if I recall correctly, his had the color matched side covers. Firebolt, Yep, lotsa potential there too, but it might be over his budget. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise)  |
Co cheap | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
All 3 of the previous bikes are located here in Milwaukee & were built by there owners for not much $$. You could always start with something unconventional like this yamaha 400. | ||
| Ezblast  |
http://www.caferace.com/buell.html http://www.caferace.com/entry.html         Blast Cafe's - hmmm .... Could be...hmmmm... say so....I have several dozen pics of various Blast Cafes...very popular...hmmm...didn't even consider it?...definately your loss. GT - JBOTDS! EZ  (Message edited by ezblast on December 19, 2004) | ||
| Medic |
When I was in high school (in the 80's), a buddy and I built up identical 1972 CB350's cafe style. They had drum brakes but were really fun to ride. I also had a 1977 CB450F. That bike would make a great cafe bike. One of my friends had a 1978 KZ650. That bike became the standard by which we measured all future bikes. Geez, this post makes me sound like an old man. | ||
| Stealthxb  |
Triumph frame and Vincent engine...Old School Baby! | ||
| Wyckedflesh  |
   CB400/4 at Firebird Raceway on a trackday...notice the 2brothers pipe  | ||
| Lornce  |
Charles, Some good suggestions above.... but no one's mentioned the single cylinder Yamaha SR500. SR500's were sold in North America from '78 through about '82 or so. They look good and work well with clubman bars or even clip-ons. With such a narrow profile and lightweight they handle like crazy. More performance goodies available for 500cc Yamaha singles than you can shake a stick at. I used to ride an SR back in the late '70's and with a set of sticky Dunlops not even RD400's could match it's cornering speeds. |
