Cafe Racers

Don't laff.
I want to build one.
A classic 1960s style Cafe Racer.
Its a nostalgia thing : we used to build them from Triumphs and BSAs and
stuff in the 70's (cos we could buy them sort of bikes cheap back then -
any bidy else remember 200quid Bonnevilles?)
They're too expensive now so I'm looking fo something Jap from 1970s or
1980s to base it on. 650(ish) twin or 500(ish) single
Thinking XS650 (parts seem to be a bit of a problem though, is that true?)
or an SR500 (don't know much about them) or owt else decent.
Any thoughts or suggestions? (I'm asking for the verbal abuse now aren't I?)

Dave

 

How about a Yamaha SRX 600?
--
Alex

Hermes: "We can't afford that! Especially not Zoidberg!"
Zoidberg: "They took away my credit cards!"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk
www.ebayfaq.co.uk

 

Moto Guzzi - 850 twin.

A T3 or LeMans will give you speed, handling, lithe looks (they're quite
small bikes in reality), good parts availability and noise.

Certainly a good base to start from.

 

Agree totally. Much better than the Jap stuff of the era.
Tons of parts about too.
YKIMS.

JB

 

IMHO the cafe racer style doesn't suit the XS somehow - that beautiful
lump looks better in cruiser clothes. But parts are easy to get, so no
worries there.

Lots of people have made some *fantastic* cafe racers out of SR500s -
they're cult bikes in Japan and Germany. Have a look at www.caferace.com

www.thumperpage.com is good, too. Look at:

http://www.thumperpage.com/articles/SRSR500.html

So I'd reckon this would be the way to go.

 

Did you ever see (and more importantly, *hear*) WUN's Basmati Rice
Racer?

 

What was so special about cafes that you had to race to them in the 60s?

 

<snip>
Sir should buy a ready made one , perhaps a Ducati Pantah 500SL, from
someone who has too many bikes and is moving house , for about £1100.
Much cheaper and less hassle than building one yourself.
Mail me , you know it makes sense.

Steve
Too many bikes and about to move house....

 

IMHO the cafe racer style doesn't suit the XS somehow - that beautiful
lump looks better in cruiser clothes. But parts are easy to get, so no
worries there.

Lots of people have made some *fantastic* cafe racers out of SR500s -
they're cult bikes in Japan and Germany. Have a look at www.caferace.com[/QUOTE]

Really?

<thinks about remains of shite old SR500 lump mouldering in shed>

<Ker-Chingggg! Pound signs pop up in eyes>

 

Espresso coffee.

Dave

 

<thinks about remains of shite old SR500 lump mouldering in shed>

You got an engine then?
Or a complete bike?

Dave

 

snaps of rome - in the latin quarter of the ideal home - fucks all day
and sleeps alone

 

Big Dave wrote

Wiv froff.

 

Just the engine. Needs a rebore, prolly a couple of oversizes. Lacks
alternator & carb.

 

The only place you could buy decent drugs, of course.

 

Just caffeine really.
Officer.
Honest.
The blue ones?
Oh. they are for me bad back.
Its the clip-ons y'see?
Officer.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, The Older

Which (entirely coincidentally) is for sale...

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "Oh Bollocks" said Pooh, having forgotten his lines.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Wicked Uncle Nigel wrote

XBR 500

About fucking time. That needs releasing back into the wild that does,
keeping it in captivity like you do is criminal.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, steve auvache

I know, I know. It's actually on the bikelift on the workshop even as I
type. Unfortunately, I type from several hundred miles away.

It's an interesting exercise, though, is resurrecting an old
bike-wot-you-built. The project-du-jour on my departure was a rewiring.
SO far it has resulted in much "What was I *thinking*? Was I pissed?[1]"
type of reflection.

[1] Answer: Very probably...

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "Oh Bollocks" said Pooh, having forgotten his lines.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Move your chair closer.