From nothing to a Café Racer

[Pav]

Hi guys.
I'd like to ask you for help/comments/advice regarding my project - I hope the title From nothing to a Café Racer is comprehensible enough:-)
I had a bike when I was younger (Ducati Monster) and now when I'm 34 I feel I need to get one again because I really miss it.
I consider myself a beginner (again) and definitely don't need a motorcycle to be cool. I would like to learn how to repair and maintain bikes properly and build my own café race should be icing on the cake. And yes I know, it'll take time...

To start off - as a target of PHASE 1 I would set gaining basic knowledge and skills.
The easiest would probably be to pay for a motorcycle repair and maintenance course, buy a cheap bike, essential
tools, rent a garage and start to disassemble and assemble it over and over again to learn the basics. But that would be too easy so let's make it more complicated. Unfortunately I'm not able to harmonize any course with my current job and pay for all these things at once
would be quite a lot for me at the moment.

So questions for anyone who's willing to share an opinion or advice regarding:
1) KNOWLEDGE
Do you think it's possible to learn all the important theory from books and a website like this? (I'm quite good at self-studying)
- https://www.dansmc.com
- Motorcycles: fundamentals, service, repair - Bruce A. Johns & - David D. Edmundson
https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycles-Fundamentals-Service-Bruce-Johns/dp/1566374790/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444162414&sr=8-1&keywords=motorcycles+fundamentals+service+and+repair
- Fundamentals Motorcycle Repair - CDX Automotive Jones Bartlett
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/181869791007?adgroupid=13585920426&hlpht=true&hlpv=2&rlsatarget=kwd-119188565346&adtype=pla&ff3=1&lpid=122&poi=&ul_noapp=true&limghlpsr=true&device=c&chn=ps&campaignid=207297426&crdt=0&ff12=67&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff14=122&viphx=1&ops=true&ff13=80
2) PRACTICE/SKILLS
Do you think somebody would let me help him in a workshop or on a project - simply volunteering, exchange work for education? Start with cleaning and disassembly and later work up to repairing and assembly? Do you know any (London) motorcycle repair shops, private workshops, moto builders or just somebody who needs to help with his bike maintanance and would find this proposal non-insane?

Next PHASE 2 should be to use motorcycle kit parts to "create" just a little little Café Racer and PHASE 3 do it "for real". I have no idea how much time this all would take and if you find it possible... but I'll definitely appreciate any relevant comments.

Cheers,
Pav

[RhynoCZ]

1) Yes, but buy a motorcycle to work on to get a clue.
2) No, I can't see someone letting you work on customers motorcycles with no skills nor references from the previous job. Buy a motorcycle in bad condition, fix that to get skills.

So far, you just don't have a clue. Don't quit your day job yet mister.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[stinkwheel]

What exactly do you want to make?

You liked your monster? That's practically a cafe racer anyway.

If you like your ducatis and fancy a proper cafe racer (as in a stripped dowm fastasfuck road racer) why not get an old 900SS? I'd go for one that's running but has seen better days. Get it running and handling right (as standard) then simply fix up the cosmetics. A decent paint job and a single seat unit conversion and you're practically there.

How about this body kit Poly26 do for the old SS series ducatis. (they are french, you have to order the kits through their UK distributors)
https://www.poly26.com/produits/photos/_6415...medium.jpg

Sounds like money isn't a massive issue and an older ducati will have plenty of oppertunities to fix stuff out without any of it actually being over-copmplex. Since they will all be standard jobs, you can follow a manual. Service the engine. Sort out the electrical faults. Overhaul the brakes and suspension. You'll have a fast and cool motorcycle.

Or there's the other way... vide infra

Stinkwheels Guide to making a modern Cafe racer.

What you do is buy ANY aircooled single motorcycle from the 1980's. Don't worry about what.

Now.

Remove the following parts:
Front and rear mudguards.
Airbox.
battery box
Rear subframe (or as much of it as you can up to the shock mounts. Don't be afraid to use a hacksaw.
Indicators
Handlebars
toolboxes/side panels (if fitted).
Rear bodywork.
taillight cluster
headlamp.
battery.
Exhaust.
The pain on the fuel tank.

Add the following parts:
Pod filter
The widest tyres you can fit between the forks/swingarm.
A 6" bates headlight.
Clip-on handlebars.
A didy battery cable-tied on somewhere.
An expensive off-the-shelf tail unit.
The cheapest possible tail light.
A slash-cut drag-pipe.
Cheap painty on the tank, and stripes.

Do not, under any circumstances:
Make any form of deflector or mudguard to stop dirt and water being flung into the carb by the back wheel.
Re-jet the carb to cope with a pod filter.
Fit indicators.
Align the headlight.
Fit a fork brace and cut-down front mudguard to replace the standard one
Fit rearsets.
Consider sorting out the saggy, tired brakes and suspension on your 30 year old bike.
Give any consideration to the effect your huge tyres will have on the handling of the bike.


When you've finished. Try taking it for an MOT and when it fails (if it even gets there) put it on ebay for double what you paid for it. Be sure to use the words "Vintage" and "cafe racer" in the description. Be sure to say it's 95% complete and will fly through the MOT. Don't be drawn into any discussion as to why you have not already done so if this is the case.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Wonko The Sane]

[deadwolf]

Don't be this guy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cLhOOcQISc (much lulz at around 2:35)
____________________
Motorsapien Art

[bladeblaster]

its all possible if you are determined enough to make it happen

[Rogerborg]

[DrDonnyBrago]

Post your location, someone may be willing to show you the ropes on their bikes.

On that note.

If you want to see how manky a CBR600 can get if used every day and not washed for two years.... I'm your man.

[Vincent]

[Pav]

Thanks for comments guys.

Firstly I must say that money definitely is an issue and although I'd like to get a Monster again it would be better to wait and start
with something lighter and easier to ride. Also if I screw up (which is highly probable ) it will hurt a bit less when the bike is cheaper 250cc than more expensive Ducati. But at the moment I have no idea about the bike, not even roughly. The only definition is a beginner's bike. But I'm willing to change my mind if something good appears. By the way thanks stinkwheel for the "Guide". I'll add it to my library.

Honda CG as Wonko The Sane suggests looks "good"... some of them for the price of a month rent of a single room in London. Even if I
should cut it into pieces and then scrap it.
Rogerborg's "Buy an MOT fail or 'will fly through' heap off of Gumtree" might be a solution as well - just a "training" bike sentenced to death

I live in Golders Green NW11 but I'm able and willing to travel if somebody needs help with a project or just maintenance. Feel free to message me guys.
And yes DrDonnyBrago I'd like to see your "camouflage" CBR600

Could you please recommend any other info/tech sources on building or bike servicing?

Thanks.

[talkToTheHat]

Something tells me you found the monster a handful and it out you off? The answer to this is ride more.

Do you have a shed/garage/somewhere you can work on bike indoors?

I'd recommend a tatty but running and mot'd bike that you can still get parts for cheaply and easily, a Haynes manual for it, the hanyens motorcycle techbook is a similar style to Haynes manuals and a good start. Service said bike yourself. Fix anything that is broken. Fix cosmetics as you go. You will soon learn how to keep a bike running If you are so inclined said bike will grow and change with you.

If you still want to do a custom build, keep said tatty bike on the road whilst you get stuck into your project.

Perhaps consider something around or just over the native a2 limit for a friendly bike. Plenty of reasonably light and friendly bikes out there meeting that description. Particularly bikes that somehow just fall outside of a2 native or a2 restrictable are likely to be found for good prices.

250 might be a bit small given the way the motorcycle market has gone unless you're talking two-smokes which will likely be harder to ride than a similarly powerful but larger capacity 4 stroke

tl;Dr get riding again on a cheap 90s bike.
____________________
Bandit. does. everything.

[Wonko The Sane]

[deadwolf]

[stinkwheel]

Although you do have to wonder. Having clearly spent a fortune on wheel rims, tyres and a tuned top-end. Why not fit one of the easy, cheap and well documented telescopic fork conversions?

There's keeping the "look" and there's cutting your nose off to spite your face.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Vincent]

You wouldn't get that weird sensation of the front end rising under braking then.....that's part of the fun

Looks like the bike's from SE Asia. They don't have the abundance of used parts that we enjoy.......or many bigger bikes come to that.
____________________
Space Is Deep

[stinkwheel]

[Pav]

Well, it seems the best will be to get a cheap and dying bike and start to tinker with it.

I don't have a garage unfortunately. Just a garden... I could get a tent (or a show tent) and work on it in the garden...hah
..sounds funny but better have a tent than nothing. Or just a cover and work on it when the weather is good.
But if you have any tips for cheap parking I'll definitely appreciate since.."winter is coming"...hah

Regarding C90...I've just checked some gumtree adverts..The cheapest was for £600 so I'm not sure about it...

Thanks guys.

Btw - Honda CG It's simply...art...
https://kickstart.bikeexif.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/honda-cg125.jpg