Good Cafe Racers?

CorriganJ · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Apr 2019 Karma :

The miserable bikes of ebay thread is mostly badly done cafe racers - I'm wondering how people would like to see them done. Common complaints are poor workmanship, stupid ergos, "mods" that make the bike handle worse, and amazon special / ali express parts.

I just picked up a cheap 80s beater bike of the type that normally gets cafed. I do want to smarten it up a bit and make it nicer (it's very rough looking) without going full bike shed and putting clipons on a bike that clearly isn't designed for them.

Where could I look for good quality aftermarket parts that aren't ali express cheap nasty bits?
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1991 RD04

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Pics or link to the advert?

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

What bike is it?

If it has clip-ons, it should have rearsets. It should have mudguards. It should have a means of preventing cack getting sucked into the carbs. it should have tyres that grip as well as look good. It shouldn't have structural frame parts lopped off with an angle grinder. It shouldn't have the forks slammed.

Your classic cafe racer is an air-cooled brit like a T140 triumph with clip-ons, rearsets, an alloy tank and a single seat unit.

Here's a nice modern-ish take on a cafe racer VFR750 I saw a picture of recently.
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“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.

ThunderGuts · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Nov 2018 Karma :

Zen Dog · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Karma :

WD Forte · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :

this one's nice
I like this one
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.istockphoto.com%2Fphotos%2Fmotorcycle-burning-after-accident-picture-id184402695%3Fk%3D6%26m%3D184402695%26s%3D170667a%26w%3D0%26h%3DzRW2dup55S1oWv9SYVHokmpKhcJwSJ_3iHvWH_4JiCs%3D&f=1&nofb=1
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bikers smell of wee

Blah blah · Scooby Slapper Joined: 05 Mar 2015 Karma :

I always fancied doing something like this, it's from the 70s and looks like it - I did even look at a couple of 400/4s to do an homage but now my garage is full of other things

https://i.postimg.cc/J7SLh2qR/16e8115ce8b72a63a24cd64dc4d02c80.jpg

xX-Alex-Xx · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Sep 2019 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

https://m.atcdn.co.uk/a/media/w800h600/5ed2d9c58eef412ea53ae9f7a7060ad4.jpg
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

CorriganJ · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Apr 2019 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

A100man · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Ok. The bike that gave rise to the trend in brat choppers was from the film The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

This bike:
https://returnofthecaferacers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Girl-with-Dragon-Tattoo-motorcycle-1.jpg

It's an old K-series CB350 which were pretty quick bikes. I'd imagine you could make an SR250 look pretty similar without a lot of work.
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“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.

A100man · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

A100man · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :