Can someone school me on cafe racers? (possible winter project)

[zombie]

and one of my personal favorites

http://ratbike.org/docs/546.php

[zombie]

and another

[xxdcmast]

Dont know if this will help you much either but about 4-5 months ago I ran into a guy with a 1960's honda dream that he was trying to sell. The bike was pretty beat up but looked all there. If he still has it he would probably let it go for like 200 dollars.

[Rye]

Originally posted by Tabby
Gee, guys. What about all those wonderful fours from the late 70's and early 80's. GS's, KZ's, Secas, CBF Hondas. Think electronic ignitions, frames with some semblance of rigidity, indestructable engines, etc. After you are done setting one up, you can actually ride them all day long. Cafe'd UJM's will always have a warm spot in my heart.

Exactly. If plans go right for me, I will have a KZ1000 cafe racer to play with next summer. Unfortunately, the yahoos selling them think they are all worth big $$$$. There are only particular 70's Japanese models that are worth alot. Most have been unsuccesfully rebuilt and are usually knock-offs with un-original parts. Alot of KZ's have been big-bored. I'll take a 100+ hp cafe racer any day.

[beet]

fun fun fun banging gears banging more gears
what can i say

[Cue Ball]

Originally posted by bump909
ben - yeah, i'm really liking the first one too. i actually want mine to look a little rattier.. like flat black paint, no bling, but not an actual POS of course. i think the HD idea would be cool too. a benefit to that is that my friend who lives above me is a big HD guy and could help out a lot. that may still be a little too expensive though.

rory- was it an xs650? i hear those are great cafe bikes too. i'd probably be doing a lot of this outside or in a garage or basement as well. i'm really leaning towards a cb750 right now due to cost and availability of parts. although i'm mechanically inclined, i wouldn't consider myself a knowledgable mechanic. so the more i think about it.. a brit bike might be out of the question, at least for my first project. plus like you said, the cost would probably be too much for my budget.

My old man sold his 1975 Yami Xs 650 to some guy and he made an awesome cafe racer out of it.....

[ancosta]

Yamaha RD400?

[bump909]

Originally posted by zombie
if you want to build a fairly cheap and cool cafe racer you may want to consider an SR500 yamaha single
produced from 78-81 and are cheap and reliable and dead easy to do some cool remodeling too


http://www.siue.edu/~rsutton/SR/rtfront98.jpg

very cool.. i'd definitely like to see that bike with some spokes, though.

[Tabby]

On a similar note, check out a Honda GB500. I don't think they will be as plentiful, so to speak, or as cheap. Being based on the dirt bike motor though {radial 4 valve head}, it should have a smidge more power stock, than the Yamaha.

Oh,, so many possibilities,,,so little money {me!}.

P.S. Spoked wheels, stock!