Cafe Racers

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:47 pm

bikesnbones wrote:
dave the german wrote:I would maybe go for a Yamaha Sr500 - oh hang on I've got one of those
Was in Japan a couple of years ago and saw a fair few SR500 conversions.

There are a few tasty ones about - mine's at the start of it's restoration erm no I have yet to start the restoration

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 1:24 pm

http://www.bikeexif.com/cafe-racer-ducati

bikesnbones · Post by **bikesnbones** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 5:24 pm

Corvus wrote:http://www.bikeexif.com/cafe-racer-ducati

Nice.
Kind of puts me in mind of this.
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/kaffe ... 52366.html

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 5:32 pm

I think the big guzzi in sport or Le Mans guise is so intrinsically right, it would be difficult to make a muck up of customising it.

bikesnbones · Post by **bikesnbones** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 5:35 pm

Corvus wrote:I think the big guzzi in sport or Le Mans guise is so intrinsically right, it would be difficult to make a muck up of customising it.

I think the same of BMW twins.
Check out this beauty.

image url

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 2:26 pm

Maybe you've seen this before. But if not, feast your eyes on that baby!

http://caferacerspecial.blogspot.co.uk/ ... racer.html

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:33 pm

Sorry, got here a bit late but what a fantastic thread!

That Guzzi in the OP is just, well, drool-worthy. So simple, so elegant, and utterly beautiful.

BnB wrote...

"Is that the café racer version of the GS"
I explained that it wasn't but after I got home I thought, hang on a minute, the young whipper snapper may have a point.

I'd have probably gone away thinking 'what planet is that guy on?' but yes, he does have a very good point. And yes, the 12S - because it's not an out-and-out sportsbike - could certainly be taken as a form of café racer and thinking of it as such adds to its kudos imho.

I'll have to have a quick trawl around the www but there's a great website for photos of people who've done café racer conversions on H-D Sportsters, many of which are gorgeous. That V-twin lends itself very nicely to the C-R look.

bikesnbones · Post by **bikesnbones** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 8:47 am

I know I posted this before, but I love this cafe racer kit for the R1200R.
If something similar came out for the 12S, I might be tempted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBv8OGMlLac

conkerman · Post by **conkerman** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:01 am

The boxer really suits cafe racer treatment.

How about this virago.

bikesnbones · Post by **bikesnbones** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:15 am

conkerman wrote:The boxer really suits cafe racer treatment.

How about this virago.

When I was in Japan last, I came across this sweet factory cafe style bike, based on the 250 Virago,

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:26 am

conkerman wrote:The boxer really suits cafe racer treatment.

How about this virago.

Yes, looks good. There's been a few very nice virago custom (bobber) jobs. TBH i think most of the "classic" looking old jap bikes convert very well. I like anything different. Especially where skill is involved. To me, even the egeland harrier has beauty about it. Mechanical beauty. And a hell of a lot of skill. It's true though, some of those guys have an "eye" for it.

conkerman · Post by **conkerman** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:46 am

I think the old TRX850 would make a cracking cafe racer. Will have a google.

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 5:13 pm

Check out the r1 flat tracker.

http://greggscustoms.com/?p=22

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 5:53 pm

conkerman wrote:The boxer really suits cafe racer treatment.

How about this virago.

ooo I like that!

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 5:57 pm

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/katee-sa ... oto-kt600/