Re: Vintage cafe racers!

[ilanidrac]

I request a favor from you, Zooki.  If ya get a chance, can you tell me the measurements of your frame where you mounted the seat?  Since it fits perfect for you, I want to see if my frame is the same width and length in that area.

EDIT! Also, how does the seat mount?  Does it sit on top of the frame, or kind of cover it and the frame sinks into it?

[NoobZooki]

Looks better everytime I see it.

Thanks! I have to agree. Just wait till next week : )

damn i want to soooo badly do this to my cb750, but i need it to still be comfy for long hauls and im a cheap ass, but i am for sure getting rid of the bars, i just need to decide what to get

CB750's are very popular for these cafe racer conversions. Check out dotheton.com and cb750cafe.com for cafe racer stuff.

As for bars, if you're going for the cafe racer look, get clubman handlebars like on my bike. If you've got money to spare, get clip ons. But since you want something comfortable, I would say get superbike or daytona bars.

im thinking super bike bars or daytona just cause the clubmans tend to cause some dents when full locked XD and i down a rubber pad on the bars or tank, and i know i would forget if i fully locked it i would dent the tank.

Whatever works for you. I have clubmans on my bike but it does not hit the gas tank. The headlight fork ears do! So I bought some smaller headlight fork ears and all is good.

Looks amazing!

I am actually getting the same exact style break light/tail light/turn signal combo for the Honda I am doing

Awesome! You won't be disappointed with these lights, especially for the price. Got them for about $20 shipped.

IVE BEEN INSPIRED.  And so I went and bought a 1979 Suzuki GS550L to do a cafe build with lol.  Pretty close to what you have.  Picked it up for $250, and it is in such amazing condition for that price.

Got pics up here:
http://psycleshack.wordpress.com/2011/0 ... he-family/

You've been inspired from me? Aww jeez. That really makes me feel... good, you know? Keep those updates coming!

[NoobZooki]

I haven't done an update in a while. So here it goes!

LED idiot lights on! Green for neutral and red for oil. Who needs gauges?


Giving carbon fiber wrap a try. Practicing on my gauge cluster. Not bad!


EMGO headlight fork ears to combat clearance problems. I can now turn full lock without hitting the gas tank!


Headlight fork ears installed.


Then I decided upside down looks better. Turn signals back on.


Wire wheeled the gas cap.


Grenade valve caps lol.


Rear end chopped off. Nearly 1 pound of metal!


So that the seat can sit over the frame.


Sideways mounted license plate. Take a good long look at my plate number    LED lights mocked up.


Seat mount and frame braces. I will need to weld them to the frame. I also need to drill holes in the seat pan.


Black gas tank. Temporary paint. Will be dark gray metallic in the future.








I can see the light!




I'm not done yet...

[NoobZooki]

So with the relocated license plate, how will people see it in the dark? This solves the problem.


Yellow headlight film. Still undecided if I'll use it or not.


Another set of coil packs I got. They came off of a Yamaha Virago. Anyone want them? $10+shipping.


And this was an impulse buy. Got it for $0.01 though! I have no idea what it fits but it will look good on the wall.

[RayMan]

I'm loving it man.

[ilanidrac]

Nice update!

So that seat...it just slides over the frame, or is it mounted somehow?

[NoobZooki]

Nice update!

So that seat...it just slides over the frame, or is it mounted somehow?

I will explain this as best as I can. The seat is just sitting on the frame. There is no way I'd ride without mounting it first.

Here's what I decided to do. These 2 steel bars will be welded onto my frame. They double as a frame brace and a seat mount.



For now, let's pretend I already welded in the steel bars. See those 4 holes I drilled on the steel bars? I will drill holes on my seat pan so that it will match the holes on the steel bars. Then you put the seat on the frame, line up the holes, and secure it using bolts, nuts, and washers. Pretty simple. After that I will work on a seat pad.

[robert_barbosa]

that bike is very nice! (borat voice)

[ilanidrac]

I got myself a Cafe seat last week and have it pretty much ready to mount as you explained!  Also got some clubmans for my Honda!

Your bike is coming out great, I can't wait to see it in its final stages of completion, and see it in action!

What is that behind your Suzuki?  That red Honda?  Is it an XR?  That has the same engine as the FT if so lol.

[NoobZooki]

that bike is very nice! (borat voice)

Thanks lol.

I got myself a Cafe seat last week and have it pretty much ready to mount as you explained!  Also got some clubmans for my Honda!

Your bike is coming out great, I can't wait to see it in its final stages of completion, and see it in action!

What is that behind your Suzuki?  That red Honda?  Is it an XR?  That has the same engine as the FT if so lol.

The bike in the back is an XR250.

What kind of seat did you go with? I didn't even mount my seat yet since there is still no gas for the welder.

[NoobZooki]

LED license plate lights.




Got tired of random wires that did nothing so I eliminated a few wires and started rewrapping the wiring harness. It looks much cleaner and more organized.







Headlight bucket before.


Headlight bucket after.


And lastly, a short video showing my rear lights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCnK9EaOzzE

[RayMan]

So far the only thing I really don't care for on it are the pipes. Not a fan of that older style...had it on my shadow too.

[NoobZooki]

So far the only thing I really don't care for on it are the pipes. Not a fan of that older style...had it on my shadow too.

The exhaust? It's the stock exhaust. Doesn't have the best sound but it looks OK. In the future, I will buy this 2-1 exhaust system. Then I will put on a Yoshimura can

It's a little rusty but I will sand blast it then repaint with high temp paint..


The seller is saving it for me until I can afford it.

[RayMan]

I agree it looks OK, but it just doesn't look at mean as the rest of the bike is starting to. (referring to the stock of course)

[NoobZooki]

I agree it looks OK, but it just doesn't look at mean as the rest of the bike is starting to. (referring to the stock of course)

Do not worry. I will eventually get a 2-1 exhaust system with a Yoshimura can. It will be sick! I'll do a Photoshop mock up sometime soon.