cafe racer project

[Bretty]

?

[brooker81]

Little update...
R6 rear setup has arrived. R6 front forks are on there way   Cant wait to get cracking on this project just need a set of gold spots calipers for the front and some decent disks. Still stuggling to work out wether to do a hard seat hump or a soft one.

[ponkster]

I've never really understood the café racer thing. Each to his own I guess, but basically it appears to me you're just removing all the practical good bits and devaluing a classic bike. Fair enough if you've just crashed it mind!  :'(

Ditch the air box and replace with air filters which are more expensive and difficult to set up and run optimally.
Remove the under-seat storage (toolbox, puncture kit, chain/lock and waterproofs gone).
Remove the fairing and any wind protection and comfort.
Fit clip on /dropped handlebars to create a less comfortable riding position.
Fit dinky indicators that no one can see.
Fit some dodgy radial oversized tyres and drop the forks to ruin the handling.
Then tell the insurance company about all the mod's and watch your premiums go up.

Some times you just got to live a little and embrace the need to take a grinder to it - not all fazers are polished classics . life is to short to worry about the practicalities of under seat storage - that's what amo boxes are for

Rattus side by ponkster45, on Flickr

[vinnyb]

So cool :thumbup It makes me want to get my cut off out of the attic again :lol

[Disorderlypunk]

So cool :thumbup It makes me want to get my cut off out of the attic again :lol

-mines still in my wardrobe lol (cant remember if its ment to be black or its just grease and paint)

[unfazed]

The gold chain just ruins the look  :lol

[F4celess]

...
Each to his own I guess, but basically it appears to me you're just removing all the practical good bits and devaluing a classic bike.
...

I read this statement alot on Bike forums, plus it does make me reflect (on decision to modify... or NOT modify  :\ ).
Suppose every person buys a Bike for different reasons, depending on what you want to get out of the ownership experience.

I usually buy with my heart (not my head) - hence am thinking about long term ownership - not about resale value in 2 or 3 years time.

The bike above is very pleasing to look at. Has been finished with a high attention to detail. The Fazer is one very flexible machine!

[F4celess]

Plus, " café racer " seems to be a buzzword to print money at the moment.
You see many motorcycles on fleabay for sale, that has "custom café racer" in the title, along with a random (greatly inflated) asking price.  :thumbdown

[Disorderlypunk]

i just wish people would stop building heaps by putting a seat hoop, a flat seat, exhaust wrap and some clip ons and saying its a custom built cafe racer when very little has been done and charging loads for a bike that in my opinion is not finished
not to mention exhaust wrap has no real place in the motorcycle world, we dont even use in in our rally cars where it would be usefull



if you look up fazer streetfighter on youtube the most many do is fit dominator headlights and chop off half the seat
i admit i am only at the headlight stage and airbox removal so far but it was just to get the thing on the road untill the full build starts
and i will put so much more money into the build than the bike will ever be worth but its what i like to do and enjoy every minute of doing it
the only way to really make money from custom builds is to build for other people and let them foot the cost of parts and your time

[F4celess]

" seat hoop, a flat seat, exhaust wrap and some clip ons and saying its a custom built cafe racer when very little has been done and charging loads for a bike that in my opinion is not finished "

Unfortunately the above DOES summarise 90% of those high priced " café racer " projects on fleabay.  :rolleyes
Any further hints on what you plan to do with yours? Do you have a Build Thread running?

I did also come across this ZX7, which is stunning! Although the company that produced the rear subframe/seat support, cut it straight out of a solid block of Aluminium!... cant be purchased as a Kit unfortunately!...


I also liked the idea of stripping down a Honda Shadow and turning it into a simplistic Bobber. So cool (but less practical as a commuter lol).
Another factor why I went for the Fazer instead, a decent Shadow costs twice as much! :lol  Ohhhhhhhh, the RUMBLE of that V-Twin!  :b

[Disorderlypunk]

could end up being a good little fight of the fighters here both me and brooker starting with a 2k silver fazer to build something
i have a feeling my build will take longer though as i still have to find a new house before i start

[brooker81]

Slow going at the moment. All the parts are sat waiting to be assembled but I've no time to make a start on it for personal reasons I've just welcomed my second child into the world(born at home so need the carpet cleaner out first) I'm sure it will come together fairly quickly once I get going.

[Disorderlypunk]

congratulations Brooker
do you want me to weld up a bracket to hold the baby seat

[celticdog]

Yep congrats to you and your missus Brooker. I came across this badly photo-shopped effort, I also think the fazer makes one hell of a scrambler.

[brooker81]

Haha cheers guys. Yeah might have to lock the bikes up but I'm more afraid of the daughter going out on them she's mega keen

[fazersharp]

I've no time to make a start on it for personal reasons I've just welcomed my second child into the world(born at home so need the carpet cleaner out first)

Should of sent her out onto the patio then you could easily jet wash it after.
Congratulations to you both 

[brooker81]

Right a little update all the parts are ready bike cleaned and degreased just need a few hours/days to make a good start..... Cant wait to see it come together the titanuim r6 akrapovic is gonna look sweeeeetttttt.

[tommyardin]

There's some pics on post 40 and 48 if you go to my profile. They're on photobucket so be prepared for ads and popups.
Never quite sure how to work that site.
Back to the above posts, I'd say streetfighter, it's got bars.


"Moses rode his triumph up to the crowd and said from here on thou cafe racer shalt have drops or clip-ons"
(The Bible)

I think you will find that Moses also mention clubman ace bars

[brooker81]

Little updatefront end is on the bike. bit of lathe work was required to get it done but i'm over the moon with the results and glad i'm finally getting somwhere with the project. onto the rear swingarm now then to decide what to do with the subframe looks like it will be going the whole thing. still a long road ahead but getting results now.

[noggythenog]

8) 8) 8)