Don't Know Where to Start on My Cafe

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. JuniorRap,

I'm glad you found us. You'll find lots of GS lovin' on my website. I agree with those who say get it running perfectly and ride it for a while before you start hacking it up. You might just grow to love your bike for what it is. I know I did. And I just wanted to say "Hi"...

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[makr]

Here is my 550. It is pretty well finished now. This was an in process picture

I fabbed my seat using the stock seat pan, and 24 gage sheet, but there are ready made cafe seats on e-bay. I may go that way on my next project.

I used the front of the stock airbox, and then machined a collar that I riveted to the opening, and then put one large filter on it. I still had to baffel the opening some to get it to run right. I like the pod look, but no one makes one (that I could find) to fit.

I cut about three inches off the forks because I didnt like the look of them . I dont take this bike to the track, but it seems to handle fine with the shorter tubes. I have a lathe in the garage, so I was able to recut the c-clip grooves and stuff.

Good luck. I love doing these projects. I usually dont have a specific plan in mind when I start. I just start tearing things apart. It works for me, but may not for everyone.

 

[Guest]

JR,
Its YOUR bike. Do with it as you wish.

Tons of info here and even more opinions. Some good ones, some not so good ones and some are just downright hatefull but take it with a grain of salt. Use what you can and dump what you cant.
Use the search feature, god use the search feature!
One more suggestion, make sure the bike runs and it ridable before ya do anything else to it.

Some words of encouragement, if I can do YOU can do it!
(nice bike MAKR!)

 

[Roostabunny]

First off, welcome. This is a great site - the absolute best for what you're trying to do. Even the grumpy guys are often very helpful.

"Proper" Cafe Racers as a genre have been appropriated by everyone and their uncle, but I think about 2% really know what they're talking about. I sure don't. I just like the look. Sure, I think of wire wheels, clip-ons, drilled out parts, and a chain drive as part of a traditional cafe build - and you'll find a lot of CB's and XS's since they fit that bill a little better.

But since it sounds like you just want your GS to look fast (in a vintage utilitarian way), and go fast. So yah, it'll never be a Triton (in form or function) but for less than $2k you can do no worse, dude. It can absolutely rock, and be very fast on a budget, which is probably the best homage you can make to the cafe tradition.

Oh, crap. I just used the word homage.

Personally, I love the cafe look, and even though my GS850G (all 550lbs of it) will likely never get there, I ride it every day and the subtle mods I make push it in the sporty direction. Meanwhile, since it's a daily commuter, over the years I've been more focused on the mechanicals. I'd recommend the same - get it running right, get it moving fast - mainly because you just don't want it to have "more show than go", that'll miss the point.

There are some (not a lot, but some) nice examples of shaftie cafe racers out there. This was one link I found to a nice Italian (of all things)...
http://www.allenmotorsports.com/mv750_sport_america.htm And there's quite a few BMW examples out there.

I rambled, mainly just wanted to say hi, don't worry about the idea that it can't or shouldn't be done, and good luck. Looking forward to seeing what you do.

Cheers,
Josh


Edit: I gotta add, learn how to ride. Also, learn how to ride. This is one of the top reasons for getting it running and rideable first. So you can practice, get a feel for the bike, and learn how to stay alive out there. You're no good to us dead. (That's a geeky movie reference, but I really mean it. It's dangerous out there, and your skills matter a lot).

Edit: Oh dang, I just posted in a 2-year-old thread. Duh.

 

[DCrippa]

Wonder if he ever completed it?

I don't see what the big deal is, I have and have had a lot of the same questions. They are very good questions for someone trying to put a cafe bike together for the first time... yeah I agree it would be a shame to chop up a pristine example, and yeah - it's not the quintessential bike for the style (the only person who should care about that is HIM), and yes there are also some that don't have any business being around tools and could be a danger to themselves, others and the bike - further some don't know how to ride - all those things are incredibly important and should be addressed... But, I believe anyone posting such questions should also be given the benefit of the doubt that either they, or someone they know has the competency and desire / drive needed to do the work... If not, they'll either state they don't, pay someone else or ask for help - not asked to be patronized - which doesn't help anyone.

So whatever - in the end it's HIS bike and he should be unquestioned to do what he wants to it - put rockets and wings on it and go jump the grand canyon - who cares, whatever floats his boat since he'll be the one riding it.

Educating by providing differing viewpoints is good - but keep in mind it doesn't answer his questions... Consider this... if he's asking - he's probably already got an idea of what he wants and put some thought into it.... Or knows what he wants but just doesn't know how to get there.. just sayin'