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Has anyone ever converted to cafe racer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 46hand
  • Start date Start date
4

46hand

Guest
Thinking about doing it... At a crossroads on this project. Wondering how it generally turns out, how difficult/expensive it is, and general positive/negative experiences.
Cos then I could be like :cool:
 
I kinda did it. Click on the GS450 in my signature.
 
Flaming Chainsaws said:
I kinda did it. Click on the GS450 in my signature.
Click to expand...
Quite a process you went through. How did you like the end product?

Oh hey, you live in Seatac? I live in Edmonds.

Re: Big Boy, a) you seem very picky about your battery? Maybe I screwed up, but I got a replacement at a place down the street for $40, filled and charged. b) I have a tender. c) I may be headed to Tacoma this weekend, and would be down to look at how that motor goes back together.
 
46hand said:
Quite a process you went through. How did you like the end product?

Oh hey, you live in Seatac? I live in Edmonds.

Re: Big Boy, a) you seem very picky about your battery? Maybe I screwed up, but I got a replacement at a place down the street for $40, filled and charged. b) I have a tender. c) I may be headed to Tacoma this weekend, and would be down to look at how that motor goes back together.
Click to expand...
I really liked how the GS450 was turning out but it had to be sold for a few reasons... I assume that you would be doing it to your GS850G? It can be done. A few guys here have done it.

Oh yeah... About the GS1100E. I just wanted an AGM battery since there is no need to add any water, won't spill, and is basically maintenance free.

Feel free to come over anytime :).
 
I'm in the process of getting a bike that was once cafe'd out back together - so I got some nice parts out of the sale (rolling chassis) and the frame was already chopped down. Due to a lack of funds I'll be keeping true to the spirit and will try to make what I can like the seat / headlight brackets... Just got the carbs back on her today - need to figure out the whole electrical situation. Pretty frustrated about it.
 
Flaming Chainsaws- Yeah this would be on my 850. I just think the bike would take nicely to that look, never had one or done one before.

DCrippa- If I do this, hopefully I won't be undoing it anytime soon! Sounds like you have a huge amount of work ahead of you.

One huge issue is I don't have a full time garage to work in, just for storage... Oh well, I have until the rain to think about it.
 
I was assessing the situation today and yeah it is a bit of work - mostly hard because I'm still missing parts - battery & wiring, fuel lines, washers spacers and bolts for the rear suspension - bolts for the exhaust - bolts for the foot pegs and a slip on or remainder of the 4-1 header that I have. Bolt for the tank.

It has clip ons so the stock headlight brackets aren't going to work. Have some miscellaneous electrical parts and a wire harness but I'm now thinking - I only need a tail light and a headlight - ditch everything else no speedo and no tach should keep it really simple (if it's legal gotta find out). Wish I had made this decision before scooping all this crap off eBay. The stock instrument cluster is just too big - and I definitely don't like the angle of the bracket - if I can bend it flat I may use it but mocking it up today didn't look promising.

I really just need to see if I can get her running and then contemplate the rest.
 
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There have been several 850 cafe projects around here in a the last couple years. A search should turn them up. In my opinion, they never really achieve the "lightness" of the look. Find the previous project, and see how you think they turned out.
 
An 850G is way too big of a bike to be a cafe racer. They are such a pleasure to ride in stock form I wouldn't want to mess with it. (just opinions)
 
+1, the heaviest of the heavy, the most comfortable, it is silly to cafe one.
Besides, it's a shafty, so you are joking, right?
 
DCrippa, I don't know how tall you are, but clip ons with no rear sets can make for a real pain in the neck. Literally. Could try drag bars first. Most likely a speedo will be required by law. However it may or may not need to be seen all the time- I've seen them mounted on the forks before.

If you look at headlight buckets on motorcycles in the 60's, many of them have the speedo mounted inside the headlight bucket. Just food for thought.
 
That 'Wing is a hoot. I can see some cafe elements in it, but it looks more like a motor with a bike wrapped around it.
 
tkent02 said:
+1, the heaviest of the heavy, the most comfortable, it is silly to cafe one.
Besides, it's a shafty, so you are joking, right?
Click to expand...


Heh, cant/shouldnt do it to a 850. Bla bla bla. I did and I love it.
Honestly I think I'd sell the Skunk before I'd sell the 850.
The bike is an absolute hoot to ride. A stock bike is BORING. Boring to build and boring to ride. Make it into something its not and thats what makes it fun.
Sure, an ideal cafe is a little twin or something lighter but I promise you my 850 will leave most any old Suzuki twin in the dust in any conditions, weight, shaft and all.

Can Cafe ANYTHING!

376522491.jpg
 
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I have to agree with you Octain - besides its more a state of mind...

Lose the excess and get it to perform as best you can with what you can do... typically with little or no funds - but focusing on the art / ability of the builder... that said I have no problems with builds that clearly took a lot of money.
 
DCrippa said:
I have to agree with you Octane - besides its more a state of mind...

Lose the excess and get it to perform as best you can with what you can do... typically with little or no funds - but focusing on the art / ability of the builder... that said I have no problems with builds that clearly took a lot of money.
Click to expand...

I have just under a grand in this bike. This includes the cost of the bike, DJ jet kit with K&N's(used ebay item) and new tires and everything in between.
It has no safety switches(sidestand, clutch ect.) and no tach.
The brakes are new including stainless lines up front. All signals, lights and brake lights work like they're supposed to.
Cheap drag bars with cheapy bar ends.
Although it's not something I'd wanna do an Iron Butt ride on but it sure is fun hopping around town and always starts up some curious conversation.

It runs like a top even after sitting for a few weeks. Starts with normal choke, idles great and revs like a buzzbomb.

I do wanna make or find a fork brace, new shocks and springs and *maybe* a different paint job.
Other than these few items its just the way I want it and I would definitely do it again
 
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