Hello All,
I've been lurking this forum for awhile gathering info and ideas for my cafe inspired project (jeez another damn newbie with cafe racer dreams!). Well, yes and no.
I started riding years ago on a Suzuki Katana 600. I tinkered with it, fixed it up, painted it then about a year later traded up for a Honda CBR900RR. That one I blinged out a bit by polishing the frame, painting the bodywork Dodge Viper red with red pearl, reglassing the front cowl to french in dual PIAA 2.5" lights, designing my own graphics, making recessed rear signals...
I blew the motor in it and swapped in another then three weeks later destroyed it by clipping a curb at about 120mph. That was 17 years ago and I haven't owned a bike since, but I believe I have not only gotten fatter, but older and wiser and won't be pulling a stunt like that again.
Anyway I decided I needed a new project and since I don't have the room or funds to build a pro-touring '70 Camaro, I'd build a bike. I'm done with sportbikes and a cruiser isn't for me. I've always been drawn to the style and DIY culture of the cafe scene. So I convinced my wife that building a bike wouldn't be too expensive or suck up all of my time and I wouldn't have parts strewn all over the garage (yes, I lie to my wife. Don't judge.) and proceeded to procure a 1980 CB650C basket case and a week later bought a 1998 GSXR 600 for the front end. Both bikes were $500 total plus I got almost another CB650C thrown in with the first.
I have fitted the front end and am currently working out the best option for a laced wheel but I think I'm going to abandon the CB650C since I found a 78 CB550K frame for $100 at a local shop that's closing its doors Jan 1st. The engine should bolt right up and I think the GSXR front end will work with a bearing swap and the CB650 swingarm is almost a drop-in once the axle bushings are swapped, but that is discussion for another post.
I'll continue looking for info and inspiration here. There's a wealth of knowledge and some high quality work being shown on these boards.
Cheers!
