Topic: My cafe racer was finished in 2006... Update 2023.

[andy750]

Great to see you back and love the updates! A lot of changes in the last few years. That superduke looks like fun!

cheers
Andy

[DME]

Thanks Andy, its good to be back 

Kind of funny actually, I've never met anyone on here in person but it still feels like catching up with old friends and aquaintences. Seems line this internet-thing might catch on...   

As for the SuperDuke, yeah its a handful!
Lost all interest in modern bikes about 15 years ago, they all seemed the same and were so 'polished'. They were all fast and so, but none really lit my fire so to speak.
Then i stumbled across a 1290 and took it for a spin...
It ticked all my boxes, it felt raw and alive. Nothing 'polished' about it, it shakes, vibrates, it feels real.
Had to have one and I wanted wanted a first generation (2014-2016).
Found a well kept 2016 sold privately and the deal was done.

The way it flings the front wheel in the air when you give it a handful at 60 mph in third is addictive... and the same thing happens at 90 mph in fourth.

Go try one, I think you'll like it 

[Gurp]

Modern bikes don't do it for me very well either. A few years back I had a CRF450R. I thoroughly enjoyed that dirtbike. It always felt raw and ready to rip.

[DME]

Ok, so summer passed quickly as usual... all bikes are back off the road and in the garage again.

The Honda was MoT'd for the last time ever i June and has been running all summer.
Can hardly believe its true that it never has to be scrutinered ever again, but hey, who am I to argue with the authorities... 

Thoughts about selling it has started to pop up, but i dunno... feels kinda sad to part with a bike that has been in my possession for 25 years. We'll see.
Guess it all depends on what it's worth for someone else.

Anyway, the chrome 4-2 exhaust is now permanently off the bike and on the shelve, and the black 4-4 is back on... forever 

[seanbarney41]

Wow...i thought my riding season here in michigan was short.  What is the weather like, up there right now?

Thanks for pics and updates.  One of my favorite bikes on this forum.

[DME]

Thanks, glad you like it!

The riding season is not so bad, but it could definately be better.
I start riding at the end of April/ beginning of May and pretty much end up stopping around this time of year. So four months...
Now I´m living a thousand kilometers north of Stockholm, and down there the riding season is longer.
But on the other hand we get a real winter up here and can enjoy what that brings to the table too, in the form of snowmobiling, skiing etc.
So... I´m quite happy where I am 

Whats the riding season i Michigan like?

[seanbarney41]

Generally, early April to end of October here in southern michigan.  But I don't really put bikes away for the winter, as it is unpredictable how much snow we get any given year.  Most years, I can sneak some rides in almost every month of the year, but other years, no.

[Rookster]

I have Lathe envy.  Nice bike. 

Scott

[DME]

I have Lathe envy.  Nice bike. 

Scott

I hear you... been looking for a lathe for years, but they have always been too big or too small.
Then I saw this one in my neighbours garage and asked him if he was selling. Not right now but I'll let you know when its time, was the answer.
A year later the time was right 
Perfect size for my needs and my shop, pretty worn after almost 70 years of use but it gets the job done everytime.

[MRieck]

I have Lathe envy.  Nice bike. 

Scott

I hear you... been looking for a lathe for years, but they have always been too big or too small.
Then I saw this one in my neighbours garage and asked him if he was selling. Not right now but I'll let you know when its time, was the answer.
A year later the time was right 
Perfect size for my needs and my shop, pretty worn after almost 70 years of use but it gets the job done everytime.

Took me quite a while to find a lathe too. I have a Logan that is a little older than me....about 65 years old. As you said it generally gets the job done.
 The lathe isn't the big cost IMO.....it's all the tooling etc. !

[DME]

I have Lathe envy.  Nice bike. 

Scott

I hear you... been looking for a lathe for years, but they have always been too big or too small.
Then I saw this one in my neighbours garage and asked him if he was selling. Not right now but I'll let you know when its time, was the answer.
A year later the time was right 
Perfect size for my needs and my shop, pretty worn after almost 70 years of use but it gets the job done everytime.

Took me quite a while to find a lathe too. I have a Logan that is a little older than me....about 65 years old. As you said it generally gets the job done.
 The lathe isn't the big cost IMO.....it's all the tooling etc. !

True... but that is also where the fun begins.
Down the rabbit hole so to speak...

Picture to summarise:

[DME]

Another 4 years has passed since the last update on the 750... mostly because nothing much has happened to it 
Been busy with other projects and as the CB750 is finished I´ve not done much else to it other than ride it and make sure it has some good company 
On the last ride I realised the odometer will reset to zero again on the next ride, kind of a natural restoration of sorts... 

[MauiK3]

Nice!

[seanbarney41]

Hey!  Thanks for checking in DME.  Your bike is one of the my favorites of this forum.

[DME]

Hey!  Thanks for checking in DME.  Your bike is one of the my favorites of this forum.

Thanks, that means a lot 
As I said I´ve been busy with other projects, but I'm checking in on the forum regularly... albeit mostly on the "Other Bikes"-section lately 

Here´s a link to one of the projects that´s been keeping me busy for the last couple of years:       

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,189123.0.html

The plan was to tear it down last winter, look over the engine and get it painted... but life got in the way so I guess I´ll get it done this coming winter instead 

[seanbarney41]

Yeah, thanks DME.  I have been following that thread too.  Here in the states, a chain drive XV Yamaha is a very rare bird indeed.  No shortage of cruiser style shaft drives though...and no shortage of silly kids hacking 'em up in a poor attempt at something cafe...