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Author Topic: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze  (Read 7905 times)

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Offline ev0lve

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #25 on: November 20, 2008, 10:59:58 AM »
I'm not all that fond of the bump seat cowl at this point. Was kind of thinking of trying to make some kind of Corbinesqe monstrosity leaving the rear section flat. I kind of like the profile of the stock seat and the flat line it creates once the bars are lower. If I could drop the instruments lower as well I would (someday as my fabrication skills are not the shtee at this point). Anyone have any pics of someone who's done that kind of thing with the seat and instrument pod?

And, yeah, I guess that puts me in the fake cafe group. ::) Aesthetics for now.
« Last Edit: November 20, 2008, 11:02:26 AM by Iggy »
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Offline texaninseattle

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #26 on: November 20, 2008, 11:05:15 AM »
Dont get me wrong guys...i like the look as much as the next guy, and im not nocking changing the apperance of your bike to suit what you like....I was only curious as to why this look has become so popular as of late
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Offline ev0lve

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #27 on: November 20, 2008, 11:22:47 AM »
That I don't know. I've always liked machines with less plastic (other than the gs550e with a full fairing I had a long time ago) but it probably has to do with the Discovery Channel and a bunch of guys discovering they have sub par fabrication skills and not enough cash. You know, it's like difficult and expensive and stuff  ;D

The street fighter/naked look doesn't really turn my crank either though so...
« Last Edit: November 20, 2008, 11:27:13 AM by Iggy »
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Offline MCRider

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #28 on: November 20, 2008, 03:05:11 PM »
Quote from: texaninseattle on November 20, 2008, 11:05:15 AM
Dont get me wrong guys...i like the look as much as the next guy, and im not nocking changing the apperance of your bike to suit what you like....I was only curious as to why this look has become so popular as of late
Don't know how old you are, judging by your daughter maybe 40? :)  But I was in to Cafe Racers in 1971 so its not new to me. I think it follows a societal thread like the resurgence of Harleys coinciding with a demographic that could finally afford them after lusting for them when they couldn't afford them.

With Cafe Racers (I resist the term Cafe as it tends to just describe the style while Cafe Racer defines the lifestyle) its a resurgence of style that many middle agers missed while raising families etc. Though I'm so curious at the number of youngsters on this forum.

Carpy may inadvertently be the OCC of Cafe Racers, and I don't see enough emphasis on performance for him to retain the "racer" part of the moniker. He is the Cafe stylist. And very good at that.
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Offline MCRider

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #29 on: November 20, 2008, 03:07:08 PM »
Quote from: cafe750 on November 20, 2008, 06:01:54 AM
Quote from: jhasewhite on November 19, 2008, 05:59:05 PM
You should re-title this thread:  "the cafe look-alike-craze of middle class suburban dwelling males who dislike rap music and know what the Isle of man TT is, ages 18-30."   :)  to be a little more specific.

I live out in the sticks...and, I decided not to buy myself a sportbike, but to build one, with suspension upgrades/mods and motor tweaks. Does that make my bike a look-a-like, or a real live cafe?

Suspension mods and motor tweaks? Congrats! its a Cafe Racer!
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Offline gregimotis

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #30 on: November 20, 2008, 03:19:47 PM »
Quote from: gerhed on November 20, 2008, 09:25:11 AM
On another subject.
What are we going to do about "texaninseattle's Avatar ?





Give him 2 day ban unless he posts a bigger one in the appropriate thread?
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Offline jhasewhite

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #31 on: November 20, 2008, 04:52:21 PM »
.... ages 18-60(sorry stevef), and If you like rap music well, i'm sorry, sell your honda and go buy a 78' Monte Carlo.

The look-a -likes know who they are - Stock motor, stock suspension,stock footrests, 1/2' strip of untouched rubber on your rear tire and you have clubmans? lame. Real street racers know that stylish clubmans suck for a  daily rider, they hurt your neck and  you can toss your bike around better with superbike bars. Here in SF, it seems like any hip youngster will shell out $2500 for a stock 550 with nothing but clubmans on it - and I'm happy to take their money :).  I love cafe bikes to death and always have, but it is quite trendy right now to look the part in front of your favorite bar.  Mod Mopeds = out   Rockin'Cafe Racer = in. I don't really mind all of these newfound "racers", it just makes winning easier for me. 

I really hope I pissed someone off. Keep motorcycles evil!
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Offline ev0lve

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #32 on: November 20, 2008, 05:00:58 PM »
Mmmmmmm, 78 Monte Carlo

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Offline jhasewhite

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #33 on: November 20, 2008, 05:02:45 PM »
haha, nice. It's missing the 2 wire wheels, the other two are still on lay-a-way.
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Offline heffay

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #34 on: November 20, 2008, 05:23:47 PM »
since we've all seen mine a million times  ;) here's my dad on his cafe look-a-like 8)... by the way, i think the cafes have been around long enough to not be considered a craze or a look-a-like... if its a cafe bike its not a cafe bike look-a-like.

« Last Edit: November 20, 2008, 07:14:05 PM by heffay »
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Offline texaninseattle

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #35 on: November 20, 2008, 06:21:53 PM »
Quote from: Iggy on November 20, 2008, 05:00:58 PM
Mmmmmmm, 78 Monte Carlo



THUG LIFE!!!!
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Offline UnCrash

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #36 on: November 20, 2008, 06:59:38 PM »
Quote
Mmmmmmm, 78 Monte Carlo


AAAAAAHHHH the memories.  My first car was a 77 Monte Carlo with a nice Landau top.  I bought it in 89 for $250 with 225,000 miles on it.  Big motor with a 4 barrell carb. 

My girlfriend pulled out in traffic one night and we got T boned.  Caved her drivers door in all the way to the center of the steering wheel.  Thank god she wasn't wearing her seat belt.  She slid right over on the bench seat and crashed into me.  I broke the passenger window with my head but had no cuts or bruises.  We both walked away.  The car stayed running and was blocking all traffic.  A cop came by and drove it into a nearby parkinglot. 

The Chevy Cavalier which hit us was in very bad shape.  Fortunately it had airbags and the driver was ok.

The Monte was an absolute tank but didn't get as good as gas mileage as a tank does...
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Offline UnCrash

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #37 on: November 20, 2008, 07:08:37 PM »
Oh yeah,


I've liked cafe racers since I saw my first Harley Davidson XLCR1000 in 1978.  I hadn't yet seen an original british version that HD was copying mind you...


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Offline Caaveman82

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #38 on: November 20, 2008, 07:33:04 PM »
*warning my first drunk post*

    Mr San Fran. Stop hating dude. If some one want's to ride a 550 with clubmans and call it a cafe then so be it. I don't understand why people hate on eachother for liking certain things. We can all tell when we see them out there riding around that their a "poser", if that's what you want to call it, so fark it man, let em do their thing.

    If you want to get right down to it, if you were not alive in the 50's or maybe earlier who the hell knows, and in the UK, and you now own a cafe, your a poser. You're 23 dude, what do you know about a cafe? About as much as I do, which is what ever you read on this mindless void we call the internet.

     I am not picking a fight, I am just tired of the hating. Just let people go their own way man, it's much easier for everyone that way.
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Offline ev0lve

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #39 on: November 20, 2008, 07:38:07 PM »
Dude, you're all drunk and stuff  ;D

I have to go put cards in my spokes, see if I can get my banana seat to fit and mount up my horn that makes laser sounds (which ground do I use dammit?!).
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« Last Edit: November 20, 2008, 07:40:53 PM by Iggy »
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Offline Caaveman82

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #40 on: November 20, 2008, 07:46:42 PM »
Haha. I went too far too fast and now I'm drunk on a week night. So bad...

Your avatar was totally dancing to the Pixies, that was pretty awesome, I'm not gonna lie..
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Offline ev0lve

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #41 on: November 20, 2008, 07:49:02 PM »
I got a card in my spokes
I'm practicing my joke, I'm learning!

And now back to your regularly scheduled thread...
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Offline seaweb11

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #42 on: November 20, 2008, 07:53:52 PM »
I put a set of "clubmans" on a 1969 Yam 250? street bike in 1978 when I was 16.

Not sure where that mod came from, but I have always followed the cafe style in my head and riding style?

Now 48yrs old and have the $$ to make what I would have dreamed of at 16 ;D


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Offline MCRider

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #43 on: November 20, 2008, 07:55:43 PM »
Quote from: seaweb11 on November 20, 2008, 07:53:52 PM
I put a set of "clubmans" on a 1969 Yam 250? street bike in 1978 when I was 16.

Not sure where that mod came from, but I have always followed the cafe style in my head and riding style?

Now 48yrs old and have the $$ to make what I would have dreamed of at 16 ;D




And that, boys and girls, is the answer to the original question.
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Offline kghost

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #44 on: November 20, 2008, 08:42:43 PM »
Cafe's are the british version of what americans used to call bobbers/Choppers.....before choppers got all twisted... ::)
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Offline CaféElite

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #45 on: November 20, 2008, 10:28:23 PM »
Quote from: gerhed on November 20, 2008, 09:25:11 AM

On another subject.
What are we going to do about "texaninseattle's Avatar ?

 
 


If anyone wants the nude gif of her jumping around shoot me an email :D

OOHH and this thread is crap.. WTF are you (people hating) doing wasting your time thinking about how someone else spends their money and time. Do you feel this will lower the value of your bike? Are you part of some special club that you have had a member card in your wallet since the 50's? Clear indication you are not working, riding or thinking about your own bike(s).

People never fail to amaze me and to be honest I really never expected to see this type of thread on this forum.
« Last Edit: November 20, 2008, 10:32:43 PM by CaféElite »
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Offline Ecosse

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #46 on: November 20, 2008, 10:38:38 PM »
Quote from: kghost on November 20, 2008, 08:42:43 PM
Cafe's are the british version of what americans used to call bobbers/Choppers.....before choppers got all twisted... ::)

Bingo!

Heff, your pop has one sweet set of wheels! I hate him... oops, sorry caaveman, I detest him. I kid... I kid!

I think MC is exactly right. Happened with the muscle cars as well.

As for gregimotis' idea regarding Tex's avatar of my wife; I say he's purposely letting us flap in the breeze, uh poor choice of words, anyway I think he's rather enjoying the power right now. Well enjoy it while it lasts because I have people on it as you read this.

Back to Cafe's. I hope what happens with pretty much every craze doesn't happen with Cafe's. I only call something that's been around for over half a century a 'craze' because the increased interest is the craze.
Alas, I think this will all hit a high and become perverted (not in the good way) and priced out of reach for average folk.

I'm just a ray of sunshine huh?! ;)
« Last Edit: November 20, 2008, 10:51:51 PM by Ecosse »
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Offline DammitDan

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #47 on: November 20, 2008, 11:54:51 PM »
Quote from: jhasewhite on November 20, 2008, 04:52:21 PM
.... ages 18-60(sorry stevef), and If you like rap music well, i'm sorry, sell your honda and go buy a 78' Monte Carlo.

The look-a -likes know who they are - Stock motor, stock suspension,stock footrests, 1/2' strip of untouched rubber on your rear tire and you have clubmans? lame. Real street racers know that stylish clubmans suck for a  daily rider, they hurt your neck and  you can toss your bike around better with superbike bars. Here in SF, it seems like any hip youngster will shell out $2500 for a stock 550 with nothing but clubmans on it - and I'm happy to take their money :).  I love cafe bikes to death and always have, but it is quite trendy right now to look the part in front of your favorite bar.  Mod Mopeds = out   Rockin'Cafe Racer = in. I don't really mind all of these newfound "racers", it just makes winning easier for me. 

I really hope I pissed someone off. Keep motorcycles evil!

And here I was thinking that you met the nicest people on a Honda...
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Offline Shenanigans

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #48 on: November 21, 2008, 12:10:25 AM »
Quote from: DammitDan on November 20, 2008, 11:54:51 PM
Quote from: jhasewhite on November 20, 2008, 04:52:21 PM
.... ages 18-60(sorry stevef), and If you like rap music well, i'm sorry, sell your honda and go buy a 78' Monte Carlo.

The look-a -likes know who they are - Stock motor, stock suspension,stock footrests, 1/2' strip of untouched rubber on your rear tire and you have clubmans? lame. Real street racers know that stylish clubmans suck for a  daily rider, they hurt your neck and  you can toss your bike around better with superbike bars. Here in SF, it seems like any hip youngster will shell out $2500 for a stock 550 with nothing but clubmans on it - and I'm happy to take their money :).  I love cafe bikes to death and always have, but it is quite trendy right now to look the part in front of your favorite bar.  Mod Mopeds = out   Rockin'Cafe Racer = in. I don't really mind all of these newfound "racers", it just makes winning easier for me. 

I really hope I pissed someone off. Keep motorcycles evil!

And here I was thinking that you met the nicest people on a Honda...


Me and my Grandmaster Flash music collection are insulted.   :D
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Offline KeithTurk

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Re: the "Cafe" look-a-like craze
« Reply #49 on: November 21, 2008, 01:12:21 AM »
I built this bike as a Cafe style daily rider... it's designed to scoot around town and look semi cool... it's not any more powerful or radically modified in any way over a stock bike... just pipes and dyno tuning... but I dig it... and ultimately WHO else do I care about?



Keith
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