Topic: Cheap Cafe build?

[Kalamazoo]

So, I want to start a cheap, cheap, cheap. Cafe build on my 1977 CB 550. I bought the bike for 350 bucks so I'm not looking to put a ton of money into (plus I don't have a ton of money), it's mostly just to bomb around town. But when I say cheap I dont mean crap.

Any one got a good place to start?
Pictures of other cheap (but good) builds would be great to get some ideas.

[Jheart]

The guys on the forums at ADVrider.com have done alot of DIY cafe seat builds...

I personally recommend you start working with fiberglass. Get some Marine Epoxy instead of Fiberglassing resin, fiberglass matting, and pink foam from your Local Hardware Store, and sculpt and glass some shapes for practice. It's easy to learn, and fun to do. Plus It comes in handy in your real life.

Throw up some pics of any progress you make. Good luck!

[CBGhia]

if you just want the cafe look,  clubman bars are like $30.  and you can make the seat yourself, or run the stock seat for the time being.  That will give you the general look.

[Spikeybike]

the individual parts for these bikes , for the most part , are not that expensive. it all depends on . what your goals are.

if your after the look with a little of that cafe racer feel , ...clubmans. and chop the seat. 

if you want an actual sport tuned performance bike at low cost "best bang for the buck" type approach, start with a cam  

but with either one of these options , next on that list should be suspension upgades

[seaweb11]

 Cheap Cafe build?

[Spikeybike]

Cheap Cafe build?

i know right ...   

[Kalamazoo]

Yeah starting cheap, but as more money comes into my possession I will upgrade what I can.
Im not loaded and my bike isn't my only thing that I have to throw my money into.

I saw someone post a reply to someone asking about modding for a wider rear tire and new suspension.
They said "with enough modding anything is possible"

I would like to correct that "with enough money anything is possible"

[BlindJoe]

where in WI are you?

[Kalamazoo]

I live in Viroqua WI
Most likely never heard of it... that would be because its only a little over 4,000 people.
Its only about 30 min away from La Crosse WI

[seaweb11]

I wasn't trying to slag you  My 1st 750 build started with modest goals.

.......Something happend on the way

With a set of clubmans, change out a light or 2, re-do a seat with glass and you can probably get what you want for $30.00 bars, lamps $75.00, glass and supplies for a new seat..........priceless

Good luck and post some photos.

[Old Scrambler]

Make a plan before you start.  It should have a theme from front to rear.  As you have $$ add the obvious features such as clubmans or flat bars, 4-1 header and tunable muffler, bar-end mirrors, dual-disks, upgraded shocks, custom turn-signals, etc.  When you go for the seat, consider rear-set pegs and a different tank. Lose the rear fender and all reflectors.  Now think about wheels and tires.  Maybe a custom front fender.  Last is the motor mods...........and paint!  Most of all, have fun and keep an watch on your investment.  Dennis in Wisconsin

[Kalamazoo]

haha aright Thanks

I can def. see where the money spending can get out of hand, I have barley started and I'm already addicted. 

[jamesb]

i have about 750.00 total in my 550 as of now. 400.00 for bike,120 seat,30.00 bars, 20.00 tail light, 15.00 grips,30.00 for decals and the rest for custom fab work and paint i did myself.  it can get out of hand sometimes but just set your self some limits and shop around.

[Kalamazoo]

Fantastic bike!
only $750 you say? Great work, and great inspiration!

Thanks!

[Spikeybike]

Great work, and great inspiration!

Thanks!

and just like that another bike is added to the inspiration gallery 

[jamesb]

thanks i also meant add i just bought another seat from one of the members here i'm going to have some vaccum molds made from it the guy here in town does it pretty cheap so if you are interested in one let me know. i'm going to have a few of them made and then modify one of those and so on and so on. i can send pics of what the seat looks like now.  

[BlindJoe]

I live in Viroqua WI
Most likely never heard of it... that would be because its only a little over 4,000 people.
Its only about 30 min away from La Crosse WI

I've heard of it, too bad you aren't closer. All good points above, you could sell parts off of the bike such as the seat, fender, lights etc. if they are in decent condition to put the profit towards the mods you want.

[Kalamazoo]

Yeah I was thinking about that but I would kind of like to keep most of my original parts incase I ever feel like having a stock bike or buy another to restore to stock at some point.

Altho most likely the parts will end up being auctioned off or I might see if anyone wants em on here.
Not ready to sell em just yet tho.

[Kalamazoo]

jamesb- P.M. sent (subject- seat)

[tygrant]

I am doing the same thing as we speak to my 75 550f, i have bought basicaly everything i will need, i just got it running and now that im happy with the motor/tranny il be ripping it down again cleaning, painting polishing and what not. im into it for about 750 right now and thats everyyyything right down the the sheats of sand paper. i got mine for 200 and she was a basket case

[ieism]

You can forget about a cheap cafe. The only way to make one is to try to make it as fast and pretty as possible, and not look at the cost.

This is supposed to be your dreambike, and you will end up spending every dollar you own on it, as well as most of your spare time. Trust me.

[Frankenkit]

aww, I think it's a time/money/skill equation. 
If you have less money, then it'll be more time and skill.  If you have less skill, then it'll probably be more money and time.  Less time, then money and skill will be your deal.

For me, I started off having never seen or really touched a motorcycle in person myself in my life.  (I sh*t you not) somewhere on here, you can find early posts where I confuse the crap out of people because I mistook my valve cover for the head. 
That all meant I had to buy more new parts than I could ever fab myself, took time and money fixing idiot newbie mistakes (valves too tight, anyone?)  and because I'm always busy somewhere else (and broke) it took probably the better part of the last two years (three?)

Conversely, the Phoenix project had a ton of time and skill put into it, and is freakin' beautiful...  but Spike is a talented individual, and I think his son has more motorcycle experience than I do. 

Just do the best you can.  I would +1 the clubmans and leaving the stock seat for later.  there are a lot of sexy cafes out there with stock seats, so that may not be the most of your worries. 

[A Grove]

Yeah starting cheap, but as more money comes into my possession I will upgrade what I can.
Im not loaded and my bike isn't my only thing that I have to throw my money into.

I saw someone post a reply to someone asking about modding for a wider rear tire and new suspension.
They said "with enough modding anything is possible"

I would like to correct that "with enough money anything is possible"

I disagree 100%.  I spent about 800 in all.  And have a reliable running cb550 cafe, and another cb550 parts bike thats currently being rebuilt with some hotter internals   I did most the work on my bike, bought very little.  Made the bars, seat, shock mounts, painted everything and did the body work, etc.  I dig it so far.  Still needs TONS of work.



still not totally finished with number 1

[Kalamazoo]

Yes you can have a sweet cafe with out tons of money, but there are things where money spending cannot be avoided.  Skill being a major issue and actually the biggest issue availability of tools, alright here lets see, I'm going to try and make some new bars with a screw driver and a wrench... lets see what happens. Kitsune is right the amount of money your going to spend has a lot to do with skill level, time available, money.  Plus I didn't really mean that quote to directly apply to cafe's.  More of life in general.

In this great country of ours money= possibilities, theres no way to deny that.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jamesb -- great looking bike.

Hang in there, Kalamazoo.  Nice looking K7.  I got one myself.  I just put on new CR carbs on her, and that set me back some coin, but she sure can breath now.  Next for me will be the exhaust.

Here's what she looked like when I bought her:



Here's what she looks like now (I need a new picture to show off the new CR carbs, and my new custom side covers):



Start simple.  Get some clubmans and get used to the new riding position.  Then you can do some other mods -- maybe buy a seat from Jamesb, try to cut yours down to size or give fiberglass a go.  The rest you can take your time and money with.