Topic: Hello, I'm Blake, First Post, First Cafe Racer, & Some Pics Of The Toys.

[The A1 and A2 German]

My name is Blake, and I will be picking up my first Cafe Racer tomarrow, Monday 5-3-10. I've always wanted one, and for what reason never picked one up probably as I've always been so busy with the other toys. I've mostly ridden street bikes and that time is over, I've moved on to a Chopper and going to build me up a Cafe Racer.

Here are a couple pics of the toys in the garage:










And no, your eyes are not deceiving you, if you want the story on the Audi look here:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4840424

I'm going to be building a cafe racer, however I havn't picked out a color scheme, and currently going through the: Insperation Thread

Here are some of my ideas for inspiration I like, I understand some of these fall into ~bobber but it's the color combo/style I'm liking.

I know it's kinda hard, but attempt to ignore the actual bikes and look @ their color(s) and combo instead. By all means, however a cafe racer, I don't in any way need to comply to Cafe Racer specs.

I've decided not to post my bike in question so there's no biases.

I've noticed while looking for parts, some of these Cafe Racer Shops are a little proud of thier parts, aka $350 for seat, $500 for contols, etc. Where's a good place to source parts if you can't make them?

Feel Free To Input, here are some ideas:

[Skonnie Boy]

I am so subscribed to this.

[Anarchy78]

Love that truck, looking forward to see what condition your project starts at.

[Hush]

Definitely a couch and bucket of popcorn event.

[cb550fcafe]

I've noticed while looking for parts, some of these Cafe Racer Shops are a little proud of thier parts, aka $350 for seat, $500 for contols, etc. Where's a good place to source parts if you can't make them?

Feel Free To Input, here are some ideas:

Ummm, there's what $70,000-$100,000 worth of toys in those pictures? Sure the good shops are proud of their parts, as they should be. What are you saying, just because its a Honda SOHC4 and not a HD doesn't make it worth as much? I know the shops that charge those prices and I'm happy to pay for them.

Maybe you should try and make them for less. I mean what is a hand made polished aluminum tank and seat pan worth? What is a hand made stainless steel exhaust worth? What are rear sets worth that can't be catalog ordered and have to be hand made?

[MyEvilTwin]

Yeah I hear you. I mean 500 for rear sets, 350 for a seat pan, and 5-600 for a tank... Man you would have to spend like $2k just to build a bike...

[rebabal]

Definitely some uggo rides you have there.

[MickeyX]

Why do you want to build a cafe?

[saltfuture]

Definitely some uggo rides you have there.

QFT

[Frankenkit]

parts can be found all over but a lot of them are pretty $$ if you can't make your own.  I didn't have time or experience to make the cafe seat for my 350, so I paid $$$ for it.  Kind of sucks, but that's the way it is.

How do you find time to drive/ride everything in your garage?  Holy crap what a stable!  Your insurance costs must be crazy!   Good to see another petrol aficionado here.

[MickeyX]

cb550f cafe - I'm not sure where you are getting 70-100K worth of stuff there. I don't think he's showing off how much stuff costs, but the fact that he is proud of the builds he's personally done. I like the suicide doors on the little S-10. (sorry, that paint job leaves me cold) What did you do to make them?

Why not just make your own seat and rear sets? You seem to have the technical expertise. You can get more creative that way, too. There are some good threads on here to give you some starting points and better/worse materials for certain uses.  

[scrapvalue]

Not pointing fingers at everyone that has replied here, but man, it sure don't take long for the attitudes to show up!

Do you have a donor bike yet?

Anyway, good luck on what ever you choose to build.  I am a firm believer in going your own way and building stuff yourself.
Anything you can buy, someone else can too. So it is a very good chance you are going to see another bike like yours with the same parts or close to it.
That isn't necessarily a bad thing, it is just a shame to throw all that money at something and see another one almost like it.

[Frankenkit]

I want to know how he did those flames.  I might not get a chance to do them anytime really soon, but I like the boldness of the pinstripe lines, and that's more the direction I like to go in- two-color contrast with a nice bold line between them, like on the 350 tank.  If I do a 'fun' set of tins for my 650, I'd like to be able to go crazy with the colors and pattern like that and figure out how to lay it out, anyway.  (because I can't leave well enough alone)  I agree that it's hard to paint over bedliner very well, but I may have to face that on the 350's tank, if it sunfades... then again, I could just accept the fading and call it "the Grey Ghost" after the old film shorts, too. who knows?  

I'm curious to see what he comes up with.

FWIW, CB550s seem to make the best cafes.  They're light, nimble, and get the job done.  750s are nice but a little oxy from what I hear... and 650s require more tweaking, but Soos, Scunny and Paulages could fill you in.

[pae]

Welcome, great stable of cars and bikes you've got there, good luck with the cafe.

A lot of fun to be had making those early choices - which if you're like me will end up totally different by the time it's finished.

Phil

[traveler]

I'm sensing some class envy and jealousy here......

Some people get butt hurt when they see stuff they can't have or afford.  Me, no worries, If I want something and I can't afford it, then I'd get a second job for awhile and save up and then get it.....EASY.....just takes work.

I for one, would like to welcome you, and if I can be of any help, please let me know!

~Joe

[Industrial Cafe]

hey welcome to the forum, I've seen your Bed Liner Audi before, back when it had those weird ''spackled'' wheels on it.
   looks alot better now with the silver paint and the shiny wheels.
so you wanna make a cafe?  you can make most of your parts yourself, or draw them up on a sheet of paper and take it to a local machine shop.  we have people on the forum that can make you tanks and tail sections.

I personally like the munchen rabbit you got there.
tha's all I got for now,  have fun

[Frankencake]

Start out with a donor bike and take it apart.  Paint and powder coat are your friends and love you long time.

[wannabridin]

i like the VW pickup, VERY clean!!!

[Spanner 1]

Wow!, looks like you've sure got a good mechanic/ builder/painter...!!!!

[Ryan6838]

Just FYI if you didn't read his post the 3 cars and chopper are his.The others are pics his looking at for ideas, not all his. Not to get people mad but people have been grumpy lately. Just my .02 now someone will get mad at me lol  Hugs for everyone!

[Industrial Cafe]

I'm gonna punch you in the face Ryan.

[Ryan6838]

You get 2   

[MickeyX]

Uh, you may not want to hug Brian. I think what he has is contagious. 

[Industrial Cafe]

SHUT UP MICKEY!
I eat hugs for breakfast
anyone recognize the buell XB he posted?  I likes it.  (the wheels match the forks!)

[MickeyX]

SHUT UP MICKEY!
I eat hugs for breakfast
anyone recognize the buell XB he posted?  I likes it.  (the wheels match the forks!)

uh, ok. bye.