Topic: CB750 "Cafe Bagger" - Pic Heavy

[Air-Tech]

Thought I'd share one of the projects Kent Riches finished early this year.

[Air-Tech]

more pics...

[JimJamerino]

That fairing hurts my head.

[goldarrow]

That fairing blocked the view of Lesters sexiness, but then the girl in the pic made up for it. 

[Air-Tech]

It's interesting how Lester made their wheels.... They used a rim casting, then welded in a machined down stock hub... This is how they made their wheels fit so many different bikes using just 1 wheel casting.... kr

[Bankerdanny]

Love the bags and color, the fairing not so much.

It is however, distinctive and you won't see a bunch of other bikes like yours coming down the road, which is cool.

[andy750]

Love the bags and color, the fairing not so much.

It is however, distinctive and you won't see a bunch of other bikes like yours coming down the road, which is cool.

+1. How will it do in a cross-wind?

Anyway great photos and really like the bags at the back. More pics of those? Maybe with the girl opening them or something?

cheers
Andy

[Retro Rocket]

I would take cafe out of the heading, the only thing cafe is the seat, the bikes not a cafe. It would be a nightmare on the highway with side winds with that fairing, but it looks cool....

[wowbagger]

But it has PODs! I thought all you need to make your bike a cafe was an uncomfortable seat and PODs. 

[Retro Rocket]

But it has PODs! I thought all you need to make your bike a cafe was an uncomfortable seat and PODs. 

Unfortunately, they turn up on all old Honda's, not just cafe's, you forgot clubmans as well....

[seanbarney41]

I like this a lot...pretty ballsy to use a dustbin fairing that nobody ever sees anymore...would be more period correct on a 50's/60's bike if I'm not mistaken?...but what the hey.  I don't see why the dustbin would be any worse in a crosswind than any other fairing.  I think the dustbin was considered enough of an aerodynamic advantage to be banned in certain race classes back in the day?

[Retro Rocket]

I like this a lot...pretty ballsy to use a dustbin fairing that nobody ever sees anymore...would be more period correct on a 50's/60's bike if I'm not mistaken?...but what the hey.  I don't see why the dustbin would be any worse in a crosswind than any other fairing.  I think the dustbin was considered enough of an aerodynamic advantage to be banned in certain race classes back in the day?

The dustbin was deemed dangerous and banned in the late 50's in everything i've read, primarily for the same reason modern race bikes are allowed to use fairings full of small holes when the  wind is up, without the holes they are blown all over the track {also something to do with negative pressure and acting like a wing on its side.?} , there were a number of accidents directly contributed to the size, placement of the fairing and the way it reacted to cross winds, bikes were blown completely off the road. I have experienced this on modern fully faired bikes when passing trucks and crossing bridges, the dustbin is worse because of its size and its relation to the front wheel...  I read a good article about the dustbin fairings being very dangerous somewhere online and Craig Vetter actually posted in the blog defending the writer for his views on the dustbin because other guys were saying they were banned because they gave an unfair advantage or due to fumes.?, Mr Vetter sided with the original Author on the point of them being dangerous, i'm sure he knows better than most.... If i can find the blog i'll post it if anyone is interested... Here's another take on it i found today. {couldn't find the other post}

I'm completely serious, Philip. The dustbins were banned because riders were
complaining of being put to sleep by the fumes. The information came from
John Griffith who was a journalist on the magazine Motorcycling and was
present at the FIM meetings at which the decisions were taken. I found out
about because I like to keep an eye on the Bonneville speed trials and one
of the forums has a couple of old chaps who knew JG and got the story direct
from him.

Apparently the fairing created negative pressure and drew fumes back inside it. Like leaving the back window in a wagon open while driving around, it fills the car with fumes..Possible..?
Interesting....

[seanbarney41]

interesting stuff Retro, thanks for checking up my un-researched post

[Retro Rocket]

interesting stuff Retro, thanks for checking up my un-researched post

Wasn't trying to "one up " you at all, i was watching a TV show here about John Surtees, early road racing history through to the 1960's  and there were  some references to the dustbin and anecdotal stories about its "wicked" at times effect on handling, so I did a bit of Googling and had a read, they were a popular style of fairing on land speed record bikes...

[Old Scrambler]

I can add a small bit of info...............The AIR-TECH fairing in the pics is approved for certain land-speed racing classes because it is no lower than the middle of the axle and is deemed to be safe in low-wind situations. The original dust-bins were much lower.

Its interesting that HONDA has gotten its CBR1000RR up to some very impressive speeds by allowing more air to pass THROUGH the fairing from the front.

Not only would this particular bike in the thread be challenging to ride in any crosswinds........think about getting caught in a high-wind situation from the rear when going slow...........and how hot the motor would get in city traffic.

The bags are very nicely styled...........I would think that a panel could be similarly shaped and mass-produced by someone on this board and attached to existing bags for a real styling statement.

[Retro Rocket]

Its interesting that HONDA has gotten its CBR1000RR up to some very impressive speeds by allowing more air to pass THROUGH the fairing from the front.

Agreed, i kind of touched on that point earlier with the modern race bikes......

[Bankerdanny]

Now that Old Scrambler mentions it, Salt Flats Bagger might be a cool alternative name.