Topic: Who is building a Cafe?

[samfig]

I've been wrestling with the idea of building a cafe or restoring to original.  I like the way my '74 750 rides (just so comfortable) and I am unsure If I would like the riding position on a cafe.  What do you guy think of the forward lean position caused by the clunman or clip on bars? I wish I could ride one to figure out if I like it or not? 

Is the seat moved back in a cafe racer?  Because it seems to me that the tank is longer and the seat is pushed back?
Does this mean that the foot pegs are moved?

Sorry for the questions but I'm a newbie

[Matt Hubbell]

 The stock rider is going to be way more comfortable. A Cafe was all about performance, now it is relly about looks, so the fact is. A Cafe Racer is a short distance bike, built for speed runs. It looks cool , but your going to get a work out. So you may need more than one bike. This is not a bad thing.

[anubiscycle]

The stock rider is going to be way more comfortable. A Cafe was all about performance, now it is relly about looks, so the fact is. A Cafe Racer is a short distance bike, built for speed runs. It looks cool , but your going to get a work out. So you may need more than one bike. This is not a bad thing.

I may be tempted to prove you wrong and ride Home Wrecker all the way to Deals Gap in the Spring from Wisconsin. Right now we have a four man team going out and 3 new cafes in shop in process. I will share the pics of the new ones in a bit. Most of these bikes will make the trip on a trailer.

[ProTeal55]

I am with Tom.
My bike might be abit "Cafe" , but I will ride it as far as anyone wants me too.

I wanted a bike I could enjoy blasting around the bars of Chicago, as well as take on a 100+mile charity cruise (which I did, just ask SteveF !) The main reason I can do this on my scoot is because I mounted the clip-on bars ABOVE the top tree, which helps with my allready bad back. Sure it would look better if the bars were BELOW the tree, but that added 3 or 4 inches of drop would make my scoot a limited rider/back breaker, which is not what I want.

[Jeff]

If you don't want to go the Clubman or clip on router, you could always use a flat drag bar. I put one on my 550, and I definitely prefer it over the stock bars. The stock bars actually made me sit up too straight, which with my poor posture made me slouch badly, causing alot of low back pain. The flat bars made me lean forward a bit, which prevented the slouching. Now I need some rearsets because the stock pegs are too far forward.

Jeff

[KCs76Cafe]

KCs76Cafe thats a great restore job you have done,

RKS

Thanks Richard. I lucked up and practically stole this one.....$200 + $20 for the guy delivering it, and I didnt really do anything mechanical to it. Put a set of plugs and points in it to get it running, sorted out a wiring issue with alot help from Two Tired, then changed basic parts.  I might have $800 in it total. 

Its still not how I want it........but then again.......are they ever.

Now I need some rearsets because the stock pegs are too far forward.

Jeff

I had taken my rear pegs off but put them back on to get my knees out of my chest while riding. Now while cruising.......I keep my feet on the rear pegs. It feels more natural and feels alot better....although just after doing it my arms and wrists took some time to get used to it. It is like Im having to hold myself up using the bars. But now after 2 months I dont notice it anymore.

I still cant wait to get some rear sets.

[Jeff]

I had taken my rear pegs off but put them back on to get my knees out of my chest while riding. Now while cruising.......I keep my feet on the rear pegs. It feels more natural and feels alot better....although just after doing it my arms and wrists took some time to get used to it. It is like Im having to hold myself up using the bars. But now after 2 months I dont notice it anymore.

I still cant wait to get some rear sets.

I do this same thing, but it's not quite right. They're a bit too far back. Plus, now my right foot is nowhere near the brake pedal, which I don't care for. Some rearsets to move up and back an inch or two would just be ideal. But then, so would having the money to buy some, or the tools, materials and know-how to make my own.

Jeff

[samfig]

How tall are you guys with handle bar mods??  Because I'm a little over 6'1 with long lanky arms, so maybe my height plays a bigger factor in how comfortable I will be?  What do you guys think?

(oh yeah, I'm in the Chicago land area for those of you who cruise around there)

[ProTeal55]

How tall are you guys with handle bar mods?? Because I'm a little over 6'1 with long lanky arms, so maybe my height plays a bigger factor in how comfortable I will be? What do you guys think?

(oh yeah, I'm in the Chicago land area for those of you who cruise around there)

I am 6'' exactly - and with my setup can ride my bike for hours straight with no pain/issues/aches...

Where abouts in Chicagoland are ya Samfig ?

[samfig]

My mom lives in the NW Burbs, but I go to Lake Forest College (just far enough that commuting would kill me).  Riding season is pretty much done with the weather we've been having but hopefully there will be a couple more days before the snow falls.  Where are you located ProTeal55?

[Matt Hubbell]

Carpy's ( Greenday Cafe ) I like the wheels and tires.

[ProTeal55]

My mom lives in the NW Burbs, but I go to Lake Forest College (just far enough that commuting would kill me). Riding season is pretty much done with the weather we've been having but hopefully there will be a couple more days before the snow falls. Where are you located ProTeal55?

Park Ridge (O'hare) area here...

[anubiscycle]

Carpy's ( Greenday Cafe ) I like the wheels and tires.

That is a nice bike he did there. It was a bold move to go for a complete painted fender. I see he went about lining up the drilling of the rear drum, KUDOS Carpy.. Looks much better.

Very classic... but not we are after here.

[ProTeal55]

I see he left the center stand brackets on their, maybe for use later/service ?

[anubiscycle]

I see he left the center stand brackets on their, maybe for use later/service ?

I do like them trimmed off, but I did not trim off Home Wrecker criple stand mounts. Plan to, just did not do it now. Still a slick bike he built there.

[Jeff]

I am 6'' exactly - and with my setup can ride my bike for hours straight with no pain/issues/aches...

You're only 6 inches tall??? How can you even get on the bike, let alone reach the bars or pegs?

Samfig I'm 5'9, and the 550 is smaller than the 750.

Jeff

[scunny]

hey, that tank looks like mine, sorry for the crap photo

[ProTeal55]

I am 6'' exactly - and with my setup can ride my bike for hours straight with no pain/issues/aches...

You're only 6 inches tall???

Yup , 6 inches tall with a 12 inch... 

[Rsnip988]

model of the bike?

(meaning one of the small collector kits, not what model the bilke is, oh never mind its ruined)


RKS

[DarkRider]

Well now that i have picked up the Interceptor i have leaned more towards building my K4 into a cafe....wouldnt feel right having it stock while i have something like the Interceptor sitting beside it in the garage....

tentive plans are as follows...

Dunstall fairing (need to find a stock headlght for this....)
Airtech cafe seat (Airtech also makes the replica dunstall fairing that i would be using)
Either 4 into 4 straight pipes with baffles or a MAC 4 into 1 system like proteals.
Rebuild the carbs and get them jetted and synced.
After getting the bike sorted out upgrade it in size so it has a chance of ataining the same speeds as the Interceptor lol

[nteek754]

hey all Im am biulding one its a 73 750 k frame with 78 engine or 75 havnt chose power plant yet but got both doing a knee insert73 tank not stretched (saddly) but  would av to change seat plans  no rear fender  have drilled mant parts out not worried about weigh its all cosmetic  for performance I have my baby 73 k with 836  kekekr pods  and a habbit of playing wih redline fever  workin on camera so I can post some pics  in very early stages so gonna be a while Ive been coleting the old  75 oh for 0 plus years and biult a chopper 2 years ago and have a 77 k stock but for the  pipe and floor boards on it I call it rhe old farts bike  but it is fun to criuse on it now and then  but just love my 73  have fun seven fifty four ever Craig in Maine

[hymodyne]

deep inhale...
cb500K (in avatar) being cafe'd:

Pacifico Pathfinder 1/2 fairing (Thanks to bret at Glass from the past for the clairfication; I thought it was a dunstall)
hand laid glass lower fariing, hand laid cafe seat pod and tail light insert
11.75 lowering rear adjustable shocks
honda nighthawk front fender
billet aluminium "tweek" fork brace
4-2 exaust pipes and vintage reverse cone exaust
classic cycle parts 605 cc overbore kit, machine work by A&C performance, Caanan CT
Replaced primary drive and cam chain
nighthawk rearsets
Halogen H4 headlight replacement
LED turn and stop lights
Regulator/rectifier upgrade
Dyna Ignition, accel coils and wires
Tomaselli Clip ons

I think that's it...
hym

[paxtonpony]

Got a long road, just started so I'm more concerned with getting it roadworthy for right now.
Just put my new controls on and new master cylinder with stainless brake lines.  I'm working some tuning issues first then I'm looking at building a much shorter seat.  Went to drag bars but I'm leaning towards swapping these out for clubman or upside down superbars.  Down the road I might do a manx style fairing on the front.


Last month:


Last night:


My gallery:  http://www.sohc4.us/gallery/v/members/personal/paxtonpony/

[Swede]

I am slowly working on my 76 550K.  So far I have added velocity stacks, clubman bars, chopped the front fender and I am working on hammering some knee inserts into a 750K tank.  The K tank is my experiment as I have never done any kind of body work before.  I am keeping my eyes out for a 750SS tank.  I am building my own seat and I would like to get the SS tank before I really start any work on the seat.  I have plans for lacing up a 16" rear wheel, rearsets, powdercoat frame, bob rear fender, new signals, new tail light, 4-1 exhaust and a whole heck of a lot of polishing.  Too bad I'm still a poor college student and can't afford to do everything all at once.   

Here's the work I have accomplished on the tank
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/vinylaholic/PICT0012.jpg
Here is what the bike looks like so far
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/vinylaholic/PICT0002.jpg

[ProTeal55]

Swede , tank looks killer...