Topic: Cafe Seats

[MCRider]

SNIP
[/quote]

Figured i'd go ahead and quote myself on this. Seems we've gotten off on one heckuva tangent.
I'm looking for information, yeah some people are somewhat touchy on this board.

I'd appreciate if you could work WITH me on this, I'm new to the forum and hope that it isn't this difficult to share information in the future.

1. is there a seat that would be best to start with for fit to a 550F frame or will i need to customize whatever i go with (yes, i would like to keep original functionality)
2. are there drastic differences between 550 & 750 frames of the same year. if so how do they differ?

thanks
[/quote]

Back on point. #2. I do think the CB750 frame in the tail area is larger in many respects, length, width, and the cross brace rise. People I've known buying universal cafe style seats have been thwarted by the CB750 width. You may not have that problem with the 550. But you know what they say about universal seats. They don't fit anything equally well.

[Johnny5]

I think almost all of Carpy's builds dont have modified engines....but he has Cafe Racer splattered all over his bikes....


I know. What a tool.

 

[MCRider]

I think almost all of Carpy's builds dont have modified engines....but he has Cafe Racer splattered all over his bikes....


I know. What a tool.

 

He does usually have a pipe on them, and a few 836cc engine are spoken about. But I really struggle with the 16" wheels, way too heavy for performance, pure looks. A stock CB750 has more guts than most (all?) of the rocker bikes did anyway. But the suspensions and brakes can be upgraded easily.

He is an artist and has the eccentricities that often go with that.

I'm an artist wannabe...and all that goes with that.    Envy?

[Johnny5]

I guess my point is, put into the bike what you want.

Im building a cafe "racer" wannabe bike that I'll be ringing out on the twisty Michigan backroads next year if I ever get it done. And she'll never see a race track, just my ugly reflection in the gas tank paint.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

I built this seat and rear cowl in about 4 hours out of sheet aluminum and steel with a tube frame.  Upholstery, paint and all.  I highly recommend doing your own so it fits exactly.  I see the cheesy Carpy stuff and all those other glass pop pans all the time.  This is custom man, one off, no one else has one.  NO frame mods required.

[MCRider]

I guess my point is, put into the bike what you want.

Im building a cafe "racer" wannabe bike that I'll be ringing out on the twisty Michigan backroads next year if I ever get it done. And she'll never see a race track, just my ugly reflection in the gas tank paint.

I'm off my high horse now. Good luck with your build. And Cafe Racers belong on the backroads, not on a racetrack. Just be careful (you and me both).

[Spikeybike]

I built this seat and rear cowl in about 4 hours out of sheet aluminum and steel with a tube frame.  Upholstery, paint and all.  I highly recommend doing your own so it fits exactly.  I see the cheesy Carpy stuff and all those other glass pop pans all the time.  This is custom man, one off, no one else has one.  NO frame mods required.

love the knee dents , is that YOUR sence of humor

[MCRider]

I built this seat and rear cowl in about 4 hours out of sheet aluminum and steel with a tube frame.  Upholstery, paint and all.  I highly recommend doing your own so it fits exactly.  I see the cheesy Carpy stuff and all those other glass pop pans all the time.  This is custom man, one off, no one else has one.  NO frame mods required.

That is a good looking seat and bike!

[KingCustomCycles.com]

I built this seat and rear cowl in about 4 hours out of sheet aluminum and steel with a tube frame.  Upholstery, paint and all.  I highly recommend doing your own so it fits exactly.  I see the cheesy Carpy stuff and all those other glass pop pans all the time.  This is custom man, one off, no one else has one.  NO frame mods required.

love the knee dents , is that YOUR sence of humor

Sorta, it took about 20 minutes to paint them and would have taken hours to actually make them.  Squint, tilt your head, maybe in the evening and it works.  I tried the rubber pads like on a dream or bomber but they were shaped wrong.  I have a tortured artistic sense about me...

[tygrant]

im thinking about making a seat for my bike but im still up in the air and like the input on this thread.

my bikes guna be a "fake" cafe racer like yours so dont feel bad. its not fast. and never will be period. so im guna run the old ruber band looking tires and leaky forks.  i know its fun to make them a little faster or handle a little better but bottom line is if i wanna go fast i take my street bike... it goes faster in second gear than this will in 5th at red line.  they are a ton of fun to work on though!

[Really?]

But whenever I run across the topic of a cafe racer, I'm concerned that it likely still has its original fork oil, shocks, or worse 5+ year old tires, I'll likely pipe up. Humor me and I'll go away.  

• I should have new fork oil soon
• I should have new forks soon - I took em off and they were rusted/pitted bad above the lower triple and one tube has some deep scrapes along with the leaky seal.
• I have new rear shocks
• Tires look ok kinda but I got two new ones waiting to go on

I am getting close, lol.

[MCRider]

But whenever I run across the topic of a cafe racer, I'm concerned that it likely still has its original fork oil, shocks, or worse 5+ year old tires, I'll likely pipe up. Humor me and I'll go away.  

• I should have new fork oil soon
• I should have new forks soon - I took em off and they were rusted/pitted bad above the lower triple and one tube has some deep scrapes along with the leaky seal.
• I have new rear shocks
• Tires look ok kinda but I got two new ones waiting to go on

I am getting close, lol.

My job here is done! 

[andy750]

As stated before....the real deal from Nippon....

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=42251.0;topicseen

cheers
Andy

[FunJimmy]

I've got a couple of seats made up from my custom 550F project bike available.

Built especially for my '77 CB550F with factory tank. Uses the stock hinge and rubber bumpers.
Stock lock doesn't work on my bike but may work on other models.


Check it out: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.165

Jimmy

[Kev Nemo]

I've got a couple of seats made up from my custom 550F project bike available.

Built especially for my '77 CB550F with factory tank. Uses the stock hinge and rubber bumpers.
Stock lock doesn't work on my bike but may work on other models.


Check it out: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.165

Jimmy

Looks like a Thruxton-nice!

[ProTeal55]

Replica Ducati single seats work well on smaller CB's (350/360/450/etc)..
On a CB750 you cant go wrong with a Gullarri (sp)..

[Shenanigans]

My vote is to modify the stock pan. That way you get to keep the nice rubber mounts, it will fit the frame perfect and you can use the stock hinge. It also comes down over the side rails nicely where some after market seats will look more like its just sitting on the bike instead of being part of it. Ignoring the weight factor (which I doubt would really matter) the metal pan is very sturdy and well made.

[nick831]

I dont have any pics of my bike yet, though it is done a true 100% honest faux cafe "racer" I got the seat from this place and the large fit on my 550 well and covered the rear fender brace with the seats "hump"  I had to cut a lil out of the seat part for it to fit but not too bad.  Oh and it is very thick I just used rubber hoses over my frame and and old tire cut up under the fiberglass seat and it holds my 200lbs just fine.  I wouls suggest gettin it upholestered as I did my own and now kinda wished it had been done for me. 

http://cafeseat.com/LargeCafeSeat.html