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Thinking about a cafe racer project, need some advice....

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06 Jun 2019 09:02 #805242 by Webbie1
Hey all, my name is Warner and I'm new here. I've been thinking about doing a cafe racer project and I'm still considering different platforms to start with. Do I do a sportster based project? CB? KZ? Something else? I'm leaning towards an inline four, based on the cost and how I'd like it to perform when done. I carpool with a guy who has a late 70's LTD1000 that I may be able to pick up relatively inexpensively. I'm not sure if this would make a good starting point, based on the cruiser styling of the LTD. Does that matter much, or would it be a good option for a cafe racer project?

Let me know your thoughts and thanks!

Warner

1979 KZ1000 LTD, 1982 KZ1000 LTD, 1990 Honda CBR1000F

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06 Jun 2019 09:07 #805243 by 650ed
Sportster. Ed

1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

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06 Jun 2019 11:20 #805247 by loudhvx
CB twins are mode cafe-ish with their shorter wheelbase than Kz-twins.

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06 Jun 2019 11:31 #805248 by Webbie1
I wasn't even thinking about a twin.....I was thinking inline 4. I've seen some pretty nice builds using an inline 4.

Warner

1979 KZ1000 LTD, 1982 KZ1000 LTD, 1990 Honda CBR1000F

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06 Jun 2019 11:44 - 06 Jun 2019 16:52 #805250 by martin_csr
I wouldn't get an Ltd as it will have a 16" Rear wheel. Of course, sometimes you have to take what you can get & I don't think it matters that much what you start with. A KZ400 or 440 would probably be the closest KZ for doing a cafe racer replica, since the original British versions were probably small displacement parallel Twins. Standard models, not Ltd.


...
Last edit: 06 Jun 2019 16:52 by martin_csr.

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06 Jun 2019 11:47 #805251 by loudhvx
You can make a cool looking inline four, but from the front they just look like a big plow coming at you rather than a light-quick looking blade. The inline four lends itself to a more muscle-bike look.
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06 Jun 2019 11:52 #805252 by 650ed

Webbie1 wrote: I wasn't even thinking about a twin.....I was thinking inline 4. I've seen some pretty nice builds using an inline 4.

Warner


That's very odd. Real cafe racers were normally twins. I guess there have been 4 cylinder attempts, but the engines are simply too wide so the bikes always look like posers. For future reference, here's what a real cafe racer looks like. Ed


1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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06 Jun 2019 12:00 - 06 Jun 2019 12:03 #805254 by Webbie1
Maybe what I'm thinking of building isn't a classic cafe' bike. Maybe a muscle bike is the better terminology. Here's an inline 4 Honda that I saw and really like the look of. To me, it still looks like a cafe bike, but I will agree that it's way wider than a nimble little cafe bike. Maybe this is more a muscle bike....someone can correct me on the term if this one fits into a different category.

Warner

1979 KZ1000 LTD, 1982 KZ1000 LTD, 1990 Honda CBR1000F
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Last edit: 06 Jun 2019 12:03 by Webbie1.

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06 Jun 2019 12:03 - 06 Jun 2019 12:04 #805255 by 650ed
I don't know what one might call it, but I sure wouldn't call it a cafe bike (especially with it wearing those tires from a 1939 Buick :laugh: ) Ed

1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Last edit: 06 Jun 2019 12:04 by 650ed.
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06 Jun 2019 12:43 - 06 Jun 2019 12:44 #805257 by gazzz
IMHO: inline four is as good for cafe-racer as any other motorcycle.








Kawasaki KZ650 cafe-racer: in progress

Kawasaki Zephyr 750 (810ccm, 4in4, spoked wheels)
Honda CB815 "Eight Fifteen" cafe-racer
Yamaha XJ "Eight Ball" cafe-racer

www.gazzz-garage.com
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Last edit: 06 Jun 2019 12:44 by gazzz.
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06 Jun 2019 12:49 #805259 by Webbie1
Like a smaller cafe bike, only fast? J/K

Warner

1979 KZ1000 LTD, 1982 KZ1000 LTD, 1990 Honda CBR1000F

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  • ThatGPzGuy
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  • More Sparky than Speed Racer
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06 Jun 2019 12:50 - 06 Jun 2019 12:51 #805260 by ThatGPzGuy
You can build a café bike out of just about anything if you have the skills but I agree with the others that the best café bikes are twins. It's not just the look it's also the vibe... In any case, a cruiser bike can be made to work and will probably be cheaper to acquire. Plus, you don't want to chop up a desirable bike (like a KZ!)
I used a Yamaha 650 Special which very few will miss. Before and after pics:


Jim
North GA
2016 Yamaha FJR1300ES
1982 GPz750 R1
1974 Kawasaki H1
1976 Kawasaki KZ400
1979 Yamaha XS650 cafe'
2001 KZ1000P
2001 Yamaha YZ426
1981 Honda XR200 stroked in an '89 CR125 chassis
1965 Mustang
1967 Triumph GT6
1976 Bronco
"If you didn't build it, it's not really yours"
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Last edit: 06 Jun 2019 12:51 by ThatGPzGuy.
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