Triumphrat

Irishguy · 11-02-2009, 02:06 PM

I got this crazy idea to build another Cafe Project. I already have my Cafe'd 2001 Bonneville, so I want to do something different. I have already done a 1978 Yamaha XS650, a 1974 Honda CB500, a 1979 Honda CB650, and some others so this time I was thinking of something different.

I really like the whole Super Motard concept... A lightweight dirt bike for the street. So I am thinking about marrying the two concepts... Find an older, what we used to call a "Street & Trail" or dual purpose bike for cheap and turning it into a Cafe Racer.

Now people would say... "Why don't you just do a Supre Motard and be done with it?" Well... I want the bike to look classic, and I don't like the look of any of the Super Motard bikes.

So my question for the group is what are some good bikes to be searching for? I am kind of looking for the following:

4 stroke in the 250cc to 600cc classes
Air cooled
Kick start
I would rather it have no battery and the lights run off a magneto.

I will replace the tank and seat with more Cafe style replacements to get the look I want and then work from there.

Are there any bikes out there like I want?

roxythruxton · 11-02-2009, 02:42 PM

YAmaha SR or XT500 works nice if you can find one . Honda CBs are not just getting harder to come by but everyone wants to do one . I did a CB750 . Then suddenly there were all sorts of CB cafes coming out the woodwork . Just got too norm. XS650s are in the same boat . Used to be able to pick one up for a six pack and a smile . Now they're fetching money cuz everyone wants to cut one up into a bobber or cafe . KZs as well.

Another cool bike to cafe ( however challenging to get it right ) is a Honda Ascot or an 80's cruiser atrocity . Get em super cheap cuz no one wants them and PLENTY of them .

Irishguy · 11-02-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roxythruxton

YAmaha SR or XT500 works nice if you can find one . Honda CBs are not just getting harder to come by but everyone wants to do one . I did a CB750 . Then suddenly there were all sorts of CB cafes coming out the woodwork . Just got too norm. XS650s are in the same boat . Used to be able to pick one up for a six pack and a smile . Now they're fetching money cuz everyone wants to cut one up into a bobber or cafe . KZs as well.

Another cool bike to cafe ( however challenging to get it right ) is a Honda Ascot or an 80's cruiser atrocity . Get em super cheap cuz no one wants them and PLENTY of them .

I appreciate your reply, but I get the feeling from your post that you either missed my point or either didn't read any of my post past the heading. I have already "been there done that." Which is why I want to do a dual purpose dirt bike...

Light weight
Good handling
No battery
Etc...

Regarding the Honda CB750: It is one of the worst bikes I can think of from which to make a Cafe Racer. My appologies to Carpy, but the CB750 is a top heavy, ill handling, muscle bike. Making a Cafe racer out of a CB750, is like taking a 1970 Chevelle SS 396 and turning it into an Autocross car. It might look cool, but it wouldn't fit the purpose very well.

Randy01 · 11-02-2009, 07:39 PM

Roland Sands does something like what you are typing about. It's something I've looked into but at the present moment I don't have the money or time.

You might not even need a dual sport. Sounds like all you really would need is the frame, swingarm, and engine. The other things you could probably get off of Ebay considering you've been there and done that. I on the other hand am still working on getting there let alone "done that".

mikeinva · 11-02-2009, 08:02 PM

I allways loved the CL450 honda .They handle good not to heavy or wide.Tuff little motors.

blackstar1965 · 11-02-2009, 09:16 PM

Been there, done that!
You might consider a Triumph Daytona 500. Those are sweet.

GrandPaulZ · 11-04-2009, 09:14 AM

I've always wanted to take a Yamaha RD400 and put some heavy duty dirt bike suspension on it, with a set of upswept expansion chambers and dirt bike handlebars...

Irishguy · 11-04-2009, 01:38 PM

Well... No thanks to you guys...

I am actually looking at some older [Early 80's] Honda XL bikes. I think a 1980 XL500 would be a nice bike to do what I'm talking about.

blackstar1965 · 11-04-2009, 05:42 PM

BSA B50MX

Or a BSA B50T if you can find one

Triumph Trophy

They all meet all your requirements, and look WAY cooler than a Honda XL, IMO. Their suspension travel isn't as long as the xl, but the lower ride height will make the end result more appealing, again IMO.

Irishguy · 11-04-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackstar1965

BSA B50MX
They all meet all your requirements, and look WAY cooler than a Honda XL, IMO. Their suspension travel isn't as long as the xl, but the lower ride height will make the end result more appealing, again IMO.

I guess everyone is missing my point. All of the bikes everyone mentions are great, cool, old bikes, but they all have strange oddities about them: Hard to find bikes, hard to find parts, shifters on the right side, etc...

I am looking for bikes that would be non-traditional cafe racers, but would be relatively common enduro bikes, with easy to find parts, and light weight. I want to take this bike and replace the tank and the seat with something more cafe style, and maybe put some flat track style wide bars on it and ride the hell our of it on the back roads and also for occasional orr-road use too.

So... I have now determined that the Honda XL line of bikes and possibly the Honda XR line would seem to be good candidates... What other bikes are out there like this?