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What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

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  • #1

    What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

    HI,
    I have been dreaming about building a cafe racer for long time.
    But I couldn't my get head around any bike that would have ideal body for cafe racer.
    Many of you might say why not RE Conti or any RE for that matter but I really hate RE engines (No offense to anybody but they are just unreliable depending on your luck).
    The Europeans are good like really good but they are way too expensive to maintain especially when they got older.
    I personally prefer Japs (Yamaha, Honda or Kawasaki's) they are reliable and you don't have to worry about anything you just flip the key and it just puts big smile on your face and that's what Japs are about for eg. Honda RCV213v that bike is way too expensive and has only 160 HP but everybody who ridden it just loves the way that bike feels.

    Coming back to Cafe Racer I don't want to cut any frames of any bike just take a bike strip it down put some third party /custom body parts and boom Magic.
    Cafe racer by my definition needs to have few simple things.
    • A straight frame means the tank seat and rear cowl should be in straight level
    • Remove all unnecessary parts that are not required.
    • Preferably around 200 CC or above

    Something like
    Click image for larger version Name: side.jpg Views: 1 Size: 81.4 KB ID: 1995468
    Currently RD350 is good option but they are way too expensive. I stripped my CBR250 the frame is nowhere fit for cafe racer.


    What do you guys recommend ?
    What do you guys would choose ?
    Regards,
    Mohan
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

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    • #3
      Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

      Yezdi Raodking or Jawa may suit I guess.

      What do you think about Hero Karizma or Kawasaki Ninja?.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

        There are a few Yamaha Rx cafe racers so you might want to try that out.
        Pulsar 1st gen might be easy to mod.
        I have seen another pulsar 180 modified into cafe racer on the internet and it looked really good. Check that out.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

          Originally posted by prashanth.rva View Post
          Yezdi Raodking or Jawa may suit I guess.

          What do you think about Hero Karizma or Kawasaki Ninja?.
          I never had and experience with Yezdi or Jawa and I don't see many in good conditions.
          Karizma and Ninja both have same problem as CBR the frame is not straight.

          ----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

          Originally posted by sanjaynk15 View Post
          There are a few Yamaha Rx cafe racers so you might want to try that out.
          Pulsar 1st gen might be easy to mod.
          I have seen another pulsar 180 modified into cafe racer on the internet and it looked really good. Check that out.
          Yamaha Rx there are many cafe racers but they don't look heavy I mean they are too skinny for my liking.
          Pulsar might work but again not many pulsars will be in good shape especially older pulsars have bad engines they didn't last more than 5 years.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

            If you want to work with any of the existing 'Sports bikes/Nakeds' then you might have a problem of the frame swooping upwards rather than being straight.

            You can pick the engine from a radical punt like the Duke200 and the frame from a relatively commuterish bike and have to make modifications.

            If you don't consider it plagiarism then look at this site for ideas
            When I'm on the road, I'm indestructible. No one can stop me... but they try.

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

              The new Karizma is a good bet to revert to any of the old Buell Cafe racers
              When I'm on the road, I'm indestructible. No one can stop me... but they try.

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

                Originally posted by Naveen Vajja View Post
                If you want to work with any of the existing 'Sports bikes/Nakeds' then you might have a problem of the frame swooping upwards rather than being straight.

                You can pick the engine from a radical punt like the Duke200 and the frame from a relatively commuterish bike and have to make modifications.

                If you don't consider it plagiarism then look at this site for ideas
                My mind was going back and forth on duke because the exhaust is invisible that's something I like but I think I have to go with some cutting or may be position the body parts to look straight and the site looks great thanks.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

                  Originally posted by Dandamudi Mohan Krishna View Post
                  HI,
                  I have been dreaming about building a cafe racer for long time.
                  But I couldn't my get head around any bike that would have ideal body for cafe racer.
                  Many of you might say why not RE Conti or any RE for that matter but I really hate RE engines (No offense to anybody but they are just unreliable depending on your luck).
                  The Europeans are good like really good but they are way too expensive to maintain especially when they got older.
                  I personally prefer Japs (Yamaha, Honda or Kawasaki's) they are reliable and you don't have to worry about anything you just flip the key and it just puts big smile on your face and that's what Japs are about for eg. Honda RCV213v that bike is way too expensive and has only 160 HP but everybody who ridden it just loves the way that bike feels.

                  Coming back to Cafe Racer I don't want to cut any frames of any bike just take a bike strip it down put some third party /custom body parts and boom Magic.
                  Cafe racer by my definition needs to have few simple things.
                  • A straight frame means the tank seat and rear cowl should be in straight level
                  • Remove all unnecessary parts that are not required.
                  • Preferably around 200 CC or above

                  Something like
                  [ATTACH]208964[/ATTACH]
                  Currently RD350 is good option but they are way too expensive. I stripped my CBR250 the frame is nowhere fit for cafe racer.


                  What do you guys recommend ?
                  What do you guys would choose ?
                  Regards,
                  Mohan
                  I seriously recommend that instead of taking so much trouble, save more money and may be you can just buy Triumph Thruxton! That is very much a British Cafe Racer..

                  But if you want to custom build it, then the only best option is indeed Yamaha RD350 - It not only has the classic original charming style, it has the size and performance to match the cafe racer genre!

                  It will be expensive no doubt, but it will be worth it...It will run and sound like nothing else! If you can manage to do this, you will be talk of all biker meets man

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

                    Hello there!
                    Generally by what I've seen the cafe racers seem to have dual cradle frames.
                    Coming to that we have a few bikes which can actually help and the cost will be less to buy them from the second hand market.
                    1. Pulsar 200 (Oil cooled)
                    2. Tvs apache 160/180 (Big bore)

                    These seem like safe bets as they are available for much lesser price, specially the P200 oil cooled.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

                      The only bike cheap enough and fit enough for cafe project is Yamaha rx100. No offense to anyone but when you put a lot of caveats almost nothing will fit.
                      Ride your Heart out!!!

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                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

                        Originally posted by jeevan.chaukar View Post
                        I seriously recommend that instead of taking so much trouble, save more money and may be you can just buy Triumph Thruxton! That is very much a British Cafe Racer..

                        But if you want to custom build it, then the only best option is indeed Yamaha RD350 - It not only has the classic original charming style, it has the size and performance to match the cafe racer genre!

                        It will be expensive no doubt, but it will be worth it...It will run and sound like nothing else! If you can manage to do this, you will be talk of all biker meets man

                        Triumph is great bike but for some reason I like custom bikes they have that personal touch even my CBR is customized with black and gold scheme.
                        Coming to RD350 they ridiculous expensive may be I will wait till I have budget for one.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          What would be an ideal bike Cafe racer conversion ?

                          Duke 200 or 390

                          Or may be Ducati scrambler if you have deep pocket.

                          Comment

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