Honda-SOHC
Other Stuff => Misc / Open => Topic started by: Arch stanton on October 24, 2020, 06:23:01 PM
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Just browsing eBay. Looking at 750f1's which I admit to having a soft spot for.
I spotted a F1 Cafe Racer. Which looks ok. If you like that sort of thing. But I think. If one is going to do something different. Do yer own thing. Not buy someone else's.
But my point is. How can someone take a bike. Then throw half of it away. Then ask 3 times what a original mint bike is worth?
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ahh, the age old question. Not only that, but is the thing that remains safe?
I've seen BMW K100 "cafe racers" that should really be scrapped as unsafe. And I've bought fairing parts so cheap because every is binning them off to make Crapè racers.
I loved my F1 when I had it and would not have changed an inch of it
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I wouldn't pay far too much (says someone who paid too much for a standard CB400F, but if I saw a cafe racer I could BUILD ON...then I might. Customization can be an ongoing thing.
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I can remember the time when the term "cafe racer" was only used to register scorn and derision for those who were better at posing on bikes than actually riding them. The English language is a wonderfully accommodating and flexible thing!
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I think current expensive tend for cafe racers and bobbers etc is buying a lifestyle in many cases. Fashion statement!
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Ref binning good parts to make a cafe racer - a lot of the bikes that they are made of have scrap standard (expensive) parts like mudguards that they don't need to use on the cafe racer build - that helps the decision to build that sort of bike. Building back to standard is expensive! And it saves scapping old Honda's but as you say, doesn't justify the price - but it doesn't mead they et the price they ask - I have just sold a K6 cafe racer that had total ground up build (it was a started cafe racer project when I got it) - put it up for £4250 and it went for £3750 (and then knocked another £100 off as it turned out the speedo was duff) - see picture
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Most of these cafe racer are just for looks. I have never seen one run right with pods on. Phil had the right idea with keeping the air box.
I will sell mine off in the spring as we are out of room and i need to build up 2 standard bikes. When i built RUF, it was a bit of a experiment to see if i could get a 750 to handle better than a standard one and all the parts were just laying around for the build. I will be sorry to see RUF go as for a hack about 750, it is one of the best handling old bikes i have ever had for twisty country roads.
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As already pointed out, "restoring" as a cafe-racer can be sometimes cheaper (and easier to find good parts) than a standard rebuild, but each to their own, I love my £4000 pound cafe rebuild, and I had already built it as a cafe racer in 1985, but I don't decry those who want original headed bolts, or the original harness routing and cable clips. Cafe racers have been around since the 1960's, some good, some bad, mine was a 500cc Velocette then, but they are merely an expression of the owner's personal ideas, that is why my 460 Yoshi has a sticker on it -made not bought-
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I like the Cafe racer look..... but .... I wouldn't expect taking a classic and swapping bits over to make it hugely more valuable.
I am going to go down the light Cafe racer look with my project as I lack an original seat, and have bars that were never going to sit right. But....I won;t be chopping the frame rails off, or making any changes that would prevent a return to completely original in the future.
And the VERY first thing I bought for it was an original airbox :) I have had pod filter before, and while you can get the thing to run right without too much difficulty....it's only running right at part of the rev range. Hence my desire to get my paws on a proper airbox!
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Most of these cafe racer are just for looks. I have never seen one run right with pods on. Phil had the right idea with keeping the air box.
I will sell mine off in the spring as we are out of room and i need to build up 2 standard bikes. When i built RUF, it was a bit of a experiment to see if i could get a 750 to handle better than a standard one and all the parts were just laying around for the build. I will be sorry to see RUF go as for a hack about 750, it is one of the best handling old bikes i have ever had for twisty country roads.
I actually put the standard air box back on - including the cut off air filter brackets welded back on for reason Graham stated - I had such a long winded job getting the CR750 Rep to run well across the rev range
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Not all Cafe Racers are a fashion statement or whatever, I really like the one you see here. It is the steed of a very lovely Tasmanian lady called Katie Abdilla. She had crashed her standard bike and it was basically saved by going down the cafe racer path. The only thing I'm not sure about is the digital instruments, and I would personally prefer a small fairing too. She is no poseur either, her interesting instagram account proves that. More picks of her bike named Billie and other stuff she rides in sport here: https://www.instagram.com/katieabdilla/?hl=en
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Back in the 70's if somebody brought in a customised bike to trade in we started at the resale price then deducted the retail price of all the parts to return it it to standard, its very difficult to sell one mans dream to a different person.
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My comment about fashion statements was relating to those who just want the look without the effort or ability to do it themselves. I love lots of cafe racers and would love to eventually build one. Love the idividuality etc.
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I have to own up to putting a racing seat on my Ariel Arrow back in 1966 - reason was simple - I never carried passengers, it was not a proper Golden Arrow but had a brand new Golden Arrow engine fitted when the crank coupling broke on me. A new racing style rear seat was cheaper than a replacement seat from the local Ariel parts dealer.
The bike modification that has me puzzled is the folk that convert a perfectly good reasonably modern bike frame into a "Bobber" - I just do not see any reason for such a drastic change? I assume this modification is not able to be done with a mono shock rear set up.
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Same as when i was at college my Royal Enfied 250 got semi choperised as i had a free bantam tank, the extensions i made in the workshop and the high exhaust pipe with high bars was cheaper than standard ones. I was earning a whole £28 per month and the bike in bits cost me £7/10/6
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Who would be daft enough to ruin a perfectly good, useable bike?
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Oh dear but topical ;)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274548219879
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That 400 - 'period mods 'thoough - it woule be more of a crime if someone had created it recently.
Clearly lots of bikes were chopped about at a time when theywere just old and plentiful. I'm a bg fan of modified bikes so long as they are well done - but it is a pity to do it to a complete bike, or make changes that can't be reversed. Far better to start with a wreck or a frame and build up from there. Restorations aren't everyones cup of tea and can cost a fortune.
I've been looking half-heartedly at old CG125's and similar tiddlers and it's a shame to see how many of those have become 'brat bikes' and are being touted for large sums purely based on not have a rear mudguard!
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The wheels on that 400 are worth the opening bid
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It still has indicators, the back ones look original.
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I am a bit too young to remember the 70's but one of my best friends told me that he remembers rows and rows of 350 fours (mostly green) parked on the street.
Almost everyone would run to the shops to change the look of their bikes enough to make it 'special'. To have it stand out just a bit.
Original was boring and a different mirror or a white dirt flap on the back could already make enough difference.
However, if you were handy enough the four in fours were tossed because those make your bike look antique.
4 in one was the way to go. Making your bike up-to-date again.
A race seat was easy enough and racer looking steering bars almost a must.
Only old people (above 40 or so) would leave their bikes original.
Honda even had a complete series repainted in flashy 70's paint special for the Dutch market.
I have to say - this was in the Netherlands in the '70s...
I wouldn't buy a readily altered cafe although nowadays some really beautiful cafe's are being built.
Still, I think a front fender is a must to drive properly.
If you build a cafe just for yourself. It should be ridable - but you don't have to - and never sell it.
That can be really fun. And a bit strange as well, knowing this will never be turned back into an original...
It is comforting to know that sooooo many original bikes are being restored back to factory standard and I contribute to that actively, that I can 'destroy' one without feeling really guilty.. ;D
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I just finished building my 74' CB550 K0. I got it as a $500 roller with the motor on the floor and the top end in pieces. I wanted it to look more like a 70's build than current styles. I ain't riding on no ironing board. Most of the changes were for ride quality not style. In the front end I did tapered roller bearings in the steering head, Progressive springs and a Tarozzi fork brace. In the rear I did needle bearings in the swingarm and Hagon shocks. I also did the seat mods on the stock seat pan so it still uses the stock hinge and lock. I am still undecided about the exhaust. It came with the bike new in the box. Overall I am happy with the results.
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Welcome to the forum Kelly E.
Nice bike and modifications there, the other two also look interesting, plus all the space as we have much less to play with here :)
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Welcome to the forum Kelly E.
Nice bike and modifications there, the other two also look interesting, plus all the space as we have much less to play with here :)
Thanks, then I won't tell you about my 1400sqft shop on 5 acres. 8)
The other two are the 79'750F that we finished this summer and the 90' Moto Guzzi 1000 Le Mans.