MSF course and Cafe Racers?

Just took the Learn to ride course this weekend with the MSF. It was great, learned tons. Cannot wait to get on the road! Now begins the fun of finding/fixing something cheap.

What's the consensus on ease of riding Cafe Racers? I absolutely love the style I just don't know how good it will be to get into that starting off

If the bike is mechanically sound and has been modified in ways that make it the same or better than stock in terms of turning, braking, et cetera then it would be fine. But there's another issue; rider comfort. A lot of cafe builds have the rider pulled pretty far over the bars, sometimes with what look like odd bend angles at the hips, which ends up forcing a lot of the rider's weight onto his hands and wrists. So comfort and possibly some ability to work the bars seems to go away with these builds.

Others with more direct experience can chime in. And I guess it really matters on the bike in question. Have a picture of one you have in mind?

I'm thinking Honda CB or something similar. Here are some of my favorites that I would only dream of being able to replicate

Cool_Hand_Luke wrote:

That wouldn't be too bad to ride at all. Keeps the UJM riding position with the Cafe look. Clip on's are not your a friend for daily rider.

Agreed with Flight Test. What I'd look for are bikes with handlebars clearly above seat height. I really like the look of the first bike you posted, but would suggest a different set of bars. The only really trick thing going on there is a front end swap which is probably decently documented using something like GSXR or similar parts as a donor. Easier if you own a lathe, though.

Any place you guys like to go in particular for parts? I'm guessing Ebay and CL mostly

Check out dotheton.com for some builds and ideas.

Here is mine...

It was super fun to build and fun to ride, still tweaking things and such. Its a 78 CB550, an awesome starting point. If you have any questions let me know. SOHC 4 is another great Honda cafe/vintage site. There are lots of parts sites I can shoot you too mostly Honda stuff.

Its for sale too.... would like to get a dual sport now.

Here's mine:

It's not for sale.

Probably ever..

This was mine a long time ago. All I did was change the bars and add some mild rear sets. This was enough to make the thing pretty twitchy and uncomfortable. It was a better bike as it came from the factory.

Forgive the mess, it's Kydex dust in the new owner's shop.

In reply to Woody:

I'm guessing you still don't have it anymore

I found these two on ebay which are promising and with close distance of me

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB-Red-1972-Honda-CB-350-Motorcycle-/161296500197?forcerrptr=true&hash=item258e0545e5&item=161296500197&pt=US_motorcycles

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB-1971-Honda-CB350K3-project-bike-w-Title-/331195225452?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4d1cc6156c&item=331195225452&pt=US_motorcycles

May I suggest just starting with a good clean UJM first? As Woody pointed out, cool looking mods can make a great bike unpleasant to ride.

Concentrate on your riding skills and be a quick rider on a dull looking bike, instead of a dull rider on a quick looking bike.

I briefly tried bars like the ones that are in the pics of Woody's bike on my RD350, and hated them, I switched back to stock, although I think a flat bar might have been good.

this is my kz550 that has been my project for the past year and 1/2 or so. new bars made it feel so much better i went with the euro style. i still need to do some fiberglass work but thats to come later. just get a bike ur not afraid to beat up a little and every thing will work out

Cool_Hand_Luke wrote: In reply to Woody: I'm guessing you still don't have it anymore

I don't, but my friend still has it. It hasn't moved from that room since I gave it to him 15 years ago.

Woody wrote:

Cool_Hand_Luke wrote: In reply to Woody: I'm guessing you still don't have it anymore

I don't, but my friend still has it. It hasn't moved from that room since I gave it to him 15 years ago.

Would it be for sale? I can't find a CB four for a good price anywhere

Push comes to shove get you a CB750 or as they were later called 750 Nighthawk.

Edit: Looking at your craigslist you have a few options.

What is your budget?

This Honda CX500 is one of my favorite cafe racers. It was done by a product design student who didn't have much prior fabrication experience. I could live without the exhaust wrap, but overall it's a clean, minimal, and has a visually centralized mass.

CXs are pretty inexpensive. They are what you might assume a late 70s Moto Guzzi would have evolved into by now, had they actually evolved.

Congrats and good move on taking the MSF class.
Now do yourself a Huge favor and buy a 550cc and under standard upright bike and go put miles and miles and miles on it for 2-3 years before you even think of making a café bike or buy someone else's E36 M3y idea of what a café bike is. So many of the "cool" bikes are so unsafe and tuff to ride that your doomed to fail unless you have the second nature moves when something goes wrong only miles will give you that. Be safe, have fun!

44

44Dwarf wrote: Congrats and good move on taking the MSF class. Now do yourself a Huge favor and buy a 550cc and under standard upright bike and go put miles and miles and miles on it for 2-3 years before you even think of making a café bike or buy someone else's E36 M3y idea of what a café bike is. So many of the "cool" bikes are so unsafe and tuff to ride that your doomed to fail unless you have the second nature moves when something goes wrong only miles will give you that. Be safe, have fun! 44

Ducati 696 Monster would be a good start and used can be had very reasonable.

I ride one every day. Its a little CM200T. Think Honda Rebel sized. Its a bit cramped, as I haven't sprung for rear sets, proper. The controls are in the stock location. But, I can ride it all day. I've done 500+mi day trips with no problems.

How strong are you wrists?

Its got bars from Bike Master, that have a pretty severe drop. It cuts into your turning radius at low speed. I would NOT put them on until after I got my license. Spend time getting used to the bike. Buy parts you want. Once you are comfortable, make one change and ride. That way you can find out what works.

I rode the TwinStar for 10 months before I started screwing with it.

Here's some things I found. If you like cafe bikes, you might like the modern interpretation of the: streetfighters. Sport bikes without the plastic. BTW I always wanted a Ninja 250 Streetfighter. (Sell all the plastic. Recoup some money )

Rebel $800

KZ 550 $1100

Ninja 250 $1200

Remember, this is prime riding season. A $1000 bike around here, might be $700 come winter.

44Dwarf wrote: Congrats and good move on taking the MSF class. Now do yourself a Huge favor and buy a 550cc and under standard upright bike and go put miles and miles and miles on it for 2-3 years before you even think of making a café bike or buy someone else's E36 M3y idea of what a café bike is. So many of the "cool" bikes are so unsafe and tuff to ride that your doomed to fail unless you have the second nature moves when something goes wrong only miles will give you that. Be safe, have fun! 44

Seriously this.

your just getting on a bike for the first time in traffic. As little that you have to deal with as possible the better, the usual RJM upright is your very best bet. Bought well used you can ride the tar out of it and sell it for exactly what you paid in 6 months.

^What they all said.

My Matchless is comfortable for me with the low bars but it's a small bike and I'm 6' tall. My back is bad but it actually doesn't hurt in a crouch like that.

I'd never put clubman bars on my CX650 Eurosport, it's got daytona bars and the nearly upright "standard" riding position is great on that bike. The reach that clubmans would give it would be painful.

Shawn

Thanks for all the great feedback guys!