Why have two-strokes, specifically two-stroke triples, been overlooked by many in the cafe racer community. With Brit bikes rising in price and CBs becoming scarce, two-stroke triples make a lot of sense.
Why have two-strokes, specifically two-stroke triples, been overlooked by many in the cafe racer community. With Brit bikes rising in price and CBs becoming scarce, two-stroke triples make a lot of sense.
Because they are rare as berkeley around here.
550 or 750 triple 2-stroke is lethal (In my opinion). Can you imagine hitting the powerband mid-apex on wet roads?
Wasn't the Water-Buffalo also called the Widow-Maker?
Two-stroke Cafe... Is that like a three pump chump?
They were not ignored your just in the wrong decade...
Grtechguy wrote: Wasn't the Water-Buffalo also called the Widow-Maker?
Never heard that one, it may have been used for the 750 Kawasaki but I don't remember it. The GT750 Suzuki wasn't the greatest handler in the world, but for its time (early 1970s) it wasn't terrible. I have one tucked away in the corner of my garage, one of these days I'll get to it.
Because a Featherbed needs a CR/KX500 single instead??? 
GT750 engine weighed a frickin' ton, a lot more than modern one liter four strokes. That didn't help their handling much.
... still have a ported WB engine w/ squish head and race chambers on the shelf waiting for a project 
There was a REALY nice WB Cafe for sale with inthe last 4 months over on Careracer.com I wanted it so bad.
Widow maker was the H1 Kaw as far as i recall. Fast as hell not so good at turning. They'd out run an RD untill the bend in the road. I've owned just about every model of twin 2 strokes from the big 3 except a WB. Riden them all but not owned a WB yet..
1) I am finding two-stroke Suzuki's and Kawasaki's everywhere.
2) They handle no worse than the much-sought-after CB350s and CB450s (I own one as well).
3) My GT380 was about the same as my CB450.
Other than the fact that the old CBs look the cafe part very well, they don't do anything better than two smaller GTs and get clocked by the Kawasaki two-stroke. Yamaha RDs are, arguably, the best two-strokes of them all and are better than the contemporary CBs.
Seems to me there may be an opportunity to pick up some cheap two-strokes and restify them.
RD400 FTW.
There were a bunch at the Mid Ohio Vintage days. The theme was mods vs rockers and lots of two stroke cafes showed up. the cafe racer magazine bike show had a 250 yamaha that won best Japanese bike.
I've had my 400 Daytona since about 1987. Did the motor maybe 15 years ago, did the "down to the last fastener" restoration last year. It's the "newest" vehicle I own now - totally minty fresh.
There's a place called HVC Cycle who are ground zero for vintage 2-stroke parts. I used their stuff extensively on my bike. Their website is down at the moment but I called to verify they're still there and they are.
You'll need to log in to post.
