Boxerworks.com

mattcfish wrote:

Major Softie wrote:

mattcfish wrote:"Cafe" really only applies to old stripped down Brit Bikes that could barely do 100mph. Besides "Cafe" sounds like a place where you order crumpets and drink macchiatos with your pinky extended. I prefer the term "Pub Missile".

That seems like a euphemism for something else...

I'm on the wrong side of 40 as well.

To be honest, the looks of BMW Airheads are an aquired taste. If they were women, their bodies would be somewhat heavy set (not in a Rubeneque way), and they would have very well indowed. On the other hand they would speak with a wisper and faithfully let you ride them all day and every day without complaint.
Italian machines have the sex appeal, but many of the other less desirable qualities of the fairer sex as well, demanding more and more monitary contributions for their favors.

The Cafe crowd can't afford a Ducati, but need the abuse.

And that wrong side is which, then, older or younger?

The wrong side....but the left side of 50!

Like pointed out if the bike had a life that took the period parts out of touch why no go to a item of usefulness as the cost to restore is out of the question........

Duane eventually went to a easy 900cc with drum brakes and as simple in wire as he needed, I figued how to use LEDS and cut the electrial needs to a low low draw

cafe bike shocks. http://tinyurl.com/86ufoe9

I'm sure it is obvious to everyone, yet no one has mentioned it, that the sellers are just putting the words "cafe racer" in their titles as key words for searches to hit on.
And yeah, the shocks are just a pair of crappy OEM worn out shocks.

Caveat emptor!

Listing crappy old parts as 'cafe' is just plain stupid. Stupid of the seller and more stupid for whoever buys it.

That being said, there is nothing wrong with modifying an old BMW. Whether it is for style, or speed. Look at all the vintage 70's BMW track bikes that people still race today. They all have an element of being a 'cafe' bike. Rear sets, low bars, trimmed off crap...
There is nothing wrong with building a BMW for the street like that either.

Frowning on people that modify their BMW's into cafe bikes is pretty narrow minded. Do you go to hot-rod car shows and frown on everybody who modified or tricked out their car?
It is part of the fun of owning a car or motorcycle that isn't computerized (like modern vehicles).

Being under 40 and having rebuilt 3 airheads over the past 13 years, and currently working on my 4th, i always get a kick out of the 'old guys' who are BMW purists and stuck in their old ways.
A bone stock BMW is great.
But if a bike has been used and abused and destined for trash, there is nothing wrong with a makeover and a second chance to live. Cafe, Bobber, who cares, as long as you are having fun.

rant over. haha.

I started this post as a poke in the eye of them that sell old parts that might be rebuilt or just plane crappy as "cafe bike parts". As if this will enhance a bike somehow. It's getting a little ridiculous with the "cafe" thing for selling parts at an inflated rate that shouldn't be sold at all. I love bikes, all kinds. I believe that a bike should be made your own by doing what you like to it to make it an extension of who you are.

I'm not a purist, my replica 1070 R90/s started out as a 1982 RT, and although my R90/6 looks fairly stock it has a twin plugged high compression ratio engine, brake changes etc etc.

IMHO these are all changes that make the bikes better suited to modern traffic and enable me to use them for my ideal use, that usually involves a tent and some interesting roads somewhere in Europe that is a bit warmer than the UK.

The standard euro bar BMW ergonomics are for me, about as good as it gets so i find it difficult to understand why someone should go down the cafe racer route and ruin much of the dynamic pleasure of riding BMWs.

Charles

chasbmw wrote:IThe standard euro bar BMW ergonomics are for me, about as good as it gets so i find it difficult to understand why someone should go down the cafe racer route and ruin much of the dynamic pleasure of riding BMWs.
Charles

Often, because they haven't. As you said, the ergonomics are good as it gets for you. Ergonomics are extremely personal.

chasbmw, aren't you the one with the Jim Cray engine(s)? Well, I'd love to have one of those type engines for my cafe racer.

Now, about my cafe racer and the ergonomics of the European ergo BMWs: my cafe racer is way more fun to ride on any ride that will last less than three hours and maybe up to five hours.

And, twist, don't worry, I totally got the meaning of your original post. This isn't and never has been the originality police.

Chuey