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Having my R65 Cafe Racer still (and a R100) I can agree that an agressive riding position does not make it the ideal bike to be tootling in the city traffic for very long. And I rarely ride it to a Cafe. But out on the open road I can ride it long distance(And I am 45 years old), and works well.

I am curious what the craze is, in the US of A. It does not seem to be happening in the UK..much.

I would be thinking twice before converting an /5 as it is worth far more standard than as a cafe racer Same obviously goes for a R90S. They are expensive and to protect your investment you must keep it standard - or at least sensible mods only.

However a 1980 cosmetically challenged R65/80/100 can be picked up for peanuts and they are the bikes to convert if that is your thing.

One thing I have also noticed is that the Cafe Racer moniker is being used to described any old bike. I have seen an owner remove his panniers and call his bike a Cafer Racer - who is he trying to kid?

As with anything that becomes popular - it attracts the poseurs, the wannabees and the sharks........And the detractors.

As far as tuning is concerned - its still a road bike. If it has enough grunt as standard, why tune in unreliability and tune out longevity? If tuning is your thing then built a track/race bike. In the UK speeding is going to cost you dearly. Get caught doing 'the ton' and you won't be riding you bike for 2 years and it will probably cost you your livelyhood........

In response to Rev Light (a very cool moniker): Verily I say unto you, it is no less legitimate to personalize a bike and ignore its marketability than to bow to the god of resale value.

As a side note, the original point of this thread is that people are using "cafe racer" as a term for any old part as an embellishment whether or not it has anything even remotely to do with the cafe racer theme. It's kind of like: "What is jazz?"

In the end, we ride what we like and it doesn't matter what we call it.

Chuey

I agree with you Chuey. You should feel free to do whatever you like to your own bike with impunity.

But I am not rich enough to turn a £10,000 classic into a £2,000 'bike of my dreams'.

I have to start cheap and stay cheap.

The sharks will always circle where there is profit to be made - and adding the 'Cafe Racer' tag to worn out or low quality parts, is pretty normal behavior for some. Buyer beware.

I like them, but for every good one there will be 10 bad ones. Some half baked (i.e. not completed the conversion), some overtly blinged up (an excercise in showing everyone how much disposable income you have), some only a mother could love (ugly).

But hey, as long as the owner is enjoying him/herself.

Rev. Light
(named as I was unaware of the max rev indicator light on early R65 rev counters and made a 'dick' of myself)

The manufacturers are getting on on the trend........

There is a 750 motoguzzi which is quite a nice homage to the original V7 sport, moto guzzi have added to the model line up a cafe'd version which is really rather horrible, with bits of garish chrome, including side panels which look as if they had been made in someone's back yard.

Just because BMWs are cheap and are perceived as being reliable, i dont really see it as a reason to cafe them, with some exceptions such as Jon Lar's bike, they look crap.

I was riding my R90/s replica cafe bike today, the first time in 12 months because i have been concentrating on my standard R90/6, I must say that the riding experience of the post 81 twinshocks is much much better than the earlier bikes and the more highly tuned 1070 engine is really nice to ride on the road, so much more useable power at all revs than the original, getting more power out of these engines is safe and required given that traffic now is so much faster than it was 35 years ago.
IMHO etc etc Charles

justoneoftheguys wrote:

melville wrote:
Google has a lot on Hans Muth:

Shame on me for forgetting his name and believing vanzen!

I knew it was Hans, what's wrong with me?

Shame on me for making the mistake !
I, too, should know that it is Hans ...

Charles,

Is not that your second engine in that bike? Or at least a rebuilt first engine

Not that I am against tuning - I just can't afford it!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Cheers

Rev,

Rebuilt engine, admittedly I did drop a valve due to over revving after the first top end rebuild, the camshaft fitted was a bit lively.
I then got Jim to do a full rebuild incorporating the Seibenrock 1070 kit, and with me keeping a closer eye on the revs, it is a very nice and reliable engine.

Generally this bike has been a work in progress ever since I bought it as a well shagged RT in about 94. putting in like that it has cost me much less than using a modern bike over a similar period

Charles

chasbmw wrote: admittedly I did drop a valve due to over revving after the first top end rebuild

How about that Chas, I suffered the same fate. Gotta watch that redline!

Yep, and if I don't take a look at my 90,000 mile R100 soon I will have a dropped valve as well....Its no laughing matter.

I have just dropped 2 stone so I can ride my R65 Cafe Racer comfortably......And sail my vintage National 12, Merlin Rocket.

Rev Light

A fellow could go far on a decent well thought cafe build as life took my period parts to the trash or re-selled bits to save another and fund the progress

as the bike is more interesting to ride