A Gentleman's Cafe Build

[gentlemanjim]

I've always marveled at the Cafe Racer style of bike and decided it's time I have one so I found this nice '82 CB650 as a donor bike and here goes!

Donor Bike

The tear down begins

The mock up

Had to modify the frame to mount the seat. A lot of work, but turned out nice.

Got the frames sand blasted, primed and painted

Polished the forks, new seals and a vey nice NOS 7" headlight mounted

Going slower than I'd like, but lots to do and do right.

 

[xavier296]

Looking good!

We always appreciate more pictures. Rarely can you post too many pics.

Why do you qualify as a Gentleman?

 

[BigBSBusa]

Great build!

 

[ProSimex]

Looks like another workshop in a self storage, why do my buddies always scoff at me when I suggest we get together and rent one?

 

[madmiles]

I love me a clean frame! ;D

 

[YogiBear]

I'm liking this. subscribed.

 

[intrudin]

Looking good!

We always appreciate more pictures. Rarely can you post too many pics.

Why do you qualify as a Gentleman?

Look at his Monika :

 

[tudor9]

Very Nice start. I am in the process of doing a 1984 CB650 into a cafe racer. Not much info out here about that paticular model.

Good luck and looking good!

 

[gentlemanjim]

Here's a little update. More to come waiting for parts

Trimmed and painted rear fender to tuck nice and tidy under the bumstop seat cowl.

 

[el_simo]

Nice fender dude

 

[cafecustom720]

Looking good

 

[Dale]

Here's a little update. More to come waiting for parts

Trimmed and painted rear fender to tuck nice and tidy under the bumstop seat cowl.

Nice. Whats the plan for the seat?

 

[gentlemanjim]

This Hotwing Glass Seat

 

[Dale]

old school! nice

 

[Catbird]

Very oldschool and also very practical. That configuration will allow you to hide a lot of extra padding inside the upholstery, which will make it easier to ride this thing for a longer time without becoming uncomfortable.

 

[gentlemanjim]

A little more progress

Instruments cleaned, painted and installed - Front end complete

 

[gentlemanjim]

Xavier296 "what qualifies gentleman's cafe"
- I consider myself a gentleman.
- From this bike build point of view: Leaving a tucked in rear fender, side covers and a low superbike handlebar - for a more gentle ride for this man. A little softer styled Cafe.

 

[Catbird]

The slightly more relaxed build makes it more practical for long rides. THat's what I like about the extra padding in the seat.

 

[gentlemanjim]

The trouble with that seat is it is very wide without any slope on the sides, rough on the inner thighs when stopped. I may have trim guy taper the edges a bit.

 

[Catbird]

I can imagine. My plan was to do a bit of bevel on the outside edges of the seatpan, and line the bottom of the thing with a higher-density foam and the top with a lower-density foam.
Again, I like the way this is going. Giving me lots of ideas.