Cafe-Racer friendly businesses in Australia

[liam]

Good Idea? we shall see...


If you have a good experience with someone, powdercoater, engineer, motorbike shop whatever, list them here.
also, for businesses providing parts for caferacers and similar modified bikes in Aus.


http://www.vanem.com.au/
- sr400/500 and HD import parts from japan

http://www.deus.com.au/
- sr400/500 import parts

Modak Motorcycles
P.O. BOX 1602 GPO, MELBOURNE
299 ELIZABETH STREET, MELBOURNE PHONE/FAX: (03) 9602 1229
PROMPT DISPATCH OF INTERSTATE & COUNTRY ORDERS
-vintage and british motorcycle parts, including modern repro parts and accessories. shop doesn't appear to have changed for 40 years, don't expect any service, just know what you want.

Speer Performance
http://speermotorcycles.blogspot.com/
116 Cubitt St
Richmond 3121
Victoria
(03) 9428 6688
- builds rip snorter custom bikes, nice guy


that's all i got right now

 

[Zonda]

Chris who runs this site is a long term biker and all round nice guy, on the site it lists businesses in Brisbane that provide parts/services for cafe/vintage jap bikes.
http://auction.netbikes.com.au/contents.

Rod from OZ 8)

 

[ROne]

Hey Liam......yep, I give a big 'thumbs up' for listing Speer Performance in Richmond (Vic).

Sam is a top bloke and I've taken my cafe to him on a few occasions of recent and he seems to be really into them, couldn't recommend his business enough!

As for Deus....yeah, nice stuff and all but man....hefty prices for the bikes they build I think, considering they are most likely buying those Yamaha's and Kwakas cheap from overseas as 'grey imports'. But hey, that's just my opinion.

Also, there is a great Engineer / Manufacturer in Heidelberg, Victoria who is also super nice and has a lot of experience and equipment to fabricate almost anything for you.....MANTA ENGINEERING ( I think it's Peter?)

ROne

 

[liam]

there's a place named McIntyre motorcycles, on the north side of inner melbourne (lygon st???), according to mentions on netrider.net.au, a guy builds customs out of their workshop. i've been past it, but not in, they're supposed to be good as well.

 

[Steve F]

So any places in Sydney, Deus is cool but very specific to the bikes they build.

Cheers
Steve

 

[10417549]

So any places in Sydney, Deus is cool but very specific to the bikes they build.

Cheers
Steve

Ditto. I've been looking around for stuff in Sydney to customise my SR250. Just the basics like tanks, seats...

Magazines have been helpful though.
- Just Bikes
- Motorcycle Trader

 

[liam]

Vanem is in sydney as well, but fairly similar to deus.

 

[liam]

Speer performance in richmond (vic) is hosting the VJMC dyno day this saturday, i think it kicks off 9:30am or so, 30 vintage bikes run down the dyno and then someone wins something. i was thinking on popping down and snapping some photo's, should some cool bikes, and at least a couple of cafe racers. spectators are apparently welcome.

 

[Steve F]

Ditto. I've been looking around for stuff in Sydney to customise my SR250. Just the basics like tanks, seats...

Magazines have been helpful though.
- Just Bikes
- Motorcycle Trader

I've kinda given up trying to get stuff locally now, even the online places I've found seem quite expensive. For clubmans, headlight, headlight brackets etc I've gone straight to ebay, some is local some from the US. Either way with the current exchange rate buying from the US is pretty cheap compared to a local shop that thinks anything that looks vintage should be expensive It's a shame as I'd really liek to support the local guys but most of the stuff is from China anyway.

Cheers
Steve

 

[10417549]

I've kinda given up trying to get stuff locally now, even the online places I've found seem quite expensive. For clubmans, headlight, headlight brackets etc I've gone straight to ebay, some is local some from the US. Either way with the current exchange rate buying from the US is pretty cheap compared to a local shop that thinks anything that looks vintage should be expensive It's a shame as I'd really liek to support the local guys but most of the stuff is from China anyway.

Cheers
Steve

Thanks for the reply guys.

Liam - Do you know where abouts Vanem is in Sydney?

Steve - Yeah right on! I was at motociclo at St. Peters the other day, they specialise in bikes like Moto Guzi, Royal Enfield, Triumph... Their aftermarket parts were expensive, about 10-20% more than prices on ebay or online shops with similar items.

I've just found a PDF price brochure for 'POSH'. They supply parts to DEUS (custom fabricated Headlights, gauges, exhaust pipes). How do I attach files? I'm not sure how their ordering works, but they are advertising sale of individual items.

Here's the link! - www.posh-factory.com/index.htm

Cheers

 

[liam]

Liam - Do you know where abouts Vanem is in Sydney?

nah, their po box is in lane cove, they have their opening hours on their website, but no address that i can see, if you call them, http://www.vanem.com.au/contact.html then tell them to fix that.

 

[liam]

seems Speer Performance has relocated from Richmond to an as yet undisclosed place with cheaper rent, most likely not cityside.
Also, apparently these guys http://www.antiquetyres.com.au/brand/vintage-motorcycle do retro rubber for prices equivalent to normal tyres, i guess i might be getting flattrack knobblies or something after all.

 

[Steve F]

Cassons have a fair bit of stuff and after a quick call to them it sounds like you can order it from pretty much any Motorcycle shop. I was chasing the emgo 17" reverse cone mufflers.

http://www.cassons.com.au/

Cheers
Steve

 

[ROne]

seems Speer Performance has relocated from Richmond to an as yet undisclosed place with cheaper rent, most likely not cityside.
Also, apparently these guys http://www.antiquetyres.com.au/brand/vintage-motorcycle do retro rubber for prices equivalent to normal tyres, i guess i might be getting flattrack knobblies or something after all.

What makes you say that Liam? I was only at Speer Performance two weekends ago for a Dyno Day that Sam (Speer) was holding. I'm pretty sure he has no intention of moving just yet so they are still in the same place in Richmond, Victoria (Australia).

Rone

 

[liam]

VJMC email newsletter said so, i must admit i haven't personally verified, but no reason why it would be misinformation?

 

[Chainblock Dave]

Re: Cafe-Racer friendly businesses in Adelaide and environs.

Up in Birdwood there's a business called Birdwood Motorcycle Engineering. Martin is the owner / mechanic, a really nice and enthusiastic pommy bloke, (a bit like a motor'cicle' Wallace from Wallace and Grommit), who is a Brit motor guru. But he is a perfectionist, and so whilst his hourly rate is reasonable, (about $60/hr), don't expect a 'bodgy' she'll be right if we just do this attitude. I had two very bad basket case A65 motors, and we managed to put together a brilliant rebuild for about 4 grand. Having said that, every bush, bearing, chain, pump, sprocket and gear was inspected and repaired or replaced. The motor is like absolute new, with new carby, and boyer electrics.

For your average rebuild about 2 grand plus a bit.

As an engineer for modifications eg forks, he is also very good.

His interest is primarily English bikes, but if you drop in and have a yarn, well, don't tell him I said this, but I bet if your enthusiastic, he'll take on your project.

In short, a brilliant bloke.

I had a couple of wheels rebuilt at Hoey motorcycle engineering out near parafield airport. A Norton front and Trumpy conical rear. For respoking, bearings, cleaning and brakes, (plus checking alignment) just under $600. A very good job done there.

Both places are not quick, they do have lots of work and are well used and respected, but the quality is excellent.

 

[seven54]

Hey,

Stumbled across this site today. Located in Wattle Flat, near Bathurst NSW, & supposed to offer a full range of mechanical services.

http://www.caferacer.com.au/content/EngineBuilding.htm

Anyone else heard of them before?

 

[Tegs]

Motociclo in St Peters Sydney is a great shop for all your Cafe racer needs - they stock genuine Cafe Racers accessories from clothing, patches, books and they are also the dealer for Royal Enfield.

http://www.motociclo.com.au/

 

[Hummingbird]

Has anyone mentioned Trojan Classics yet?

Trojan Classics
http://www.trojanclassics.com
Phone: +61 (0)2 9759 6990
Fax: +61 (0)2 9759 6990
Email: info@trojanclassics.com
Address: Unit 4/117 Punchbowl Road
Belfield, Sydney, 2191 Australia

Pros:
Sydney West, got plenty of stuff, workshop at a reasonable rate per hour, import parts, catch them at a quiet time and they're full of advice.

Cons:
Specialise in British bikes - Tritons, Norton... Can't operate on Jap bikes...

 

[liam]

just followed up on some stuff i'd been hearing, and found http://www.modernmotorcyclecompany.com/

will have to send them an email and go check it out, located in collingwood, melbourne.