Hello from Vancouver USA

[Quicklimegirl]

I just found this place today from a link on another site.

When I took my first MC ride @ age 7, all I knew from that day on is I needed to get my own. And from the start, I didn't like the look of big Cruisers and baggers, they looked ungainly to me. But when I saw my first Cafe Racer I just went bonkers.

Although I have one and have had several other 4 strokes bikes, I'm pretty much a dyed-in-the-wool 2 stroke nut. Most of my bikes are Yamaha RD models, from 60 to 400cc.

I thought I'd share a pic of the Cafe bike I've been working on since, almost forever. I thought it up in my head back in '77 when I got my first RD350, and started gathering parts for it about 1997. It's been "almost done" for a couple years now.....sigh.

The theme of the bike was a tribute to the rock group Blue Oyster Cult and in particular their song, "Me262." I don't have the "fuselage machine gun" turn signals working yet.

 

[DrJ]

Very nice, almost looks like a Bosozuku bike!

 

[locOleoN]

Welcome to the site!!

 

[78kz]

Welcome.

That's a nice looking RD. 8)

I've never owned one, but would love to.
I was surrounded by them in the '80s and '90s as my brother and two friends had RDs.
My bikes have always been 4 strokes, but I could easily convert or get use to a 2 stroke.

 

[Quicklimegirl]

Very nice, almost looks like a Bosozuku bike!

Damn, I almost think I've just been insulted....'cause when I saw the pics you just posted, I threw up in my mouth a bit.
Those things are HIDEOUS.....ugh!!!!

78KZ, I used to have a '79 KZ650C I Cafe'd a bit. I can't access the pics from work but I'll post it later here for you to see, I think you'll like it. That bike handled pretty well for as heavy as it was, and with the V&H 4-1 header it had gobs of torque!

 

[HorrorHo]

finally. Another girl on the board! yayyy!

 

[Quicklimegirl]

Welcome.

That's a nice looking RD. 8)

I've never owned one, but would love to.
I was surrounded by them in the '80s and '90s as my brother and two friends had RDs.
My bikes have always been 4 strokes, but I could easily convert or get use to a 2 stroke.

Here's a pic of the KZ650 I mildly Cafe'd. It's since been replaced by my 6 RDs, one RZ and my modern bike and only 4 stroke, an '03 Kawasaki Z1000.

 

[Quicklimegirl]

finally. Another girl on the board! yayyy!

Cool...it's always hit or miss on sites like this if I'll be the only woman. Maybe I'm weirder than most women, but I'd rather shop at a vintage swap meet than a Mall any day.
In fact MC-related stuff is the ONLY shopping I actually like. Girly stuff is, well.....boring! Plus, my BF will never have to worry about me saying, "it's me or the bike" 'cause I have a lot more bikes than he does!

Thanks everyone for the welcome. Even from the guy that compared my pride & joy to those hideous "things" that certainly look more like Choppers (Ugh!) than Cafe Racers.

 

[Ease]

Here's a pic of the KZ650 I mildly Cafe'd. It's since been replaced by my 6 RDs, one RZ and my modern bike and only 4 stroke, an '03 Kawasaki Z1000.

Damn, you sure like fast bikes...

So you have 6 RD's and an RZ right now? That's freakin sweet.


And I've seen that bike somewhere before... with the strange taillight. Not in person, online. Possibly caferacer.net??

 

[DrJ]

Thanks everyone for the welcome. Even from the guy that compared my pride & joy to those hideous "things" that certainly look more like Choppers (Ugh!) than Cafe Racers.

Didn't mean any disrespect. Bosozuku are kind of like the Japanese Rockers. Not many North Americans are aware of this motorcycle subculture.

 

[jason teamshralp]

small world I live in Vancouver, WA as well. Hope to see you around. what part of vancouver do you live in?

 

[dcmspikes]

always refreshing to see a girl with the wrenches. i know ive seen a picture of your machine gun bike before. if i ever finish my bikes, i know someone with an RD400(?) for a few hundred bucks. the 2 stroke sounds interesting.
welcome to the site

 

[cahurst2001]

small world I live in Vancouver, WA as well. Hope to see you around. what part of vancouver do you live in?

That makes three of us. I live downtown by the tracks.

 

[Quicklimegirl]

Dcmspikes: If you know of a complete RD400 for only a few hundred $$$ JUMP ON IT, running or not. On the west coast, at least, you can't find a thing any more that isn't at least lower 4 figures.

To the other Vancouver folks, I live near the Fred Meyer's at 4th Plain & Grand that closed this last April. Most of the time you'll find my BF & I riding on SR503 between Fargher Lake (N. of Battle Ground) and Cougar, or further up FS90 & 25 to Pine Creek and beyond. He's usually on an RD400F Daytona Special and since both the Cafe bike and my other RD350 are currently down for some more work and mods, I'm usually on the RZ350 or my Z1000. Talk about spoiled, the roads here are the best! The Klickitat Canyon is another favorite day ride of mine, 240 mile R/T (last pic). The orange, mostly stock RD is getting a new Cafe Seat and I'll be starting on rebuilding the top & bottom end here in a few weeks.

 

[HorrorHo]

Hey!
Im up in Ambleside!. Lets hook up! If you dont mind an RC tagging along!

 

[locOleoN]

Hey!
Im up in Ambleside!. Lets hook up! If you dont mind an RC tagging along!

um... dont mean to ruin your attempt to making some new riding buddies, but I think its Vancouver USA, not Vancouver BC!!!...lol...
just pointing it out.. ;D

 

[thrasherbill]

um... dont mean to ruin your attempt to making some new riding buddies, but I think its Vancouver USA, not Vancouver BC!!!...lol...
just pointing it out.. ;D

It's only about 5 hours away! If you're looking for people a little more local I'm just outside of Vancouver (BC) and so is TheBronze.