Ratty Cafe - CX500 - Now not so Ratty :)

[Staffy]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Also had a visitor now its nice and warm, there are a couple of these and a frilled neck hanging around in the backyard as well.

Cheers
Steve

She's a bit of a baby isn't she? Where abouts are you in aus? Do you see em any bigger than that? I nearly hit one in my fourby years ago just out of Berri in SA on a dirt track. Was as big as a large dog. We don't really get the frillies in SA though.

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

She's a bit of a baby isn't she? Where abouts are you in aus? Do you see em any bigger than that? I nearly hit one in my fourby years ago just out of Berri in SA on a dirt track. Was as big as a large dog. We don't really get the frillies in SA though.

I'm only 20kms North of Sydney but my place backs on to Kuringai chase National Park so we get all sorts coming out of the bush for a warm up on the driveway, yep this is a littlie the bigger ones dont seem to come out so often.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Staffy]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

I'm surprised you get the frillies so close to the sea. I thought they were more inland.

I'm loving this CX by the way. I'm considering one myself in the future. Do you know what to look out for with these bikes?

 

[msimm43]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

I have a very firm rule that there are no dinosaurs in my garage.

The bike is even more impressive knowing that you have to deal with that sort of wildlife lurking in your work space.

 

[gribbs]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Figuring out how to mount my seat has been the toughest part of my project. Congrats on engineering yourself somethin that works so well!

 

[boingk]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Lookin' good Steve. Hopefully the blueslip goes ok, I've always been a bit nervous when I've sent something in...not exactly sure why.

Anyway, good idea for the seat apholstery base. This thing is gonna look ace when its done.

Cheers - boingk

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

So trimmed the seat base(dremel and saw worked pretty well), now just need to start making it comfy

Cheers
Steve

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

So trimmed the seat pan, while it was sitting on the seat base I drilled 5 holes through it and the base and then glassed in 3 bolts on the base and two nuts on the section that goes against the hump. Decided this would be the easiest way to mount it and pull it down tight for a good look.

Then I cut two pieces out of an old camping mattress, it's not that think but is pretty comfy and even with one piece the bolt heads cant be felt, with two it gives a good base for the foam. On top of that I've got a piece of high density foam, comfy and still has some support. Then I trimmed the foam at the front where my thighs go as initially there was too much pressure on that area and it was uncomfortable, now it's great

Next I'll cover it with some thin material that is used outside behind retaining walls etc, it doesn't rot or mold and its thick enough to hide the marks in the foam, on top of that the marine vinyl will go on.

Oh, and the seat now weighs 1.3lbs

Cheers
Steve

 

[JRK5892]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

man that looks great!

 

[tierinmir]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Do they bother you when they come around?


After reading around on this site, I'm really envious of you cx guys. Sweet bikes!

Looks great so far man, keep us updated.

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Do they bother you when they come around?


After reading around on this site, I'm really envious of you cx guys. Sweet bikes!

Looks great so far man, keep us updated.

Nup, I was only worried he was going to wander into the open garage, too much stuff in there to easily get him out again. Turned out he sat there and ate a few ants and then wandered off.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Covered the seat with cloth, really smoothed it out

Then, after it had dried, covered it with the marine vinyl afer leaving the vinyl in the sun to soften up.

Its not perfect but it's better than a race style stick on pad comfort wise and I think it looks pretty good 8)

Cheers
Steve

 

[gribbs]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Looks great man. For anyone else doing their own seat, its much easier to wrap around rounded corners, not 90 degree angled corners. Looks better too. I made my seat, but made the mistake of making the pan square at the front, and I didnt know the technique for squaring off corners, so I had to toss it altogether.

 

[msimm43]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Very nice work. It looks great. I am getting ready to take a stab at making my own pan, and the pics have been a big help.

Cheers

 

[kadavenport]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Steve -
That seat & pad look great, real quality work there. If you keep making things this nice you won't be able to call it the Ratty Cafe anymore.

 

[jay_kent]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

That's a great looking seat, didn't occur to me to heat up the vinyl to help stretch it out. How did you attach it to the fiberglass pan?

Jay

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

That's a great looking seat, didn't occur to me to heat up the vinyl to help stretch it out. How did you attach it to the fiberglass pan?

Jay

Its just glued with spray glue, it sticks really well to the foam on the top and sides as long as you follow the instructions on the can and then it's just stuck underneath to finish it off. I also pu some duct tape on there to hold it while the glue dries. If I have any issues with it coming loos I'll use some short rivets to hold it.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Finished welding the 'H' box section (not the easiest with a stick but possible) and sanded the headers etc back to strip off the rust and take the shine off the little chrome that was left and then painted with high temp paint.

I was going to wrap them (to hide the welds) but I think I may leave them just painted, I guess I'll see when it gets pulled down again for paint etc

Cheers
Steve

 

[Staffy]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Looks good steve. Do they normally run a balance pipe like you've just done or is that something you've done as a difference from standard? I'm assuming it is a balance pipe you've put in and not a brace. They'd look great with wraps but wait till you decide on the paint colour, then you can match pipe colour to the rest.

BTW, i've been contacted (already) by someone off the aussie CX mob who has one locally. Sounds like a steal so i may be joining the club with a build of my own

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Looks good steve. Do they normally run a balance pipe like you've just done or is that something you've done as a difference from standard? I'm assuming it is a balance pipe you've put in and not a brace. They'd look great with wraps but wait till you decide on the paint colour, then you can match pipe colour to the rest.

BTW, i've been contacted (already) by someone off the aussie CX mob who has one locally. Sounds like a steal so i may be joining the club with a build of my own

They run a H box/collector box which is a pain to find if the bike doesn't have one and they tend to rust out, so yep, I'm just running a balance pipe, also doubles as a brace

I thought you'd find one on the Aus forum, some of those guys have 4 or 5 in different states of repair.

Cheers
Steve