So do you think this is feasable? (Advice Please)

N

Ninetyeight

Been Around the Block
Agh!
I just spent about thirty minutes typing the first version of this out and my internet crashed.
Anyways,
My name is Garrett and I have a plan...and a dream! ;D
I'm looking for an insanely affordably priced bike that I can cafe...I'm 16 years old and working, but have a very limited income. I have wanted to own/build a cafe racer for as long as I can remember (or at least as long as I can remember knowing what a cafe racer was). The main reason I want a motorcycle right now, is that I will be starting college in January. I have a 1975 Volkswagen bus that I am restoring (Also, on a very limited budget), but with Gas prices and the cost of schooling the daily commute will have me broke in no time. I favor work over spending a dime, If I can work my ass off for 3 days, I would rather do that than spend $50 and replace the part. I enjoy working for what I want, as the the reward always tastes better in the end. I have been looking at a CB400 and a CM400 Hawk, but they are just a bit out of my price range. As I said before, I am on an extremely limited income that is being spread lots of ways. I'm looking for a bike around $100, which is seeming more and more realistic the harder I look. I came across this ad tonight, which either merely got my hopes up, or may turn into something productive. It at least has me scratching my chin. I know there seems to be a lot missing, but I am wondering how much would actually be missing once I combine both bikes. I have a good friend that just moved home after attending MMI in Orlando, who is willing to work with me on the project. I also have a good bit of leftover parts from racing motocross the last 7 years. I have experience with fiberglass/upholstery, so I will be making my own cowl and seat. I have also gained quite a bit of body work experience from working on my bus, so I plan on keeping the same tank, but pounding knee dents in, using body filler to smooth them out, and spray painting them. I plan on cutting down (Or ditching) the front fender, and completely tossing the rear fender. I am going to make my own speedo mount and reuse the orig. speedo, and I will more than likely attempt my run at fabricating my own rear sets off of the passenger peg mounts. Once all the dirty stuff is taken care of, I'll be rattle-can priming it, and spray painting everything (In a classy way, not the "Leave assembled, don't mask anything off" type of way). The only kicker is...I want to get this bike running for less than $100. That $100 obviously excludes the price of the bike, and the tires. I think this is possible. I already have the fiberglass/mat, the paint, the body filler, the bars, the foam and fabric for the seat, a welder, and a mess of tools available to me. What do you guys think?

If you're going to try to shatter my dreams and warn me of unforeseen costs and etc., please don't. I believe I can do this, and I REALLY want to give it a go. I just need to find a good base for my project.

Here is the ad, I really like the style of these bikes, and you don't seem to hear much about them. Also, the frame is completely flat in the rear, which will make for easy installation of the rear cowl/taillight/seat/etc.
16bmx48.png


Once both of these bikes are combined, how much appears to be missing?
I E-mailed the man who has it for sale, but that was mere minutes ago, so I haven't heard back yet.

Thanks in advance,
Garrett
 
Garrett, welcome to the site! Good post, lots of info.

I guess instead of giving you my opinion I will just tell you what I would do if I were in your position, but with the knowledge I have gained in the last few years of my relatively short adulthood. If I were you, I would spend the time you would spend working on this bike, trying to spend under one hundred dollars building it, telling everyone I know and will meet, that I’m looking for an old crappy motorcycle that may be chillin’ in someone’s garage being unloved.

Why would I do this? Because the odds are that you know or will meet someone, who knows someone, who has an old crappy bike in a garage being unloved and unappreciated. The odds are likely that said bike is complete, and the odds are likely that the owner of said bike would take $100 in return to get back 12 square feet of garage space that they miss, ever so much.

In the mean time, while I was working on this social networking plan to find a motor bike, I would be on the look out for better deals than the one you have currently found.

Also, if I were you, and I really wanted this Kawi, I’d offer to haul away this guys junk, free, no charge. The parts might be cool to use on a future project; I say this as one cheap bastard to another.

Best of luck!
 
Haha,
Very good idea. I never thought much of doing that, as it has always been a "Side project Idea" to my bus. I think I'll start though, while still keeping my eyes peeled on the local CraigsList. My parents own a Motocross Graphics company so I talk to more people than I could ever want to (or imagine) in the motorcycle industry, I'm sure I can find someone who has SOMETHING tucked away.

Thanks for the advice!
 
Dont be afarid to tell people you're you're looking for something "free or cheap"; it qualifies cheap. You're 16, it's expected to be poor.
 
Thanks for the advice, man.
I hate to have to be so damn cheap. But at 16 I've got 1 job, looking to add another, restoring a 1975 VW Bus on my own, and on my own dime, whilst trying to figure out how to afford to take my basics in my own state, before moving away to finish my bachelors.

Anyone want to give me a bike? ;D

I'll keep my eyes, and my mouth open. I'm hoping to find something soon, so I can get it ready in time for my daily school commute beginning in January. Although, I have almost 400 hours into my bus that I've had since March, and it's nowhere NEAR complete...I think I'll be making excuses to drive both of them!
 
Lol...

I agree with Speed2XS. I think you should start with something that runs and then mod it into a cafe. There is nothing cheap or easy when it comes to trying to get something that doesn't run on the road. I've no doubt you'll find something more suited to your needs.

Good luck and welcome to the group.
 
Just my $0.02; find a 2 stroke (given your motocross experience) it will be something you are somewhat familliar with and a pretty cool ride. Given the type of business your family is in you probibaly have a lot of connections for 2 stroke parts... and bikes.
 
from one poor college kid to another. try this one, pick that mess up and part it out on ebay. of course look to see if you can make profit off of that. then with the money you make, do the same with another bike. generate enough equity to fund your whole entire project.

this is what i've been doing between parting bikes that you got on the cheap or fixing them up and selling them. since you have some experience with motorcycles, you wont have a problem. Just open an ebay account and have at it. take stuff that isn't salvagable as a whole (generally the cheapest) and part it out, make some money and then build you bike up
 
Also...keep your eyes peeled when your driving around town. I didnt notice where you are from but i got my little CL 360 project for 25 bucks, just by stopping by a guys house after his garage burnt down and the only things he got out were a couple of old bikes he cared nothing about. Dont get me wrong I already have about $300 in it but im not on quite the budget you are. My motor needed a top end job but id bet i did that for under 75 bucks. Stock rebuild stuff is really cheap for hondas, so thats what i would look for my self and theres tons of 70's hondas around that have probably been sitting forever. I will probably have 700 to 800 in my bike when im done but if i really wanted to i could have the bike running for 200 or so. Im just going for newer parts, complete rewire and a new set of carbs so im going a little further than u but I think if you got a whole bike you could do it for real cheap.

Anyways just my .02

Dustin
 
Thanks for all the advice guys,
I'm gonna try to track whatever I can find in my price range, in any form of bike I can. Brand preference doesn't much exist, although I would prefer a CB just for their popularity.

I actually have been into 4 stroke mx bikes since they became more popular. I'm used to modding out pitbikes, but my main bike was always a Yamaha yz250f.

Thanks again for all the help,
Garrett
 
agreed man, just hunt! i have had great luck tracking down "barn bikes, or Garage bikes" everyone knows someone that has an old bike sitting in their garage... i always used to tell people that i just want to learn how the motors work... have been given more stuff than i could ever use... got this one out of a barn and rebuilt it...took alot of work but this is what i rode all though college.
bike cost $300
had total of $648 into the bike when i sold it for $1600 on graduation day!
I tore it all apart, polished every part, repainted the tank, new rubber $200, carb kit $58, Drag bars, starter, guage pod, 750 round headlight all from a junk yard for 20 bucks... then just clean them up... get a good buffing wheel and go to town... you can hunt and find something cool, just tell everyone!
33kub2o.jpg
 
I'd seriously consider buying a decent bicycle instead. You'll spend over $100 on tires, which you'll need because it's the safe thing to do.

Otherwise, I agree with the small 2-stroke suggestion. I have a a spare CB360 frame, forks, tank, etc I'd give you, but it will cost well over $100 just to ship it :)

Good luck. Make sure that whatever you decide, you do it right. This forum either has great builders or really shitty, embarassing ones. Oh, and do a two-up seat. College chicks will want to ride.

--Chris
 
AGREE WITH MUST BE ABLE TO TAKE A PASSANGER! the bike always did me well in college! tires have to be a priority on a rebuild as are wheel bearings...
 
chrisf said:
I'd seriously consider buying a decent bicycle instead. You'll spend over $100 on tires, which you'll need because it's the safe thing to do.

Otherwise, I agree with the small 2-stroke suggestion. I have a a spare CB360 frame, forks, tank, etc I'd give you, but it will cost well over $100 just to ship it :)

Good luck. Make sure that whatever you decide, you do it right. This forum either has great builders or really shitty, embarassing ones. Oh, and do a two-up seat. College chicks will want to ride.

--Chris
Click to expand...

Hey, i represent that remark.

In all seriousness, while I do applaud your enthusiasm, safety should be a concern. Decent tires, good brakes should be high on the list, and if you need to replace these, it will cost more.

I would look at your budget closely, and see where you can find some extra money for these things, as nothing would be worse then you having a crash due to old brakes/tires and getting hurt.
 
alot of times if you take the time to clean up the parts you are not going to use you can selll them on ebay to help fund your project as you go along... SEATS sell real big!
 
Understood, but the 100 limit wasn't including tires, and brakes realistically aren't that much. If the project went over $100, I wouldn't give up, it would just get pushed to the side and get attention when my wallet warranted that attention. There's a lot of stuff you can do to these things for free-$20. I'm thinking I can do this. I just have to find a freakin' bike!

Another good point JRK,
Cafe racers seem to be a lot about stripping away all of the unnecessary, which leaves you with a pretty big pile of parts at the end.
 
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