Suggestions for cafe racer for an Englishman to build on a budget?

TomGravelle

TomGravelle

New Member
I have been fascinated by bikes for years, having watched my Dad ride them whilst I was growing up, and as my 21st birthday is coming up, it has been decided that my birthday present is going to be a bike, something to customize and something for us to spend the summer working on (when I am home from uni), to give me something I will never forget (who can ever forget their first bike?!)

I fell in love with the cafe racer styling and would love to build one, particularly a Honda CB350. However, the problem seems to be with where we live; England. There are not many vintage bikes like the CB350 on sale here, and the ones that are available are extremely expensive! (I saw a good condition stock CB350 go for over £3000 a short while ago online)

I look to you good people, with your vast knowledge of everything bike to give me direction or advice for what models are quite easy to get a hold of here, and good places to look, as being a student my budget is not going to be the biggest (I know it is a birthday present, but most of the money will be coming from me) and will probably be about £1500 at the maximum.

Thanks, looking forward to hearing your suggestions!
 
Great birthday present! I'm sure you will get lots of opinions on this one. Sometimes it just makes your life more difficult if looking for one make and model... If I were in your boots, I'd find local bikes in your area in your price range and post up the link for guys to make their opinion on it.
I'm a 2 stroke guy and probably in the minority but you can't beat them for the simplicity of the motor to work on.
A Kawasaki KH400 would be the perfect starter bike. IMO
 
I too am a two stroke fan and I know the RD350lc is quite readily available and a very capable machine too. If I were still living in the UK I would be looking for an XBR 500, it would be a great bike to to start off with. Look in the ads in the classic bike mags there are tons of bikes in there for sale at reasonable prices.
 
70s Suzuki GS 4 pot or an LC, but they have become expensive too. What's available in your area Tom and where are you located? Have you passed the bike test or are you limited to 33hp?
 
BSA C15! They made a million of 'em, so there are plenty of parts even though they're old. Not a fast bike, but a cool one.

But if you want to go Japanese, I am a fan of the SOHC four Hondas. CB550 is an awesome all-around bike. 350-4s run like tops, 400s do too.
 
Thanks for all the answers so far! It will hopefully be the best birthday present I could have ever asked for!

I am located in both London and Bristol (London home, Bristol uni) so have quite a large amount of the South covered.

As for engine sizes; I plan to complete my full licence whilst the bike is being built and therefore (theoretically) should be able to ride anything!

From my looking, there seem to be a lot of Suzuki's around at the minute (in fact, on auto trader there are over 2,500 of them up for sale! Second only to yamaha!), luckily most claim to be in working order and are still in stock condition, so perfect for a build.

The bikes I have been seeing a couple of, and ones that it doesn't seem to be too hard to get spares for include the GSX400 and GS250. What are peoples general opinions on these bikes?

And as there are lots of Yamahas out there, what Yamahas are good for converting into cafe racers?
 
My brother had a 1982 GS400L when we were in high school, it had the 4 valve head (TSCC)and was a great bike!
It had good top end power and an all around nice bike to ride.
I assume the GSX is a newer version???
 
Tom, I'd go for the GSX400 if it were me. Like you I am in the UK, classic bike prices have gone through the roof.!
 
Gsx would be a good shout!

Nothing beats a cheap(ish) platform to mod like the honda cb's but god damn has the price for them sky rocketed.

Am also a 21yr old based in London, will be following your build when you get round to it! :)
 
Green199 said:
Gsx would be a good shout!

Nothing beats a cheap(ish) platform to mod like the honda cb's but god damn has the price for them sky rocketed.

Am also a 21yr old based in London, will be following your build when you get round to it! :)
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Still looking at Suzukis, possibly a GS instead of a GSX, just as they seem more available
The prices of the old Hondas are crazy!!

Shall update this more when I have more of an idea what is going on (It may be a few months, so sorry if there is a long delay in posts!)
 
Whatever you buy, buy a running bike. That may seem obvious but many are not. Sellers will tell you anything to make a sale sometimes. All the best.
Cheers, 50gary

RIP George Jones
 
Yeah, I think I most definitely will be!

Mainly because unless it's for sale near my house, the only way we would be able to take it home would be to ride it back! So a running one will be very useful, especially considering we don't have a trailer to use
 
After the most intense time of my life on eBay (no joke, this was more intense than my final presentations at university) I am now the proud owner of not 1, but 2 GS550s!!

One was ridden as a day to day bike by the guy selling them, but started slipping out of gear, so they guy brought another one to get the gearbox from; but due to not having any time he ended up selling them both!

So I have 2 complete (minus 1 working gearbox, 1 set of carbs and 1 headlight!) motorbikes!! Planning on turning one into a cafe racer and restoring the other one to its former glory before selling on hopefully. Or who knows, maybe my Dad will want one? :p

The 3 weeks until I get home from uni cannot come around fast enough!!

I shall keep you all updated when I get back on the construction process! Will most probably start a new thread, starting with me getting the bikes.
Thanks for all the help so far :)
 
TomGravelle said:
After the most intense time of my life on eBay (no joke, this was more intense than my final presentations at university) I am now the proud owner of not 1, but 2 GS550s!!

One was ridden as a day to day bike by the guy selling them, but started slipping out of gear, so they guy brought another one to get the gearbox from; but due to not having any time he ended up selling them both!

So I have 2 complete (minus 1 working gearbox, 1 set of carbs and 1 headlight!) motorbikes!! Planning on turning one into a cafe racer and restoring the other one to its former glory before selling on hopefully. Or who knows, maybe my Dad will want one? :p

The 3 weeks until I get home from uni cannot come around fast enough!!

I shall keep you all updated when I get back on the construction process! Will most probably start a new thread, starting with me getting the bikes.
Thanks for all the help so far :)
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So that's a Cafe Racer AND a Flat Tracker then !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously - ideal first project bike - pix ?????
 
Theres no point buying a bike thats running and complete anyway! Part of the fun is taking scrap metal and getting it to look new again. I got my CB900F for £250. Just started the project last week but its going to be a slow going process. Luckily im an engineer and have a workshop to play with so whatever I can make I will and that for me if the whole idea of doing a project, its personal and you will no everything about every single bolt on your bike, and each piece will have a story behind it! Good luck!
 
RichRoberts44 said:
Theres no point buying a bike thats running and complete anyway! Part of the fun is taking scrap metal and getting it to look new again. I got my CB900F for £250. Just started the project last week but its going to be a slow going process. Luckily im an engineer and have a workshop to play with so whatever I can make I will and that for me if the whole idea of doing a project, its personal and you will no everything about every single bolt on your bike, and each piece will have a story behind it! Good luck!
Click to expand...

Well the reason why I got 2 instead of 1 is because both have problems; so will be spending the summer getting both up to a good working condition.

I'm studying Engineering so want to know how every part of the bike works and goes together!!

beachcomber said:
Seriously - ideal first project bike - pix ?????
Click to expand...

Picture 1: 1981 (I think) GS550.
Picture 2: 1979 GS550

I get home on the 22nd of May, so will have more of an update then.
 

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Good looking bikes!
How much you end up paying for both if you dont mind sharing?
 
SONICJK said:
Good looking bikes!
How much you end up paying for both if you dont mind sharing?
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I paid £430 for the pair! Plus another £100 or so for covers (as they will be have to be kept outside until we clear out the garage) and for the van hire to go and pick them up
 
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