** WELCOME to DTT**

[Anorak]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

Howdy Rowdies! Just joined today. Name is Bill. My first street bike was a 71 XS650 which I cafe'd many moons ago. Fast forward to now and I have an 04 Triumph Thruxton and a 06 Speed Triple. Thruxton is receiving some old chrome fenders and other goodies and the Triple is done except for some odds and ends. Oh ya, I've got an XR250L that I'm fixing up for times at the cabin. Live in Langley BC Canada.

 

[4X4CHICHI]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

Hello everyone, I just joined and wanted to say hey. I am restoring a '93 Katana 750 and just bought a '82 cb450t Hawk. I'm wanting to wanting to make a cafe racer out of the latter. Has anyone done anything with one of these? I got it for $150 on Craigslist. I charged the battery and it started right up, so at that price, I can play with it a little bit. I might try to hold out for something older, but we'll see.

 

[yatfu]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

hi everyone. Just registered for this awesome site. Ive been a guest here a few times reading articles and what not. Ive picked up so much knowledge from here i figured I should become a member and try to help others with their projects. I am mainly a trumpet guy but I just got my first jap bike today, a 1980gs850. Tomorrow im getting a new hack saw. This thing is stock and ugly! But i can promise it will be righteous in a few weeks . Pics will follow! Have a good one.
-YatFU

 

[oldybutgoody]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

I just bought a well used and somewhat disassembled '80 XS850. I'm currently trying to determine why the bike is apart and what needs to be done to reassemble and repair the previous issues. I'd like to reassemble the bike soon, ride it a bit this summer while obtaining parts (needed/wanted) to build a proper cafe bike this coming winter. I figure there is not much sense in tearing it all apart for modification and improvements when it won't even start or run. I'm quickly finding that new parts for a 31 year old bike is not too simple, but the internet is a real help. I'll likely start to think that eBay is a good thing--verdict still out on that one.

I live in southeastern Washington state, and am a retired mechanical engineer. I've built one previous cafe bike, a 1959 Triumph Bonnie. That was in 1965, and at that time, called them street racers. We didn't know too much about the English scene, but Triumphs and BSAs were road raced alot at the time in southeast Idaho.

Sincerely,

Larry

 

[3/4TONCB]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

Greetings to all..I'D be the"FNG" Fumblin thru the site. Expect stupid questions and stupider (Is that a word?) answers, if I have any to offer. Looks like you've got alot goin on. so's I'll be hangin around here and there. Winter here in MN., so I got time to burn B4 the wheels turn..

3/4TONCB

 

[Swapmeet Louie]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

I just bought a well used and somewhat disassembled '80 XS850. I'm currently trying to determine why the bike is apart and what needs to be done to reassemble and repair the previous issues. I'd like to reassemble the bike soon, ride it a bit this summer while obtaining parts (needed/wanted) to build a proper cafe bike this coming winter. I figure there is not much sense in tearing it all apart for modification and improvements when it won't even start or run. I'm quickly finding that new parts for a 31 year old bike is not too simple, but the internet is a real help. I'll likely start to think that eBay is a good thing--verdict still out on that one.

I live in southeastern Washington state, and am a retired mechanical engineer. I've built one previous cafe bike, a 1959 Triumph Bonnie. That was in 1965, and at that time, called them street racers. We didn't know too much about the English scene, but Triumphs and BSAs were road raced alot at the time in southeast Idaho.

Sincerely,

Larry

Where in S. East Idaho were they raced? I'm in Boise. Just would be neat to know a little more about the motorcycle history from the north west.

 

[ditchrat69]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

Hello everyone, new to the site. Been riding for 8 years now, huge fan of Triumphs( i have had 2)....and have always loved cafe bikes!

I am currently in search of my first cafe, and almost landed myself a very sweet cx500. But alas, it was sold under me Feel free to shoot some advise my way. Look forward to being a bigger part of this great community

 

[scioncb450]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

Hey everyone! Just started using my account, halfways done (well optimistic halfways) with my 71 cl450 k4... Love it , love cafe's can't wait to finally have my own!!!

 

[njedgexj]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

hello all..great site..new to the cafe scene..but have built a few chopper/bobbers in the past..just picked up a 1970 cb450..slowly turning into a cool cafe..look forward to sharing build with u all..

 

[Rocker]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

Hey everyone!
I'm from sunny Australia.. but recently not-so-sunny LOL ;D Please excuse my absence. I originally joined in November, but since then I have been caught up in bad health... and when I'm well, attempting to build 2 custom bikes. I have been riding for approximately 12 years now, and in that time I have worked for my local Honda shop as wrench monkey and worked as a parts interpretor for a custom chopper parts wholesaler. I am an amateur builder and an even more amateur mechanic. My technical duties at Honda consisted of doing services and detailing.. and mostly a lot of bike transport/deliveries. Everything I know now has been self taught, or by talking to the people that know. The last year has seen my workshop set-up underneath my house, and although I'm still acquiring equipment, I'm equipped enough to build most of what I can dream.

Although I have owned and rebuilt every bike I've ever had, including a GPZ500S and a 1996 CBR900RR Fireblade, it wasn't until last year that I built my first cafe` racer. When I think about it.. I've ridden almost everything modern... but after riding Ducati Monsters and CBR1000's.. amd even $60,000 choppers, I finally came full circle. At 30 years of age, I realised that the real riding begins when you strip away all that modern junk... ABS... EFI... blah blah... Take an old bike.. strip away anything that isn't needed to make it handle or ride good.. and what you have is a time machine... well, that and a bare-bones reminder of what it is to actually ride. Real riding. Just you, the twisty mountain roads.. and a basic piece of machinery that stops, goes and sounds freaking awesome. The Cafe` Racer. I was hooked.

In May last year, I completed my first Cafe build. It was a ground up rebuild... a 1981 Yamaha XS250. By the time it was finished, it looked nothing like the ugly duckling Yamaha made. It was svelt, fast, and loud.. and had all the right bits in fact, I shall post pics as soon as some nice person explains how I do that.. as i'm learning to navigate here still. I don't know how to add photos to my profile... *scratches head*
In the meantime, I've completed a custom rigid SR185 Exciter which I built specifically for the Deus Ex Mechina "budget biker build-off" in November last year. It cost me a total of $600 8) Since then, I have chopped it in half and am in the process of mating it with an SR250 rear frame section. It will be a proper cafe rcaer when finished.. instead of the 3-week thrown together mess it was for the build-off Again, will post pics if I can figure out how :-\ Also, I am currently rebuilding and customizing another XS250, and have recently acquired a 1976 XS750 Triple which will eventually end up under the knife.. or should I say, reciprocating saw? LOL

It's great to be here and to see so many people with a passion for the old gear getting together. I will be looking to start a cafe racer social club here in SE QLD.. so for any riders in Queensland... say hi please! Cheers! I look forward to meeting some of you soon

 

[Rocker]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

I just bought a well used and somewhat disassembled '80 XS850. I'm currently trying to determine why the bike is apart and what needs to be done to reassemble and repair the previous issues.

Hi Larry Nice purchase mate! They're a beautiful bike and is one of the very few triples that were built by the Japanese. The only other companies to build 4 stroke triples were Laverda and Triumph... and the original predecessor of the XS750/850 was the TX750.. which was a pile of junk. The XS750 saw a few improvements made to the engine that made it far more reliable, but there were still concerns that were eventually addressed in the XS850. The one problem that was a pain in the ass on the XS750.. not sure if the 850 has this problem TBH.. was that the fuel taps didn't have an 'Off'. Only a reserve... and every now and then, it would suck fuel through and this fuel would subsequently trickle past the pistons and into the sump if it sat there long enough. Like I said though... not sure if the 850 had this problem? Another problem was the primary chain... the 750 chewed through these.. every 10,000kms or so if you were unlucky.. again, because the 750 and 850 are very much the same bike.. not sure if this is something that was addressed in the later model 850?

I just recently purchased the very first model XS750.. the 1976 one. It's a bit rough looking.. but will make a nice custom with a bit of elbow grease and plenty of insanity I can remember the very first time I heard the XS750/850... it's not like a Laverda or a Triumph.. sound wise.. it's better! When it's just idling... you can hear all the mechanical sounds.. the valves, the cams, the fuel sucking through.. the exhaust ports.. everything.. it's just so mechanical sounding.. like listening to the man inside the machine working away... It's the epitomy of the what "deus ex mechina" actually means in latin... and then, as you wind the throttle on... it starts to growl. .and eventually, at full noise... it has this really agressive howl... like an angry beast that lives in a cave and comes out to eat other bikes.. mowing them down, one by one... just like the twisty bits... and as you back it off into those twisty's; you get that gorgeous cam 'burble' resonating through the pipes.. it's one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard in my life *sigh*

Let me know how you get on with the 850.. feel free to shoot me a message if you have questions. Cheers!

 

[Rocker]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

Well, finally made a pornobucket account.... up'd some pics... here's a pic of my first cafe racer build.

1981 Yamaha XS250. Completed last April...
http://s1093.photobucket.com/albums/i422/OilyRag78/The%20Silver%20Flash/?action=view&current=First-cafe-build---xs250-1.jpg

My second cafe was really a rigid SR bobber I built for the Deus build-off last November. I completed it in 3 weeks especially for the build-off with a total expenditure of only $650 including the bike. Will up some pics in next day or two. Now working on another XS250 cafe, but with a 400 top end. Also have a '76 Yamaha XS750 and '84 Suzuki GSX750 in my workshop.. not sure which to use for the Deus build-off this year

 

[road_rage 74]

New to the forum and glad to be here. Started my first cafe bike this spring. CM400 C. New paint and a few mods, ready for the sun!

 

[chrispy]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new rider and owner of my '69 CB350. Riding has become my new passion and obsession in life. I recently found this great forum and am happy to be a part of it.

The CB runs great, but will be a work-in-progress for other reasons. Hope nobody minds the noob' questions

Chrispy-

 

[wreckgar413]

Hello everyone!!!I curently have a Honda shadow 750, but have always wanted to build a bike and one of my relatives told me about the Norley. As soon as I saw it I knew that is what i wanted to build.

 

[Sasquatch]

Hey all.
I'm just getting into the cafe racer scene. I've ridden cruisers for years and am, quite frankly, bored with them.
I'm currently searching out the right bike for me to customize. Needing one that will fit me......somewhat.
I look forward to learning more about this awesome style of bike.

Don Bowers

 

[jimmiv74]

Hi. Just got on DTT looking to buy and start building a bike for next year. I am looking at Yamaha XS650's 70s vintage. The plan is a total tear down and build back up over the winter. First time doing a bike, have been doing the cars for a long time but with two kids I am looking for something on a smaller scale. I have loved the Cafe style for as long as I can remember. I find it funny that I am looking a the same bikes that my Dad took me for rides on when I was little but I can't afford a British bike so the Yamaha is, in my mind, the next best thing. I hope to take advantage of the knowledge bank that I have been reading here. Looks like a great group of people.
Aside from the Bike; I live in upstate NY. I am an architect, with an interest in music, wood working, and art. Married to a lovely women (that thinks I will kill myself when I get a bike) and we have two kids.
Any pros or cons or advice on XS650 please let me know. I am thinking of pulling the trigger on a XS locally soon.
Jimmi

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Hey folks. I recently picked up a beat up old 77' Suzuki GS550 here in Chicago that needs some TLC and I'm looking to consume a bit of knowledge on all things related to making her a nice little cafe piece, I've got a bit of spare change since I bought the sucker for 400 bucks! Me: I'm 29, graduated college with a degree in Jazz Performance and Experimental Music (NIU, guitar), work in a corporate mess, and want to get riding asap. I might be headed to the 1-800 section here in a bit to see if I can get the bike to run properly at the moment. Here's a pic of the bike:

Look forward to being a member of the forum!

 

[Hotshoe]

howdy, i'm shoe, i own hotshoe customs. i'll be attending the kickstart classic wtt to barber ride next week with the folks from AI and RB on my 78 cb750 stocker.

 

[Rocker]

Re: ** WELCOME NEWBIES to DTT**

So my alleged cuteness offends

Awwww.... cuteness never offends! unless it's a japanese manga film thats starts off with a cute girl and some kittens and ends terribly with massive indecent tenticles doing unmentional things lol ;D in the meantime.... have you got a pic of your ride?