Or use a piece of real Tartan cloth and spray over with clear lacquer.
What is a Cafe Racer......discuss.
- Thread starter beachcomber
- Start date
Swagger
Putting boot to ass since 1967!
beachcomber said:
I had some knee braces custom fitted when I played football in college and there was an option for adding a layer of cloth for a pattern when they were laying the leg pieces up. I wish I'd have taken them up on it at the time but I was "all business" back then...... :
Hey Swagger,
Me too - I founded the Redditch Arrows in 1984 when I was 40 - then got pressganged into playing !
Spent 14 years playing Center in our National League where the club went on to take 4 national Titles. I "retired" in 1993 then got the call to our Eu International team the Birmingham Bulls when the regular center had shoulder surgery. best years of my life [ apart from those yet to come.]
I managed to play [ age wise ] to my playing # - 55 ]
Me too - I founded the Redditch Arrows in 1984 when I was 40 - then got pressganged into playing !
Spent 14 years playing Center in our National League where the club went on to take 4 national Titles. I "retired" in 1993 then got the call to our Eu International team the Birmingham Bulls when the regular center had shoulder surgery. best years of my life [ apart from those yet to come.]
I managed to play [ age wise ] to my playing # - 55 ]
Basement rat
Over 1,000 Posts
You can use any textile as a layer in composite. Probibaly best let whatever your working on cure first, sand with 80 grit, inpregnate your "cloth" and lay up.
The same technique is used on custom sub boxes.
The same technique is used on custom sub boxes.
crazypj said:
I was only kidding guys !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now then, not sure if we're using the same terms here - by "Clubman's bars" do we mean Clip-ons?
If you mean the "Ace" type bars - NO self respecting Cafe Racer in the 60's would have used them - you'd be laughed out of the Caff as "only playing at it".
Actually Vincent or Norton "Straights" had more street cred than "Ace" bars.
That said, times change and whatever you perceive a Cafe Racer to be [ rather call them Specials ] is fine.
crazypj
Split personality, I fake being smart
beachcomber said:
Yep,
Ace bars = clubmans
Vincent/Norton straights = drag bars
Johnny foreigner just makes it up ;D
I've been living here long enough to translate most things
I only just found out what 'snowballing' means here, you really DON'T want to know, (it's along the lines of fag/FAG)
PJ
Basement rat
Over 1,000 Posts
Can we give Beachcomber the title of "Revered Cafe Racing God"?
Vita Nova said:
Cafe racers didn't really evolve out of contempt for rules and guidelines. Most of them were trying to get their bikes to go faster. Racers were faster, therefore if I make my bike look like a racer it will go faster. Todays "rules and guidelines" merely define what a cafe racer should be. Putting rearsets on Harley with apehangers may cause some dubious looks when you pull and say "How do you like my cafe racer?"
I had a modern day version of the Ace bars on a Laverda Jota I bought. Made by Tarozzi and fully adjustable.
They really were the biz in terms of comfort, but to me they were a cheap imitation of Clip-Ons.......................................... Soon changed them.
They really were the biz in terms of comfort, but to me they were a cheap imitation of Clip-Ons.......................................... Soon changed them.
Vita Nova said:
Never "guidelines" Vita - just a definition OF WHAT WAS - you can't change history. Imagination was a prerequisite in those days as you didn't have the mail order / E bay culture to assist you.
I'm open to all [ as posted previously ] and can see the best or worst in a project no matter what it's moniker. I DON'T care what label is attached - I do like to know how to identify a particular genre though.
Hoof is quite right - Cafe Racers were built to ape the Circuit Racing bikes of the time - MOST built for the look rather than perfomance, but never the less there were quite a few of us burning the midnight oil in sheds. kitchens and occassionally - a garage - slaving over the innards of various Triumph and BSA engines!
There is a parallel with modern times, inasmuch as some manufacturers decided to jump on the bandwagon and produce their own Cafe Racers - some better than others.
Then there were the genuine "Race Replicas" of the day - Clubmans Gold Star, International Norton, CSR AJS, - road going versons of typical Clubman's race bikes.
I owned the ex. Bob McIntyre / Ray Knight Thruxton Constellation - not very popular but quicker than most of it's peers.
These bikes were way too expensive for your average bloke - but a BSA B31 could be bought for under £10 [ 1969] and a Triumph engine for about £20. The Norton Featherbed was undoubtedly the most popular [ I preferred BSA ] basis for specials and would be at least twice as much as a similar condition BSA.
BTW Hoof any more pix? My first ex. torched all my stuff !!!!!!
A God Rat ???????????????? No, but regretably getting ever nearer to Heaven [ or the other place ] by the rapidly encroaching years.
One of very few period pix that escaped my Ex Wife [ #1 ] when she torched all my stuff - including 100's of bike pix - bitch.
This is my Daughter [ now 43 ! ] with my hastily built Manx / Goldie [ 500cc DBD34 ] - after the Cammy Norton motor expired. The frame is a Nickle Plated John Tickle [ almost a poem ] version.
Before anyone else [ rightly ] criticises, let me excuse the "lump of alloy angle" for a rear chain guard - the result of pleasing the local Gendarmerie. It WAS binned shortly after the pic was taken. Also the horrific rear tag plate / lamp / mudguard - also fitted for the same purpose! I soon went back to NO mudguard and the lamp / plate attached to the seat hump. As the bike was straight off the race track it had no stands - note the temporary stand on the right side. I also had the Manx reverse cone megga - but it really WAS so loud that I fitted a Gold Star silencer.
This is my Daughter [ now 43 ! ] with my hastily built Manx / Goldie [ 500cc DBD34 ] - after the Cammy Norton motor expired. The frame is a Nickle Plated John Tickle [ almost a poem ] version.
Before anyone else [ rightly ] criticises, let me excuse the "lump of alloy angle" for a rear chain guard - the result of pleasing the local Gendarmerie. It WAS binned shortly after the pic was taken. Also the horrific rear tag plate / lamp / mudguard - also fitted for the same purpose! I soon went back to NO mudguard and the lamp / plate attached to the seat hump. As the bike was straight off the race track it had no stands - note the temporary stand on the right side. I also had the Manx reverse cone megga - but it really WAS so loud that I fitted a Gold Star silencer.
Swagger
Putting boot to ass since 1967!
Did you notice any cracking of the frame at stress points due the the nickel plating? Hydrogen embrittlement can be an issue with plated steel. I plated some suspension parts on my old OSSA and afterward noted some hairline cracks at the swinger pivot that weren't present before. I later read an article about it.....
Ever notice anything?
Ever notice anything?
Shortround
Coast to Coast
i'd love to be a purist, but i can't afford a triton. so this is what cafe racer means to me.
Ya learn something everyday! I always thought it was chrome plating that caused the hydrogen embrittlement. Regardless I like nickel beter than chrome. Has an almost tactile look to it.
Beachcomber I didn't take enough photos but I do have a few. Had I known I'd have taken a lot more. I bought my Norton in 1967. Plain Jane Model 50. It got a Triumph 500 that was slung for a few quid when the Manx showed up. When it broke a 500T Norton went in followed by two Weslake 500 pushrod speedway engines. Thats whats in there right now.
By weslake at 2009-10-28
This photo was taken in 1973. I put that butt ugly seat on it so the wife and I could have transport in the Island for the TT. It was rapidly dumped as soon as we got back.
This is what it looks like now with its fancy party dress. 6 days from now I will have owned it for 43 years. I guess because I knew this was a lifetime bike I never woriied too much about photos. I also met the wife in '67. Still have her too.
By weslake at 2009-10-29
This is the wee beastie that resides in there now. El Mirage 500APS/PG record holder at 129.917 mph.
By weslake at 2010-01-15
The Norton is getting a much deserved break this year. I'll be campaigning "Screwball" my Weslake powered sidecar. Its made a good start to its racing life. 7 runs at El Mirage dry lake and four records. We're heading to Bonneville in August to go after some records there. Don't think it will qualify as a cafe racer LOL!
By weslake at 2010-05-25
P.S. Beachcomber. You seem to be from the same era as me. A"lump of alloy" needs no excusing. During my time in Ireland any thing that was'nt cast iron was considered exotic alloy. Thats a very tasty Goldie/Manx. I think the correct
British term was "cobby".
Beachcomber I didn't take enough photos but I do have a few. Had I known I'd have taken a lot more. I bought my Norton in 1967. Plain Jane Model 50. It got a Triumph 500 that was slung for a few quid when the Manx showed up. When it broke a 500T Norton went in followed by two Weslake 500 pushrod speedway engines. Thats whats in there right now.
By weslake at 2009-10-28
This photo was taken in 1973. I put that butt ugly seat on it so the wife and I could have transport in the Island for the TT. It was rapidly dumped as soon as we got back.
This is what it looks like now with its fancy party dress. 6 days from now I will have owned it for 43 years. I guess because I knew this was a lifetime bike I never woriied too much about photos. I also met the wife in '67. Still have her too.
By weslake at 2009-10-29
This is the wee beastie that resides in there now. El Mirage 500APS/PG record holder at 129.917 mph.
By weslake at 2010-01-15
The Norton is getting a much deserved break this year. I'll be campaigning "Screwball" my Weslake powered sidecar. Its made a good start to its racing life. 7 runs at El Mirage dry lake and four records. We're heading to Bonneville in August to go after some records there. Don't think it will qualify as a cafe racer LOL!
By weslake at 2010-05-25
P.S. Beachcomber. You seem to be from the same era as me. A"lump of alloy" needs no excusing. During my time in Ireland any thing that was'nt cast iron was considered exotic alloy. Thats a very tasty Goldie/Manx. I think the correct
British term was "cobby".
