1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build - "Honda Cafe Cross"

[Cuba Libre]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

the torque of the big single would tear them up on the street

True, but a stickier street tyre would strain your transmission. If I'm not mistaken, XL's don't have cush drives at the back. Truth is you can't have a completely win/win situation.
Plus, the bike Ocaspersen is building will be 99% street oriented. Me, I'd get the stickiest tyre I could find (MT60) for maximum cornering.

when doing all the wheelies that will inevitably happen.

...yeah, right ...!

M.

 

[actionabe]

1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

Can't wait to see this build!

 

[johnu]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

True, but a stickier street tyre would strain your transmission. If I'm not mistaken, XL's don't have cush drives at the back. Truth is you can't have a completely win/win situation.
Plus, the bike Ocaspersen is building will be 99% street oriented. Me, I'd get the stickiest tyre I could find (MT60) for maximum cornering.
...yeah, right ...!

M.

I doubt that running a sticky street tire is going to be much of an issue (imho). I race a KTM supermoto (55hp) on slicks with no cush drive without a problem so I would think the Honda would be ok.

 

[taggat]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

choo choo ;D

 

[Ocaspersen]

1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

No worries about the driveline people, I ride bikes like a priest ;-)

Exciting that so many are interested in following the build as well :-D

 

[johnu]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

No worries about the driveline people, I ride bikes like a priest ;-)

Exciting that so many are interested in following the build as well :-D

This is right up my alley... big fourstroke single is what I will be looking for in my next project. I almost bought the same bike that you have a few months ago but the person decide not to sell it.

I look forward to seeing how the project progresses. Good luck!

 

[actionabe]

1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

The lack of a Cush drive in the xr hub won't be a problem when it's swapped out for the vfr assembly....

 

[johnu]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

The lack of a Cush drive in the xr hub won't be a problem when it's swapped out for the vfr assembly....

Haha, clever bugger!

 

[Ocaspersen]

1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

Good observation actionabe ;-)

 

[7aliveatlast7]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

i love dirt bike ---> street bike builds. looking forward to seeing the progression of this!

 

[canyoncarver]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

I've wanted a 600 thumper forever. Signed on.

 

[Ocaspersen]

1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

First day of tearing the bike apart, the first picture is of all the parts and the bike before I started

I have just put the front end on the bike, bearings and stem has to be changed before it is as it should be. But couldn´t wait to see what I would look like on the bike.... and it is AWESOME!!

Mocked up the rear swing as well, but as I have feared it wasn´t just bolt on :-/ It is about 2cm wider then the space between the frame as is, but some material can be taken of the swing arm and a little adjustment to the frame should be enough.

Tried on the newly bought clip ons as well, came out very good. I bought clip ons with gold mounting bracket so they would blend in with the fork tubes ;-)

I actuallt think I will use the stock tank as well, gives it a beefier look than the old 70´s tank i have. Thinking of modifying the stock seat pan to. Take of about 2-3 inches of the part that goes up the tank, round it of at the end and use a much thinner filling.

Started thinking a bit about colors already... I´m thinking that the build is some what crazy, so it should have a color that also pops a little.... The tank will be Samoa Orange with a Daytona Grey stripe, about 2 inches wide, and with gold pin striping. Frame and rear swing will be black, and the wheels will also be Daytona Grey. The orange and grey are both Audi colors, that has become "my thing". Used an Audi color on the last build also ;-) The color inspiration comes a little from BMW´s new concept bike, R90S Concept, which they built together with Roland Sands.

Until next time!

 

[Cuba Libre]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

The mock-up shows a really nice bike!

Could you post a photo with the 70's tank? I have a knack for old school tanks and I think they can make or brake a project...

- What do you plan to do for a rear shock and linkage mechanism at the back?
- Where do you plan to put the battery?
- Will you be fitting side panels or leave the sides "see-through"?

Questions...questions...

M.

 

[Ocaspersen]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

Thanks Cuba Libre

I will do a picture with the other tank next time ;-) It will be good for me to have as well, nice to have pictures to look at when planning the project.

-The rear shock linkage is pretty much bolt on as is, I only have to find a shock with the right length or make en extension to the 02 R1 shock I have ;-)
-The battery will go under the seat, under the bracket at the end of the frame. The fram will be looped just behind that bracket as well. The electronics will also be under the seat.
-There will be no panels, I like the open look. And I think it will be even better with this look together with the single sided swing :-D There will of course be some detabbing done to the frame, and I'm planning to move the tubes that goes from the seat-part to the bottom of the frame about 3 inches higher up and about 3 inches closer to the tank-mount. Think that will make the frame flow better with the single swing...

 

[Cuba Libre]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

Cool! I can't wait to see the next photos...

The rear shock linkage is pretty much bolt on as is, I only have to find a shock with the right length or make en extension to the 02 R1 shock I have

Ok, I hear you. In that case, I'd recommend you source and try on a VFR shock (from the same bike your swinger and linkage came from). If you mix and match swingers, linkages and shocks you may be in for an unpleasant surprise unless, that is you are well initiated in the dark arts of suspension (which I am not). I just finished a similar project (very similar in fact) and it took me quite some time, effort and energy to make things work at the back - and I was lucky that they were almost ok to start with...
My rule now is: Find a bike with similar weight and weight distribution as your project and fit its swinger/linkage/shock as a set - and at the same position/angles. If this is difficult, then at least the linkage and the shock should be from the same bike. I'm pretty sure it will work better and come cheaper in the end.
(...then again I've been wrong before and rules are meant to be bent, right?)

-The battery will go under the seat, under the bracket at the end of the frame. The fram will be looped just behind that bracket as well. The electronics will also be under the seat.
-There will be no panels, I like the open look.

I totally agree, I did the exact same thing!
I've promised myself I post some info and photos of my build. Hopefully sometime I get around to actually doing it...

Do you plan on doing anything with the engine?

M.

 

[Ocaspersen]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

I will use the stock linkage, but the stock shock from the VFR is way to short :-/ But good advise on the rear suspension, suspension is really dark arts...

The engine will be stock, just cleaned and painted of course. Will put on separete sportsfilters, and planning to use the rear silencer from a 2003-> CBR 600 RR under the seat :-D

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your project!

 

[Cuba Libre]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

separete sportsfilters

Hang on, is that the twin-carbed engine?
Man, you can do so much with it...!

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your project!

Thanks (...me too!)

M.

 

[Ocaspersen]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

Hang on, is that the twin-carbed engine?
Man, you can do so much with it...!

The thing here in Norway is that is i difficult to get rebuildt bikes approved by our DMV. But if you only do mods to either the frame OR the engine you can get an easier approval, so therefore the engine will be stock.... at least until it is approved ;-)

 

[taggat]

Re: 1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

choo choo!

 

[Ocaspersen]

1987 Honda XL 600 R Cafe Racer build

Hi,

The plan this evening was to pick the bike all apart, and figure out how to fit the new front end.

Front end.
The steering stem from the 04 zx10r triple was a bit to short, but the one I had from a 06 zx6r was the perfect length. Pressed out both stems from the bottom triples, and pressed the 06 stem back in the 04 bottom triple But of course there is another issue... The stem is 35mm thick, which will need a bearing with ID of 35mm. The frame takes a bearing with OD of 47mm and with of 12-14mm. I cannot find a bearing with ID 35 and OD 47, anyone know of a bearing?? Or should I put the stem in the lathe and take it down from 35mm to 30mm?? I know All Balls have a bearing which has ID 30 and OD 47.

I got everything taken apart tonight, just the two bottom engine bolts who were really stuck, so the engine is still in the frame :-/ Sprayed them with rust release, mabye they will come loose next week

Next time the plan is to start fitting the single swingarm, and cut/detab the frame.

Couldn't get a picture with the 70's tank, someone had borrowed it... And sorry for the crappy mobile update picture :-/