Caffeinate or bob???

[biker_reject]

Got my rear wheel to front conversion mocked up. Every time I look at this thing, I see both a cafe bike and a bobber. I thought once the front wheel was on, its true character would be obvious. I was wrong. What do you all think? Raised tank, cafe. Stock position, bobber. I am also toying with the idea of mounting a Sportster tank (Frisco style) if I were to go with a bobber build...

Sorry, something wrong with photobucket uploader. Not including full img code for some reason!

 

[Erskine]

Put the img code into the reply box, that's the only way it works for me!

 

[chimpchoker]

ha, finally worked out it works :-[

 

[biker_reject]

Weird! It wasn't highlighting the

 

[Erskine]

BOB! 'kin great big tractor seat, keep the clip-ons. Job done,on the road.
Simples

 

[biker_reject]

I was thinking tractor seat also!

 

[ProSimex]

Caffinate, you do know how nice these bikes can be right! Amazing that such a who cares bike like a virago becomes an amazing cafe racer! I would love to do one myself. A friend of mine has one in the works that he got for nothing. bastard....

 

[Erskine]

Caffinate, you do know how nice these bikes can be right! Amazing that such a who cares bike like a virago becomes an amazing cafe racer! I would love to do one myself. A friend of mine has one in the works that he got for nothing. bastard....

Beachcomer is doing a real classic cafe build with one. Cryogenicaly cool.

 

[eric2281]

Looking at it, I envision a bobber before cafe. Either way would kick @$$ though. Good luck!

 

[biker_reject]

When I'm standing next to it, she looks like a bobber. When I step away and raise the back of the tank off the back bone, it looks like a cafe bike (you have to imagine a subframe on it). Originally, I was really into the Englebert bike. But then I saw Sepp Koch's design and that's the look that took over. Then, I saw Johnny Ryland's version on Classified Moto, and I thought, YES! Now, I think if I go with a cafe styled build, it will be a melding of Sepp Koch and Ryland's design (only with matching wheels ). If I go with a bobber, I think I will attempt a Frisco style complete with an early Sporty tank and forward controls... Either way, it will look plenty aggressive.

 

[jetrotter]

It looks so badass with the tank following the line of the backbone. I say just forget the seat all together and practice hovering above the rear tire ; )

 

[thralldad]

Caff

 

[VonYinzer]

Dont build either... At least not in a strict sense.

Just start messing with it. You have running bikes, so getting on the road isnt a priority. Just let your imagination take over and do something outside of the box. Im sure however you go, itll be killer, but it would be nice t see you just go nuts on it and not stick to any particular style.

Just my couple of pennies.

 

[biker_reject]

My Buell project is all but complete, except for a couple of small problems (I hope). The DOHC is getting very close to completion, so that's why the XV is getting some attention. Mocking up the rear wheel to front conversion was done after my front tire came in and mounted and now all I do is stare at the Virago! :-D If it gets a tractor seat, I think it will look like it's hovering in mid-air above the wheel. I'd like to know how to do a cafe seat similarly - if a subframe could me made strong enough to not have a lower support.

 

[VonYinzer]

Certainly. Look at modern sportbikes. In fact you may be able to find a subframe from a modern mono shocked sportbike that you casn adapt to fit. I unfortunatly know NOTHING about the Viragos. Im sure with some creativity and a welder you can make it happen though.

Hell, if you got a subframe from say... a CBR600 or even an Suzuki SV650 (just spit balling here) and mated it to the Virago frame, you could mount a race seat from the same model

like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-CBR600-F4i-F4-Subframe-Sub-Frame-STRAIGHT-/380345656774?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item588e5e25c6

and:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-06-Honda-cbr-600-600rr-race-bodywork-fairing-tail-/270766614675?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f0af2a893

 

[CresentSon]

The raised tank has the look. I would start there, and just play some jazz. You could go way outside the box on this, and still hit a home run. With a platform like a Virago, you have a lot of leeway before anyone would get offended.

 

[VonYinzer]

"...before anyone would get offended."

fuck em'

 

[biker_reject]

Yeah, I pretty much trust my eye to not create an oddity. There is a fine line between cool and tacky, like in autos, you know? Remember in the 90's when Asian kids put two antennas (with iridescent strips) or two sets of wings on their cars? I once saw a kid in a Del Sol, aka. "Del Slow", with a wing on the roof and one on the trunk lid. He was also wearing two sets of sunglasses. the only thing missing was his wearing two polo shirts. Hilarious! Not gonna be the case with the Virago! Ha!

What I notice with the Virago is that there is a whole lot of air/space through the frame/engine. That's cool. Also, it has that V-Twin mechanical look, industrial, like a utility vehicle. I've seen some of the pro chopper builders capitalize on that look.