Form V Function

[Dodge2000]

I am sure the original Cafe racer ethose was strip it down, make it quicker, ride it fast.

How much do people now think of function over form? I was showing my brother my plans and for all the money spent 'under the hood' he felt it was irrelevent as long as it looked good.

I know there is a way where pure function makes a better looking bike. But with a modern Cafe, where do people draw the line with what looks good and what makes it a better racer?

My view is that, if you want pure speed and handling, you wouldn't by a 35 year old bike. But if you go for on looks, then you are not building a Cafe Racer, more a Cafe show bike.

 

[hillsy]

Times have changed. Back in "the day" you bought one style of bike to do all types of riding because....there was only one style of bike available. So you modified it to do what you wanted (road racing, trials, touring, whatever).


Nowadays there's a bike for every style of riding straight from the factories.


So, I guess to answer your question from my perspective, cafe racers are more about a "style" nowadays simply because there's a bunch of blisteringly fast new bikes available over the counter. Function before form from a speed perspective is kinda a moot point when everything is faster than you can think straight out of the crate.


But this is a very subjective argument and every man and his dog will agree or disagree.

 

[ProSimex]

With the exception of a new chrome headlamp and mounts for my XS (that I justified cus the old lamp was worn out and vibrated terribly) I have done nothing for the looks of my bike so far. Everything I have done has been to help performance or reliability. Its god damn ugly but a joy to ride.

 

[Rookster]

You're glorifying the original cafe racers if you think it was all about function over form. How many leapord print seat covers were on those 50s bikes? Remember cafe racing is about road bikes not race bikes. It has always been a look or style with a modified stockish road bike. The appearance of racing while riding on the roads. It still is.

Scott

 

[alexmac]

It's funny to go to a sportbike forum to see how they view other riders. In my area, they refer to the Harley set as "Pirates" and the Cafe crowd as "hipsters"

Just an observation.

 

[Swapmeet Louie]

Anything "fast" looks good by default. So just forget about form With a cafe.. You want form.. Build a chop.

 

[Swapmeet Louie]

And I'll bet less than 10% of this board "actually" made there bike faster. pods and cut exhaust dont count.. Otherwise. thats the way the co. would have done it, and saved a hell of alot of $.

 

[ProSimex]

I dunno if I gained any top end from my VM34 swap, but I sure seem to get there faster.

 

[Swapmeet Louie]

Many I'm sure got quicker... But I'm not sure many of them got "faster". Acceleration is effected by weight loss. But Top end speed isnt.

 

[hocbj23]

well if 88 rwhp wont make my Radian run faster than its 60 hp stock form, I sure have wasted a lot of time and a few bucks. Likewise the KZ1000 with 102 rwhp versus 80 odd stock.R they "cafe"? Hell,I dont know.They both have cafe style fairings that r not stock,they both have shed several pounds,both r running flat track bars,rear sets,different exhausts,etc.they eat Hardleys for snacks, and draw lots of attention at bike nights and shows.do they qualify as cafes?Beats me.they function very well thank yew, and their form aint bad either.built with a theme in mind?of course not-built cause I like em the way they r-- and they keep evolving as I find new things to do to them.what does that make em?A work in progress,just like my 73 yo arse.Lol.bj

 

[Swapmeet Louie]

well if 88 rwhp wont make my Radian run faster than its 60 hp stock form, I sure have wasted a lot of time and a few bucks. Likewise the KZ1000 with 102 rwhp versus 80 odd stock.R they "cafe"? Hell,I dont know.They both have cafe style fairings that r not stock,they both have shed several pounds,both r running flat track bars,rear sets,different exhausts,etc.they eat Hardleys for snacks, and draw lots of attention at bike nights and shows.do they qualify as cafes?Beats me.they function very well thank yew, and their form aint bad either.built with a theme in mind?of course not-built cause I like em the way they r-- and they keep evolving as I find new things to do to them.what does that make em?A work in progress,just like my 73 yo arse.Lol.bj

Your argument is what? Unless you got that 22 hp from pods, a fibre-glass seat and chopped exhaust. Most here dont even understand a rectifier...

 

[surffly]

Building a bike that looks nice is all well and good. At the end of the day no one wants to ride an ugly bike, although beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I draw the line when the finished bike actually works less then the original bike did. And even more so when cop outs like "Im just riding around town" "im not racing" or "if i wanted to go fast I would have bought a GSXRRZXRRSSRX"

 

[Swapmeet Louie]

Building a bike that looks nice is all well and good. At the end of the day no one wants to ride an ugly bike, although beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I draw the line when the finished bike actually works less then the original bike did. And even more so when cop outs like "Im just riding around town" "im not racing" or "if i wanted to go fast I would have bought a GSXRRZXRRSSRX"

+10

 

[VonYinzer]

Function can determine form. And when done right, that form will fuck you sister than smile while he buys you a beer after:

 

[surffly]

Also I see alot of people that are modifying motorcycles that dont have a full understanding of how what they are doing effects the bike. That again is fine as everyone has to start some place, but the problem is that they are just copying someone else poorly thought out build, and then get defensive when opinions are given. as if that some how limits their personal expression. my personal peeve is that applebaum cb450 that made the round of all the blogs and such....did that thing ever actually run?

 

[Swapmeet Louie]

my argument stands... make it fast and it'll look good.

 

[surffly]

Fast is a relative term, how about just make it work better as a motorcycle?

 

[Swapmeet Louie]

Fast is a relative term, how about just make it work better as a motorcycle?

fair enogh.

 

[hillsy]

my argument stands... make it fast and it'll look good.

Nope.....most powerful naked bike has a face like a smashed crab:

 

[Swapmeet Louie]

but if one make it perfom better as motorcycle, then in turn they, will brake less etc. hense, faster..... no.....?