Hello from Northern Illinois GPZ 305 Cafe

[warpedworm]

I have been reading for a while, thought I'd introduce myself. I'm building my first Cafe out of one of my old roadracing bikes
that has been sitting around for about 20 years. It's a Kawasaki GPZ 305 of which I have 3 now, 2 are my old race bikes and one I just bought this Tuesday. So now I have three projects: 1 Cafe, 1 I'm restoring for my daughter to ride and the 3rd one looks like I'll try my hand at a Steampunk inspired motorcycle.

Here's some pictures of the Cafe so far:

This is where I'm at right now, the paint is just rattle canned to see how the colors look. Burgandy (sp) frame, cream tank and seat, although in the pictures it looks almost white. I cut 7" off the tail section and 5" off the foot peg holders and just starting to fab everything.

Foot peg bracket, still need to grind/buff and fab actual peg location and brake lever

This is a great site, with a lot of ideas and inspiration

 

[BigBSBusa]

Should be an interesting project. Welcome to DTT.

 

[thompsonmx100]

Yay another kawi. Welcome to the site. make a build thread and share our progress.

 

[reelinfeele]

another kwaka, thank god. I was going to suggest changing the name of the site to "I am affraid to ride anything but a Honda"

 

[warpedworm]

Thanks guys, I'll start a build thread soon. I've been a Kawi fan for a long time, had a lot of fun racing my 305's and now it's going to be
fun to get them back out on the road.

I want to have the cafe ready for the spring, but if not at least by Rockerbox.

I have on occasion run off the tracks about Kawi's thought as witnessed by my purchase of a Cagiva Alazzurra 650 this year ;D

This is my first try at a cafe, and I don't know if it will come out exactly like a cafe or more of my idea of a cafe :-[

 

[Fix]

another kwaka, thank god. I was going to suggest changing the name of the site to "I am affraid to ride anything but a Honda"

Totally untrue! There's a few of us Yamaheads here too.

 

[VonYinzer]

YOUR idea of a cafe is all you should ever build! Welcome to the site. Dont listen to these guys, theres plety of Kawis floating around here. Just because theyre not as great as the Hondas, it shouldnt deter you.
In all seriousness though, it looks like you have a cool build ahead of you. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

[JRK5892]

where in IL are you located? i am in Elgin but head out to huntly alot i know that is by NIU. if you need a hand man hit me up!

 

[warpedworm]

I'm in Harvard. I never thought about NIU, I meant Northern Illinois literally ;D

You do powder coating right? I'd like to get an idea on what it would cost to do my frame. I've never done it before so I have
no idea.

Thanks for the help offer, I'm sure I'll need moral support and lots of tips before I'm done.

 

[JRK5892]

depends on the frame, something that size prob about 250 and 50 - 75 for the swing arm... it depends on the condition, as well as what colors you are looking to do

 

[warpedworm]

Hooray!! My electrician stopped by today to tell me he would be hooking up my electric to my shop on Friday. It's about time, because it's starting to get a little cold up here.

I finished the floor last night, and will be starting to trim and paint it as soon as the powers in.

Haven't done much on the cafe for the last 2-3 weeks, trying to get everything I need to finish the shop. It's going to be so nice to
work with good: LIGHT / HEAT / POWER and not: TRIPPING OVER / FALLING OVER / HITTING YOUR HEAD ON.

As you can tell, I'm excited ;D

 

[ridesolo]

Hooray!! My electrician stopped by today to tell me he would be hooking up my electric to my shop on Friday. It's about time, because it's starting to get a little cold up here.

I finished the floor last night, and will be starting to trim and paint it as soon as the powers in.

Haven't done much on the cafe for the last 2-3 weeks, trying to get everything I need to finish the shop. It's going to be so nice to
work with good: LIGHT / HEAT / POWER and not: TRIPPING OVER / FALLING OVER / HITTING YOUR HEAD ON.

As you can tell, I'm excited ;D

I hear what you say about the shop. Can't wait to get mine into working shape. Don't know if my electrician (step-son) can get the power to it before the ground freezes but I've got most of the internal electric in so I can esentially power it w/ an extension cord. Welcome to DTT.