Hello to all and a problem from the future

[zampination]

Hello to all of you and nice to meet you!

I'm this close in buying this bike Yamaha xs250 special (maxim)

And i want to convert it into a cafe racer but i havent found not even one of that or the 400 in the internet...

My concern is if i can fit a descent tank like the Mojave

The problem i think it'll be in the height between the top of the engine and to the frame's top near to the neck(backbone) as indicated in the fotos below


www.box.com/s/fc05b3c4a1df0b92ea85

www.box.com/s/67b9b7ae3bdf40679089

www.box.com/s/60804266b705d145bb8d

Pink line indicates the "cafe style" horizontal "line" that the tank and seat will present according to plans in my mind. Meaning that i want the bottom line of the tank to reach that pink line in order to get straight and horizontal with the frame's geometry and look good.

I wanna get as close as possible to this result with my convertion

And no i can't find any XV Virago's with monoshock in Greece :-\

Could the above problem (or not) be the reason why aren't any maxim cafe racers out there?

P.S fotos are from a maxim 400 frame, but i heard they're the same

And guys... I really wanna buy this bike! PLEASE HELP 8)

 

[jay_kent]

same frame geometry as the 400, if you wanted to do a straight line, you're best bet is to, if you can, cut the rear frame off for the seat and rebuild yourself a new one. You mess up the rear suspension at all.

I've the 400 version but I think they make better bobbers.

 

[zampination]

what do you mean? lifting up the position of the seat in the frame's triangle with welding is a better solution than welding a gas tank??

I'm putting safety first, that's why i dont wanna mess up with the frame's geometry

 

[jay_kent]

The rear hoop for your seat has nothing to do with the integrity of the bike. The rear suspension isn't connected to that. The engine is also part of the frame geometry. Anyway, you've got to do what you feel is right, it's only a suggestion.

 

[zampination]

Well if it's going to be like hell choping the gas tank to fit, then i might consider chopping the subframe under the seat. The thing is that till i get the bike i can't really tell what gas tank will fit to the bike's backbone...

If only could measure these 2 dimensions below before purchasing the bike
https://www.box.com/s/0231dd9b3811322bd373

And here is a pic of how i imagine the tank's shape and how it fits to the frame
(imagine it in 3D)
https://www.box.com/s/0e0d85edb47a785ee94f

My only question is this..

Should i buy the bike?

Three things i want from my future cafe racer

1) Good "cafe style" geometry of the frame.
2) 2cylinder engine preferably a V-twin ( i love how it sounds)
3) Monoshock suspension

All of the above, the Virago has it... but no Virago near to where i live...

Second choice... Yamaha XS250/400 Maxim.. And in the past month only 250's came across the used section in many greek sites.

The XS250 i found is in near perfect condition almost like new! and costs about 500bucks... it was riden by an elder man for the last years and took real good care of it.
I've done all the tests i could remember and it came out really clean