My cafe build; 1972 HONDA SL125

[woodsv]

Here, after a search that has saw me buy 3 bikes, and another 1 tomorrow morning, I found this little long neglected gem. It's a '72 dual purpose that in my opinion has the perfect features for a cafe build. When I think cafe, I think old, bare bones, very narrow in width, where the bars, seat and tank all maintain the same height roughly. I saw the shape of the platform bike I was looking for in my mind before I ever laid eyes on it. I know some of you might look at my project bike and say "holy sh t" what is that thing supposed to be, but when I plan to rebuild anything I always completely strip down the project for a complete refinishing job. So whether I have a bike that is in good shape or terrible shape, I will still completely redo both exactly the same way. That's what it's all about.So here is my bike;

The way it sits now in my garage;

The way it was when I found it, and also where it was for the last couple of years;

motor;

Guages;

wires everywhere;

There it is!!! I'll keep a picture diary of the build. When I'm finished with this one, it will look nothing like it does now.Be sure to tell me what you think.

 

[BANDIT]

Here's a couple pics from the guys over at caferacer.net
Just an example of what can be done with a dirt bike...before and after

 

[woodsv]

Now that to me looks like what a cafe racer is all about!!! I like that pic and will definitely pull some ideas from it. Thanks. If anybody else has a pic of similar cafes please post them here. Appreciate it.

 

[BANDIT]

Hey woods, here is a link to the thread, guess i should have included this before. Has quite a few more pics.
http://www.caferacer.net/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5488
Good luck with the build!


Cheers, Graham

 

[Ease]

Looks cool man!

Someone around here is selling an SL350 just like her that I was thinking about (same motor as the CB)... Don't have the loot right now though.

Looks like everything's there. Should make a cool project.

 

[woodsv]

Yeah I came across that one last nite. That 1 has, or looks to have the same size wheel front and back. I gotta go down in size for the front. I would love to come across a set of 16" or 17" To put on her. If you see anything Ease, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[coolatula]

Yeah I came across that one last nite. That 1 has, or looks to have the same size wheel front and back. I gotta go down in size for the front. I would love to come across a set of 16" or 17" To put on her. If you see anything Ease, please let me know. Thanks.

Yeah that's my Hodaka which I need to get on it and do some more work to it since the weather seems to be turning nicer.
I have a page on here also,pretty much the same thread.

My Hodaka Ace 100 project!
http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=2180.0

The front hub is a TLS CB350 laced to an 18" aluminum rim and the rear is a stock Hodaka Wombat hub I believe(same as mine,but the sprocket mount is off set wider so I will have to use my Ace mount for proper chain alignment) mounted to a 18" aluminum rim. The tires are identical Dunlop racing tires.

I did put it on a scale the other day and it weighs in at 170.5lbs.. With the few parts I need to add and full of fuel the wet weight should still be under 200lbs. and with the motor work I plan to have done it should make around 18 or so H.P..

I wanted a very lightweight Track Day bike to start doing track days with sometime this year. I didn't want a 600 or even a 400 inline or 650 V-twin sport bike to play on the track with. They are preferable on the street,but I think I will learn to be a better track rider on the Hodaka at least starting out. The Hodaka will be easy to rebuild(re-ring) and maintain(simple piston port motor) and should last a very long time while still being reliable.

I don't WANT to have the power of a larger bike as a crutch to make up for a bad line or wrong braking point decision.
I see a lot of kids when I'm out riding that if it wasn't for the bike they had they would get smoked by some old guy on a CB750/Kz650 or what ever if they were on a similar machine. I have rode with some younger guys that can ride a mean wheelie,but can't go around a 30mph curve at 50mph on a bike(pretty easy really)to save their life! On my wife's Ninja 250 I can leave most squids in the twisties and have to wait until a long straight-away comes up before they blow by me! :

I ride with a good group of riders on the weekends during the season and they are all very good riders and some of them do track days during the summer and I can't wait to experience it my self. I do alright for myself as far as riding goes,but I feel that riding a smaller bike on a track while getting good instruction will only help me be a better rider on the street.

I have a couple SL frames and parts I think out behind my garage. I know one is a SL100 and I think I have a SL125 as well.

There is also a guy on the boards converting a Suzuki TS185 over to a cafe style bike. I have one of those also,but I think I will build it as a trail/woods bike to play off-road with.

 

[woodsv]

Thanks, I enjoyed that. You have helped me without even intending to. I really like the basicness of your bike, and that's what I love about cafes. I see some members projects, and most of them are really nice jobs, but side plates in opinion clutter up a cafe. When I am finished my bike, if I am successful in building it the way I intend, only the motor will be visible in the frame. All wiring and the battery will be hidden away. As well the bars will be very clean as much as I can make them. No clutter. Great job on yours!

 

[coolatula]

Thanks, I enjoyed that. You have helped me without even intending to. I really like the basicness of your bike, and that's what I love about cafes. I see some members projects, and most of them are really nice jobs, but side plates in opinion clutter up a cafe. When I am finished my bike, if I am successful in building it the way I intend, only the motor will be visible in the frame. All wiring and the battery will be hidden away. As well the bars will be very clean as much as I can make them. No clutter. Great job on yours!

Thanks for the compliments!
As you can see the tail piece is tiny or otherwise I would hide the battery in there as I don't like it hang out where it is in the stock location.
I may drop the battery down and just behind the carb on top of the tranny case. The speedo will be mounted just about flush with the top triple tree and mostly behind the head lamp housing so it doesn't look like it's just hanging out there as well. If I had a fairing on it I would keep it where it it though. I would like to replace it with a tach altogether! I wanted this bike to not only be a light little vintage road racer replica,but to also LOOK as light as it is,so anything that's not needed will be tossed.

I still have some "speed holes" to drill in a few places and to vent the brake hubs and a few other details to do on it such as safety wiring,rear-sets mounted,seat cover made,engine built,but the way you see it is pretty much how it's going to look when it's ready for the track.

There is no reason that your SL could not look as good or better than my project. It just takes hard work,time,money(unfortunately) and a little imagination to see the end product. I knew the moment I started taking off the trail bike bits on this bike that it had tons of potential and so does yours.

 

[BANDIT]

Hey cool, didn't know you'd posted here with this stuff last year.
That is one cool looking bike and now I can keep track of your progress on two forums! ;D