Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature currently requires accessing the site using the built-in Safari browser.
We noticed you are blocking ads. DO THE TON only works with community supporters. Most are active members of the site with small businesses. Please consider disabling your ad blocking tool and checking out the businesses that help keep our site up and free.
Hey guys. I'm new here so I will introduce myself. My name is Matthew and I live in TN. I have 3 bikes right now. I have a 76 cb500t bobber, a Suzuki volusia 800, and my current project is a 2005 ninja 250. My buddy practically gave me this ninja when he got shipped to Afghanistan. I rode it to work for about 6 months. Its a good bike but I couldn't live with its looks any longer. I swapped in a round headlight and modified the rear frame. I fabbed up some clip-on bars along with a fiberglass seat. I just got done making the seat pad. My plans right now are to make some side covers and finish mounting the electronics. I'm not sure what color I am going to paint it yet. I am curious to get some feed back from some experienced cafe builders. Please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them. Its a little different but I've had fun putting it together thus far. Thanks
Below are pictures from where I started to its current state:
Man thats going to be awesome! I actually kinda like that second picture you put up, would make a sick flat tracker-ish bike!! i might have to pick up a 600
seat came out great. i like this modern bike as a base for a cafe. def not the norm. being different = being cool. if you could fit some pod filters on it and tuck all the electronics away i think it would look the business. color is up to you, man.
@dp9 Running pods would definitely clear up some room under the seat to hide some stuff. My only concern is affecting the driveablity. I dont want to have to rejet the carbs. Opinions?
@Staffy I made a base for the seat out of wood. Then I layed fiberglass onto the tank and the wood base. I trimmed the fiberglass around the body line and used filler to match the tank.
I am making some domed fiberglass side covers. I considered turning one side into coolant tank . I think it would be cool but I don't know if it is worth all the extra effort it would take when I could just hide the factory one under the seat somewhere.
I appreciate all the nice comments. I was really hesitant to post it up since most people scoff whenever you mention a ninja 250. It honestly wouldn't have been a bike I would seek out, but its been growing on me. Plus it gets 75mpg!
I made a mistake and let my girlfriend sit on one of the new model Ninja 250's the other day. Now she wants one so bad it's all I hear about. I guess I'm gonna revive my little Honda Rebel so she at least has something to ride on. Then maybe I can figure out a way to sell that and acquire the Ninja.
Nice work on that seat ive never thought of using wood but it looks to be just as shape-able as foam or any other thing we try and use and it looks like it fits perfectly to your tank
So I've been working on my side covers. I made a mold and vacuum formed them from a .093" acrylic sheet. They turned out pretty good. The only draw back is that acrylic is brittle and prone to crack. I need an alternative material that is similar in cost. Any suggestions?
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
