60's Style XS500 Cafe Racer -it begins

[beachcomber]

Collected my 2 x XS500 project bikes yesterday and couldn't wait to get started.

I've mocked up the look I want [ 60's Brit Bike ] using my old Triumph 5 gall Race Tank [ now on the 8th. different bike ! ] and a spare Ducati 750SS race seat base. I tried my AJS 7R seat - but the jury's still out on that one.

I have drawn invaluable inspiration from this site, with some excellent XS500's [ and 650's] to give me ideas.

For me it HAS to be trad 60's Brit bike - which spilled over into the early 70's with the Japanese "takeover" here in the UK.

Additionally to the tank and seat I have a 5 3/4" chrome headlamp [ 7" too big ], Tarozzi clip-ons - but may change those to simple Brit stuff, Tarrozi rear sets and a sweet 60's Ducati rear lamp.

Shopping list is mercifully small - Swarbrick curved silencers [ as 450 Honda race bike ], "sharp" fork gaiters and some of the new [ when I've developed them ! ] RAM Classic shox.

I've found a local guy that deals in alloy rims and will build me a set of wheels with stainless spokes for sensible money. I'm trying to be sensible [ !! ] and back burner the second bike for the time being - otherwise funds will be spread too thin and I'll never get anything finished. !

 

[Fix]

Just posted it and already making changes in your head? I know how that goes

 

[SrgtBear]

You should still consider the 7 inch headlight. I know it looks big. I said that myself but once I put the tank on, gauges (mikesXS ones), and threw the headlight on for a mach up then all of a sudden it looked bad ass. Can wait to see what you do here. We need more XS500 or
TX500 builds on this website despite their bad rep.

Did the frame come orange like that from the previous owner?

 

[beachcomber]

The Orange frame is as it came ! I only collected the projects late yesterday.

I just wanted to see if the parts from my stock would be OK [ saves money! ].

I have a 7" Guzzi style Flatback chrome headlamp [ new ] which I will try before finally deciding.

I need to change the top yoke as it's going to be way too ugly. I might have to get an alloy one made up.

I called Swarbrick today to find out about the special Honda 450 Race style curved meggas - £308 the pair - that's with "silencer" inserts. Without it's only £208, but at 150 db's I don't think I'd keep my licence too long!

I'll have a bit more of a serious mock up on the up and running bike, but the beauty of having the spare rolling chassis is that I can try all the parts without having to strip the runner - yet.

I'll probably do all the surgery on the Orange frame and have that one prepped and painted and then gradually swap all the parts over.

Colorways hovering around - Black with Gold accents / pinstriping, Red with ditto, or BRG with ditto.
Plenty of time as I've got 5 other projects on the blocks !

 

[beachcomber]

Fix,

yes exactly so - you'd think after 50 years of building Cafe Racers I'd have a firm idea ! But remember, this is my first Japanese based version. I don't count previous efforts as they were "rolling makeovers".

Right about the 7" headlamp - although I'll wait until I get the new alloy top yoke [ hopefully ] before final decision.

Also made another mind change - I mocked up the Gold Star Silencer I have - and it really does scream SIXTIES. So I think I'll get a pair of them instead of the Swarbrick curved jobs - also less than half the price AND they come chromed [ and legal db's for road use ].

I'm looking towards British Racing Green for the bodywork - as I must have used Red on hundreds of CR's in the past.

Still - early days yet and PLENTY of time to change my mind !!

 

[jordy_g_77]

Absolutely love it. That tank and tail section are beauty, very jealous. I like the orange/black scheme, dont know about it on the frame, but you can never go wrong with brit green. A tan leather seat pad would look lovely on it if you went that route.

Are you going to do a rebuild on the engine? My xs500 could use a freshen up if I end up keeping it for another season. Going to keep a close watch on this build. Keep it going.

 

[SrgtBear]

What's a gold star silencer look like? not familiar to me.

 

[beachcomber]

Hi Bear,

Here's one we made earlier !
Fitted originally to the 350 and 500 DBD Gold Stars - they soon found their way onto just about EVERY Cafe Racer going!
They made a distinctive "twittering" noise on the overrun - often mistakenly put down to the Gold Star valve overlap. Ballderdollox - they made the same sound fitted to ANYTHING - and when fitted to a twin [ like theTribsas ] they twittered twice!

The Goldie is pretty much the basis for the 60's Cafe Racer style. and as such the Goldie silencer defines the Brit Bikes of the 60's just as the shortie Meggas define the look of the Early Japanese CR's

 

[beachcomber]

Jordy,

the seat and tank are "as is" from my stash! The tank was last on a racing Tribsa I built, and the seat is stock Duke "Orange". I also have a Benelli repro seat [ Renzo Passolini ] which I might try. I'll flag up a pic of that FYI.

I'm definitely heading towards BRG - NEVER used that on a complete bike ! That will have Tan or Black suede upholstery.

Here's a Goldie silencer on a humble Enfield [ Indian ].

 

[jordy_g_77]

Nice, I' got a stash of stuff back home at my dads, always looking to grab new stuff but don't wanna build up a stockpile of shit and then wanna split from whereever I am, tryin to live "lightly" becaues I'm in the beginning stages of planning a nice long trip in a year or so. Heres my 500 on a little ride goin camping last weekend.

Might be going up for sale to fund a Harley build or BMW cafe/tourer.

 

[beachcomber]

That's one sweet bike Jordy .....................

I found this little gem in an English bike mag. - put me completely off BRG !

Looks like I'm going to be totally predictable and go with Red / Gold / polished alloy and chrome !

 

[jordy_g_77]

To bad I think it would have suited yours nicely..... cant go wrong with the scheme your dreaming up though. Hope to see some progress in the future but dont spend all summer tinkering, get out there and ride!!!! I'm booting out to a brit bike show tomorrow in Vernon, BC. wish I had my bsa to follow suite, hoping to see some nice retro cafes. I'll start a thread with some pics from it for some inspiration.

 

[SrgtBear]

hey man, hows the build going? any updates. mine has been on hold for 2 weeks. had a wedding and weekend trip to goto.

 

[beachcomber]

Hey Bear - been away on vacation to my place in Saxony.

Super chilled out for a little over 2 weeks - with a weekend of mayhem when the German Flying Brick bikers visited for a Pig Roast and ---err a little beer drinking. 72 hours straight partying !!!

Back today - and catching up on all my e-mails and forums - 7 hours and only 3/4 way through!

I've been doing a lot of thinking for the past weeks - and BRG is still a possiblity .........but I keep coming back to Red/chrome/gold. I guess it's in the DNA !

I had an original Rocket Gold Star [ in 1966 ] in Red and chrome, and it was one of the sweetest bikes I ever owned. We'll see.

I have a shit load of boring stuff to catch up on this week and then it's back to the project. I THOUGHT I had a pair of clip-ons the right size [ Tomaselli ] turns out they're too big [ dia.]

I mocked up all the seats [ Benelli, AJS 7R, Manx, XR750 ] and the Duke seat still, seems to suit best.

Thanx for the advice re: the VM carb swap - will look out for a pair.

I'll post up some pix of the seats - might give you guys some alternate ideas.

 

[beachcomber]

Every so often you just get a little luck - scored a pair of GENUINE Cafe Racer Tomaselli Clip-Ons from E-bay today $60. They're used but totally unmarked.

I also found a guy who supplies and builds alloy rims / wheels - not for the usual arm, leg and at least one testicle - but reall sensible prices. He builds for the Speedway guys - no false prices here.

I'm going to have the worst pair of wire spoked wheels blasted and powder coated Gold to see what they look like - then if they do look crap, it's invest some funds in the alloy rims.

Just need to find a pair of VM30 carbs and a pair f Goldie silencers and I have all the major bits. Even scored some Triumph / BSA fork gaiters [ NOS ] which are the ones with "sharp" belows - proper rubber, not neoprene.

I'll drag the little beauty out of hiding next week and carry on with the mock up...................

 

[beachcomber]

Fuck my old boots, was it REALLY August 15th when I said I was getting on with it ????????????

Well, a "Y" Trike design got in the way [ VFR750 ] and now it's fargin October nearly.

Ahh well .... I now have the last bits for the mock up [ 60's style Headlamp clamps ] so no excuse now ....except the temperature's dropped to 12C degrees and we've had a Monsoon of Pakistani proportions [ well almost ] for the past 2 weeks.

Also, I had to have the base of the Triumph grp tank modded slightly and just got it back.

No real excuses now so it's out in the garage and brave the cold for a final mock up on the Orange frame and then get stuck in properly over the Winter.

 

[beachcomber]

Ok own up - who stole 2010 ?????????????????????

I cannot believe it's nearly 2011 and I've done FUCK ALL this year. Collected a few more bits and pieces.

However, I saw a sample of a powder coated wire spoked wheel [ Satin Gold ] down at the powder coaters today and it's just the finish I'm looking for.

Due to the very tight budget - I can't justify doing it the right way - ie - strip wheels down rebuild with new stainless spokes and anodised Gold rims. That's currently £800 [ $1000] for the two - just haven't got it.

My plan was to see if a complete wheel could be blasted and then powder coated without dismantling - answer OH YES. Super job and at £60 [ $85 ] the pair - whooopee.

So the tyres will be taken off this weekend and the wheels shipped down to the factory. IF I'm prepared to wait until they are running the colour for other jobs - I get a 20% discount.

That means that the colourways are looking definitely like Fuck Off Red and Gold / polished alloy.

I've decided to concentrate on getting the BMW K100 Fighter and the XS500 cafe Racer completed as soon as poss - and then I'll get into the other projects in the Summer. Please don't anybody steal 2011.........................

BTW - here's the "second" bike I got as a job lot for the $300