Saying Hi. Building a Gen1 SV650 Cafe Racer

[gt alex]

I'm in Australia, Retired 3years ago just before Covid and I had already bought my SV650 with the goal to make a performance orientated cafe racer.
I already have a car project but wanted some quicker gratification, so a bike seemed the way to go. I wanted to build it old school like me.
I had it on the road and registered but my original plan called for a custom tank, and I wanted to try a Fish carburettor and cam swap.
Then came covid I pulled it down have done some but only now getting back in to it.
Just to add another challenge my Grand kids saw me looking at half fairings so that what I got as a gift from them. It will work but at this stage it has become part of stage 2 before it hits the road again.
So thanks for having me, I will share my progress and crazy ideas and with you feed back I hope to build the best machine I can.

[weeksy]

Sounds like a great introduction to the forum and will be excellent to see how you get on.

Loads of guys on here have owned and ridden SV650s that's for sure. What's the sort of look you're going for ?

Wired wheels ? bigger forks ? brakes ? clip ons or risers ?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Hi Alex, post some pictures, I rode an SV over 20 years ago and thought it was a fun bike to ride.

[Skub]

Yo Alex,welcome along man. What part of Oz are you in? I have a son out in Perth,he loves the place.

Look forward to reading about your progress. The 650 is a great little fun bike and that's what the real bottom line should be.

[G.P]

Greetings Alex

[gt alex]

Sounds like a great introduction to the forum and will be excellent to see how you get on.

Loads of guys on here have owned and ridden SV650s that's for sure. What's the sort of look you're going for ?

Wired wheels ? bigger forks ? brakes ? clip ons or risers ?

I tried to post a picture but not sure how to.
Thanks for the welcome, I attack things in stages, starting stage 2.
Stage2.
The clip ons are going below the top clamp to clear the 1/2 fairing I bought.
Making a new tank which is also the air box.
fitting the fairing
doing the gen 1/2 cam swap combo

[gt alex]

Hi Alex, post some pictures, I rode an SV over 20 years ago and thought it was a fun bike to ride.

Love to, not sure how?

[weeksy]

I use https://www.flickr.com/ to host mine personally. Some use other image hosting facilities.

You can also attach on a reply, see below.

attachments by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[gt alex]

Sounds like a great introduction to the forum and will be excellent to see how you get on.

Loads of guys on here have owned and ridden SV650s that's for sure. What's the sort of look you're going for ?

Wired wheels ? bigger forks ? brakes ? clip ons or risers ?

I will try a picture.

IMG_20211015_102616.jpg (595.28 KiB) Viewed 289 times

[gt alex]

Hi Alex, post some pictures, I rode an SV over 20 years ago and thought it was a fun bike to ride.

This was the end of stage 1

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[Count Steer]

Hi Alex, post some pictures, I rode an SV over 20 years ago and thought it was a fun bike to ride.

This was the end of stage 1
cafestock tank.jpg

Bonzer! Needs a thread in the bikes section.

Oh. G'day mate.

Edit: Must be losing the plot. Thought this was in the introductions section.

[Horse]

Hello!

[gt alex]

Yo Alex,welcome along man. What part of Oz are you in? I have a son out in Perth,he loves the place.

Look forward to reading about your progress. The 650 is a great little fun bike and that's what the real bottom line should be.

I'm an hour from Brisbane and about the same from the Gold Coast. I believe Perth has a very similar climate, never been to Perth it's 4500km from here. We love where we are it's bushy without being remote or barren.

[gt alex]

Modifications
Drivetrain
Gen 1 SV650 engine, custom intake, electric fuel pump. Fish carburettor, 4 deg advanced ignition timing, lightened flywheel, 520 track day chain 1 up 1 down and sprocket set.

Exterior
Rear sets, DIY rear frame and hump seat, Clip ons with custom bars ,bar end mirrors, head light cowl, custom dash. cut down front guard. removable rear guard, race levers and 17.5 radial brake M/C, S/S dual front brake lines, led indicators and tail lights, blacked out forks with Harley boots, quick release clips on the fuel tank. .

Lighting
5 3.4" headlight and the rest are e-marked leds. lithium battery

Exhaust
Black Widow Gen3 de-cat with reverse cone muffler with custom internals

Suspension
Front; stiffer 0.9 spring, gold cartridge emulator valves, 15w oil OEM adjustable preload lowered 30mm (pushed through the triple)
Rear 330mm adjustable rear shock (comp and rebound) shorter dog bones to restore the rear to original height

Wheel and Tire
stock

Plans for much more
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[weeksy]

something HAS to happen with that tank fella...

What's going on with the rear sprocket ?

I'm incredibly fussy... but i'd have to do something with the swingarm too, as well as spindle/adjusters, along with relocating the shock reservoir.

[Skub]

Gnarly.

[gt alex]

something HAS to happen with that tank fella...

What's going on with the rear sprocket ?

I'm incredibly fussy... but i'd have to do something with the swingarm too, as well as spindle/adjusters, along with relocating the shock reservoir.

I am building the tank now just waiting for a fine day so I can see when TIG welding, This is my first go at TIG so I am learning as I go.

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[gt alex]

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More new tank pictures

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IMG_20220324_145731 (1).jpg (635.93 KiB) Viewed 196 times

[gt alex]

something HAS to happen with that tank fella...

What's going on with the rear sprocket ?

I'm incredibly fussy... but i'd have to do something with the swingarm too, as well as spindle/adjusters, along with relocating the shock reservoir.

Sprockets are consumable I just put a splash of colour.

Thinking of painting the swingarm black, is that what you mean or do you see something that will affect performance?

Because the shock is pressurised I was uncertain if I could get away with cracking the banjo bolt to allow me to twist the hose another way with out losing pressure. So I just mounted it best I could.

[weeksy]

For me the swingarm kinda spoils things, it looks too boxy, too cheap and cheerful. Which i know to an extent the bike is... but, it's just not doing it for me.
Satin black would deffo help.