Cafe Racer thread.

[Gimlet]

Driest part of Scotland. Coldest winters too though.

[Gimlet]

Biggest improvement in "smoothness" I ever got was on a 1340cc A series in a Mini. I had the crank, pistons and Flywheel balanced (and flywheel lightened). When built, It was running a single 1 3/4 SU Carb rather than the previous Webers (which were fuckers to balance), The Difference was like chalk and cheese, it would rev through to 7k RPM really enthusiastically.

I had my Ducati 1098 SF blueprinted and dynamically balanced. The exhaust collector has a shroud that fouls your right heel slightly. There was always a pronounced tingling and buzzing to be felt when your boot touched it. After the blueprinting that disappeared. There is nothing at all through the bars and you can't feel anything through the tank when you grip it with the knees either, which used to happen. And they managed to add 1000 rpm to the top-end which yielded another 10 bhp as well. There are big dividends to be had from balancing.
Although it feels much "thuddier", the Ducati vibrates less than my KTMs.

[JackyJoll]

Driest part of Scotland. Coldest winters too though.

Windy, which can flatter your top speed.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

A 180 degree two stroke is only balanced if the components in each half weigh the same, they're quite a bit out on production Yamahas, including TZs, especially the crank webs.

And just for interest, race RG500s vibrate when they're running rich, but don't when they're just right or lean.

A well built TZ twin has no balance problems. I had my LC cranks blueprinted and ran perfectly.

Agreed, but they didn't come from the factory well balanced.

[Rockburner]

The classic bike bores always go on about “handling” of Nortons. I’m just a road rider: my Norton (Triton) is steadier on the road than various other old bikes I messed about on, but I couldn’t say it steers or corners better than my previous “full power” old model Suzuki GS500 or Honda CB500 twin. The Suzuki had comparable engine performance to a 650 Triton; the Honda was significantly faster.

To be honest, a Fireblade engine in a Norton frame does sound like a recipe for a bike far inferior to a Fireblade.

Could possibly be a Historic registration cheat bike, but you’re risking a claims nightmare if you’ve deceived your insurer.

That's kinda my point. The Featherbed was the pinnacle of frame design in the 50s, but it was superceded in the 70 (ish) with frames that were more suited to the power outputs and characteristics of the time. Doesn't mean it's not a lovely frame for riding, and the 60s/70s cafe racer culture of shoehorning things into the Featherbed became a bit of a theme all on it's own. There's a chapter devoted to it in Mike Clay's 'Cafe Racers' book. (I sometimes wish I still had that book - donated my copy to the 59Club library a few years ago).

This is my Dad's contribution to the ouvre:


JAP 400cc 'speedway' engine in a (IIRC) Slimline Featherbed.
Custom tank (double chambered),
BTH mag
double Pilgrim pump
Twin leading shoe Grimeca (IIRC)
Norton (I think) gearbox
etc etc



He'd seen someone racing a JAP engined Featherbed in the 50s/60s (when he was racing himself) and always fancied building one, finally managed it after 50 years.... It's more of a race bike than a cafe-racer, but it's all road legal.

Being a speedway engine does it have a total loss oil system?

Not any more. The second half of the double pilgrim draws from the oil exhaust hole and gets back to a resevoir.

And stop putting up pictures of that hideous LS.

Designed by the same guy who designed the Suzuki Katana.

Guzzis suit the cafe racer look very well, it's the engine and the long low look that does it I think.

Agreed. Same with the Featherbed, it tends to lead to straight horizontal lines which makes a bike look long and low.

[Taipan]

For the more vertically challenged amongst us...

[Taipan]

Nice Griso...

[weeksy]

[Mr. Dazzle]

Guzzis are the one and only brand of bike where I've always said "I'll own one one day". Love that Griso.

[Rockburner]

Nice Griso...

I think thats the first Griso I've seen that didn't look like it was missing a downtube at the front.

[Taipan]

Nice...

[demographic]

I can't remember what the hell this one is, the wheels look a bit GPz to me but the finned ignition and clutch covers are throwing me. Says DOHC but likely a two valve per pot cos most bikes camcovers went squarer when they went to four valves per pot.
I know I'll kick myself when I know but whats the engine, anyone?





I really should label my Barbon photos better.
Spendy Keihin CRS carb though, doubt they were standard.

[Gimlet]

Z 650?

[Taipan]

Cafe Racer-ish...

[Taipan]

A vert useable looking little thing!

http://www.bikebound.com/2021/01/17/bmw-g310r/

[Taipan]

999 Cafe Racer. I love the look of the cycle parts, but, imo, that engine is too big and complicated and is better hidden by a fairing. An air cooled 900 engine in there and it'd be full of win for me!

https://www.bikeexif.com/ducati-999-cafe-racer

[weeksy]

I think the fact it's busy makes it look intricate too, makes it look mechanical and engineered. I don't think the tank or the seat looks right, but i don't hate it completely.

[Taipan]

I think the fact it's busy makes it look intricate too, makes it look mechanical and engineered. I don't think the tank or the seat looks right, but i don't hate it completely.

Yeah, the tank could do with lifting at the front...

[Gimlet]

Driest part of Scotland. Coldest winters too though.

Windy, which can flatter your top speed.

Didn't help when I rode the NC500 two years ago. Going up the east coast there was a howling gale blowing in from the north sea all the way from the Firth of Cromarty right up to John O' Groats. In fact it didn't really let up until I was west of Dounreay.

The sun was shining (most of the time) but there was a strong and continuous wind blowing off the sea. Where the road really hugs the coast, sort of between Golspie and Dunbeath, it was pretty much third gear, 40 mph canted over at 20 degrees and trying hard to follow the centre line on the road without being blown off course.
Wanted to stop at Dunnet Head but there was a wall of sea spray blowing up the cliffs that was visible from the main road and I reckoned the bike would have been blown off its stand. And that was on the 21st of June.
Still fab though.

[JackyJoll]

It’s not the wind’s fault you were going the wrong way.