Cafe racers

czechsonofagun · Apr 7, 2011

So I was given Honda CB750 and while searching internet for pictures and info and parts and whatnot, I found this guy

First of all I had no clue what is cafe racer

I don't think I will be building one, just a decent full frame resto with modern elements (like replacing points

) is plenty of work for me, but check that guy out, he does a great job and it is nice to see a bike build differently than all those variations on chopper.

I am, of course, not associated with cb750cafe at all

MossRoad · Apr 8, 2011

Back in the early 80's I bought a used 1977 Yamaha RD400, which is a 2 stroke twin cylinder motorcycle, and converted it to a quasi cafe racer. I installed drop down handle bars and footpeg setbacks, which moved the footpegs back and up. This made it possible to lean it over and scrape the exhaust pipes when cornering. Next, I removed the stock exhaust and installed expansion chambers which went under the bike, instead of along side the bike like the stock pipes. While this decreases the ground clearance under the bike, it also increases the angle I could lean the bike without scraping the pipes. The expansion chambers also do a lot for performance. Then I got some gigantic carburetors and lighter reed valves. I also removed the oil injection pump and opted for mixing the gas and oil directly. I finished it off with some Dunlop road racing tires that were really really sticky. All in all, it was a crazy fast, light nimble bike. It could lean over so far that I was in danger of scraping my knees. There is a local curve on a river road here that I was unconformable taking at 60-70 in very good cars that I could take at 90 on the bike. The bike would do sub 12 second 1/4 mile drag times at about 118mph when I put wheelie bars on it for the strip. Not bad for a 25 cubic inch engine. :thumbsup: I also had some work done to the pistons and head, and had K&N air cleaners in place of the stock air box.

However, the cafe racer style bike was very uncomfortable on my 6' frame. I frequently got thigh cramps and put the stock foot pegs back on. I also only weighed 135 pounds back then. I now weigh 225 and doubt the bike would pull 14s with my fat @## on it today. :laughing: The high revving engine had lots of vibration and my girlfriend-future wife found it uncomfortable having to hang on to me for dear life on that tiny bike. I still have it in pieces in storage. I am kind of scared of it, knowing how stupid I was riding it at those kinds of speeds on the street. I fear that if I put it back together again, it will make me ride it. Ever see the movie Christine?

czechsonofagun · Apr 8, 2011

Yes, I seen Christine

Nice story, thanks for sharing.

My first motorcycle was CZ 250 twin, two stroke. It is a great school to ride 2 stroke first, it really teaches you how to handle the engine for hills and such - also teaches you a lot of mechanics, LOL. I could take it all apart and put back together on the side of the road, but it was a great bike.

vaskeet · Apr 8, 2011

for 2 strokes I had a suzuki gt500 a yamaha rd350 and a kawasaki kh750 (death machine). I would love to find a 1977-1978 honda cb750F super sport at a good price. I had one in the early 80's that was stolen and I have always missed that bike. I ride a 2004 kawasaki concours now. Thinking about a goldwing Randy

LMTC · Apr 8, 2011

Suzuki GT500 back around '71 or '72. Absolute screamer off the line. Fairly comfy on the road, huge bike for that day in the 2 stroke world. A friend rode a Yamaha 350 something or other that was a really smooth bike. We all wanted the CB450 that a local owned (Honda had a mystique back then, at least in our crowd). The next decade saw the Japanese bikes engage in some ridiculous one-upsmanship for HP and speed. The early Kawasakis as I recall were known for being able to drop down a gear or two around 60mph and pull a wheelie. I admit to being a bit of a speed freak, but I always wanted at least two wheels on the pavement.

vaskeet · Apr 8, 2011

LMTC said:
Suzuki GT500 back around '71 or '72. Absolute screamer off the line. Fairly comfy on the road, huge bike for that day in the 2 stroke world. A friend rode a Yamaha 350 something or other that was a really smooth bike. We all wanted the CB450 that a local owned (Honda had a mystique back then, at least in our crowd). The next decade saw the Japanese bikes engage in some ridiculous one-upsmanship for HP and speed. The early Kawasakis as I recall were known for being able to drop down a gear or two around 60mph and pull a wheelie. I admit to being a bit of a speed freak, but I always wanted at least two wheels on the pavement.

there was also a gt750 triple water cooled 2 stroke. the KH 750 had too much engine useless breaks and a flexi flyer frame I had it 3 months and went to a safer kz900. I had a 76 honda cb400f super sport faster to 60 than the 750 but after 70 he blew by you like you were standing still I miss a lot of the old bikes i had like my first a CL175 honda (a cb with high pipes called a scrambler) Randy

LMTC · Apr 8, 2011

Back in the days when traffic volume was about 10% of what it is today....... I would take my bike for a ride in the city & suburbs in the evenings in almost zero traffic. Everyone was at home; night life was with the family. Ahhhh......back when.

My heart still embraces those late 60s and early 70s Japanese bikes. Well, most of them anyway.

JimP · Apr 9, 2011

In my much younger days I had an 80's Honda 750 supersport. Honda sold a cafe kit with lowered bars, new cables and different footpeg mounts. The kit moved the handlebar position down and the foot position rearward. It looked cool but was uncomfortable when I road for any length of time. A couple years later that kit was pretty popular with buyers.

Kyle_in_Tex · Apr 9, 2011

Just sold my 2nd 76 RD400 last year on ebay. I had picked it up at auction (1999) and sunk a bit of money in it. I kept it bone stock for preservation reasons. It was a bit sad selling it but it needed both brake master cylinders replaced. I still got $1300 for it. I restored it to about an 8.5 on a ten scale. It wasn't perfect but was really nice. I bought it because I was the 1st guy in my hometown to buy one back in 1976. I put a bunch of hop up goodies on it then. Chambers, etc...

Google Image Result for http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/1976_YAMAHA_RD400.jpg

In 1984, I was the 1st to buy an RZ350. It was a modernized liquid cooled 2 stroke. Faster than the old 400 and better handling. Hopped it up a bit, did some road racing but couldn't really afford it. It was an awesome bike. They sell now for more than they cost new in '84. $2495.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA - 1984 RZ350

In 1998, I bought the 1st Yamaha R1 1000 to get to Austin. THAT WAS A FLIPPIN AWESOME BIKE! It was quite rare initially for a few months and people would pass me, turn around and catch up to me and plead with me to pull over. I ran into some financial issues and had to sell it a few months later (for more than I bought it for).

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA - 1998 YZF-R1

MossRoad · Apr 9, 2011

Kyle_in_Tex said:
Just sold my 2nd 76 RD400 last year on ebay. I had picked it up at auction (1999) and sunk a bit of money in it. I kept it bone stock for preservation reasons. It was a bit sad selling it but it needed both brake master cylinders replaced. I still got $1300 for it. I restored it to about an 8.5 on a ten scale. It wasn't perfect but was really nice. I bought it because I was the 1st guy in my hometown to buy one back in 1976. I put a bunch of hop up goodies on it then. Chambers, etc...

Google Image Result for http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/1976_YAMAHA_RD400.jpg

In 1984, I was the 1st to buy an RZ350. It was a modernized liquid cooled 2 stroke. Faster than the old 400 and better handling. Hopped it up a bit, did some road racing but couldn't really afford it. It was an awesome bike. They sell now for more than they cost new in '84. $2495.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA - 1984 RZ350

In 1998, I bought the 1st Yamaha R1 1000 to get to Austin. THAT WAS A FLIPPIN AWESOME BIKE! It was quite rare initially for a few months and people would pass me, turn around and catch up to me and plead with me to pull over. I ran into some financial issues and had to sell it a few months later (for more than I bought it for).

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA - 1998 YZF-R1

I thought about buying an RZ350 when they came out. I had all the literature, Kenny Roberts posters, etc... until I had the opportunity to go up against one at the local drag strip with my 77RD400. I ate it for lunch. :licking:

In all fairness, the kid looked pretty inexperienced and it was bone stock.