Just picked up my next project. Thinking of a Cafe Racer.

[Wallace]

A friend of mine asked me to fit a rear hoop for him, it was a nicely bent piece of tube with two rolled inserts bought off Ebay that suited his original frame tube diameter and slipped on quite easily.
He was very happy with it once fitted but the only downside for me was the lack of struggling to make something one off and unique that wasn’t the same as everyone else has bought!!
Took some of the fun out of it.

 

[Greeves246]

Krazy Horse have a new Paton
https://krazyhorse.co.uk/collection...s/paton-s1-r-60th-anniversary-limited-edition
or a second hand one
https://krazyhorse.co.uk/collections/current-bike-stock/products/paton-classic-tt

 

[stuvy]

That’s a lot of money for a small cc bike

 

[Morrisman]

Don't all frame mods need mSVA now? just been looking into it for a project I hd in mind and a lot of people
(britchopper forum) say frame mods end up with a Q-plate? used to be ok unless the main frame loop was changed, now the
points system seems to insist on sva for any frame mods?

That’s the theory, but you only have to pick up any bike magazine to see how many radical customs and chops are running on original V5s.

Even bikes with totally aftermarket frames run around on original papers, as seen at an large custom bike show.

 

[Exuptoy]

That’s my thinking, maybe in the eyes of the insurers once there’s an incident there might be trouble but the majority of bikes out there will never be MSVA’d.

 

[stuvy]

Ethics, if you feel you need to do it if not wait for the potential consequences

I feel there’s no need to bang on about this

Have you got a plan in mind for the build?

 

[Exuptoy]

At the moment just weighing things up. There’s a cafe website Here where they sell everything you’d need including seats with the subframe loop and they are reasonably priced too. Probably go for a kicked up subframe and leatherette seat with bum stop and cafe tank although the ER-5 one seems quite long in comparison with their offerings.

 

[Exuptoy]

Maybe This one?

 

[stuvy]

Maybe This one?

That’s a bargain price

 

[Exuptoy]

I’m thinking I could place a compartment on an ally tray and set a gel or even Lifepo4 battery and all the junk like the fuse box etc under the hump.

 

[lchris21]

That’s a bargain price

errmmm....not quite just a quick search, and you can find most of the parts listed by some of these cafe racer shops......so beware. There's loads popped up over the years. you'll find out who's just selling Chinese import stuff and who's selling quality gear by asking around on various forums etc.

Here's a similar seat here....quite a bit less..... cafe seat

I chanced my arm on a Chinese seat a few years back, they are OK-ish, but like most Chinese gear lets itself down under closer scrutiny. Its ok if your prepared to wait for it, and accept the quality compromise??

Gimme a shout if you need a heads up on anything, Ive built a few in the past

 

[Exuptoy]

Nice one Chris. Cheers.
Just added you on insta. Your work is amazing mate.

 

[Exuptoy]

I don’t have an issue with Chinese parts in all honesty except for wheels, a failure in that area could mean curtains!

 

[earthman]

That make/model of bike never really grabbed me, still interested in what you do with it though.

 

[lchris21]

I don’t have an issue with Chinese parts in all honesty except for wheels, a failure in that area could mean curtains!

me either, Ive got some nice CNC levers on the XS650 I'm building at the moment. machined quite nicely with no ridiculous thin webs or structural compromises..!! Id rather not use the brake master cylinders that you can buy to match though.....

The seat I bought was this .........it was Ok, but when I put it next to the original Id bought from Motolana in Thailand, it was clear to see the difference....stitching not so neat, foam padding made from bubble wrap or so it felt, seams a little untidy........like I said horses for courses and all that.

 

[Exuptoy]

Well, you pays your money and all that.
Just taken the leap with Ali Express for the first time. £45 delivered!!! Time will tell.
Thanks again.

 

[Exuptoy]

@lchris21 any recommendations for tanks? Been looking as I don’t think the ER5 tank lends itself to a cafe but it is quite long at around 590mm so the choice is limited. Gonna take a load of measurements later so I can have a look around.

 

[lchris21]

@lchris21 any recommendations for tanks? Been looking as I don’t think the ER5 tank lends itself to a cafe but it is quite long at around 590mm so the choice is limited. Gonna take a load of measurements later so I can have a look around.

Depends on what look you want I suppose? A bit subjective that one............older CB50 tanks are quite long?...and quite expensive!! There's even a Chinese knock off of these, for the RD50 etc...Just google cafe racer tanks LOL...............the choice is endless...!!

 

[Morrisman]

A friend of mine asked me to fit a rear hoop for him, it was a nicely bent piece of tube with two rolled inserts bought off Ebay that suited his original frame tube diameter and slipped on quite easily.
He was very happy with it once fitted but the only downside for me was the lack of struggling to make something one off and unique that wasn’t the same as everyone else has bought!!
Took some of the fun out of it.

A hoop and a brown seat seem to be de rigeur in the motorcycle custom business nowadays, along with a waxed beard and brown Belstaff.

 

[Exuptoy]

I’ll have to sway the scene a little then, I’ve ordered a black seat. Unsure of a colour scheme just yet. Could always get another.