Discussion
A look at how SoCal makes a Cafe Racer and Scrambler from a modern Bonnie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vuf6AGc_Qk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vuf6AGc_Qk
plastic toad said:
That has to be one of the ugliest bikes that I have ever seen !
Not the prettiest... but, engine aside, it does remind me of the bikes that were around when I was a lad (it's a 1970s "canyon racer" that's being resurrected after 30-odd years). Very few cafe racers of 40 years ago displayed the attention to detail and standard of finish that you see today.Anyway, the interesting thing is the engine, not the styling.
Edited by gareth_r on Friday 20th September 15:44
gareth_r said:
ot the prettiest... but, engine aside, it does remind me of the bikes that were around when I was a lad (it's a 1970s "canyon racer" that's being resurrected after 30-odd years). Very few cafe racers of 40 years ago displayed the attention to detail and standard of finish that you see today.
Anyway, the interesting thing is the engine, not the styling.
Xr1000 ? Anyway, the interesting thing is the engine, not the styling.
Edited by gareth_r on Friday 20th September 15:44
graham22 said:
How the hell is that on a Cafe Racer website. Looks like one of those 'industrial' chopper type things, completely pointless and a waste of a sweet motor.
Can't see the rear suspension working too well with the shocks at that angle either, but maybe it's just to look at rather than to ride?bimsb6 said:
gareth_r said:
ot the prettiest... but, engine aside, it does remind me of the bikes that were around when I was a lad (it's a 1970s "canyon racer" that's being resurrected after 30-odd years). Very few cafe racers of 40 years ago displayed the attention to detail and standard of finish that you see today.
Anyway, the interesting thing is the engine, not the styling.
Xr1000 ? Anyway, the interesting thing is the engine, not the styling.
Edited by gareth_r on Friday 20th September 15:44
http://www.sputhe.com/history.htm
1977 Alan Sputhe designed and built a set of dual carburetor aluminum heads for the 1000cc street Sportster that he raced at El Mirage Dry Lake in Southern California. This machine was timed at 157 m.p.h.
1978 Alan designed and built his first cast aluminum big bore cylinders and redesigned the heads to suit. The performance of this engine caught the attention of the Harley racers who demanded replicas.
1979 Sputhe Engineering began building complete Sportster based 1300cc aluminum XR-750 type engines.
1980 Sputhe powered machines won the AFM Open GP, and Open Super Street Championship and set a record at Bonneville; 1300 MPS-AG at 176 MP (this record still unofficially stands as the 1350 P MPS G record 24 years later), won numerous hill climbs and set many drag strip records. Cycle World Magazine road tested a street version and declared it to be the “fastest motorcycle of any kind that this magazine has ever tested” (July, 1980). To this day it is still the fastest Harley-Davidson.
Mr2Mike said:
graham22 said:
How the hell is that on a Cafe Racer website. Looks like one of those 'industrial' chopper type things, completely pointless and a waste of a sweet motor.
Can't see the rear suspension working too well with the shocks at that angle either, but maybe it's just to look at rather than to ride?Hooli said:
I think they could work, but different angles mean you need different rate springs & shocks which I bet hasn't been allowed for. I can't recall how it works but I think the more upright they are, they softer they effectively are, so that'll be rock hard.
Other way around, the effective spring rate at that angle will be much lower than the actual spring rate. It also looks like it will be a falling rate, i.e. the more the suspension compresses the lower the effective rate, which is the opposite of what's needed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bwdlyoPVvs&fea...
Not about Cafe Racers, but very nicely done: The VinCati bike.
Not about Cafe Racers, but very nicely done: The VinCati bike.
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