Good frames for a cafe bike?

[maclf01]

Recently got into the cafe look. I've found a website that sells chopper frames for $900 bucks, and with a little conversion could be made into a cafe. Unfortunately they are rigid frames. Anyone know of a palce where i can get just the frame?

[hugoagogo]

Spondon?

us importer here www.streetfighters-usa.com/

[maclf01]

errr....I guess old school look. I'm not to keen on the new age cafe's so much.

[srob]

If it's a proper 60's cafe racer you're after, it'd have to be a Norton Featherbed.

[supersingle]

How about a Yamaha SR500. I know it's a Jap but they are cracking bikes. You could get an old one very cheaply or an almost new one straight from Japan via a grey importer.



With a bit of work could be something like:

[sybaseian]

You'd be after one of these.......

[maclf01]

supersingle said:

How about a Yamaha SR500. I know it's a Jap but they are cracking bikes. You could get an old one very cheaply or an almost new one straight from Japan via a grey importer.



With a bit of work could be something like:

Yum!!! I know they do that with the honda cb750's too!

[supersingle]

A cafe CB750 would be cool. Just make sure you don't do an SRX600 cos I'm doing one! Black metalflake bodywork, wire wheels and an SZR660 engine. I can't wait.

[maclf01]

That would be a zuki frame, right single?

[crankedup]

Early Japanese bikes simply handled like poo, frame and suspension technology took a while to catch up with their engine expertise. I would go for the Norton featherbed as mentioned earlier.

[supersingle]

maclf01 said:

That would be a zuki frame, right single?

The SRX600 is a Yamaha. They are like a sporty SR500. Mine handles brilliantly, with a low CofG and neutral if slow steering. Later Yamaha made the SZR660. It had really weird styling and didn't sell well. However, the watercooled 660 single fits straight in an SRX frame and literally doubles the power of the aircooled SRX. I've seen the conversion done before and the resulting bike is superb. It's lithe, fast and torquey and sounds brilliant with the right exhaust. Now you know!


My SRX


An SZR660

[hugoagogo]

supersingle said:

maclf01 said:

That would be a zuki frame, right single?

The SRX600 is a Yamaha. They are like a sporty SR500. Mine handles brilliantly, with a low CofG and neutral if slow steering. Later Yamaha made the SZR660. It had really weird styling and didn't sell well. However, the watercooled 660 single fits straight in an SRX frame and literally doubles the power of the aircooled SRX. I've seen the conversion done before and the resulting bike is superb. It's lithe, fast and torquey and sounds brilliant with the right exhaust. Now you know!

isn't the SZR frame practically a TZR item?
everyone loves the idea of big singles, but mostly we end up going for the big multis. i take my hat off to you. i love the look of those SRXs

[supersingle]

hugoagogo said:

supersingle said:

maclf01 said:

That would be a zuki frame, right single?

The SRX600 is a Yamaha. They are like a sporty SR500. Mine handles brilliantly, with a low CofG and neutral if slow steering. Later Yamaha made the SZR660. It had really weird styling and didn't sell well. However, the watercooled 660 single fits straight in an SRX frame and literally doubles the power of the aircooled SRX. I've seen the conversion done before and the resulting bike is superb. It's lithe, fast and torquey and sounds brilliant with the right exhaust. Now you know!

isn't the SZR frame practically a TZR item?
everyone loves the idea of big singles, but mostly we end up going for the big multis. i take my hat off to you. i love the look of those SRXs

I've heard that the frame geometry of the SZR is the same as that of the TZR although I'm not sure if the frame is actually the same. I believe the bike was made in Italy and meant the compete in single cylinder racing. Shame they made it look so weird, could make for a good project.


The SRX goes like it looks and is really satisfying to ride. I'm well aware of my own riding limits and find the SRX matches those closely. I've ridden powerful bikes but usually walked away feeling inadequate. With 30hp and tame handling I'm left feeling like I've mastered the bike. I've got great respect for those who can find the limits of a modern sportsbike.