Everyone is into modifying culture right. Wherever we go, we can see converted street bike to scramblers and trackers. I'm not saying mod culture is the wrong one. But, if we do it in the right way, it'll be a loveliest one. Cafe racers have born in the streets of England and still ruling over the world. Every manufacturers have been stepping into this cafe racer segment. But upto me, cafe racer isn't a bike that we buy. It's a bike that we design and build. Its very rare to see a cafe racer with old stuffs. But today, manufacturers give the bike a modern retro look which i don't like really. But there are few peoples who know the value of old stuffs. I think we are getting away from it. Today, we can see peoples modifying their street bike into a cafe racer. We can see them in different perspectives. One is modern retro look and another one is pure vintage based. Here in this post, we are going to see something about how to convert your street bike to look and perform like a cafe racer.
Fuel tank
Most of the people use the fuel tank of Continental GT. You have to understand several things. Continental GT's fuel tank is not only the fuel tank for a cafe racer model. Also you can go for other fuel tanks which is available in the market readily. For example, interceptor's fuel tank will also suits well. Any tank with good proportions and structure suits well. You can select the fuel tank according to your wish and budget.
Clipons
Cafe racers always have lowered clipon handles. Many aftermarket clipons are available in online stores. You can buy them. But, most of them won't create a perfect geometry. If you have fabrication skills, you can create it on your own according to your wish and style. Normal street bike have handlebars. You have to remove them and install those stunning clipons. Main reason for installing this is to get get aggressive riding posture. The more you get low, the less air drag will induce.
Weight reduction
You can remove unwanted and unnecessary things from your bike. For example side panels, air box, fenders, seats etc. The main purpose for getting rid of this unwanted things is to improve the power output. Parts like crash guars, indicators, rear fenders can also be removed if you wish.
Seat
Most of the cafe racers have single seat. For modifying the seat, most of the time, there'll be a need of cutting off the rear frame end to reduce the length. You can see most of the cafe racers have simple foam seat. From this you can understand that more importance have been given for handling and performance. Cafe racers have a simple line construction of frame. It have straight two top tubes emerging from the end of fuel tank. The seat should be mounted there. You can create your seat according to your wish. You can use FRP or simply a normal foam and wood for constructing a seat.
Seat cowl
Rear seat of the cafe racer will be always humped. You can add seat cowl according to your wish. But the only thing here is, the seat cowl should match the fuel tank of the bike and every lines and design must be perfect. If you wish to ride along with a pillion, you can design the cowl where it should be removable. You can design according to that.
Frame and suspension
If you are using a single or double cradle frame, then its well and good. It helps to keep the lines simple and very simple for us to design our ideas. Its good to keep your hands off the frame. Another important part is suspension. Many will remove the conventional dual shocks replacing it with the mono shock. But it'll change the dynamics of the motorbike. Though mono shock improves cornering stability, it varies other parameters.
Fuel tank
Most of the people use the fuel tank of Continental GT. You have to understand several things. Continental GT's fuel tank is not only the fuel tank for a cafe racer model. Also you can go for other fuel tanks which is available in the market readily. For example, interceptor's fuel tank will also suits well. Any tank with good proportions and structure suits well. You can select the fuel tank according to your wish and budget.
Clipons
Cafe racers always have lowered clipon handles. Many aftermarket clipons are available in online stores. You can buy them. But, most of them won't create a perfect geometry. If you have fabrication skills, you can create it on your own according to your wish and style. Normal street bike have handlebars. You have to remove them and install those stunning clipons. Main reason for installing this is to get get aggressive riding posture. The more you get low, the less air drag will induce.
Weight reduction
You can remove unwanted and unnecessary things from your bike. For example side panels, air box, fenders, seats etc. The main purpose for getting rid of this unwanted things is to improve the power output. Parts like crash guars, indicators, rear fenders can also be removed if you wish.
Seat
Most of the cafe racers have single seat. For modifying the seat, most of the time, there'll be a need of cutting off the rear frame end to reduce the length. You can see most of the cafe racers have simple foam seat. From this you can understand that more importance have been given for handling and performance. Cafe racers have a simple line construction of frame. It have straight two top tubes emerging from the end of fuel tank. The seat should be mounted there. You can create your seat according to your wish. You can use FRP or simply a normal foam and wood for constructing a seat.
Seat cowl
Rear seat of the cafe racer will be always humped. You can add seat cowl according to your wish. But the only thing here is, the seat cowl should match the fuel tank of the bike and every lines and design must be perfect. If you wish to ride along with a pillion, you can design the cowl where it should be removable. You can design according to that.
Frame and suspension
If you are using a single or double cradle frame, then its well and good. It helps to keep the lines simple and very simple for us to design our ideas. Its good to keep your hands off the frame. Another important part is suspension. Many will remove the conventional dual shocks replacing it with the mono shock. But it'll change the dynamics of the motorbike. Though mono shock improves cornering stability, it varies other parameters.
Tires
We can see most of the people do the mistake of installing broader tires. But you have to understand the main concept of the build is to produce more power. If you change the tires just like that, performance may degrade. You may have seen people installing multi-purpose tires. In my point of view, any tire with good grip and correct section is enough for it.
Foot pegs
Most of the street bikes have center set foot pegs. For reducing the drag by changing the posture, clipons will be installed. It'll not be comfortable if you are in tuck in position with center set pegs. So, you have to remove the original foot pegs and slightly adjust its position to the rear. If there's no correct leverage, gear shifting and braking will become a problem. So, you have to be careful while dealing with this leverage.
Performance
This is one of the most important factor and this is why cafe racers have been designed and developed. Cafe racer is not only about aesthetics but about power. The main goal of the riders of these machines in those days is to achieve a ton i.e 100mph. If you are not able to achieve a ton, tune your engine for its maximum power. Minor tuning of engine includes installing a free air intake, free flow exhaust, tuning the carb or injection system, replacing sparkplugs etc. At the same time, you have to concentrate on the brakes. If your engine produce more power, you can be able to stop that and keep the vehicle's handling and stability under your control. For this, you can upgrade your brakes also. Normal exhaust system should be replaced with a free flow exhaust and it should be upswept which allows you to lean your bike more.
Complete absence of modern accessories
In my view, the bike with vintage and old stuffs have soul in it and i believe in it. Try to avoid adding modern components like LED headlamp, indicators, fog lamps etc. Try to use halogen lamps and indicators. Avoid adding more accessories. Make your design simple. This will increase the value of your bike. In many of the custom builds, gauges will be absent. Try to install necessary gauges like speedo, odo and tacho. You can replace the ignition key position under the fuel tank to experience a vintage feel. Neglect unnecessary switches.
We can see most of the people do the mistake of installing broader tires. But you have to understand the main concept of the build is to produce more power. If you change the tires just like that, performance may degrade. You may have seen people installing multi-purpose tires. In my point of view, any tire with good grip and correct section is enough for it.
Foot pegs
Most of the street bikes have center set foot pegs. For reducing the drag by changing the posture, clipons will be installed. It'll not be comfortable if you are in tuck in position with center set pegs. So, you have to remove the original foot pegs and slightly adjust its position to the rear. If there's no correct leverage, gear shifting and braking will become a problem. So, you have to be careful while dealing with this leverage.
Performance
This is one of the most important factor and this is why cafe racers have been designed and developed. Cafe racer is not only about aesthetics but about power. The main goal of the riders of these machines in those days is to achieve a ton i.e 100mph. If you are not able to achieve a ton, tune your engine for its maximum power. Minor tuning of engine includes installing a free air intake, free flow exhaust, tuning the carb or injection system, replacing sparkplugs etc. At the same time, you have to concentrate on the brakes. If your engine produce more power, you can be able to stop that and keep the vehicle's handling and stability under your control. For this, you can upgrade your brakes also. Normal exhaust system should be replaced with a free flow exhaust and it should be upswept which allows you to lean your bike more.
Complete absence of modern accessories
In my view, the bike with vintage and old stuffs have soul in it and i believe in it. Try to avoid adding modern components like LED headlamp, indicators, fog lamps etc. Try to use halogen lamps and indicators. Avoid adding more accessories. Make your design simple. This will increase the value of your bike. In many of the custom builds, gauges will be absent. Try to install necessary gauges like speedo, odo and tacho. You can replace the ignition key position under the fuel tank to experience a vintage feel. Neglect unnecessary switches.
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