Maelstrom Do NOT get me started on Chinese bikes they'd make a great boat anchor but that's where it ends I'd like to drag em all out of their containers at the docks and drive tanks over em and THEN sit there doin this just for the hell of it
I met someone a while ago who own's a Ducatti 1199 Panigale sport's bike, he also own's a Skyteam Ace 125cc as a fun bike. His daughter has a Skyteam Ace too, and a CBR250RR with a Tyga kit
Remember that "made in Japan" meant cheap rubbish once, too. Now look at them! The Chinese are just starting with vehicles, actually, a number of Japanese and European brands have vehicles made in China already. So don't write them off forever.
Totally agree with ShaneP, we have been selling Chinese engines etc for going on 10 years or so, nothing wrong with the engines, but unfortunately the problems come when the lesser known bike brands put these engines into very dubious frames & suspension systems, & shocking electrical setups. But that is not to say they are all like that at all, in fact a lot of very reputable motor cycle Companies, Japanese, European & American manufactures are getting their product made in China.
I thought the same thing and they talk more about Flat trackers in the article. It is a fairly generic article but they at least made the point about handling vs Knobby tires on a street bike. The “current” option of extreme engineered chopped up versions are being touted as “neo cafe racers” which is the more accurate terminology. A “neo Cafe Racer” is a modern take on the cafe racer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
To me Cafe Racer generally says one thing; AVOID Now, I appreciate there's probably a lot of highly skilled entirely competent engineers out there who's blood pressure suddenly spiked, but bear with me out ... As previous posts have pointed out a "true" racer was a (barely) street-legal road bike, small to medium capacity by current standards, and usually as single or twin - this was inevitably modded by the owner, and that always been the problem. Sometimes they get it spot-on, but usually it involves taking a lot of perfectly reasonable stuff off, and replacing it with "steam punk" nonsense, not content with that, frames get chopped, seats upholstered, tyres swapped, exhausts bound with tape. Now I'm not actually *against* that sort of stuff in principle, I just I don't like it seen done to half-reasonable bikes. If it's a complete minger, and what you're working on is of very little historical relvance, then go ahead. otherwise, give itto someone who'll care about it! Now it won't escape most of you that I sport a non-standard fairing on my bike, it's entirely un-doable and is held in place with three brackets NO BIKES WERE HARMED IN THIS BIT OF NONSENSE!
Since @kiffsta has bought and is restoring a T500, I was reading up on the T500 when I found this while web surfing and thought it looked nice and the owner/builder has done a good job (in my opinion) merging old and new. It's not a cafe racer, but it's what I like about modifying bikes.
Yep ... a 'cafe racer' without the latte wank ... a race replica ... a racer ... just like this SRX ... great looking bikes
No rear guard equals a bike that you cannot ride on anything but a perfect day with perfect roads, unless you want it to be completely covered with crap. But hey why let common sense get in the way of a good wank.
And you can guarantee that if it didnt serve a purpose that was important.. it wouldnt be on a Moto GP bike.. so no sense leaving it off a street bike. Real problem is that many of the people that build these abominations think that a Hugger is a person that invades your personal space and gives hugs for no reason at all..
It appears that there are two simultaneous conversations going on here: One - defining a cafe racer And Two - What makes bikes look ****... now that second one is really not worth looking into at all as well.... there are as many definitions as forum members.. The former topic of conversation however can be made sense of in light of history. My grandfather was a "cafe racer" and a "rocker" for the larger portion of his life until the arthritis took over; his theory had always been "a cafe racer is whatever makes me faster than old mate". They used to remove every scrap of fairing, oil tanks, drilling holes, removing spokes, seats and anything worth a damn in safety. the theory seemed to be function well before form... if form was ever even considered. My ultra-modern idea of a cafe racer would be a gp bike with everything non-essential removed, now this would not please the aesthetic muscles of many people- but that was never the point... But what do I know
Of course, you're right about the rear guard/hugger. I'm not sure any of these bikes are built to ride in the rain or on dusty roads. To me, they're one-of builds and the bespoke creation is a personal thing. Lets not confuse the conversation by bringing personal sexual gratification into the discussion.
We are talking about motorbikes here @Frankster so personal sexual gratification goes hand in hand.. See what I did there
I think I like this one https://www.returnofthecaferacers.c...GiH4VU_NHEDPJee8QqOEm1RI86AAFIURdnFbPdv_4vd8A
Looks a bit 'arty' but I can admire the engineering and effort put into this bike. Wouldn't be anymore uncomfortable to ride than the original Ducati.