Honda CB750 Cafe Racers
April 23rd, 2006 by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider"
Nothing says Rocker like an old cafe racer, the right paint and parts, proper seat, suspension tweaks and engine tuning, all for the purpose of joining the Ton-Up club and looking good while doing it! Some of the old British bikes were classic cafes but here’s one guy that thinks the perfect cafe begins with a Honda CB750.
Steve Carpenter has been reworking CB750s for quite a while and a couple of his creations won 1st and 2nd place at the Grand National Roadster Show. These bikes definitely look the part and the video on his site shows they sound pretty good, too.
His creations are shipped all over the world and he’ll build one for you, if you’re so inclined. Some of the bikes on his sites have photos showing the build from stock bike to finished cafe so you can get an idea of how it all comes about. He sells a few parts to help you create your own CB750 cafe, like a proper seat, gauge faces, decal kits and other odd bits. Nice bikes!
Links: Steve Carpenter’s CB750 Cafe Racers
The Kneeslider: Honda CB motorcycles for sale
via Cycle World
Posted in Motorcycle Builders, Vintage Motorcycles
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65 Responses to “Honda CB750 Cafe Racers”
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April 23rd, 2006 at 9:49 am
bah. the perfect (japanese four cylinder) cafe racer starts with a cb400f. kinda like the accesible performance thread, with an added dash of sexy pipes.
(and the fact I’m working on one right now. gonna have to see what ideas I can steal from this guy.)
April 23rd, 2006 at 8:59 pm
HA! the reason 750’s are better for this, is there is a MILLION of em around! I can’t remember that last time I saw a 400f… oh, wait.. there’s one rusting out in the boneyard by my house.. They were cool little bikes, but not as plentiful as the 750’s.. or the 350 twins for that matter.
Carpy builds some cool bikes. Besides, what better bike to caff than the one japanese bike that brought english bikes to thier knees…
April 24th, 2006 at 9:11 am
LALALALALALA I can’t hear you!
points conceded, but the 750 is too heavy for me.
hey, you want to see if that boneyard bike has sidecovers? bah, never mind. it’s gonna be a cafe. that means a set of numberplates will be able to make do instead!
April 24th, 2006 at 11:26 am
or you can just buy a GB500…
April 24th, 2006 at 11:27 pm
the gb500 didn’t look right to me… (enginewise)
I like the looks of the sr500, and if I can get over the twin exhaust single cylinder thing, the srx-6 is nice too.
in all honesty though, if the gb500 prices were more realistic, it would become a contender. last one I saw the guy wanted $5500 (cdn) and it wasn’t even mint or low miles, about a 7/10 w/ 20,000km on it
how about a CBX?
May 17th, 2006 at 4:35 am
Awesome! It’s great to see someone make a living from a life long passion. Cafe Racers are awesome. Ducati and Triumph have already caught on to this with some of their latest models.
May 28th, 2006 at 4:52 am
Cafe Racers are European bikes not Japanese. Not even Harley who produced a model called the Cafe Racer is a true Cafe Racer. BMW is more authentic in this respect. What kind of clown would ride this thing, it isn’t even built in the true spirit of the Cafe Racer.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:45 am
I think there is room for japanese bikes in the cafe racer genre. this style of motorcycle seems all about evolution. In fact personally I like the look of the inline fours almost as much as the euro classics. Sure it’s not quite authentic 50’s-60’s “cafe” Maybe if you want to be particular about the euro-ness of the “cafe” name just call it a cafe street fighter.
just my $.02
Jevfro
June 15th, 2006 at 1:40 am
Cafe racers are the coolest bikes of all, regardless of country of origin!
I’m a young guy(27) and am currently building 2 “vintage” japanese cafe
racers, a ‘79 kawKZ 750 and an ‘80 CB-400f.I hope to have both up and running before Christmas!!
Also in the shop:
Norton P-11 Drag bike
June 19th, 2006 at 7:55 am
I’ve had the pleasure of talkin’ with Carpy about the 750 cafe’s He’s a great guy who has a passion for Cafe Racers. From the first time I contacted him he’s treated me as if we were pals from days past….as for the jap cafe bikes, well, I’ve owned several different makes and models (brit,deutsch, and jap) they all have their plus and minuses but the CB750 is by far my fav. As this trend seems to be catching on we must remember that it’s more about the spirit of a stripped down runner than a “make and model” party….lets not shame the cafe “scene” (if you will) like the Harley Davidson diehards have done to choppers. It all boils down to who can get back to the cafe first, right?
June 20th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
if your lucky enough to find a vintage75 or 76 honda cj360, it’s cafe from the factory, only made a couple of years. 750’s are to heavy and big although they to were cafe straight from the factory check out the 1976 honda super sport and you will see what i mean. say no the chrome, flat black that rat.
just an old timer steppen in.
August 21st, 2006 at 1:19 am
Hey Rob-
The original cafe racers were really using Brit bikes only. The Rockers in the UK in the 50’s and 60’s who pioneered the style were modifying Triumphs, Nortons, BSAs, Ariels, Vincents, and Royal Enfields.
As far as your ignorant and ill-informed take on the “true cafe spirit”, well, BMW wasn’t even in the cafe arena. neither were the italian bikes. None of those kids were riding anything but Brit bikes. So quit talking out of your ass and do your homework on the subject next time.
Today those cafes are pretty much all closed and those racers are old men. Now people the world over are building cafe-style street bikes out of every marque, and I’d wager the majority of them are JAPANESE since the bikes seem to have aged well and are very affordable. Plus you can even get new or period cafe parts for them.
As far as Carpy goes, the dude lives for the cafe racer and spirit is something none of his customs lack.
So bring your BMW if you have one or whatever else you’re riding, and wheel it up next to one of Carpy’s raging 750 Cafe monsters, and I’d bet the farm that his bike is the one built in that true Cafe spirit.
August 24th, 2006 at 12:26 am
quote “The original cafe racers were really using Brit bikes only. The Rockers in the UK in the 50’s and 60’s who pioneered the style were modifying Triumphs, Nortons, BSAs, Ariels, Vincents, and Royal Enfields.” UNQUOTE.
IN the 50’s and 60’s Brit bikes were the fastest bikes available. Building a cafe racer with a Honda engine is evolution of the species. I am in the process of building a bike in that style from a GS1100 arguably one of the strongest engines ever built. The speeds modern bikes can achieve means that bodywork makes them faster so is a turbo’ed Hayabusa a cafe racer? If it RACES between CAFE’S then yes. Basically EVERY cafe racer has emulated the race bikes of their era. Lets face it, the fact that modern production bikes look like race bikes just means that it took the factorys 35 years to realise what their customers wanted. Rik out.
September 4th, 2006 at 8:45 am
Sure the cafe’ scene started in Britain, but just like the chopper, a cafe is a STYLE of bike, not a specific make or model. There are those narrow minded folks who say a chopper can ONLY be a V-Twin, but what about the earliest Triumph choppers? Same with the cafe’, I would love to have a real Triton in a feather bed frame, but due to cost/availability, that just ain’t happening. The Rice-Burners provide a great, reliable and cost effective base to build a kickin’ cafe racer. Is it a REAL cafe? I guess that would be up for debate…but is it a great cafe’? No doubt!
Leave the exclusivity to the V-Twin loyalist and let the rest of us chop/build/ride/customize awesome bikes for 1/4 the cost….
September 25th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
A lively debate! i love it , Just an old codger here in the midwest USA, riding 38 years… In my garage right now?… 3 cafe’ style cb 750 ( the toecutter, night rider, & red rider) kz1000, (stock), CBX mild cafe’ style, shovelhead HD dresser(170,000 miles), super-low-severely raked sportster, Tracy bodied cb750, Bobber style xs650(flat black of course), GSXR1000 full custom, and that’s just one stall. Gentlemen, I have alsways believed that Cafe’ is a feel, an attitude, a statement of style, loud, fast, ridden hard and put away for another day, when the coppers ain’t lookin. Take it from an old flat tracker, drag racer and self proclaimed wild man. Run watcha brung, if you got rules, they only apply to you! Don’t let those rules hold you back…………you’ll be sorry someday! Is your bike fun? fast? loud? low? does it piss off your neighbors when you warm it up? Well come on in….welcome to hell.
September 25th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
rob must not wave to cafe bikes made with engines outside of the UK
September 27th, 2006 at 10:03 am
English bikes are cool, but if you only recognize UK bikes, then you don’t see much, sure they are light fast and fun, easy to throw around out on the twisties and they sound GRRRREAT. But we’ve all seen the T-shirt
RIDE * WRENCH * REPEAT
My old Harleys are the same way, but I am sure havin a ball on the ol’ jap bikes!
Anybody can buy one of “theirs”, I say borrow elements from everything you see, and some stuff you’ve only heard of, make it yours, show some style, then go out and ride the miracle mile.
October 15th, 2006 at 5:06 am
working on a cb 750 p2 77. x aussie police bike. do not no?should cafe it or not? these bikes sure r cool. where do i get a set of bars and, seat, rear glass tail light? your help is wanted. my engine is now out to 836{wiesco} + barrnett clutch, magnetic ign, 32 mil crbs+ for into one with 9″ hot dog.new seals in forks new rear shocks and springs.new wiring harness thanks to cms in netherlands internet.
October 15th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
I own a 71 cb750.4in1 header,straight bars ,emblems removed ,no stickers.Is it a caff,in my mind yes .Its stripped down and made to have fun and go fast.you guys that say britt bikes are the only cafe bikes sound like harley owners saying harleys are the only bikes to own! If its got two wheels looks cool and your happy with it then ride on.
October 18th, 2006 at 9:04 pm
Good for you guys, I say if you like it, then good, cuz you got it! Plenty of folks in this world don’t want what they got, and want something they’ll never have… When i ride up and some J/O says “what is that?” I say well thats my bike… “why do you wanna ride some japcrap?”… Cuz that’s what I got, hey I didn’t build this bike so that some jackoff would go “wow that’s just like them there OCC bikes” I built it cause I had this bike and I had some ideas,… where did you BUY yours? I guess they just want to be “different,…Like everybody else”.
November 4th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
i am a loyal brit bike fan but when it comes to racing or just haulin ass why not run the faster motor? a honda cafe-d up can more than certainly run faster than a brit bike, i know because i own a triumph race bike and a honda race bike and guess which goes faster. like the wiser of the folks in this debate are saying, cafe is a style not a brand
November 19th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
actually the term cafe racer started after world war two-young,italian toughs on stripped for speed motorbikes and scooters would cruise the outdoor cafes looking for loose handbags dangling on chairs,rrrip and ride to the next cafe.At least they didn`t need to mug anyone.
November 21st, 2006 at 6:32 pm
I’m putting together my first cafe racer based on a BMW R45. I check out anything I can find and then go and do what I can and with the bits I can afford - best if it’s free or off something else. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time - cant wait to get home from work or out of bed in the morning and every new change gets lots of pictures taken and a frenzied attack on the next bit. The box of redundant parts is getting heavier and the day I wheel this beast out and fire up is getting closer. Can’t wait. Should really piss the neighbours off.
November 22nd, 2006 at 8:25 pm
I think Carpy would build a hammer no matter what marque you put in front of him. Just look at his machines. There’s a reason those bikes went 1st and 2nd. So what if he choses to use a Japanese platform for a style that originated (as did he) in Brittain? It’s smart, efficient and cost effective. I’d buy one of his creations before I hopped on a new Thruxton 900 or Sport Classic; that’s for sure!
I have 3 CB bikes. They are all cafe racers. I also have a lil’ 67 Yamaha YL-1E tracker that I ‘race’ a few blocks each day (to avoid cops since it isn’t street legal) to get my morning cup of joe. So it’s a cafe racer too.
Just my 2 strokes worth
January 8th, 2007 at 1:41 am
All arguments aside.There is no finer bike to build a cafe racer than The CB750.Excellent frame that adapts easily.Power to spare.An unlimited parts supply.Im building 2 right now and its easy to become sidetracked by fresh ideas that pop up during the build.
January 9th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Uh-oh..
resurrecting an old thread… hehe!
maybe Paul can re-visit this whole thing. I’ve got a shop full of 750’s right now. My personal bike is also currently going through some changes (1000cc conversion) and some new wheels, brakes… maybe we can post up some project pics?
dave
January 11th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Met a guy at a cafe in Minneapolis once who didn’t have a bike, but swore if he did it would only be a Black Shadow! Maybe he and Rob should hook up and scoff together. By the way Rob, are you riding a Triumph or a Norton? I’ve been workin on a CB750 cafe for a while. It’s a daily rider/racer. Since the day I got it, it’s never failed…never. Right now it sports rear sets, dual front discs, clubmans, a custom seat, a pair of sweet alum rims and four big chrome Dunstalls (because I love shiney things). When I light it up, babies all over the city start crying! I love the 70’s Ducatis too, so this winter it’s getting clip-ons and a 74 Duc 750SS fairing (lot of work, but why not?) When I’m done I’ll send before and after pics to Carpy
I dig all bikes, but mine’s a CB750!
January 27th, 2007 at 12:57 am
It has been said before its not what you ride its that you ride. I have had brits now have some old japs ridden beemers and harley fergason. I prefer to ride cheap and fast and often with the money saved going to gas oil and beer. I do my own work and modify for handling. I race TT (tavern to tavern) and have gone over 500 miles one way for coffee ( 1145 miles one day ) so that must make them cafe racers as well. My leather jacket is 35 years old and I have ridden about 3 years longer as I didn’t start till in my teens. Two wheels keep us young and 100 years from now no one will care, so RIDE ON.
February 1st, 2007 at 5:24 am
Hey guys. Glad to see so many people interested in cafe racers. I’m currently building a ‘75 CB400F. Fast and reliable. I think this makes a much better cafe racer than the CB750. Lighter, 10,000 RPM redline, stock 6 speed tranny. Not to mention due to the popularity of cafe racers these days, plenty of parts. The 750 is cool, but it’s too heavy, which equals slower. I regularly blow by bigger (and supposedly faster) bikes in the canyons on my STOCK CB400F. As soon as I build the motor and shave some weight, I defy anyone to keep up. Next up, AHRMA! Kaz would be proud!
February 1st, 2007 at 11:41 am
The issue of weight comes up all the time…
let’s see: Cb750 (per factory manuals) is 517lbs.
having taken mine apart, and in the interest of information, weighed components- engine 172 lbs, frame 38lbs, front suspension 43lbs, rims 14lbs front, 20lbs rear. Misc. garbage (oil tank, electrics, etc..) 50lbs +/-
I’m running in the 350lbs neighborhood.
Cb400 (per manual) is 373lbs. Now, not having one here to weigh, (but having done them before) I would say that’s fairly accurate.
Now, yes, the 400 will spin faster (10k vs. 9500) and has a 6th speed. Does that really make a difference? When you’re talking about 68bhp stock for a 750, and probably close to 48 bhp for the 400 (per cycleworld articles of the day)
Now consider that not one cafe’d 750 is stock, but most 400’s are stock (mostly unavailable speed parts) where’s the argument?
I love the little 400’s too, don’t get me wrong, but the blanket statement of the 400 being “lighter” and “faster” is a bit of a stretch.
anyway, just adding to the discussion….
dave
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:06 am
Well, I’m 16 and fell in love with cafe racers due to my dads Guzzi Le Mans Mk II 850, which had a Ducati style fairing, was painted red and black with gold pin stripes and when that V twin started up… I still remember hanging on desperately to his jacket, with my seven year old legs barely touching the foot pegs, and loving every minute of it.
So, when I bought my first bike, a Honda CBX 250, had electrical troubles, ripped the fairing off… There was a cafe racer staring me in the face. It already had an aftermarket chrome exhaust, I’d replaced the famous japanese elbow detectors with chrome bar-ends, all it needed was a new headlight and I was set.
Cue big, chrome headlight, faux chrome indicators and lovely chrome brackets to hold it all. As you may have guessed, I like shiny bits. I’ve spent nearly five hundred bucks NZ on it, going to spend another 400 or so on the single seat and tail lights, and then maybe I’ll slow down. Start saving up for the next bike. Another cafe, I think.
To everybody who says that it has to be euro to be a cafe, I think your logic is slightly flawed. As some have said, it’s not what you ride, or how you ride, it’s that you ride. I don’t care if you love Harleys, Dukes, or 250 screamers. Two wheels, heaps of fun, and almost endless personality come whatever you ride. I mean, who wants yet another Subaru Legacy when you have something that can be yours for half the price?
I’m just starting out, and I’m only 16. But I love riding like nothing else, and what is the internet for, if not to voice your opinions?
February 20th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Well, I’ve been looking for a mid 70’s CB750 near me for awhile (Daytona,Fla)w/o any luck. Not looking for a show winner, just one preferably running and ready to become a cafe’. If anyone has a line on one near me that isn’t trying to fetch 2-3k, let me know at tceruzzi@aol.com. BTW, Carpy is an awesome guy, responds to anybody’s e-mail regarding CB’s and cafe’s even if you’re not buying from him. He truly seems to just love anything to do with the genre.
February 25th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Hey Everyone!
I have been recently become interested in building a cafe racer. I own a 1980 cb 650 and I am wondering why I can’t seem to find any info on people building these bikes into cafes. I seems logical though because of the lighter weight compared to the 750’s. It seems your much more likely to find any other size of honda modified to a cafe then a 650. I’m curious to know if this is a result of the relative rarity of the first 650’s or as a result of a superficially un-cafe look of these bikes.
Anyhoo A friend of mine has an old 78 cb 400 f that i think i might grab off of him for 200 bucks and just cafe it to the nuts for racing around town and save the 650 for longer trips. I’d appreciate any thoughts.
February 28th, 2007 at 1:15 am
hi these cafe look alikes are pretty cool i tink its realy seet to biuld what i would call a VINTAGE STREET FIGHTER in my own words. i lovem for i am into the stuntin nd drag rcing he newer crotch rockets.
I just picked up a 1979 cb750k 10th anniversary limited edition with 6K original miles garage kept ALL of its life with 900 bore kit cams, pistons, k&N air filter,4to1 mac header and muffler for 300 hundred friggen bucks with title.
and im going to biuld a cafe out of it since it has the engine work done the engin work was done at 4500miles so i figure it should scream for a VINTAGE STREET FIGHTER
if anyone has info on where i can buy the handle bars for this biuld EMAIL ME AT zx9rupon1wheel@aol.com
March 1st, 2007 at 6:09 am
Hey there,
I love Cafe bikes and am of the opinion that just about any bike can be ‘Cafed’.
My passion is Suzuki 4’s. I have a ‘82 GS550 Katana and a ‘77 GS750 - both are slowly becoming Cafe’s.
The fun is in the build and the pride when someone says “Nice bike”.
Who cares what the ‘wet blankets’ say - Enjoy!
Cheers
Dave
(Sydney, Australia)
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Hey all,
I’m looking at some prospective bikes for a cafe re-build and found a CB550 nearby. My question is, does anybody know the relative size of the 550 to the 750′S? I’m almost 6′3″ so “leg room” is an issue!
April 4th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
James,
I’m 6′2 and owned a 1976 honda CB550F for two years. I never had a problem with leg room. the difference in size from the 550 to a 750 maybe only and inch or so in hight. I had converted it into a cafe and had a shortned fiberglass seat too. So I was right up on the tank.
Matt
April 6th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I had a cj360t when I was young and would like to have one like my original 1st street bike back. Id like to make a CAFE out of it. Any Sugestions?
Thanks
April 17th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Just throwing this out there. I’ve seen some pics of the 59 club from the late 60’s. There were more Honda’s than you could shake a stick at. So the notion that “you can’t have a jap cafe racer” is just stupid. (my .02) I’m working on a GS550 in the cafe’ style. It’s the most fun i’ve ever had. Get a lot of strage looks from the Harley guys at work too.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I have a 76′ CB750 K and am currently doing a total Cafe explosion on it. I talked to Carpy the other day and told him that this was my first venture into doing anything like this and was inspired by his website to do it. He gave me his number and said if I ever have a question to give him a call and he would walk me through it. Now tell me this……..would you have done the same? This guy is one of the coolest guys I have talked to in years and I have talked to him once on the phone. He treated me as if we were old Navy buddies or something. Personally I know very little about the history of all these bikes and lack in the mechanical knowledge but I could care less. I will have a Bitchin’ Cafe and it will be a CB750. Don’t like it…………..Try and catch it!
May 20th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Hey, D’Arcy, I just bought a cb650 and plan to cafe it real soon. I hear yah though, I can’t seem to find any info about 650 cafe racers. I saw a couple pics of two really nice 650s but they looked to be 78-79. Mines a 1982. It doesn’t have the cafe look to it yet but it just needs some clip-ons a longer tank and a seat and it will look great. If anyone knows of some cb650 pics I’d love to see em.
May 27th, 2007 at 8:04 am
Does anyone know the difference between a standard cb750 and a Super Sport. I am deciding right now between a 77 cb750k and a 1980 cb750SS.
May 28th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Kris:
the ‘77 is going to have an SOHC motor, the ‘80 has a dual-cam. More parts available for the SOHC.
Other than that, the k model is going to be more of a “standard” bike, where the SS is kinda sporty, with a tail section, and lower bars (if stock)
If it were me, the ‘77 would be my choice. But, of course, ‘78 is my personal cut-off for old CB series bikes.
I have been getting into the ’80s bikes a little recently, and there is some cool ones to play with, but the parts availability for the ’80s is rough. Simple things are hard to get, but can be swapped with newer parts if you knw what you’re looking for. Honda, in particular was pretty good about making the same thing over and over…
Anyone have any questions, you can ask me… or Carpy for that matter.
dave
June 27th, 2007 at 6:36 am
I’ll be in receipt of my brother in laws CB750 K5 (with a new K7 engine) in about 2 weeks time.
Its beautiful and immaculate. As a Brit I lament the passing of the English m/c industry though Triumph is now very successful. It was the result of a dominant industry that becoming lax and constricted by trade union activity that lost many their jobs.
The Honda is a revalation - reliable, powerful and fast.
Cant wait to ride to to ACE Cafe in London for a cup of tea, a bacon sandwich and put a quid in the jukebox.
July 18th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Ive had several Triumphs, tiger and bonnies, a BSA, all harley mill configureations from 1942 through 1989. But my heart has always been and will always be with my 1972 CB750K. Cheifly because it was the first bike I ever got a ride on. It was with my uncle when I was 7 years old on a orange 1973 CB750four. I am proud to say I have been the proud owner of that very same bike for the last 8 years, having inherited it from my uncle. I currently have a 1961 Harley Sportster XLCH and a 1981 FHL80 Classic. But I ride the CB750 to work every day, rain or shine, 60 miles round trip, 65-70mph the whole way with bursts of up to 100 on ocassion. It sports clubmans, a 16″ rear Harley rim, 4 to 2 shorty headers, and a modified airbox. Im finally in a position to add the lil’ bits Ive been dreaming of. Like everybody else, I love Carpy’s work and he is an inspiration to me.
I like the vintage cafe style and its history is a link across the pond for all us bikers. I like to think that the Boozefighters and the Rockers would have made great mates and may have ruled the world had they been thrown in together!!! Shoot, theres a good chance some of them may have fought shoulder to shoulder (or wing to wing) in WWII. At the moment, I have a good set of pics of the Dunstall rearsets and I know I can build them with some needed improvements. Lots to decide, where do I start? A Rickman seat and relocate the tail light and turn signals, new guage faces, oil pressure guage, Accel coils, electronic ignition, filter pods and rejet, Some of Carpys decals and Ill be set. The cammed 836 kit will be done this winter. I have a good 1972 parts bike and thats the motor Im running now while the Big motor is being built. She wont be the Quality of Carpy’s bikes, but she’s mine. She gets me to work everyday rain or shine, and is an on going project.
I cant begin to say how much I have enjoyed reading all your comments. Lots of talent out there, hope you all grow to be gray haired old bikers turnin’ heads in the future. Thanks again
July 20th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
I bought a 78 CB750K in Las Vegas for $500 two years ago. It ran great but looked terrible. I later moved to California and found Carpy’s web site. After a few email exchanges with him this year I put my bike on the trailer and dropped it off at his shop. What a cool dude, it was really fun talking to him and checking out his shop and bikes in person. Now I can’t wait to get my CB back in Cafe style!
July 21st, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Great bikes, CB 750 was my second Jap bike that I got in 1973. I installed clip-on’s , punched out to 836 with Daytona Yosh cam and an Dunstall half fairing. Painted it all black (no badges), stock pipes with no baffles, and CB headlight from France. Took it to Germany and had to leave it there. I didn’t realize I was so far ahead of my time….. My second Cafe was a Suzuki GT 750. Idid the same thing to it that I did to the Honda. Now that thing was a screamer. However I love what Carpy has done. If I was close and had the money….but I aint and dont so I’ll just have to keep plugging along with the 1973 I have in the garage. One of these days I just might finish it. But until then I’ll be forced to ride my RD200 Cafe to get my fix…Get the Picture!!! Some people build Cafe’s, other’s build coppers. Plus I don’t think you can buy either at the Honda dealer.
July 27th, 2007 at 3:24 am
Heya guys,a café racer is a tuned bike,no matter the make,the model,the year … (around ‘70 ofc) … i’m gonna get a “little” 350F ….
What I wanna explain is that a café racer was a bike made to run around a café,it was a tuned bike…and alla the ‘70 bikes can be tuned so every ‘70 bike is a potential café racer … if someone had a norton and installed a truxton engine he made it only with the fine to race,not to stay in line with a style…
excuse me if I made some grammatical horrors,but i’m only an Italian 17 guy with a big passion for café racers !
August 5th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
the cafe(ed) CB750 looks fab - old Honda reliability plus bags of character…. hang on! Honda did that with their Hornets
August 11th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Whats up everyone, I just bought my first cafe project its a 75 cb750. My last project was a cbr929rr street fighter, and before that was my first bike I got when I was in high school it was a 93GIXXER 750 with a 1100 motor in it. The motor was already built by yoshimura and it had a NOS kit. But now saddly my gixxer and 929 have been smashed beyond repair (sold for parts). I wrecked both of them up on Death highway(Ortega highway 74 SO.CAL).The cafe bike for me is something I can build and respect opposed to build and destroy and they dont drain my wallet as much as my other bikes(yet).
September 6th, 2007 at 1:52 am
screw anybody who thinks there rules for a cafe are in stone. Make a cafe however and whatever year you want. The bike reflects you no matter what some of these idiots say. Build it in the true spirit of riding and as long and you love it and call it a cafe racer it is. As far as brit bikes though personally i would rather be riding my jap bike than working on a brit bike for the 3rd time.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:22 am
The whole idea is to take what you can buy from the local bike shop and turn it into somthing you can be proud to beat your buddies on.
When I was young (17) all I could afford to beat my buddies on was a 72 cb450-well massaged mind you. And now that I’m “old” (27) I do the same thing on my 06 speed triple-also well massaged. The speed triple has been renamed Triple LaTe. Both bikes are stripped down, put on a diet and have lost thier baby bars.
Just to add, if I see you on the streets of Salt Lake and I’m one of my bikes, I’ll race you to the cafe, the spirit of cafe is in the rider more than than the birth county of the bike.
September 18th, 2007 at 5:59 am
Lets put this entire debate into perspective: The Honda cb750 is still around and getting more collectable by the month because they were made in massive numbers, and designed and built to run better than Swiss watches. The engineering was close to perfection, sure they had to cut some corners in order to make it profitable for them, so we can put on new pipes, repaint the things, add wider tires, etc., to make it our own. This is what Harley riders do! (Or just keep in original) We should appreciate all bikes made by all nations and stop the name the calling!
September 24th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
well i agree with jamie
iam a harley guy and will always be, but i can appreciate a cafe racer. no matter the birth place of the bike, its all about ridin, a biker with a harley is not necessary the baddest, as the rocker with a brit bike can not be nessesary the fastest. sure i prefer brit for cafe racer but when it come time to comment a bike, i look the work done on it, not just whats written on the gaz tank
October 8th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
I just bought a 1980 CB650 for $140 and I want to freak it cafe style. It’s pretty ratty and has no title. Anybody have an idea how much time and money I should expect to spend before it looks as good as I will feel riding it?
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:30 pm
There was a 500 or 550 Honda four in Cycle magazine (I think) that had an article written about it.
It was called “The Mantlepiece” . It was, to this day, the single most beautiful bike I’ve seen and it was a cafe bike. The style is motorcyclings essence.
I hope I can get my ZRX1200 into nearly as fine a shape!
November 10th, 2007 at 12:23 am
I love this thread! Dad bought a Royal Enfield Intercepter new in 1964 cuz he couldnt afford a new Harley. Guess what I’m fretting over: to cafe or to rehab this cool 750 twin! Been on this bike since I was three, rode to the road races with dad way back when and ride it weekly now. This may be hard to understand for the guys that grew up on cb’s but 85 is really really fast on an old brit bike.
Cheers from a California transplant to Nashville
November 13th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
OOhh Yeah! i’m keepin’ my eye on this thread, it gives me hope….We are on this thread, and on these bikes because we are non-conformists. Just as soon as some a-hole sets a rule in stone, we are looking for a way around it. That is why we are on these bikes, i wanna have fun for under $20K, i currently have 18 bikes, and I seriously doubt whether I have $20K in all of them, yes all of them can run and on any day, i can start at least 12 by just turning the key, and kicking two or three times..The others are a little tempermental, and require some massaging (foreplay, if you will). One of my favorites has under $600.00 total in it, runs good, and is a riot to ride! I love my Cb 750’s and my harleys, I spend most of my time and money with them, but my xs650 yamaha is a spectacular ride! you can still buy one cheap, they made a million of them, and they are a riot to ride even stock, sound like a brit, ride like a jap, this is a win-win. You young guys that are starting out, don’t overlook them.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:10 am
I don’t think the scales that indicated a CB750 engine only weighs 170 are even close to right. 240 is much closer to reality. A 500 Triumph twin weighs 140, 650 about 155, Trident weighs 170ish. A CB750 engine is much heavier than any of those brit engines.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Nah, I can lift a cb750 out of the frame by myself on the floor, no way it weighs over 200, as a matter of fact, I have a complete engine sitting on my bench right now. It is cold here in Illinois, and 12″ of snow fell last night, but I’ll get out there and weigh it in the next couple of days….My whole cb 750 doesn’t weigh 425, two guys can lift the whole bike. Granted the engine is big, and pretty tight in the frame, but even when I was young and they were new, I could sit on the floor and slide it back, tip it forward and slide it out onto my lap. ( Don’t try this if you are not a pretty big guy) Now that I am old and work smarter, I have a lift..Who gives a sh!t what it weighs anyway, if you want to go crazy fast there are plenty of those. Get out there and have some fun.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:39 pm
For you guys who like the cafe racer spirit, I recommend the JOE BAR TEAM. Check this out :
http://www.comicsworld.co.uk/JoeBar/Albums.aspx
February 19th, 2008 at 12:19 am
I honestly think any 70’s inline twin can make an awesome Cafe. I personally own a 1977 Kawasaki KX750 LTD Twin that is made into a Cafe racer with a little flat tracker style added in. running the single guage with a MAJOR wire tuck and clean of ANY cover and empty center section. All I think I am lacking is a set of IIRC race shocks with external resivior.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I live in Norfolk, England & have riden most makes & styles of bike, but you can’t beat roaring along narrow country lanes, with your backside in the air on a bike you built yourself from the parts the other bikers threw away. I’m currently building a Cafe Racer based on a ‘82 Z750 four, Simple, basic & fast, Thats the way. The exhaust note is the key, If it doesn’t sound right, it ain’t right. I enjoyed reading your comments & may steal a few of your ideas.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:28 am
Can’t believe I never found this thread before! My
‘70 CB450 was sort of cafe’d in the ’70s, CL350 “scrambler” tank and pipes, clipons, bored out, cams, etc. Hasn’t run for 20+ years, last time I put the engine back together I got the valve timing wrong (DOHC), couldn’t find the book. Kinda top-heavy, really have to drag it back upright after a turn, but plenty of power. Used to hit Gessner on Hammerly going 90mph, 4-foot rise, perfect ramp. Could fly almost to the U-Totem, now you know where I’m from! Where can I get CB450 parts?
May 12th, 2008 at 12:56 am
last time I wrote in was august when I bought my 1975 cb750 since then I have put a cafe tail on it, clubman bars, hot rod tail light,4 into 2 cb chopper exaust, and a cool head light from Steve Carpenter. And since then I have polished my forks, all the brake components, brake lever, throtle body, clutch lever, next to be polished will be the motor, hubs, and rear brakes.I learned how to polish at my last job I used to work at a plating shop. I have painted the tank and tail flat black with flat white scalups. Anyone who is thinking about building a cafe bike should check out Steven Carpenter’s stuff at cb750cafe.com his bikes and parts are really cool and he ships his parts quick. I ride in so’cal and I am looking for meets that are mostly cafe racer like the mods vs. ROCKERS rides if anyone knows please share thanks.