Cafe Rouge Norton 850 Custom Cafe Racer

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 9/2/2008

in Motorcycle Builders, Motorcycle Design

Cafe Rouge Norton 850 powered custom

Larry Houghton entered the AMD World Championship and attacked from a different angle, he brought Cafe Rouge, powered by a 1976 Norton 850. Since Larry's Lamb Precision Engineering Ltd hails from the U.K., it makes sense.

As I was browsing through the winners of this year's championship, I was struck by how quickly the style had changed from years past into the board track theme and a lot of competitors had some derivation of the same thing; nice bikes, well built, but falling into line on this trend like the stretched choppers of a couple years back. Then I saw Cafe Rouge and it stood out instantly.

Larry's hand built frame has a cantilever shock working the rear swingarm with an upside down Suzuki fork. Wheels are 21 inch front and 23 inch rear with a 130 width tire out back. Everything is adjustable, rake from 25 to 38 deg, seat height and rear ride height. The tank is machined from 2 blocks of acrylic. The engine is tilted 40 degrees delivering power through a 4 speed transmission.

Cafe Rouge placed 11th after a tie break. Yes, it's a show bike, no, it's not really practical but it does show some outside the box thinking compared to many of the other bikes in the competition. Interesting.

More photos below:

Cafe Rouge Norton 850 powered custom

Cafe Rouge Norton 850 powered custom

Link: AMD World Championship

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{ 20 comments }

sohc September 2, 2008 at 11:07 am

Why does “out of the box” have to look ugly?

Emmet September 2, 2008 at 11:26 am

I’m sorry but this is an eyesore

WRXr September 2, 2008 at 11:38 am

I like it. If some LEDs were sunk into the acrylic is could put on quite the show at night.

Ogre September 2, 2008 at 1:28 pm

It’s not particularly pretty, true, but it does represent some seriously original thinking. I’m seriously getting tired or choppers, and have been for some time.

B*A*M*F September 2, 2008 at 1:37 pm

I love it. It’s spindly and light looking.

Chris September 2, 2008 at 1:53 pm

This thing is the motorcycle equivalent of jelly stripper heels. Gag me, although I’d be more willing to put up with it if it came with a matching jelly-heel-wearing stripper.

cl

Azzy September 2, 2008 at 2:01 pm

Thats one way to not need a tank gauge. I like it :)

VMX1000 September 2, 2008 at 3:54 pm

The Commando engine is one of the most beautiful engines ever made, sacrilege, that bike looks like c##p. Now, where did that Rickman chassis go?

FREEMAN September 2, 2008 at 5:20 pm

Now, if that was fogged acrylic he’d have something here.

ROHORN September 2, 2008 at 6:02 pm

Love it – hope it continues to give the “Style/Technology peaked back in 19xx” set a sorely needed poke in the eye.

Besides, nothing’s better than parts made from drillium.

Dirk September 2, 2008 at 10:46 pm

FYI, the last year of the Norton was 1975. Other than a very few that might have been built in semi-prototype form in 76-77. Not really sold though. But I still love your site.

Larry September 3, 2008 at 10:35 am

It’s kind of cool, notexactly my taste, but what I DO like is:

“Everything is adjustable, rake from 25 to 38 deg, seat height and rear ride height.”

Thats some great thinking!!

lostinoz September 3, 2008 at 12:13 pm

Dirk, you stated “FYI, the last year of the Norton was 1975. Other than a very few that might have been built in semi-prototype form in 76-77.”

I’m sorry to tell you, but the LAST Commando rolled off the line in 1976. that would be PRODUCTION not proto, since they closed up shop in ’76 according to the website. (http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/company/history.asp)

Other than that, its a great looking bike, I don’t think the silver-blue background does it justice though. Its hard to make out the actual lines with the aluminum and clear pieces blending in so well to the background.
I LOVE the kicked forward engine, it gives a much lower CG, a lower seat height, and a much more modern look.
I had kicked around a clear gas tank before, the problem with that idea is as soon as you add gas it would more than likely yellow and crackle.

jan September 3, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Having actually seen this bike at the Ace Cafe in July, can I just say that it looked even better than the pictures–incredibly narrow and detail/finish is excellent.

todd September 3, 2008 at 3:33 pm

I would have done more out of acrylic. Rims, fenders, seat, etc…

-todd

mark September 3, 2008 at 4:37 pm

Last night at the local bike night, four immaculate ’70s Norton Commandos showed up. They were about a million times more beautiful than this thing.

rennzwerg September 3, 2008 at 8:21 pm

Oh, I saw and love it immediately – it looks smart, stunning interpretation of Cafe Racer for nowadays. Would like to… touch it:-)

Mr. CAFE September 8, 2008 at 10:39 am

Very HOT Cafe Racer you are published!

Larry houghton September 9, 2008 at 4:19 pm

Hi I am the builder of cafe rouge glad the bike has caused so much varying interest amounst you.If its a pretty bike u like check out my web http://www.wmf-uk.com

john Gonzalez March 23, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Its my first place, beautiful Bike

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