This year has seen the emergence of a new style in the custom bike scene with both Fred Krugger and Roger Goldammer building café racer inspired, Harley engined bikes, however, there is now a more affordable option for those who want the café racer look with Harley power. Hogbitz, in Chigwell Essex, England are now building Sportster based café racers.
The man behind the builds, Brian Udall, takes low mileage Sportsters and rebuilds them to resemble classic Tritons. The stock frame and forks are retained, to keep the cost down, the main changes are to the bodywork. The tank is swapped for a distinctive, hand beaten alloy unit and a new rear fender is fitted. The stock front fender is kept but cut down. The standard fork legs are also retained but polished, as are the calipers. The legs are then raised in the trees to steepen the head angle and quicken the steering.
Engine modifications are dependent on the customer with this example running an 883R motor that has been converted to 12000R and fitted with ported and polished Buell Lightning heads, a forced induction air cleaner and 2-into-1 SuperTrapp pipes.
The bike is finished off with Hogbitz clip-ons and a set of LSL rearsets to push the rider into a racing tuck aboard the custom seat. Hogbitz has plans to introduce its own line of rearsets in the future. There is also the option of an alloy seat unit which replaces the rear fender. The stock hubs are rebuilt into 18 inch alloy rims for the period correct look.
On the road the bike feels quite small and narrow and puts the rider into a stretched out, forward leaning riding position that is hard on the wrists until up to speed when the wind blast relieves some of the pressure.
The motor revs surprisingly freely and accelerated well from standstill and plenty of torque means the bike easily powers through bends in higher gears. It idles smoothly at low speeds in town without needing much in the way of clutch feathering.
Braking is fine with a two-fingered squeeze though lacking bite, which is typical of stock Harley brakes.
The relatively stock suspension soaked up bumps easily but was still firm enough to feels stable and planted through sweeping bends taken between 50 and 70 mph, a benefit of the forks being rebuilt with progressive springs and other internal changes. The change to the head angle made it surprisingly quick turning and flicking the bike from left to right was easy with a quick push on the clip-ons.
With a starting price of £7,500 the Hogbitz café racer is an affordable option for those who want the look of a classic bike but not the hassle of keeping an old Brit bike on the road.
Link: Hogbitz
All photos: Duncan Moore
akbar says
I was riding something very similar to this when I was in college (early 90’s) I had a 74 Sportster pushed up to 1340cc, better shocks and head angle, clubman bars, etc. It was faster than both my Buell or Ducati; plus more dangerous as an added bonus.
Anyway, this is more in line with what the Sportster originally was, an American Cafe bike, if you will. Kind of sad that it is just a small hog these days
Mayakovski says
Cute.
hoyt says
I bet that megaphone sounds good. A little low in the right-handers.
protojoe says
Why is Harley ignoring this market? Instead of a refit (even a very cool refit)think of what could come from some fresh designers and the factory. The new blackster is a pretty cool bike and all, but its still only about style. Why are they afraid of performance. Dont they know that something that is a laugh my ass off riot to ride can look cool too?
Clive Makinson-Sanders says
Nice write up. Cool bike, concept, i had no idea a stock sportster frame would lend itself so well to the cafe style, however, that tank just looks goofy to me.
Jos says
Now if they would just put it out in kit form for us do it yourself types with too many things going on to ever find the time to hunt down all the pieces. This looks like the perfect low dollar alternative to a kit car, and a whole lot better looking and more fun than most of them at that. As to the handling: Bet it would go faster than I do at age 60! Tank could use a tweak but might look better in person. Definitely go with an alloy seat and loose the rear fender — jos
PigIron says
That Hogbitz is really nice. What is it about those Brits and their uber-cool, hand-built, alloy gas (er… I mean petrol) tanks anyhow?
RH says
This looks a lot more sporting to me than the “Vincent” conversion I saw (and was offered for sale as a kit) back in ’91.
akbar says
The Sportster has *always* been heavily chopped, bobbed, cafe’ed, hill-climbed, salt-flatted, street-tracked, dirt-tracked, drag raced, hopped-up, stripped down, and just generally sportsterized:
– well said, PigIron. It seems to have lost that tradition a bit, perhaps some because of Buell, and I honestly dont know that much about the newer Sportsters, but they were cool, little bikes once upon a time
Matt in NC says
I would have personally addressed the saddle differently, but I really had issues with the seating on my XL. As a 6 footer I was constantly moving from the standard controls to the bolt on front pegs/rests, to the passenger pegs and back to the controls. I just couldn’t get my legs comfortable and I’d be cramping up after 100 miles. This wasn’t usually too big an issue, as the tank usually needed a refill at about 120 anyways. The Ducati SuperSport I’m on now looks like it’d be ridiculous, but I am sooooo much more comfortable on it then I was on the XL. My legs are now supporting me, and I’m not struggling to keep myself upright at highway speeds. The rearsets on this bike would help alot, but so would about 4 more inches of saddle height. Seriously, the only ones who would have problems with that additional 4″ would be 5 foot ladies. Just my .02…
I love the look of this, by the way. My compliments to the builder.
John J Redmond says
I wonder if handles better or goes any faster than my 83 Moto Guzzi Le Mans III ? I have always wanted a Sportster(like the sound) but wonder what configuration I’d really like after riding for real sport bikes? The new 1200 sold only in Europe would convert me today. Why not here Harley Davidson-listen up yous guys.
John
Jeff says
Way cool . The reason I bought a Buell is because HD ingnores the Sporty type of rider . I have always like the Sportster and I agree with PigIron . My 1957 Sporty was stipped down and with a stock motor was faster and quicker than any stock HD in the 1990s .
S_design says
It looks really nice. I have always like cafe racers. Was wondering has anyone made a old school cafe racer out of a Buell? Anything other then the one made out of Blast?
Jeff says
If you look real hard at the profile of the XB12R . There is a bit of cafe racer in there . Only a little more modern .
ogri. says
I have just learnt of these cafe racer,s. Brilliant! I think I will buy-one soon.
roy says
Theres a site called Benjies Cafe Racer that has worked up a pretty cool cafe look for an early 70s sporty. Am considering a 72 sporty cafe myself. Those bikes were pretty fast. With modern brakes, alloy rims, and some braided spice, think it would be sharp!
Luis says
Absolutely brilliant. I have been wanting to build one in South Africa, but my HOG pals think I am nuts. When I showed them the pics they all want one. Well done, time for a Cafe Racer revival.
dennis aspland says
I love the cafe-racer look, but du to a motorbike accidnt some years-ago. I am unable to have the drop handlebars. (steel plates) in my forearms. I would need th later rubber mounted motor to ease the vibration also. I currently ride a Harley Night Rod Special. But an, old rockers, cafe racer would be the buisiness. I live in Teeside(cleveland) I would really like a chat, to sort out my needs,and a test-ride, I must have a go! around the block
dennis aspland says
I mentiond my plans to our-lass and she shot me down inflames. So, we will have to convince her-for her to give me the go–ahead. thanks–(ogri) dennis
mike yk paahana says
i like make my moped look like 1 harley coz my gf no like me by 1 reel morotrcycle
RICK BULLOCK says
Love it. Make it in kit form for us true cafe racers and you’ll make my day