cafe conversion
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 102
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From: St. Louis, MO
cafe conversion
I am coming over from the touring group, I still have my ultra but I am here because I have an idea in my mind and am going to pursue it this winter.
I want to build a cafe racer out of a sportster. I know that a sporty has to have as much of the right stuff as any Brit bike or Honda.
I have a '98 1200C I am going to get for the base bike. Has 20k miles on it and is tired but not in bad shape I guess. It has forward controls and mini apes with risers and SE slip ons.
First things first I am going to take off a number of parts and try and source used originals to replace. big things on my list are mid controls, and stock handle bar mounts. I am going with Clubman bars and they don't need large risers.
I want to get the engine back to stock and then I can work on the tins and seat. It should be simple and look simple. I am pretty sure it will handle well to boot.
I need some advice and help as I travel along the way. I am going to spend $3k on the bike to start with because I have not found one cheaper.
Does anyone see a problem with using a '98? Should I hold off and look for something better??? My budget is limited so I can't start with a $6-7k bike, if I do that might as well go with an XR1200...
So, please, share some comments and wisdom you might be able to pass on to help me make this work.
thanks in advance and I will post pictures as this goes along.
I want to build a cafe racer out of a sportster. I know that a sporty has to have as much of the right stuff as any Brit bike or Honda.
I have a '98 1200C I am going to get for the base bike. Has 20k miles on it and is tired but not in bad shape I guess. It has forward controls and mini apes with risers and SE slip ons.
First things first I am going to take off a number of parts and try and source used originals to replace. big things on my list are mid controls, and stock handle bar mounts. I am going with Clubman bars and they don't need large risers.
I want to get the engine back to stock and then I can work on the tins and seat. It should be simple and look simple. I am pretty sure it will handle well to boot.
I need some advice and help as I travel along the way. I am going to spend $3k on the bike to start with because I have not found one cheaper.
Does anyone see a problem with using a '98? Should I hold off and look for something better??? My budget is limited so I can't start with a $6-7k bike, if I do that might as well go with an XR1200...
So, please, share some comments and wisdom you might be able to pass on to help me make this work.
thanks in advance and I will post pictures as this goes along.
98 is a fine year. They all are really. 3000 is on the high end of a decent price. Maybe post a pic of a cafe style you're going for because there are many takes on it.
Here's one I began but decided to go a different way.
I'll be modifying the rear suspension to run a mono-shock, swapping the mids with rear sets, changing the rear fender in favor of an old school "cafe" style and I made adapters to run a 19" mag rear wheel.
Here's one I began but decided to go a different way.
I'll be modifying the rear suspension to run a mono-shock, swapping the mids with rear sets, changing the rear fender in favor of an old school "cafe" style and I made adapters to run a 19" mag rear wheel.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
might have found a better base bike, an '03 1200 with 96k. okay motor will need gone through but it is cheaper than the '98 which may have more problems at 20k than this one.
@mreed nice bike. I am thinking of getting some pieces from the old XLRC like the fairing. A race type tank and from a 3rd vendor a flat track seat. tuck in the turn signals and go with Clubmans. upgrade shocks and forks....
@mreed nice bike. I am thinking of getting some pieces from the old XLRC like the fairing. A race type tank and from a 3rd vendor a flat track seat. tuck in the turn signals and go with Clubmans. upgrade shocks and forks....
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
might have found a better base bike, an '03 1200 with 96k. okay motor will need gone through but it is cheaper than the '98 which may have more problems at 20k than this one.
@mreed nice bike. I am thinking of getting some pieces from the old XLRC like the fairing. A race type tank and from a 3rd vendor a flat track seat. tuck in the turn signals and go with Clubmans. upgrade shocks and forks....
@mreed nice bike. I am thinking of getting some pieces from the old XLRC like the fairing. A race type tank and from a 3rd vendor a flat track seat. tuck in the turn signals and go with Clubmans. upgrade shocks and forks....
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
they say $3k is it, started at $2500 and they said no way, have others interested. As usual the other have not bought it yet. Might ask them to go at $2800. If not, perhaps go $3k and sell off the parts I don't want to recover the difference.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 102
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From: St. Louis, MO
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Texas
Cafe's are cool. Gotta tell ya, I went for a 60 mile round trip ride last weekend and I was about ready to cry like a baby.
Thinking about some mini Z's or something. Looks cool, but SUCKS to ride for more than 30 mins....
Keep us in the loop!
Thinking about some mini Z's or something. Looks cool, but SUCKS to ride for more than 30 mins....
Keep us in the loop!
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
this would be what the Ultra is for... the cafe bike is going to be more of a winter project for me to build and likely sell off in the spring. I usually do cars but decided a bike would be easier...
Think Clubman bars as a replacement for the clip ons. I rode 180 miles on a Kaw triple with Clubman bars, no problems... Of course I had a Ducati 900 SS that I rode long distances with their clip ons... guess it is what you either get used to or are willing to put up with.
I am hoping the handling will be different with the cafe conversion, love to show the sport bike crowd how to take the twisties.....
Think Clubman bars as a replacement for the clip ons. I rode 180 miles on a Kaw triple with Clubman bars, no problems... Of course I had a Ducati 900 SS that I rode long distances with their clip ons... guess it is what you either get used to or are willing to put up with.
I am hoping the handling will be different with the cafe conversion, love to show the sport bike crowd how to take the twisties.....
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Central Illinois
this would be what the Ultra is for... the cafe bike is going to be more of a winter project for me to build and likely sell off in the spring. I usually do cars but decided a bike would be easier...
Think Clubman bars as a replacement for the clip ons. I rode 180 miles on a Kaw triple with Clubman bars, no problems... Of course I had a Ducati 900 SS that I rode long distances with their clip ons... guess it is what you either get used to or are willing to put up with.
I am hoping the handling will be different with the cafe conversion, love to show the sport bike crowd how to take the twisties.....
Think Clubman bars as a replacement for the clip ons. I rode 180 miles on a Kaw triple with Clubman bars, no problems... Of course I had a Ducati 900 SS that I rode long distances with their clip ons... guess it is what you either get used to or are willing to put up with.
I am hoping the handling will be different with the cafe conversion, love to show the sport bike crowd how to take the twisties.....
You might outride some of those squids based on your skill vs theirs, but you would need to completely replace the entire front forks, upgrade the brakes, entirely replace the rear shocks, fit proper sport rubber, add rearsets, and alter the rake/trail in the front to have a chance (riding skills being equal).