What makes a cafe racer?

[guest7]

With all this recent talk of bobbers and specials it occurred to me that the one thing that makes a good special is the tank and, annoyingly, that's the one thing that's the hardest for a home-fabber to make themselves.

Here's an illustration:


There's little modified on the bike itself apart from the tank and seat and yet they make all the difference.

GC

[guest7]

of course the other ingredient to make a pukka cafe racer is to put an idiot on board:



No gloves, no boots and clip-ons as low as they can go...

GC

[Sprunghub]

Hmmm......an idiot with a supple back & hips that don't cramp up after 20 minutes, even on a nice "sit up" ride like a Hinckley Bonnie....

[andy230]

Clip ons and rear sets make all the difference at the traffic light GP.   

Can it really be a caff racer without the ubiquitous jewellery??

a

[SRXer]

The removal of anything uneccessary...

normally the the pillion seat...
Shortened mudguards


I quite like a tiny fly screen just big enough to cover your teeth when your chin is on the tank....

[Steffan]

of course the other ingredient to make a pukka cafe racer is to put an idiot on board:
 gloves, no boots and clip-ons as low as they can go...
GC

Actually I thought the pouting and sultry babe was the only requirement.

steffan

[guest987]

of course the other ingredient to make a pukka cafe racer is to put an idiot on board:
 gloves, no boots and clip-ons as low as they can go...
GC

Actually I thought the pouting and sultry babe was the only requirement.steffan

I'm sure that could be modified. You know, lighter more revealing bodywork, a bit of drilling here and there.

Rub.

[guest27]

A bike that will get you to the by-pass and back before the record on the juke box finishes?

R