Tintin's Cafe Racer project - BIG PICS WARNING!

tintin · Full Member Joined: May 07, 2007 Posts: 96

First, thanks for all the kind words. It's been a long 15 months and I'm looking forward to finishing it off in the next couple.

The tubes where the front fender would is is a fork brace from Mikesxs. Traditional looking and makes a huge improvement - necessity if you're not running a stock front fender which has its own bracing.

The front rim is actually an 18" rear XS650 rim. So its 18 front and back. I used the 18" rear XS650 as the spoke holes are drilled at the right angle for the drum front hub. The Roadriders are 100 front 110 rear, in the Universal model. I'm thinking a 90 front might have been better, but I do like the meaty look. Will see how it handles.

I'd love to have a 4LS front hub. Came close once or twice. I ordered my Buchanan stainless spokes from East Coast Wheels (cheaper than Buchanans somehow) and had them laced locally.

tintin · Full Member Joined: May 07, 2007 Posts: 96

More work done! Electrical plate finished up and mounted using rubber bushings to isolate it from the frame. Also made up the plate that bolts to the bottom of the seat, which holds the battery in the hump and will then bolt down to the frame. It will sit on rubber cushions on the frame rails to further isolate my arse from the vibrating monster and also raise the seat up a bit.

The last few inches of the back end of the plate is going to be bent up 90 degrees and may serve as a mounting place for a tail light/license plate bracket.

Both aluminum plates are going to be powdercoated gloss black like the frame.

Oh, and in case you don't notice, I installed my VM36 carbs and UNI filters Smile

It's starting to look mean!

tintin · Full Member Joined: May 07, 2007 Posts: 96

Ok - got the seat mounting sorted out - bolts together very nicely, and I'll be able to remove the seat itself from the battery tray which wasn't planned - best things aren't!

Basically the battery tray sits on foam (looking for something denser like rubber) and is bolted through to the electrical tray, which is in turn bolted to the frame with rubber bushings.

The seat then bolts to the battery tray with 4 bolts embedded in the fibreglass.

Lots of room under the seat for the electrical bits. I'm thinking a surface mounted weather proof ignition switch will go in the cutout area of the seat. Will have to look at marine applications for that I think. It's the surface mount that's the challenge.

santiablo · Full Member Joined: Apr 14, 2008 Posts: 98

like i already said im not a big cafe fan but you have inspired me to try my hand at it after i finish my curent project!! are you going to leave the stock foot controles or put rear controls? i fonnd these on ebay!! cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotor...0067697931
there prety pricey but i thought they were cool n might atleast be worth a few ideas!!! keep up the good work she looks great!!!!

tintin · Full Member Joined: May 07, 2007 Posts: 96

I have a set of rearsets from Omars already to go. I just have to make new brackets for the frame though, as the ones the kit came with are for later model XS650 frames. My 1972 frame's footpeg mounts are slightly off from later models.

MN_TX650 · Full Member Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Posts: 331

Any more updates on this?

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650