72' R75/5 Cafe Build Thread - Leadnuts

Leadnuts · 04-24-2012, 01:29 PM

Hey everyone, I thought I'd share my process and progress as well as get some advice on tech stuff..

I got this 1972 R75/5 towards the end of last summer. It was nice looking and drove nice but I seem to never be content with what I have until I make something out of it and after discovering this forum plans and ideas stared to develop... So a few months ago I decided to give the cafe racer idea a shot as I adore the style and classiness of the intermingling of new and old together. I have been collecting Japanese Keirin track bikes for awhile and decided to try a something a little different. The thing I have always likes about track bicycles it their shear minimalism... its the closest thing you can get to riding a line drawing around. I thought I would try a similar approach to my cafe build.

It is moving pretty slow so due to a new addition to the family so bare with me.

START-

Picked it up for 1500 last summer.

So the first thing I wanted to to do was work out the rough shape based off bikes I've seen.. The most dramatic change was the dual shock to mono-shock conversion. I searched high and low for info, which of course was limited.. Ended up finding Eric at Performance Welding in Bothel (in this forum) and spoke with him about a modified swing arm which he has already done a few times. I sent a model and the swing arm... and he did some sort of magic to make it happen.

Which turned into..

That took a bit of time so in the mean time I wanted to work on a cafe style seat, was going to buy one but just couldn't find the right one that made me say "Oh Yeah thats the one".. So attempted to make one..

to be continued.

helion42 · 04-24-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leadnuts

I wanted to work on a cafe style seat, was going to buy one but just couldn't find the right one that made me say "Oh Yeah thats the one"

Not even the Corbin seat?

Anyway...
subscribin.

Leadnuts · 04-24-2012, 01:45 PM

So I'm drooling over the polished alloy cafe seat and depressed that its so far out of my budget...

So I'm trying to make one. The only way I could think of is to find a gas tank and cut a cowl out of it and modify the seat pan to fit.

An ATV gas tank from the scrap yard looked like it would work so I brought it home and scoped out the situation..

Used some tape for a rough outline to cut.

dry fit on seat pan.

After seatpan modification. Also had to adjust the sub frame to fit as well.

Leadnuts · 04-24-2012, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helion42

Not even the Corbin seat?

Anyway...
subscribin.

Yeah, all the ones I had see extended just ever so slightly past where I wanted it to end.. Right about where the rear drive ends is where I wanted it to cut off. As well as they all seemed to be fabric covered all the way back, I want a little leg to show for some color.

I know... I'm too picky...haha.

I do have to admit though, he almost had me with "Gunfighter"

bmweuro · 04-24-2012, 02:06 PM

Very nice. I Iike your swing arm upgrade.

Leadnuts · 04-24-2012, 03:38 PM

So Home depot has a fiberglass pack which includes the exact amount of cloth to do a 3 layer seat pan. I've never messed with fiberglass.. interesting. Why when you see parts to buy they are a blue color but this stuff is an amber/resin tint.

Also, now that my wife has started hanging around the garage she has expressed interest in maybe riding with me now and again.... which has now made me realize I will be making two seats ( single, and a double) with an easy swap system. So there will be no electrical in the seat to make that work.

Leadnuts · 04-24-2012, 03:54 PM

So I decided to cut off the flappy bits that the sub frame and exhaust connected to... With the idea I will be going with rearsets.

This is about where I'm at at the moment. Swing arm bracket tacked on, seat fits for the most part.. along with the pan. Its starting to take the shape that is in my head. With every cut and clang I get more and more nervous.

Also, finally found the engine cover that I've seen on a few bikes that I absolutely could not do without.

And with seat pan and a bit of foam decided to try and figure out a rough idea of where I would like my foot pegs.. Bricks and shims to rest my feet on for location (super high tech).

SOLO LOBO · 04-24-2012, 03:56 PM

Convergent evolution perhaps? Here's the thread

Leadnuts · 04-24-2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOLO LOBO

Convergent evolution perhaps?

Did Fubar do yours as well? "Too modern" haha..

Yours is one of the ones that peaked my interest... I could not find a finished bike pic?

Also what carbs are those with the smooth top? I like the minimalistic look.

Leadnuts · 04-24-2012, 04:59 PM

Here are a few parts I was going to use but as of today I may be changing it up a bit..

I have always thought these turn signals were some of the nicest looking around. Classy and a nice scale.

I thought these bar end mirrors were pretty nice and would do the job. But now I may think about some of the repro Hella bar end blinkers, as I am trying to cut down on wires and general stuff sticking out and they are visible front and rear so I end up eliminating some clutter. Though I still am unsure due to not seeing a really good pic of the Hellas.

Originally I had found 4 of these cool 70's mics at the thrift store and had wanted to make them turn signals, which I did to one... but they just seemed a bit too much.

And here is the tail light I'm going with.. small bright and sort of retro. I'm toying with the ideo of it set up on the swing arm due to not being able to run elec. through the seat.

r77toy · 04-25-2012, 04:50 AM

Where did you get the rear engine cover to replace the aircleaner housing?

oldroadie · 04-25-2012, 06:24 AM

I have a set of Emgo Hella type signals I bought at Barber last year but I'm not going to use them. Interested?

Leadnuts · 04-25-2012, 06:53 AM

Super interested! Shall I PM you?

Leadnuts · 04-25-2012, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r77toy

Where did you get the rear engine cover to replace the aircleaner housing?

This is where I got it... The guy is super nice. He doesn't have it in his list of parts but I saw it on the picture right on the front page there in the center. You'll have to call and ask for it.

http://www.boxercafe.com/default.htm

SOLO LOBO · 04-25-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leadnuts

Did Fubar do yours as well? "Too modern" haha..

Yours is one of the ones that peaked my interest... I could not find a finished bike pic?

Also what carbs are those with the smooth top? I like the minimalistic look.

That's Houseo's bike...

04-24-2012, 01:29 PM	#1
Leadnuts ^OP do-over... Joined: Sep 2011 Location: KCMO Oddometer: 115	72' R75/5 Cafe Build Thread - Leadnuts Hey everyone, I thought I'd share my process and progress as well as get some advice on tech stuff.. I got this 1972 R75/5 towards the end of last summer. It was nice looking and drove nice but I seem to never be content with what I have until I make something out of it and after discovering this forum plans and ideas stared to develop... So a few months ago I decided to give the cafe racer idea a shot as I adore the style and classiness of the intermingling of new and old together. I have been collecting Japanese Keirin track bikes for awhile and decided to try a something a little different. The thing I have always likes about track bicycles it their shear minimalism... its the closest thing you can get to riding a line drawing around. I thought I would try a similar approach to my cafe build. It is moving pretty slow so due to a new addition to the family so bare with me. START- Picked it up for 1500 last summer. So the first thing I wanted to to do was work out the rough shape based off bikes I've seen.. The most dramatic change was the dual shock to mono-shock conversion. I searched high and low for info, which of course was limited.. Ended up finding Eric at Performance Welding in Bothel (in this forum) and spoke with him about a modified swing arm which he has already done a few times. I sent a model and the swing arm... and he did some sort of magic to make it happen. Which turned into.. That took a bit of time so in the mean time I wanted to work on a cafe style seat, was going to buy one but just couldn't find the right one that made me say "Oh Yeah thats the one".. So attempted to make one.. to be continued. Leadnuts screwed with this post 04-24-2012 at 02:04 PM

04-24-2012, 01:45 PM	#3
Leadnuts ^OP do-over... Joined: Sep 2011 Location: KCMO Oddometer: 115	Cafe seat attempt... So I'm drooling over the polished alloy cafe seat and depressed that its so far out of my budget... So I'm trying to make one. The only way I could think of is to find a gas tank and cut a cowl out of it and modify the seat pan to fit. An ATV gas tank from the scrap yard looked like it would work so I brought it home and scoped out the situation.. Used some tape for a rough outline to cut. dry fit on seat pan. After seatpan modification. Also had to adjust the sub frame to fit as well.

04-24-2012, 02:06 PM	#5
bmweuro Mad Scientist Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Chico, California Oddometer: 2,946	Very nice. I Iike your swing arm upgrade. __________________ BOXER Metal BMW Biker Scum BMW Mad Scientist! VBMWMO #7770, BMW MOA #48694 & Airhead BMW Club #600

04-24-2012, 03:38 PM	#6
Leadnuts ^OP do-over... Joined: Sep 2011 Location: KCMO Oddometer: 115	pan So Home depot has a fiberglass pack which includes the exact amount of cloth to do a 3 layer seat pan. I've never messed with fiberglass.. interesting. Why when you see parts to buy they are a blue color but this stuff is an amber/resin tint. Also, now that my wife has started hanging around the garage she has expressed interest in maybe riding with me now and again.... which has now made me realize I will be making two seats ( single, and a double) with an easy swap system. So there will be no electrical in the seat to make that work.

04-24-2012, 03:54 PM	#7
Leadnuts ^OP do-over... Joined: Sep 2011 Location: KCMO Oddometer: 115	swing arm and seat So I decided to cut off the flappy bits that the sub frame and exhaust connected to... With the idea I will be going with rearsets. This is about where I'm at at the moment. Swing arm bracket tacked on, seat fits for the most part.. along with the pan. Its starting to take the shape that is in my head. With every cut and clang I get more and more nervous. Also, finally found the engine cover that I've seen on a few bikes that I absolutely could not do without. And with seat pan and a bit of foam decided to try and figure out a rough idea of where I would like my foot pegs.. Bricks and shims to rest my feet on for location (super high tech).

04-24-2012, 04:59 PM	#10
Leadnuts ^OP do-over... Joined: Sep 2011 Location: KCMO Oddometer: 115	bits and bots.. Here are a few parts I was going to use but as of today I may be changing it up a bit.. I have always thought these turn signals were some of the nicest looking around. Classy and a nice scale. I thought these bar end mirrors were pretty nice and would do the job. But now I may think about some of the repro Hella bar end blinkers, as I am trying to cut down on wires and general stuff sticking out and they are visible front and rear so I end up eliminating some clutter. Though I still am unsure due to not seeing a really good pic of the Hellas. Originally I had found 4 of these cool 70's mics at the thrift store and had wanted to make them turn signals, which I did to one... but they just seemed a bit too much. And here is the tail light I'm going with.. small bright and sort of retro. I'm toying with the ideo of it set up on the swing arm due to not being able to run elec. through the seat.

04-25-2012, 04:50 AM	#11
r77toy Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Oddometer: 336	Where did you get the rear engine cover to replace the aircleaner housing?

04-25-2012, 06:24 AM	#12
oldroadie /5 dirt road wannabe Joined: Feb 2010 Location: North Alabama mountains Oddometer: 341	I have a set of Emgo Hella type signals I bought at Barber last year but I'm not going to use them. Interested?

04-25-2012, 06:53 AM	#13
Leadnuts ^OP do-over... Joined: Sep 2011 Location: KCMO Oddometer: 115	yes! Super interested! Shall I PM you?

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