Cafe racers [pics] - Page 15

tenderfoot · 09-29-2007, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlKay191

nice blend of both

The essential motorbike.!!

1 x Engine
2 x Wheels
1 x Fuel tank
1 x Frame
and
100000 x FUN !!!!

tenderfoot · 09-29-2007, 08:05 AM

Allthough I dearly love my GS, I'd fall for a dirty weekend with a Guzzi.!

( On second thoughts looking at that seat ?. Make it a wild 30 minutes. )

1966 Norton Atlas

Nice little 125. ! ( Note the mirror. Perfectly positioned for popping zits en route to your date )

AlKay191 · 09-29-2007, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baldwithglasses

Allkay-

Where did you see that bike?

Seriously cool.

Any deets available?

sorry, no other info. I found it somewhere on the web and fell in lust at first sight.

Foxy · 09-29-2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlKay191

but bobbers by design are predescessors (sp?) to cafe. Based on the same idea of removing everything possible that will improve performance by reducing weight.

Oh rly.

Maybe in some warped reality, but here they developed quite seperately, being that the bobber is an American concept while the cafe racer developed independently in the UK. The prime difference is that over here it was hoped that better handling might make a guest appearance too.

AlKay191 · 09-29-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxy

Oh rly.

Maybe in some warped reality, but here they developed quite seperately, being that the bobber is an American concept while the cafe racer developed independently in the UK. The prime difference is that over here it was hoped that better handling might make a guest appearance too.

Excuse the F out of me, but I always thought that it was American bobbers of the 40s and 50s, along with HotRod ''greasers" that started "cafe racer" and "rocker" movement in UK.
The Brits, thank Darwin, were smarter than Yanks, though. They didn't sacrifice handling or performance. As far as I know, they did't think of front brake as exces weight or enjoyed cornering charecteristics of a 12in over stock springer. Instead of looking cool they did the ton.

my reality was definitly tweaked in 70's... am I that far off?

kixtand · 09-30-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlKay191

Excuse the F out of me, but I always thought that it was American bobbers of the 40s and 50s, along with HotRod ''greasers" that started "cafe racer" and "rocker" movement in UK.
The Brits, thank Darwin, were smarter than Yanks, though. They didn't sacrifice handling or performance. As far as I know, they did't think of front brake as exces weight or enjoyed cornering charecteristics of a 12in over stock springer. Instead of looking cool they did the ton.

my reality was definitly tweaked in 70's... am I that far off?

Actually, I think this is the more accuarte picture of what happened...

kix

wpbarlow · 09-30-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jehu

I hope this doesn't start a fight...

Bobbers are akin to choppers, basically useless, when compared to cafes, except to look at and attract attention. IMO they are examples of taking a decent bike and making it worse, in practicality terms, whereas cafes are bikes that have been improved. There is beauty in function and this, to me, is where bobbers and choppers are lacking. To make this a little shorter...
...

Putting aside the issue of bobbers having their thread (which I think they should)...

Actually, they both have increased function at the core of why people did them. The original post-war bobbers were basically stipped down regular bikes, with all extraneous stuff removed and period engine tweaks to increase performance.

Not too disimilar from what the cafe racers did- only they had roadracers to emulate/copy and they came along at a time when the size of the market was large enough to support an aftermarket.

And btw- an awful lot of cafe racers are pretty useless too- they just look cooler (at least to me) in their uselessness.

mark1305 · 09-30-2007, 05:44 PM

I think the last three posts pretty much have it sorted out.

You can look at it in evolutionary terms. Both cafe and bobber bikes evolved from the standard bike of their day and location. In similar processes, both were "chopped" (sound familiar?) of the extraneous items and certain features were changed to enhance performance (bars, clipons, rearsets, different tanks, etc.).

Are they different? No debate there. Are they sprung from similar ideals/ideas? I think so. Do they deserve separate threads because of the significant differences in their genre? I think so. Is one crap because you don't care for the other? Absolutely no way.

mark1305 · 09-30-2007, 05:48 PM

I have to add, that 125 cafe posted above totally captivates me.

Having ridden my YSR50 (now sold) in the True Grits Rally in 2005, I can only imagine how much fun that 125 could be up in the mountain twisties.

Caddy82rats · 10-01-2007, 02:08 AM

sometimes small bikes are incredible on montain roads.
Light weight bikes are great on those roads and "can play the game"

When y go on montain roads with my G/S its a big fun to see some brand new sports bikes owner faces when I overtake them on a small U turn....

tenderfoot · 10-01-2007, 08:35 PM

R75/5

Norton

tenderfoot · 10-01-2007, 08:53 PM

Some more

Got them off

http://www.biker.ie/forum/index.php

Icewalker · 10-02-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenderfoot

Norton

I don't care what side of the cafe/bobber argument anyone is on ... This is a thing of beauty

Icewalker · 10-02-2007, 02:33 PM

Just up the road from me

One of these days

Ianovic · 10-02-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notarex

Does anyone know who built this?! Stock frame? What swingarm? anything?

09-29-2007, 08:05 AM	#212
tenderfoot PRJ Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Gauteng, RSA Oddometer: 1,409	with thanks to: caferacer.net Allthough I dearly love my GS, I'd fall for a dirty weekend with a Guzzi.! ( On second thoughts looking at that seat ?. Make it a wild 30 minutes. ) 1966 Norton Atlas Nice little 125. ! ( Note the mirror. Perfectly positioned for popping zits en route to your date ) tenderfoot screwed with this post 09-29-2007 at 08:48 AM

09-30-2007, 05:44 PM	#218
mark1305 Old Enough To Know Better Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Merritt Island, FL Oddometer: 5,520	I think the last three posts pretty much have it sorted out. You can look at it in evolutionary terms. Both cafe and bobber bikes evolved from the standard bike of their day and location. In similar processes, both were "chopped" (sound familiar?) of the extraneous items and certain features were changed to enhance performance (bars, clipons, rearsets, different tanks, etc.). Are they different? No debate there. Are they sprung from similar ideals/ideas? I think so. Do they deserve separate threads because of the significant differences in their genre? I think so. Is one crap because you don't care for the other? Absolutely no way. __________________ Mark J Merritt Island, FL When a person asks you for advice, they don't want advice. They want corroboration.

09-30-2007, 05:48 PM	#219
mark1305 Old Enough To Know Better Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Merritt Island, FL Oddometer: 5,520	I have to add, that 125 cafe posted above totally captivates me. Having ridden my YSR50 (now sold) in the True Grits Rally in 2005, I can only imagine how much fun that 125 could be up in the mountain twisties. __________________ Mark J Merritt Island, FL When a person asks you for advice, they don't want advice. They want corroboration.

10-02-2007, 02:33 PM	#224
Icewalker Conundrum Joined: Apr 2006 Location: New Hampshires Militant Hippy Oddometer: 35,324	Just up the road from me One of these days __________________ Another World Is Possible http://www.sharedearth.com/ http://dirtywars.org/jeremy-scahill

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10-01-2007, 02:08 AM	#220
Caddy82rats Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: South France Oddometer: 1,075	sometimes small bikes are incredible on montain roads. Light weight bikes are great on those roads and "can play the game" When y go on montain roads with my G/S its a big fun to see some brand new sports bikes owner faces when I overtake them on a small U turn....

10-01-2007, 08:35 PM	#221
tenderfoot PRJ Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Gauteng, RSA Oddometer: 1,409	R75/5 Norton

10-01-2007, 08:53 PM	#222
tenderfoot PRJ Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Gauteng, RSA Oddometer: 1,409	Some more Got them off http://www.biker.ie/forum/index.php