PROJECT: 76 R75/6 Cafe

sparkymoto · 12-23-2009, 06:45 AM

I picked up a 1976 R75/6 with a mere 100,000 miles on the ticker at the ‘09 Mid-Ohio Vintage Days. Anyone who’s been to this wonderful event knows that it’s easy to be tempted to bring home a vintage machine or two!

I was hoping to find another airhead cafe project that had a little more oomph than my ‘73 R50/5.

Seeing that this /6 had been spruced up here and there, it was better than a good start.The previous owner did a nice job making a cafe of his own...but I had different plans. A deal was struck and ideas were already piling up.

After following some great build logs here on ADV and using them as a great source of info, i was inspired to share this story. Gotta give thanks to MIOB, bpeckm and Shmerel for posting their in-depth airhead projects that have been very helpful to me so far.

MIOB’s R80:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=439120

bpeckm’s 60/6 cafe:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363638

Shmeril’s caffienated airhead:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=367419

And now of course I'll be following rkatapt's thread!

more soon...

sparkymoto · 12-23-2009, 07:34 AM

I started googling, forum searching and ebay surfing for more info and parts resources. i had to be realistic with my somewhat limited mechanical skills; some of the mods will require a metalworker/fabricator. Most of the build will be put together on a skimpy budget with extry elbow grease and lotsa creativity. One of the first search results led me to this YouTube vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpXpizXAWCU

It has a great stance and simplicity about it. I bought a similar (maybe the same) set of Dunstall style mufflers as the bike in the vid above for $60.00 on ebay. I tried a set of clubmans in place of the euro low bars but still wanted to lower the profile up front. Clip ons should do the trick, back to the internet to search. Prices were all over the place for these, but I found a set for what seemed to be nice quality for the buck. Search eBay for: CLIP ONS 35MM DUNSTALL” or find the seller, “250champ” ($75.00 set)

For a more expensive option, a guy could use these: http://www.woodcraft-cfm.com/Scripts...dproduct=17773

I removed the stock headlight ears 'n' tubes and got a $13.00 set-o-brackets on ebay. They’re mounted as low as possible.

Here's the bike with clip ons, new headlight brackets, no gauges and shorty mufflers.

Speed King · 12-23-2009, 07:45 AM

That thing is sweet. Nice job. ADV board is also a great resource for me as well- so much talent here, and so amazing at everyones' willingness to share their knowledge.

justJeff · 12-23-2009, 07:47 AM

That is looking really, really nice.

rkatapt · 12-23-2009, 08:09 AM

Really nice....

What is your rear tire size it looks a bit wider than the one on my R90/6.

sparkymoto · 12-23-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkatapt

Really nice....

What is your rear tire size it looks a bit wider than the one on my R90/6.

Thanks guys!

rkatapt: the tire is a 120/90 (4.00) Conti Tour. it baaaarrrely fits. Plans for tire replacement will be the Michelin Macadam 110/90 for rear (if they're still out there) and a Macadam 100/90 for the front.

sparkymoto · 12-23-2009, 08:27 AM

The inhereted tail section is nice. It’s a classy item with a great application of padding, upholstery, paint and tail light...it’s just not the style I’m going for.

After I removed the subframe, shocks and battery tray, it’s time to hack off the tabs. K&N cone carb filters will replace the need for the airbox and will make room for a monoshock set-up.

Two different shocks found on ebay will give me options: The GSXR 750 looks nice and sturdy. The Triumph Speed Four seems to have a wider range of adjustment. Trial and error...we’ll see how that goes.

rkatapt · 12-23-2009, 08:46 AM

PM Sent....

sparkymoto · 12-23-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkatapt

PM Sent....

Got it. thanks!...

MIOB · 12-23-2009, 01:15 PM

Finally, your own thread!

Looking really nice! I'm going to follow this thread closely.

bpeckm · 12-23-2009, 05:21 PM

Hey! Thanks for the "credits" and for the update... looks like a good project, good bike, and I like your sense of style and design just based on the avatar!

We'll all be watching.......

there is, as you know, a lot of satisfaction in putting together your "own" style in your own bike! Kudos

sparkymoto · 12-23-2009, 05:51 PM

@MIOB
@bpeckm

sparkymoto · 12-23-2009, 10:06 PM

Working with Adobe Illustrator, I traced the side profile of the bike and made a simple line art model that allowed dozens of tweaks before confirming the desired proportions and position of the bum stop (also roughed in the plan for the rear swingarm bracing and shock mount).

A friend of mine is an artisan when it comes to shaping aluminum. He will be sculpting the tailpiece, fabbing the subframe area, and welding/bracing up the rear swingarm and shock mount. He’s a very meticulous fabricator. I wanted to try developing my own shape for the tailpiece and he advised using 2” blue foam insulation board as the "buck" or pattern. So, I picked up a 4x8 sheet at Lowe’s and gave it a shot, check out the photos below. Tools used (as recommended): scroll saw, big toothy kitchen knife, 3” drywall screws, wood rasp and foam board glue. Fun!

wirewrkr · 12-23-2009, 10:15 PM

Looks great, but trust me, You're gonna wanna push that whole tail piece thing back at least 4 inches or more so you can actually ride it.
Robert

MIOB · 12-23-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wirewrkr

Looks great, but trust me, You're gonna wanna push that whole tail piece thing back at least 4 inches or more so you can actually ride it.
Robert

'

I don't think you have to. My tail ends at about the same length, is about the same size and my tank is even longer and I have no problems at all.

really like the lines by the way!

12-23-2009, 06:45 AM	#1
sparkymoto ^OP learning a lot here Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Indy Oddometer: 188	PROJECT: 76 R75/6 Cafe I picked up a 1976 R75/6 with a mere 100,000 miles on the ticker at the ‘09 Mid-Ohio Vintage Days. Anyone who’s been to this wonderful event knows that it’s easy to be tempted to bring home a vintage machine or two! I was hoping to find another airhead cafe project that had a little more oomph than my ‘73 R50/5. Seeing that this /6 had been spruced up here and there, it was better than a good start.The previous owner did a nice job making a cafe of his own...but I had different plans. A deal was struck and ideas were already piling up. After following some great build logs here on ADV and using them as a great source of info, i was inspired to share this story. Gotta give thanks to MIOB, bpeckm and Shmerel for posting their in-depth airhead projects that have been very helpful to me so far. MIOB’s R80: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=439120 bpeckm’s 60/6 cafe: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363638 Shmeril’s caffienated airhead: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=367419 And now of course I'll be following rkatapt's thread! more soon... __________________ . '76 BMW R75/6 Cafe Racer < build thread '72 R75/5 '70 Suzuki Titan Good Spark Garage < Rummaging Through Moto-culture - Stories, Pics, Bikes, Vids sparkymoto screwed with this post 12-30-2009 at 11:05 AM

12-23-2009, 07:34 AM	#2
sparkymoto ^OP learning a lot here Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Indy Oddometer: 188	I started googling, forum searching and ebay surfing for more info and parts resources. i had to be realistic with my somewhat limited mechanical skills; some of the mods will require a metalworker/fabricator. Most of the build will be put together on a skimpy budget with extry elbow grease and lotsa creativity. One of the first search results led me to this YouTube vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpXpizXAWCU It has a great stance and simplicity about it. I bought a similar (maybe the same) set of Dunstall style mufflers as the bike in the vid above for $60.00 on ebay. I tried a set of clubmans in place of the euro low bars but still wanted to lower the profile up front. Clip ons should do the trick, back to the internet to search. Prices were all over the place for these, but I found a set for what seemed to be nice quality for the buck. Search eBay for: CLIP ONS 35MM DUNSTALL” or find the seller, “250champ” ($75.00 set) For a more expensive option, a guy could use these: http://www.woodcraft-cfm.com/Scripts...dproduct=17773 I removed the stock headlight ears 'n' tubes and got a $13.00 set-o-brackets on ebay. They’re mounted as low as possible. Here's the bike with clip ons, new headlight brackets, no gauges and shorty mufflers. __________________ . '76 BMW R75/6 Cafe Racer < build thread '72 R75/5 '70 Suzuki Titan Good Spark Garage < Rummaging Through Moto-culture - Stories, Pics, Bikes, Vids

12-23-2009, 08:27 AM	#7
sparkymoto ^OP learning a lot here Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Indy Oddometer: 188	The inhereted tail section is nice. It’s a classy item with a great application of padding, upholstery, paint and tail light...it’s just not the style I’m going for. After I removed the subframe, shocks and battery tray, it’s time to hack off the tabs. K&N cone carb filters will replace the need for the airbox and will make room for a monoshock set-up. Two different shocks found on ebay will give me options: The GSXR 750 looks nice and sturdy. The Triumph Speed Four seems to have a wider range of adjustment. Trial and error...we’ll see how that goes. __________________ . '76 BMW R75/6 Cafe Racer < build thread '72 R75/5 '70 Suzuki Titan Good Spark Garage < Rummaging Through Moto-culture - Stories, Pics, Bikes, Vids

12-23-2009, 08:46 AM	#8
rkatapt Indo-Kraut Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Oddometer: 257	PM Sent.... rkatapt screwed with this post 12-23-2009 at 11:26 AM

12-23-2009, 01:15 PM	#10
MIOB Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: A cold, wet, flat place Oddometer: 699	Finally, your own thread! Looking really nice! I'm going to follow this thread closely. __________________ My bike blog and photography site

12-23-2009, 07:45 AM	#3
Speed King Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Omaha Oddometer: 1,347	That thing is sweet. Nice job. ADV board is also a great resource for me as well- so much talent here, and so amazing at everyones' willingness to share their knowledge.

12-23-2009, 07:47 AM	#4
justJeff Banned Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Eastern Washington Oddometer: 2,667	That is looking really, really nice.

12-23-2009, 08:09 AM	#5
rkatapt Indo-Kraut Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Oddometer: 257	Really nice.... What is your rear tire size it looks a bit wider than the one on my R90/6.

12-23-2009, 05:21 PM	#11
bpeckm Grin! Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Road Island Oddometer: 4,429	Hey! Thanks for the "credits" and for the update... looks like a good project, good bike, and I like your sense of style and design just based on the avatar! We'll all be watching.......there is, as you know, a lot of satisfaction in putting together your "own" style in your own bike! Kudos __________________ XS650 becomes a Vermont Backroader R60/6 gets caffeinated Portsmouth RI

12-23-2009, 05:51 PM	#12
sparkymoto ^OP learning a lot here Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Indy Oddometer: 188	@MIOB @bpeckm __________________ . '76 BMW R75/6 Cafe Racer < build thread '72 R75/5 '70 Suzuki Titan Good Spark Garage < Rummaging Through Moto-culture - Stories, Pics, Bikes, Vids

12-23-2009, 10:06 PM	#13
sparkymoto ^OP learning a lot here Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Indy Oddometer: 188	Tailpiece mock-up Working with Adobe Illustrator, I traced the side profile of the bike and made a simple line art model that allowed dozens of tweaks before confirming the desired proportions and position of the bum stop (also roughed in the plan for the rear swingarm bracing and shock mount). A friend of mine is an artisan when it comes to shaping aluminum. He will be sculpting the tailpiece, fabbing the subframe area, and welding/bracing up the rear swingarm and shock mount. He’s a very meticulous fabricator. I wanted to try developing my own shape for the tailpiece and he advised using 2” blue foam insulation board as the "buck" or pattern. So, I picked up a 4x8 sheet at Lowe’s and gave it a shot, check out the photos below. Tools used (as recommended): scroll saw, big toothy kitchen knife, 3” drywall screws, wood rasp and foam board glue. Fun! __________________ . '76 BMW R75/6 Cafe Racer < build thread '72 R75/5 '70 Suzuki Titan Good Spark Garage < Rummaging Through Moto-culture - Stories, Pics, Bikes, Vids

12-23-2009, 10:15 PM	#14
wirewrkr the thread-killer Joined: May 2008 Location: HIGH desert Oddometer: 4,297	Looks great, but trust me, You're gonna wanna push that whole tail piece thing back at least 4 inches or more so you can actually ride it. Robert __________________ www.wirewerkes.com KILL YOUR TELEVISION !!!!

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