Progress on the Next Cafe Racer

I have made little progress on the next cafe racer, I have been sidelined by a few other projects and getting ready for the cold weather. I did finish fabrication of  a tank, which is always an important step  I have a little more work to do and it will be ready for some photos.
Several of the parts are ready to go to the powder coater, and a long list of needed parts is ready to be ordered.
I have had some time to make some drawings for this project and some others that I can start after finishing this Cafe Racer.
Another CB400F Supersport has found a new home in the warehouse also. I restored a blue one in 2009 for Mid Ohio vintage days, and sold it as soon as we arrived.
The CB400 Supersport has been one of my favorites bikes since the first time I saw one.
I hope to get the parts manual for the Montesa Cappra this week also. I need a front brake assembly, a kick starter, a front fender and bracket. The manual should shed light onto the exact pieces I am looking for.



Jared Bates from Southwest Montesa sent me some photos of a completed Cappra 250 MX. I can't wait to get mine together, hopefully I can take it to Mid Ohio Vintage Days in 2011.

Start em young

We believe in starting them young in our family. This is our granddaughter, Ashley and AJs little girl Annika.

Safety First!!!!!

Important Stuff, Family

We had a great week, our son Michael and  his wife Alison are visiting from Hollister CA.

Michael and Alison

It was a great time. We went ice skating, motorcycle riding, as well as a great dinner at Chez Nora  in a cool part of Covington KY after a day trip touring the Cincinnati OH area.

Noah tearing it up

Michael enjoying a little riding time at the house.

Rebecca is ready to go for a cruise.

Saturday was spent preparing for a party for our daughter Ashley and her husband AJ. We had about 30 guests for dinner and everyone had a good time.

This is probably the last big weekend before Thanksgiving, I think everybody had a good time.

Suzuki S32 Running and Ready

The Suzuki S32 started easily after a few electrical fixes, cleaning the carbs, changing oil and freshly mixed fuel.
My son Noah is helping on this one. He kicked it two times and it started, the look on his face was priceless, he plans on making it his first project. He is 10 years old and ready for his first build. He is going to tear it down, clean and prep the parts for the painter and chrome work.If anybody is acutally reading my blog and has any info on the S32, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Bob and Noah

Suzuki S32 Makes Podium

Actually it was a bike stand. Cleaned the carbs and tracked down some wiring issues. It is now getting spark to both cylinders. I like to get the barn finds running before we go too far, just so I will get an idea on the time and money needed  to finish the project.

I have a couple more things to check then I will try to start it tomorrow. If it runs we will tear it apart and start cleaning, painting and restoring.

1971 Montesa Cappra 250MX

I have just about filled out my winter project list. I picked up my first Montesa, I had been looking for a Bultaco Pursang, when I found a Montesa. Well at least it came from Spain..

I have been busy and havent had time to post photos, but I will try to catch up with some by the weekend.


If I actually get all of these done, it will be quite a different mix of bikes.
Next spring will probably get here too quick.

1. Another CB 750Cafe Racer
2. XS650 Bobber
3. Suzuki S32-2
4. Montesa 250MX

Suzuki S32

I wasn't looking for a Suzuki S32 but when I saw it, I had to have it.
I will definitely have this one ready for next spring.
I think it is best left stock.

Enough goofing off, I need to get busy on the next cafe racer.

Vintage Luggage



Mark needed some extra storage for his trip to Barber Vintage Days.
He figured it should look vintage, so he found this trunk and we made a luggage rack.
Mark had the skull and cross bones laying around so I welded it on for good measure.

I also wired in a power port for his cell phone and MP3 player, I know it is not vintage stuff.
I hid it in a surplus military pouch,so no one will ever know.

Look for him if you happen to make it to Barber this weekend.



CB750 engine

This is the engine for my next cafe' build. This is typical of what I start with.



This is a close up of a finished product.



Side Tracked by a KO

Progress on the next cafe racer was slowed this weekend by this CB750KO, I need to finish rebuilding the front end and get it back on the road before winter. I want to ride it a little bit then maybe do a complete restoration.
Another project, a XS 650 bobber can be seen just behind the Honda.

Mark Cash  my buddy for over 25 years, and I also made a custom luggage rack to mount a small steamer trunk on his Drifter for the weekend trek to Barber Vintage Days. It turned out pretty cool. He is going to paint it tomorrow and secure the trunk. Mark and I have been building stuff together since the early 80s,
I'll get a couple of pictures of it for the next post.

This was a cool find. New in the box Free Spirit 10 speed.
I think it might be a 1974. I assembled it and rode it around the warehouse.
I think the fenders and luggage rack make the bike.Its not visible in this photo but it has a gold detail strpe on the fenders and frame. My transport for future bike shows.

Post 4 That's how I rolled today. How about you?

I was leaving the shop and just couldn't pass up this photo op.

The frame for the next project is about ready for paint, and started disassemby of the engine today.

I will post some photos this weekend.

Post 3 The beginning of another Cafe Racer

Started another cafe bike this afternoon. Stripped a 1974 CB750 down to the engine and frame, all of the parts have been grouped and put in their bins. I will pull the engine tomorrow, clean the frame and cut all the extra tabs off.
I am going to leave the passenger pegs on this one, for riding two up.
The plan is to use a stock seat, pins and latch, and an another solo section with pins and latch that can be swapped easily.

Post 2

This is another CB750 I built for Mid Ohio Vintage Days 2010.

I plan to build one more CB750 Cafe Racer this year as well as a bobber based on an XS650.

Post 1

This is the first Cafe Racer Style bike that was built by Old School Cafe Racer. We had been buying a few old bikes, fixing them up, riding them for a while. We responded to an add in Craigslist for a Honda CB750 basket case, literally in about 10 laundry baskets. It was our first CB750 ever and we decided to make a Cafe Racer out of it.
I would have to say, I enjoy working on them as much as riding.

We are going to Barber Vintage Days in October. A couplo of my friends will ride and I will trailer a few items along with Tami my wife and our two youngest kids.I might let them ride in the truck part of the way. The motorcycle bug has bitten my kids also.

I will be starting another project next week, I will post photos and an account of the progress as much as possible.