CafeMotard

Well, here's the progress of my current build. Started out as a bone-stock '86 YZ490 and with a little luck it wont resemble one at all when I'm done

Here's a stock showroom pic:


After the "Cafe" treatment....anything not needed removed and rotated bars.



This is a mock up of the final goal for the ride height. It's about 5" lower than stock.



Lighting coil and misc. electrical parts were ordered today, so I'm hoping to get the electrical done next weekend.

ConradM

Man those are some nice pictures.

CafeMotard

Oh yeah....Thank You for the pictures Conrad

CafeMotard

Hooked up the tail/brake lights this afternoon.

Zed6E

you must have a nice camera!! HAHAHAHAHA

ConradM

CBRF2Old

That is a slick looking bike! Definitely different take as a Cafe bike.
You need to put some kind of stubby fender out the back to smooth up the lines of it. Have you given any thought to that?

e11charlie

Fenders are for old guys and sukkas Karl. Kidding. I have to agree with you about the fender Karl. Maybe even just a small one. The project and creativity is awesome. Keep the pics and progress coming.

MtnPwnd

Love all things cafe. I'll be starting one sometime soon. Good job on the project man!

JamesD

jmho - I vote flat tracker seat/fender. But doesn't matter, is awesome.

CafeMotard

I agree with you guys that the back needs something.... Not quite sure what I'm going to do though. I've been toying with the idea of pairing up a set of shorty silencers and mounting them under the seat in between the tail lights. I just dont know about any clearance issue with the rear tire. I dont need the 12.6" of wheel travel, so I could add a little length to the bump stop bushing to stop it right before it touches the silencers. That would still give to 4-5" of suspension travel after it's lowered...

CBRF2Old

Do you still have the original rear fender? If you aren't saving it for anything, hack it down so it only sticks out about 3 or 4 inches. You just need something to flow out the back so that it doesn't look like it was chopped off right there.

@E11Charlie...Old guys know how to complete a project with style. We have years of experience hacking things up.

BuellCru

I would try to find a Kuba Link and drop the rear and then take the forks in to a suspension shop and have them cut the tubes down and drop in shorter springs to lower the front to a more level stance.

BuellCru

What about something like this? It would be nice to shorten, cup and re-wrap the seat and the have someone make a sheet metal pan for the tail that could integrate the lights.

CafeMotard

Here's the inspiration for the build. Both bikes were built by Roland Sands Design. The first pic is kinda my goal for the first phase of the bike.



This bike would be the ultimate goal for my bike. I found a seat pan that is reall close to this one, but the tank is another story. I'd have to find somebody to make me a custom one.

CafeMotard

I'm going to just get shorter springs. The stock shocks are kinda hard to come by, so I really dont want to do anything like cutting the tubes. The mock up photos Conrad took were with the front lowered 5 inches and the rear shock compressed 2 inches from normal. I also want to up the spring rate a little bit so it doesn't dive so bad under hard braking.
As far as the rear goes, I haven't been able to find links anywhere. The links aren't straight/flat like the new bikes. They are offset half their width from the pivot points. I found a place that will make custom springs, so I think that'll be the easiest route to lower the rear.

MtnPwnd

Cafe, I am now living vicariously through you and your cafe build. When you get it done, let me know, I'll hopefully have my hawk done by then and we can admire each other's work. That bike with the Dunlop tires is beautiful.

CafeMotard

Look what the UPS man left at my door!!!

lostzerocool

That is a cool project!

CafeMotard

Update: Lights are done!!! Although I had to abandon LED tail/barke idea since I wasn't paying attention when I ordered the voltage regulator (meant to get rectifier/regulator, but failed and got the wrong part ) Also think I figured the rear end dilemma.... Now I just need to figure the front out. I was going to run w/o a front, but according to the Idaho DOT book, "A motorcycle must have a front and rear fender." So as much as I want to tell "The Law" to for now I'll follow the rules.... I put the front back on to see if there's any way to trim it to make it look good. If not, I'll have to order one.

LckyTylr

I LIKE THAT!!!!

Really well done.

I think we should come up with a new motorcycle category, with sportbikes, cruisers, tourers, sport tourers, baggers, bobbers, nakeds, motards . . . . . . why not add one more. What should we call that thing?

How about Classitard or Rattard.. Kinda like a motard but with more age and character.

CafeMotard

After looking at a diagram of the front forks, I noticed a 4in. spacer on top of the fork springs........figured out the front end w/o having to spend big coin! Here's a shot of the ride height with me on it.


And here's a little teaser

ConradM

Just throw some clip-ons on that bad boy and you'll be set.

Oh and get rid of all that white.

MtnPwnd

I wonder what my Hayabusa front end would look like on that thing...

CafeMotard

...you could donate it to the cause and see for sure what it looks like.....just sayin......