simple cafe

Ratranger · Jul 6, 2019

The whole reason to take apart brand new rfy shocks? To get rid of the nasty yellowish fluid that they have and fully fill with 10wt fork oil. You really need a bleeder to fill them all the way, so while apart spot face, drill and tap a hole on the provided boss. Now you'll have shocks with damping through the entire range, not just the first 1/3rd of travel.

Plus it's a good time to ditch the stickers, which makes them look better on the bike.

Ratranger · Jul 8, 2019

The start of making a seat. I bent a 1" tube to match the seat rails and cut it in half, next I'll make a cardboard template and transfer it to steel. The cut tube will let me clamp and bend it on the frame and have clearance between it and the frame. I'll be using a banged up tank to make the "hump".

MaxPete · Jul 9, 2019

Ratranger · Jul 15, 2019

Ok, new tires are on. Shinko 267 flat track in 27x7x19 front and rear. They were bastards to get the bead seated, but they are on. Front brake is working, rear brake needs a stay fabbed as well as a master cylinder mount. I'll probably make the master cylinder mount the spacer for the "mid-rear sets". So it's getting close, biggest things left are seat and wiring.

Ratranger · Jul 15, 2019

Here's why I keep rusty gas tanks that are banged up. They can make pretty good seat humps. It still has some trimming to go, but it's a good start for a rough cut.

halfmile · Jul 15, 2019

What a inspiring build. Great job. As I follow this build it occurs to me that I need/want a cafe racer.
P.S. If I had your mill I`d never leave the shop. :thumbsup:

Ratranger · Jul 16, 2019

Thanks! I really enjoy having the mill since I can actually make parts I want or need, rather than just hack things like I used to. It's an old Induma 1s, step pulley head, 3hp 3 phase and it could use the head bushed and line bored to tighten up the quill. Next to it you can kind of see the atlas 10" lathe, I will say that without a lathe a mill isn't as useful.

Ratranger · Jan 6, 2020

Finally some progress on this. Seat is finally going together. Some trimming left, but the pan is mostly done now.

It was on hold so I could fix an XL185 for my brother in law, and also work on an overpowered XL75 with a XR100 motor with a 120 kit, cam and outer rotor kit.

willis · Jan 7, 2020

I really like that seat you made. It is very proportionate to the form of your tank.

Ratranger · Jan 7, 2020

I would hope it matches the shape well, it is the back half of a damaged tank. Thanks, it did take a while to get it trimmed and angled where it would look right and be proportionate.

member28833 · Jan 7, 2020

Looking Good ! Like that rear wheel with the small disc
:thumbsup:

simple cafe

Ratranger

XS650 Junkie

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Ratranger

XS650 Junkie

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MaxPete

Lucille, Betty, Demi, Gretel & Big Sue money pits.

Ratranger

XS650 Junkie

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Ratranger

XS650 Junkie

halfmile

XS Builder

Ratranger

XS650 Junkie

Ratranger

XS650 Junkie

willis

xsive compulsive disorder

Ratranger

XS650 Junkie

member28833

Race the wind

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