[motorcyclerider]

In the late 60's and early 70's in the USA, the first large Japnese bikes like the CB750 and KZ900 came out as "standards" or the UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle). Some were left alone, some added large fairing, saddle bags, ect. to make into tourers.

Basicly there was no "production sportbikes" as we know them today, a rider took a standard (American, British, Japanese, ect.), change to low drag or clubman type handlebar, added a quarter fairing and either store bought or homemade "rearset" pegs and a 4 into 1 exahust system.

This was the set up for the basic "Cafe Racer", some went further with motor mods, steel braided brake lines, ect. A lot of the "modified" parts had to come from Europe, as they have been "road racing" long before the USA. It would not be till the middle to late 70's that the manufacture's decided to build purpose built sporting production machines for the consumer and there were only a few at first so with the huge amounts of UJM's that sold, building up Cafe Racers was a strong business/hobby for a long time!

The url's below is a example of a Yamaha XS650 standard and a Kawasaki 79 KZ750, turned into a period caferacer!

http://britrider.tripod.com/caferacer4.jpg

http://britrider.tripod.com/KZ750-79aft.jpg
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BJ Ondo, "Old Fart"
Colorado
1980 GS1100E Suzuki
"The 1980's Hyabusa"

[This message has been edited by motorcyclerider (edited July 17, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by motorcyclerider (edited July 17, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by motorcyclerider (edited July 17, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by motorcyclerider (edited July 18, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by motorcyclerider (edited July 18, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by motorcyclerider (edited July 18, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by motorcyclerider (edited July 19, 2000).]

 

[FZR400Tony]

bj,

i love old cafe racers. there's a local guy with an rd400 daytona special that has clubman bars, solo tail, braided lines expansion chambers. it's so cool.

this is a killer forum. i just never thought of my fzr as a classic.

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Tony

the views and opinions expressed by tony (cbrf2boy) are the ramblings of a total idiot. sbw.com, it's administrators, moderators, and members don't necessarily agree with and are not responsible for anything this idiot has to say.

 

[motorcyclerider]

cbrf2boy, you are soooooo right my friend, most of today's riders on the street couldn't get the "full" usage of power and abilities of 10 year old sportbikes much rather the production superbikes of the year 2000!!

Guys like Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Freddy Spenser would have "Killed" to have there early 80's Superbikes work as good as a year 2001 Yamaha R1 in stock trim. These guys started there racing history on bikes like the CB1100F/KZ1000R/GS1000ES with tublar frames, that flexed madly and tires that where "years" behind in stick and grip, next to the tires all new 2000 sportbikes have as OEM equiptment!!

The older motors were probably close in 80's Superbike build but the frames, tires, suspension, ect. would be considerd "JUNK" by todays modern production sportbikes. It's truely amazing how far sport bikes have come in basicly 20 short years

So "RESPECT" that modern sportbike you have under you, the next time you decide to play "ricky racer" with your buds and thank the "racers" of the past for giving you such sweet machines to carve that perfect twisty road with!!


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BJ Ondo, "Old Fart"
Colorado
1980 GS1100E Suzuki
"The 1980's Hyabusa"

 

[motorcyclerider]

Well maybe in some line of bikes a 88 model won't be a classic but since they don't make the "FZR400" anymore and sportbikes become "outdated" as fast as computers these day's, that's why I decided to go all the way to pre-1990's.

I remember well the debute of the FZR400, with it's alum. Delta box frame, small size and great motor, it was a instant hit with the local road racing crowd!! Now the problem with USA is that we have such a "Bigger is Better" mindset that the "400" didn't sell well and "not as advanced" FZR600 was brought in to replace the FZR400.



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BJ Ondo, "Old Fart"
Colorado
1980 GS1100E Suzuki
"The 1980's Hyabusa"

 

[tigerblade]

There is a short article in one of the new issue of Cycle World with a Norton Manx conversion for 70-78 Yamaha 650 twins. I must have one!

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"We don't got any beers. We got tequila, it's like beer."

 

[FZR400Tony]

it's funny, but just like computers most people can't use what they have, but they still want more. (that's kind of funny coming from a guy with a new gsxr, huh?)

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Tony

the views and opinions expressed by tony (cbrf2boy) are the ramblings of a total idiot. sbw.com, it's administrators, moderators, and members don't necessarily agree with and are not responsible for anything this idiot has to say.

 

[Guest]

AMEN!!!

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Hello I ride a motorcycle, please cut me off!

 

[tigerblade]

I agree totally! I know that there are guys around here that could whip my @ss if they were on an EX500 and I was on my RR! IMHO, a poorer bike may make a better rider...

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"It depends on what part of the country you're standin' in as to just how dumb you are."

 

[FZR400Tony]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by motorcyclerider:
Guys like Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Freddy Spenser would have "Killed" to have there early 80's Superbikes work as good as a year 2001 Yamaha R1 in stock trim. These guys started there racing history on bikes like the CB1100F/KZ1000R/GS1000ES with tublar frames, that flexed madly and tires that where "years" behind in stick and grip, next to the tires all new 2000 sportbikes have as OEM equiptment!!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

i read an interview w/ lawson or spenser talking about how they used to bend the bars just turning the old superbikes.

i love the formula extreme class, it reminds me what superbikes should be. production-based nasty bikes (sorry, but the r7 isn't production).

and tiger, you can see ex500's stomp 900rr's at any penguin school. it's amazing, to watch an ex pass a 750 at the end of the straight because of the big corner speed difference a good rider can pull.

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Tony

the views and opinions expressed by tony (cbrf2boy) are the ramblings of a total idiot. sbw.com, it's administrators, moderators, and members don't necessarily agree with and are not responsible for anything this idiot has to say.

 

[R1tmaker]

kenny,Eddie,Fredie

these guys were riding bikes that were much more powerful than todays modern liter bikes in a 500cc form for instance in 1980 honda had an RC30 which made 245hp in an endurance bike they would not revel the power of the sprint model. A tz 500 was in a similar power range the biggest diff. was these bikes handled like SHIT compared to todays sport bikes tires sucked and riders had much bigger balls just to ride one of them let alone race 1. I had an rd 400 and thought it was the best thing on two weels blowing away 750 4 cyl. and even smoking 1000cc v twins however i now own a 06 r1 it si so much more powerful and handles like it has claws in the road.

 

[Xx954HxCafexX]

i used to daily my cb550 cafe racer, and i rode her very hard, and delt with things like my crappy flexy front fork, poop frame and swingarm, tiny tires, crap brakes. but it was all fun and i still love my old bike and wouldnt mind owning many more, but the day i got my gsxr , everything i ever wanted on 2wheels.

 

[foyejstuart]

Cafe racing is happens in late 60's and it is great for all the motorcycle lovers and make them happily. Doing racing with cafe bikers are really amazing and they touch the limit of speed with it.