Joined
·
56 Posts
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
------------------
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).]
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
------------------
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).]