[motorcyclerider]

Starting in the late 70's, the motorcycle manufacture's noticed that "cafe racers" were gaining popularity and decided to start producing factory versions. Here is an example of the "evolution of the factory cafe racer, using Kawasaki motorcycles:

britrider.tripod.com/Z1R.jpg

This is the Kawasaki ZR-1 (1000), with 4 into one exhaust, quarter fairing, superbike bars, ect. (1978)

britrider.tripod.com/Z1000R.jpg

This is the Kawi Z1000R, ELR (Eddy Lawson Replica) that won the 82 AMA Superbike Championship for Kawasaki. (1982)

britrider.tripod.com/GPZ1100.jpg

This GPZ1100 was basicly the last "cafe racer" styled machine (1983-1985), next came the full faired sportbike "Kawasaki Ninja Series.

All this evolved from the "Standard" or Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM) and was constanly being developed and refind by Superbike Racing.

Not to forget, that during the late 70's and early 80's "Yamaha and Suzuki" were still working with "Two-Stroke" machines! These bikes absolutely killed the stranglehold that the European manufacture's had on winning road races both in the USA and Abroad.

http://britrider.tripod.com/Gamma250-87.jpg

A Euro/Canada spec 87 Suzuki 250 Gamma Two-Stroke.

http://britrider.tripod.com/RZ500_4.jpg

Yamaha's RZ500 Two-stroke, in the USA the Kenny Roberts Replica RZ350 and later RZ400 were awsome street/race replica's and were the last of the "2-stroke" street bikes. Truely a sad event, JMHO.

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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 20, 2000).]

 

[motorcyclerider]

Now not to seem totally biased toward the Japanese machines, here are two very sweet factory production cafe racers from BMW and Ducati from the same time period.

http://britrider.tripod.com/77-R100S.jpg

A little know fact is that the "first AMA sponserd Superbike race at Daytona was won by Reg Pridmore (CLASS School)on a 73 R90S BMW Aircooled twin!! Above is a sweet 77R100S cafe racer.

http://britrider.tripod.com/750sport.jpg

The racing bike as a "art form" known as Ducati, started way before the present day 996! Take a look at the lines of this early 70's 750super sport duc!



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