The guide to build a low -budget racer motorcycle coffee

Construction guide for a tight budget racer café.

Cafe Racer is a personalized type of motorcycle. The Café Racer movement was born in the 1960s or English made coffee races in coffee.

To avoid surprises, we advise you to start by best defining your project in order to have a global vision. Using the following different steps, you can refine your project.

Step 1: Define your budget 

There are two elements to take into account before having a figure in mind:

• We often underestimate the cost and the work to achieve
• We necessarily go Forgotten an element in the calculation.

Once this awareness, we can count on a budget with a safety margin. The budget will balance between the price of the basic motorcycle and the work / parts to be made on it. 

Step 2: Choose the motorcycle

This is a crucial step in the realization of your preparation.

To stay within a small budget, we will start from a base requiring few modifications to be transformed into Cafe Racer Motorcycle.

The base must be a something, A style to be brought to the preparation. 

It is relevant to choose a Motorcycle of the late 80s and 90 years. It is possible to have a rolling base in a very correct condition of € 1,000 to 2000 €.

According to step 1, it is better to spend a little more from the start to avoid high costs later.

For our choices, we have opted for Japanese motorcycles after 1980. They offer pleasure, reliability and are ideal for creating superb cafes.

Here is a selection of motorcycles to make you happy:

CX650 & GL650: A motorcycle much appreciated in preparation. We love are mythical engine. We like the rear loop and the climbing coast less. 

(Source: cyclechaos.com)

In the Honda, you can also choose a Honda CB.

XJ650 & XJ900: A reliable and robust motorcycle. Easy to find. We like the possibilities it offers. We like the original tank less.

(Source: zombdrive.com)

Kawasaki Z 650 & Z 750: The universal Japanese motorcycle. We love its original tank and its rims. Rare at less than 2000 € in an acceptable state.

(Source: zombdrive.com)

You also have to look at the unfinished or "missed" preparations which can give rise to good deals:

(Source: leboncoin.fr)

The list is not exhaustive and only corresponds to our aspirations.

You must also choose a motorcycle corresponding to your license (A2 permit, A license)

Step 3: The schedule

"Hope is not a strategy, make a plan"

At the same time as the definition of the budget, it is advisable to plan the work to be carried out.

We often forget that the preparation of a Racer coffee motorcycle takes more time than expected, especially with the outside unforeseen events.

Depending on the preparation, it is reasonable to prepare A motorcycle in 6 to 12 months.

Step 4: Parts and materials

The first step to revise the motorcycle if it has not been done.

Given the limited budget, the purpose of keeping the most elements Without impacted the look and safety. 

Here are the basic elements that will transform your motorcycle into Racer coffee:

- A CAFE RACER MOTO saddle

- A back loop

- A round lighthouse

- A LED rear light

- Indicators

- Air filters

- Bracelet handlebars

- A CAFE RACER exhaust

With these basic elements and depending on your budget, you can push the preparation by changing the following parts:

• meters
• handles
• wing mirror
• reservoir
• etc

Do not hesitate to ask your friends, the network of friends Help a lot in the realization of preparation.

We often know someone to weld the rear loop and another for painting, which saves money.

Step 5: Preparations

Your project is clear, the motorcycle has arrived in your garage, it's time to attack!

You will have the satisfaction of the work carried out If you take photos regularly photos.

To start, we dismantle the motorcycle by removing as many parts as possible. This allows you to clean or repaint the frame and the different parts.

The best solution is expose the framework, of to clean And tidy the elements to facilitate the next reassembly.

Step 6: Cutting the framework

Here, we cut the frame if we add a loop, and we remove the unnecessary parts like the supports and the appendages.

This step is not compulsory, it depends on the parts to be installed and if you want an advanced preparation.

Indeed, the installation of a Racer Motorcycle Café saddle will require a new loop and supports to welcome it. The beam may require new storage under the saddle. 

Once the elements have been removed, We move on to the installation of new elements. It's time to take out the welding iron or call your plumber friend. 

The loop is placed according to the future saddle. We place the various supports. 

Step 7: Painting, repair or simple cleaning.

Depending on what you have done in the previous step, a simple cleaning may be enough to a complete epoxy paint. 

After painting the frame, we go to the other parts such as the fork sheaths, the accessories, and the wheels.

It is the same for the tank, which you have chosen. A little putty and interior protection is enough to refurbish a used tank, ready to drive for a long time.

For painting, there are quality bombs these days in order to do professional work. It is advisable to be patient and carry out all the steps (sanding, primer, painting) the most carefully in order to have a perfect result. 

Example of a red thermo paint for the bobber of a customer.

For an optimal result, you can go through a pistol paint or an epoxy paint.

This step can be laborious, it may be wise to direct you to a professional according to your desire and budget.

Once the painting has been made, it is necessary protect The parts as much as possible so as not to damage them during reassembly.

Step 8: Removers

THE reassembly is the most excited step, we see the work done for months and our imagined project, merged before our eyes.

Here is the example of Gannet Design:

Drawing :

To the result:

Normally, with the white test, the reassembly goes smoothly.

You have to try not to forget about parts, screws or nuts. This could have dangerous consequences.

Once the reassembly is finished, we checked That all the elements work before doing a road test. We make the levels and run the engine. 

Step 9: It's the big day

And here it is, the cafe racer is ready, Your CAFE RACER. You can be proud.

You have just built a Café Racer, Your own creation, unique And that will teach you a lot.

It may be difficult, but it's time to start enjoying your Cafe Racer Motorcycle.

And why not, start on a new project.