Flapper Goes Cafe

[coxylaad]

http://trx850caferacer.com/

[cal]

Well, Stank Me Ol' Son, Hats off to you, I think you may have gathered by now by all the comments you really have built a truly superb bike, I dont think any one has mentioned the build time though, I am applauding you for your single minded gotta get on with ma bike......?......wtf......bikerness! You really did rattle it off quick style with awesome results. Do not look up the definition for procrastination in the dictionary, its not good and you obiously dont know the meaning of the word!
But... as Ltnt Columbo used to say Just one more thing, about the seat frame, Chop chop! What would be really nice on a cafe racer (might be yours, might not be!) would be if the seat frame was to follow the base of the seat all the way around, and the supporting curved section from the cast ali frame /swingarm mount to where it joins the under seat rail, was to do away with the curve section above the exhaust bracket and to follow a straighter line towards the back of the bike, or a bit longer and then a tighter curve up but definatly much much more towards the back of the seat unit. In my veiw it would give a cleaner more factory produced look.
Well thats my thoughts on it anyway But it is your bike And I am sure that you spent enough on it already and just want to hear that low end crack up the revs as you short shift it up the gears, followed by dropping a couple and nailing it when the road opens......Audio Bliss ... (nice name for a band).

Nice BIke!Awesome Job!

[Stankflapper]

Thanks Cal for the pat on the back, and I do take your frame mods on board. It probably would have added a bit to the aesthetics, but for the rooting around involved, its comes under the spoke wheels category I feel. Yes I seem to race into my garage when I get home and stay there till I feel like I am making too many mistakes. Really these are a easy little bike to work on, and nothing throws too many headaches in front of you doing a reasonably simple build like this.. Trouble is now its is all but finished I need another project and sort of thinking a streetfighter for a bit of fun. The sad thing was after many beers last Saturday night I sat in front of my computer and bought a complete front end off a Hayabusa cheap from USA... Now I sorta want to build a bike around it..ha,ha

[kim]

Well that's what happens if you don't look at the thread for a few weeks. Impressive effort and attention to detail, fantastic.

Kim

[rjen]

that's exactly what I need! Do you have any details of how I might get my hands on one?

[Mincehead]

Send a pm to the member on here called Twig :

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2756

[rjen]

I actually meant just the alloy chain guard. I've already got the bike!
I obviously posted in reply to the wrong thing! It's been a long day!

[Mincehead]

Ahhh right Stank will be along to tell you if another would be available I`m sure.

[Stankflapper]

The chain guard was actually folded up from stainless steel. Any metal work shop can do it easily and cheap. Take your old plastic one in and draw the modifications on it , that was all I did as I wanted it shorter and a few holes cut into it.

[rjen]

Cheers! Love your bike by the way.
I'm actually considering running without a guard for a 'harder' look.
It's great to have a TRX again after a few years without one. I'll post up some pics soon. the majority of the hard work has been done by the last owner. I'm just putting the finishing touches on it!

[rct]

Also, I had the engine totally out the bike and supported on a rod through the front belly-pan mounts and on axle stands so I could pretty much rotate it forwards/backwards loads to get in all the nooks and crannies.

could you please explain what you did with this as i need to paint my engine and dont want to take it out of the bike.
i was wondering if you could just undo the top mount bolts and then just tilt the engine forward and down.
any help pointers would be great trixy.
many thanks RCT

[trixynut]

Mate,
I dont think it would work without also taking the pipes off, disconnecting the carbs, maybe fuel lines and some wiring too?
Maybe better to try to paint it as it is in the bike, after some careful cleaning and masking-off.
Personally, I would drop it right out.

[rct]

Mate,
I dont think it would work without also taking the pipes off, disconnecting the carbs, maybe fuel lines and some wiring too?
Maybe better to try to paint it as it is in the bike, after some careful cleaning and masking-off.
Personally, I would drop it right out.

ok thanks for the info, will try the tin foil masking 'tape' and take my time.
RCT

[tz8nnx]

very late picking up on this build Stank, sorry. I had an idea though.. how about blanking out the underseat with sidepanels like early in the thread but instead on mounting them outside the tubes, mounted inside (if they'll fit) and painted either matt/Satin Black or the same blue? It is a truely lovely TRX, and I'll at the very least copy what you did with the fork slders - that's absolutely awesome.
One quick question.. are those Mikuni Flatslides in the pictures or the standard Mikuni 38 CVs?
Good to see positive comments for a change on Chinese Disks and rearsets.. go to any US based forum and all you seem to hear is "don't touch anything from China"..

[Stankflapper]

very late picking up on this build Stank, sorry. I had an idea though.. how about blanking out the underseat with sidepanels like early in the thread but instead on mounting them outside the tubes, mounted inside (if they'll fit) and painted either matt/Satin Black or the same blue? It is a truely lovely TRX, and I'll at the very least copy what you did with the fork slders - that's absolutely awesome.
One quick question.. are those Mikuni Flatslides in the pictures or the standard Mikuni 38 CVs?
Good to see positive comments for a change on Chinese Disks and rearsets.. go to any US based forum and all you seem to hear is "don't touch anything from China"..

Thanks mate, I did think about the side panels as you can see in the early pics, but I think the open look suits the cafe style better. Yeh funny how people thing alloy from China is different..hahah.