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Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:59 pm
by knumbnutz
Hi everyone,
Over the course of the coming months I will be restoring the trx that I bought and creating it in to a Cafe racer.
I'll start adding pics as I go along.
Regards Neil

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 1:21 am
by knumbnutz
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Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 5:56 am
by Con Rod
nice bike to start with. look forward to the build

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:13 pm
by devlin
Good bike to start with. Where abouts are you?

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:37 pm
by knumbnutz
Hi Devlin,

Brisbane. Moving to tingalpa for a while then after our house is built, down to the upper coomera on the Gold Coast.

bought these from Japan
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Also bought a set of 41mm Keihins from the USA

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 1:15 pm
by knumbnutz
Just to show you what concept I have in mind for the bike, here are two designs which I really like

Nortons Domiracer, mainly for the pipes and tank

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I like the lightweight look of this and especially the tail section.
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I like to think that - like my Ducati - the TRX will be representative of a Cafe Racer but not classic styled, a modern design based on the classic principles of cafe racers.

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 1:21 pm
by knumbnutz
I forgot to mention here that I have a 2007 R1 front end - 5 spoke wheel, mudguard, six pot radial calipers
Also have a 2002 VFR single sided swingarm and 5 spoke rim.
Programmable ignition
Bits to get - clipons, triple clamps (maybe), seat unit

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 1:33 pm
by cobbadiggabuddyblooo
Go the green meany Neil.. :thumbright:

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:00 pm
by Tarwetijger
The Marchesini rims are very interesting as the original brake discs are fitted on them. I have never seen them before.
Do you know the width of the rear rim? Or what size rear tyre is fitted?

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:50 pm
by cobbadiggabuddyblooo
They are an older style March mag and made for the TRX back in the 90's as the speedo drive is still inplace. :wink:
I remember seeing this TRX on ebay around 3 yrs ago and first started getting interested in lighter wheels and did a little homework..

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 3:27 pm
by devlin
Im at Forest Lake. I can sense a Northern Muster brewing.

Im just starting the resassembly from bare frame. Designing yokes for a 04 R1 front end and Im getting my footpegs machined up at the same time. I was heading towards something like the green one above but have decided to save that for a from scratch bike using a VFR 800 engine.

Would like to go wire spoked wheels but may settle for some 5 spoke R1 wheels instead. Also going for 2into 1 exhaust. I bought the +2 valves which Ill use in another motor for this bike or get all the parts tigether and rebuild the current recently stock rebuilt motor.

Fun times ahead.

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:24 am
by knumbnutz
Small Update,

A set of Flatslides have turned up in the post as well as a mini rebuild kit for the top end (thanks Brian).

So For Sale are the following items -
a PAIR of Marchesini 5 spoke Wheels - Front and Rear. Once I have cleaned and checked them I will post pics, although they look dent free and and I think they will clean up fine. Included will be a set of shagged disks. Cush drive and speedo drive. Approx $750+
A pair of Factory Brembo front brake calipers and master cylinder. Approx $100-150

Rear Swingarm and all bits (except swingarm pivot bolt, shock and linkages) approx $100

Forks - these need some cleaning, oil, seals etc. approx $100

Original Carbs and Air filter - approx $100

To sell these, its simple, PM me your best price and whoever sends the highest price gets the gear. If the price is way off the ball park (see approx guess next to the items), then I reserve the right to take it to ebay. I'll close this off on 1st Nov unless an offer too good to refuse is sent. Don't worry, I am not after bucket loads, just fair market value around the approximations
I will - once I get a chance - post images once they are cleaned as they are very dirty at the moment but not damaged, chipped, dented or broken.

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 2:26 am
by slinky
Look forward to your build pics. Where did you get the rear sets from? Japanwebike.com? I'd be keen to know where you're sourcing your stuff from as I'm also planning some cafe mods.
Cheers!

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:01 am
by knumbnutz
Hi Slinky,
I sourced the rearsets from Japan. They were on eBay but I traced the place down to an online shop as well for a little cheaper than than eBay.
Really all I do is trawl eBay and the Web once I decide on a part.
You have to be opportunistic and patient.
Regards Neil

Re: Cafe racer rebuild and restoration.

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 4:42 pm
by steveng
I’m also in the middle of making a café racer from my TR, which is also a black engine/white frame Japanese import. I’m also a big fan of the Domin racer & the green TR in the
Pics u posted, and I’m also looking to mine a modern rather than classic look. At first I retained the rear mudguard and battery box, but it didn’t seem to look right, so I dumped it and welded a plate under the seat to hold the CDI,fuse box & rear harness and luckily the battery fits into the hump of the rear seat pannel I bought. I’ve also ditched the standard front mudguard and fitted a smaller cut down one, looks far better in my opinion. It now where near finished, but if u want see how it looks up to now send me your email and I'll sent you a few pics,likewise a few of yours as you progress will be welcome,
Steveng