Best modern bike to make a cafe racer

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deejizzle

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Hoping to get some input here. Just planning ahead. I've always had my heart set out on a cafe racer, but I think the pains of having a pre 90s (usually even pre 80s) bike would probably make it a hassle to buy parts and what not. Just wondering what your input was and maybe as a community we can have a good conversation here. Here are some of the rules:

- 1990 and above
- any type of bike (HD, sportsbike, etc)
- does not have to require modding (ie: the new Norton Commando's cafe racers are SHMEXY)

For my purposes, a large tank for travelling would be a plus, fuel injected would be great to but then I would imagine that would keep the bikes post 2000s (correct me if I'm wrong here). Feel free to add pictures to prove your point.

My input so far is an sv650 cafe'd. (im pretty sure its an sv, the framing looks about right)

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9370/cafesv036es.jpg

im unsure on how to show pictures in post, so please excuse my noobness.
 
Triumph Thruxton, cafe right from the factory, though there's plenty of aftermarket parts and mods to make it yours. 2008 and up are EFI. The tank is on the small side; I can get about 250km per tank.
 
Triumph Thruxton or Bonneville T100, 2000-2003 Kawasaki W650, Suzuki TU200, Motto Guzzi V7, Cleveland Cyclewerks "Tha Misfit". Any of these would work. You didn't specify engine size, so I included the TU and Misfit just in case. Harder to find bikes from the 90's and newer that can be made to look "cafe" due to the sportier tanks and especially the rear ends of those bikes. I believe the term is "street fighter" when you start stripping modern bikes and customizing them.
 
Factory cafe

Royal-Enfield.jpg


http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/02/06/royal-enfield-factory-cafe-racer/
 
Everyone has already chimed in, but the Triumph Thruxton and Bonnvilles are sexy machines.

If I didn't have my Gladius (sfv650) I'd have one of them. The glady's make for a good mod-able street fighter.
 
I can't believe I'm saying this but EX500. After seeing them run vintage races @ Mosport I'd have to say Ninja 500 if budget is a concern. I'd want to see beefy late model forks c/w pie plate brakes on it tho. That would be a large part for looks, not needed if riding the "Pace" on street.
 
BNKN said:
I can't believe I'm saying this but EX500. After seeing them run vintage races @ Mosport I'd have to say Ninja 500 if budget is a concern. I'd want to see beefy late model forks c/w pie plate brakes on it tho. That would be a large part for looks, not needed if riding the "Pace" on street.
Click to expand...

I'm gunna have to replace that with a gs500. My buddy got into a couple of scrapes and its kinda like a cafe minus the black. Not fuel injected but for looks and something more into the sport category, I think this qualifies as a old conversion as well.

I'm loving what you guys have to say. I wish I could get something factory that has the cafe look.

I agree that newer bikes tend to be more street fighter, and it'll be hard to define between the 2, but in my eyes, clip ones to arch that back, stripped down to the bare essentials, and the classic black make a cafe racer.
 
A lot of those bikes don't have plates or taillights. Unless those are included on the bike when pictured then they are just a pipe dream.
 
bringing back this thread because its somewhat related. Whats peoples newer opinion on Cleveland Cyclewerks (CCW), more specficially tha misfit. thinking of picking it up, wondering if anything has changed over a year span (ive read the comments and opinions on GTAM from last year).
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