Ever evolving cafe project

islanddave · Posted: March 29, 2009, 5:54 pm Post subject: Ever evolving cafe project

Hello,

I thought that i would post some pictures of my cafe. It started life as a 78 standard with 98,000 km on the clock. Slight piston knock but really nice. I tore the engine down three years ago and rebuilt it. New lower bearings, new connecting rods, new pistons and rings, rebore, new Web camshaft, camshaft bearings, high performance valve springs and retainers,new valves, vm 34mm mikunis, Shell aluminum intake runners, breather modifications with catch can and k and n filter, steering dampener,11mm master cylinder with Mikes stainless steel floating drilled disc, boyer brandson ignition,650 central oil filter modification, custom made exhaust (roadhawk megaphones with custom made baffles with stainless steel pot scrubber packing), Benelli Mojave tank, bump stop seat, battery in the bump, custom wiring loom, clipons, tac fork brace bronze swing arm bearings, tapered roller bearings in the steering head. All unnesessary bracketry has been shaved and I braced the frame in a couple of places.

It goes down the road very well. Fast for what it is. And it gets more looks than most of the newer bikes out there. It certainly is not a show bike as it has rust and chips in the paint.

The 16" rear rim and tire are from when it was a bobber. I have the spoke kit and old rim from before, but probably won't get around to re-lacing it this year.

TeeCat · Posted: March 30, 2009, 7:35 am Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

I am liking it! Smile

pablohoney · Posted: April 1, 2009, 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

Wicked!

Dunbar · Posted: April 1, 2009, 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

MN_TX650 · Full Member Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Posts: 331

I looked at a mojave tank at one point too....but how much gas does that thing hold?

islanddave · Posted: April 1, 2009, 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

Only guessing I would say about 1.5 gallons or about 7 litres for us Canucks

MN_TX650 · Full Member Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Posts: 331

i ended up going with a XS750 tank. How hard was that benelli tank to mount?

islanddave · Posted: April 1, 2009, 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

Just drilled a hole in the back bone of the frame, tapped the hole and then ran a bolt through the tank and into the frame. (The tank has a hole through the center for mounting.

Used some copper pipe insulation on the backbone of the frame to lessen the vibes and has been working well since last year.

Jeffery · Posted: April 9, 2009, 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

Where can one get a Benelli tank like that?
Jeffery

drifter · Posted: April 9, 2009, 11:23 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

Jeffery wrote:

Where can one get a Benelli tank like that?
Jeffery

They are on eBay quite often.

Dave

islanddave · Posted: April 10, 2009, 12:06 am Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

Jeffery wrote:

Where can one get a Benelli tank like that?
Jeffery

www.vintagecosmo.com/s...2fb1fe1829

NateDogg · Posted: April 20, 2009, 9:16 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

That is a cool looking bike, nicely done. I sold a 750 tank on ebay a while back, black and gold off my cafe, wonder if it went to anyone on here???

islanddave · Posted: April 22, 2009, 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

Thanks I dont know if it will ever really be done..........i will post more pics when I get the super trapps mounted.

dave

geoff1408 · Posted: May 7, 2009, 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

white wall rear tyre - nice touch , bike looks great i am jealous. geoff1408

pumps · Posted: May 7, 2009, 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

islanddave wrote:

Thanks I dont know if it will ever really be done.....

dave

Hey that's the great thing about these bikes.

Enginerd · Posted: May 13, 2009, 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

Dave,

I love the bike! I am especially interested in the seat. Did you make it, or buy it? If you bought it, can you tell me where?

islanddave · Posted: May 14, 2009, 11:58 am Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

Thanks for the compliment. It really isn't anything special there are much nicer bikes here, but thanks all the same.

The seat however is topnotch. It is very well made, strong construction yet light. The fit was excellent. The seat cover was also excellent.

Can be bought at www.hotwingglass.com

Yes they are expensive but well worth the $

yamaman · Posted: May 14, 2009, 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

islanddave wrote:

It really isn't anything special there are much nicer bikes here, but thanks all the same.

Don't be too hard on yourself Dave, it looks great!
As the great man John Britten www.britten.co.nz/ once said, "you can spend just as much time building a lemon as you can building something thats right!"

Yours looks right to me! Cheers

islanddave · Posted: May 15, 2009, 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: Ever evolving cafe project

Easy to say..............but I neither Brittens money nor his talent. But atleast I'm on the right side of the grass.

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650