How much cash are you going to dump in that thing?

Cafe_Shop

Just curious to know if I'm the only fool putting every penny I don't have into my bike.

I'm only at $2K now, but it looks like it will be just shy of 6 when I foresee completion. I know I can buy a new bike for that much, but if I bought a new bike I'd be putting money into it to customize it anyway. Plus I'd wince at cutting brackets off an expensive new bike frame. I think I've seen guys in magazines with $20K+ in their hayabusas.

So is $6K so bad for a better than new cafe racer? Please post what you think.

Wulf

Hey guy. Wow! 6k is a bit o change there. Yes it is cheaper than a new bike, but I'm curious about where all that is going. Could ya give us a breakdown on it?
Wulf

Cafe_Shop · Posted: June 16, 2006, 4:40 pm Post subject: The breakdown

Well as I said It will be a better than new bike when I'm finished. The easiest way to brake it down is to say I'm replacing or modifying every component on the bike.

Starting from the front...
$300 - Complete rebuild of forks: springs, seals, billet fork brace, air shock conversion, etc.
$1500 - Front and rear wheels: 18" aluminum rims with stainless spokes from Buchanan's, wave disk brakes, rebuilt calipers, Avon Supervenom tires
$300 - Controls: clip-ons with Honda VFR levers, stainless brake & clutch lines, internal throttle, bar end mirror, steering damper
$250 - 1966 Yamaha YA6 tank with Earl's stainless fuel lines. (I bought this a while ago for a Virago chopper project yet to be completed.)
$1000 - Engine mods: VFR hydraulic clutch mod, spin-on oil filter, high volume oil pump, 36mm Mikuni VM carbs, X-pipe exhaust
$800 - Rear End: braced and 1.5" extended swingarm, front wheel to rear conversion kit, bronze bushings, 14" shocks, rear disk brake components
$250 - Powdercoated frame & swingarm
$300 - Hand made fiberglass cafe tail, leather seat, strobing LED cat's eye tail light, Ducati Monster turnsignals (the cool special order aluminum ones)
$800 - Initial bike cost

These are rounded off numbers from the spreadsheet I have of all the parts'n'stuff I'm puttin into the bike. It only totals $5500 but I didn't list little bits here and there, and the engine stand I just bought. I'll probably do a bottom up rebuild on the engine too. That will be at least $500.

kingwj · Last edited by kingwj on June 16, 2006, 9:37 pm; edited 1 time in total

That's quite a list. Keeping it a 650? I have a set of Tommaselli clip ons that are period correct bought in 1976 for my R90S Beemer. When you are at that point give me a call if you are interested. This bike sounds like it is worthy.

Cafe_Shop · Posted: June 16, 2006, 7:30 pm Post subject: Back on subject

Those are pretty nice, but the ones I have will allow me to use my custom machined tubes for an internal throttle.

Back to the question...

What is everybody else spending on their bikes?

kingwj

I bought mine for $1000. Stone stock 79. Put around 100 into NOS chrome bits. I had it repainted for 225 and the original decals put another 60 on the tab. Dual disk setup added about $50. Next is new head pipes for 180. I recently learned on my last oil change the cam chain guides are coming apart so the motor will be coming out. At that point I may have the frame blasted and powder coated. I am absolutely happy with the stock bike and although a bit more power would be nice I don't think I can justify the expense of 750 kit, cam and carbs.

Cafe_Shop

You forgot the $50 your going to spend on redwings.
I'm contemplating a rephased 750 for next year. Yeah, another $1250!

kingwj

I already paid for the shocks. They should be waiting for me when I get home from Sweden! I also forgot the battery for $29. I have sticker shock thinking about 6000 into a XS650, especially when your list makes it look so easy to spend that kind of money. I paid $3430 for my new BMW R90S in 1974 and still base all my pricing thoughts on that bike. I look on Ebay from time to time for an R90 and they are going for like 9 grand in very good condition. Interesting thing inflation.

Cafe_Shop

Yeah, I ponyed up $60 for a sealed battery from Mikes so I could lay it on it's side inside the tail.

grizld1

Don't even want to add up what I have in my scoot; and what's the point of that, after all? In my budget, the bikes are listed as "Entertainment," and I don't get those items mixed up with the ones listed as investments. I put a couple thousand a year into the hobby, and unlike most of the stuff folks do for fun, there's something to show for it when I'm done.

Sounds like you have a good plan going, but have you checked out RaceTech emulator valves? I installed them in my XS650 and my SV650 Zook a couple of years ago, and they perform as advertised--way better damping response than the old Minton mods.

Cafe_Shop

I just looked into them. I'll add those to my list too. At only $160 why not?

grizld1

Why not indeed? For what they do the emulator valves are dirt cheap. Noticed you were converting the rear to disk brake and evidently moving a front hub to the rear to accomplish that. I assume you're doing that to cut unsprung weight, since the rear drum unit does an adequate job. What kind of weight reduction do you anticipate?

Cafe_Shop

I have no idea. I actually got a deal on the braced swing arm that was for a disk brake wheel. I'm just dead set on having wire wheels and unfortunately Yamaha did not make a rear wire wheel with a disk.

Fuzzy · Posted: June 30, 2006, 4:33 pm Post subject: Re: Back on subject

Cafe_Shop wrote:

Those are pretty nice, but the ones I have will allow me to use my custom machined tubes for an internal throttle.

Back to the question...

What is everybody else spending on their bikes?

Hmmm.... I don't even dare to add it all up, and I'm just in the planning stage...
aybe it has something to do with me living in the most expensive country in the world when it comes to anything with an engine in it?

I can't wait to see some pics of your bike Cafe_shop!
--Fuzzy

grizld1

You might be able to save a few bucks, C_Shop. If that swingarm's set up for the stock disk brake wheel you can fit a stock spoked drum brake wheel in it; running a stay for the drum brake's no big deal, and if your frame doesn't have a pivot for the brake rod actuator arm, that's easy too.

mo650chopper

Cafe_Shop wrote:

Yeah, I ponyed up $60 for a sealed battery from Mikes so I could lay it on it's side inside the tail.

Is it the same physical size as the original battery or smaller?

Cafe_Shop

To be honest, I don't know. When I bought the bike it did not have a battery. I don't know if it would fit in the battery cage or not. The cage was one of the first things i got rid of when I striped my bike. I would check with heymeng. The battery on his cafe looks pretty small.

mo650chopper

Any chance of getting some measurements? I'm in process of building a chopper frame and need to fashion a battery box / holder of some kind. I was looking at running a smaller lead / acid but was concerned about having enough cranking power for the electric start.

Cafe_Shop

130mm x 85mm x 160mm or about 5.12" x 3.25" x 6.3"

Wulf

I'm running the AGM (Absorbant Glass Matt) sealed battery in mine and yes it is the stock battery size. 50-60 bucks is about average for one. One of the biggest advantages to this type of battery is that it is precharged right out of the box, has a shelf life of 3 years in the box. It will only lose about 1-3% of charge per month just sitting in the bike as opposed to about 15% loss of charge per month on a lead acid battery. So if you're not inclined to start your bike to keep the battery charged or keep a trickle charger on regularly during those long winter months then the AGM is the best way to go. Actually imho it's the best way to go regardless of the circumstances and the few dollars more in initial cost will save you money and time in the long run.
Wulf

mo650chopper

Cafe_Shop wrote:

130mm x 85mm x 160mm or about 5.12" x 3.25" x 6.3"

Thanks Cafe_Shop, Wulf

Cafe_Shop

grizld1 wrote:

You might be able to save a few bucks, C_Shop. If that swingarm's set up for the stock disk brake wheel you can fit a stock spoked drum brake wheel in it; running a stay for the drum brake's no big deal, and if your frame doesn't have a pivot for the brake rod actuator arm, that's easy too.

Well, I'm taking your advice. Turns out it'll save me about a grand in parts / mods to stick with a drum brake. Thanks.

KYLEPRESTON

AND I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY CRAZY ONE.
I had the bright Idea, to sell my nice reliable ride a 1982 yamaha virago 11,00 miles burned a little oil but alway started (with that virago grind) and off I went to by a frame. I have always been wanting a cafe racer, since I can remember seeing my first race up in New Hampshire back in the late 80's.
My cousin said by one we can build it up, cheep. Right there I should have said "NO". Well It has been almost 8 months since I got my titled 1973 TX650 frame from Oklahoma for $175 and a bottle of Jack. I have to put in a side note that my cousin does work part time for a motorcycle salvage guy. So having said that, I have been able to try out different parts and see what works without much effort. I should think I am only $650 and 2 bottles of Jack into this project I have a rolling frame with a honda cd550 tank stock rear mount from a 79 donor bike( tank was crushed). a tx750 seatpan cut down and fit to the frame. and a front fender of a 76 gs500 looks very nice. A set of fj1200 1983 full floating front rotors, they are exact dimentions of stock rotos for my 73, I have an engine from a 79 donor, still need to rebuild. I am running the swing arm from the 79, it's 2 inches longer than the 73 I figure with my 13.5 inch set of shocks and bronze bushings she will handle better.
When I started this project the guy I bought my virago from said I have an old 79 650 frame,engine swing arm you want it. I am one not to hack apart a good bike just for parts but, if someone already has gone through the trouble to do so I will scavange. I never realized how addictive this would become. I am new here so just wanted to throuw in my two cents. I will hopefully post a few pics along the way and ask a lot of questions I am sure of that.

Cheers Kyle

P.S. a couple of good guys I have come across in my 8 months wise guy choppers in washington state. Pete Kommer xs Spare Garage in Australia. loudfastugly.com in New York.

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Yamaha xs650