Lucky and Wild Motorcycles

Reviving Nostalgia: Top 10 Vintage Cafe Racers Builders Love

2024-05-14T00:17:00.000+10:00

In the world of motorcycling, there is a distinct allure to vintage Cafe Racers. These sleek, stripped-down machines harken back to an era of rebellion, style, and of course, raw speed. Rooted in the 1950s & 60s British Rock 'n' Roll culture, cafe racers have experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years whether it is buying a modern imitation/homage off the showroom floor, or modifying an existing modern model, or getting out there and finding old vintage models of motorcycles that were a great platform to build a cafe racer from. Enthusiasts and builders alike are drawn to their minimalist design, agile handling, and timeless aesthetics. Let's take a ride through the top 10 vintage cafe racers that capture the hearts of builders worldwide.

Honda CB550: Known for its reliability and performance, the Honda CB550 is a favorite among cafe racer builders. Its four-cylinder engine SOHC, air-cooled, wet sump engine provides ample power, while its classic styling offers endless customization options.
Triumph Bonneville: A true icon of British motorcycling, the Triumph Bonneville has been a staple in the cafe racer scene since its inception. With its parallel-twin engine and distinctive silhouette, it's a blank canvas for builders to create their dream machine. The modern day Bonneville is also fun to modify and looks as good as any vintage and more reliability.
Yamaha XS650: The Yamaha XS650 is revered for its bulletproof SOHC parallel-twin engine and timeless design. Its versatility makes it a popular choice for cafe racer enthusiasts looking to blend classic aesthetics with modern performance upgrades, as there are a vast array of modern aftermarket parts available.
BMW R-series: BMW's R-series of motorcycles, in particular the R75 and R100 models, exude vintage charm and German engineering excellence. Their boxer engines and distinctive frame make them stand out in the cafe racer community.
Ducati 750SS: For those seeking that Italian flair, the Ducati 750SS delivers in definite spades. Its V-twin engine with it's amazing sound, and aggressive styling make it a sought-after platform for cafe racer builds that prioritize performance and style. They most definitely look beautiful.
Norton Commando: A true classic of the cafe racer era, the Norton Commando combines British craftsmanship with exhilarating performance. Its parallel-twin engine and distinctive exhaust note make it a favorite among purists. The infamous Isolastic frame makes the bike handle wonderfully well for its age, and to this day still handle well. Back in the day, if you were a "badass" you rode a Norton.
Suzuki GS series: The Suzuki GS series, particularly the GS750 and GS1000, offer a perfect blend of power and agility. With their 4-stroke inline-four engines and robust frame, they provide a solid foundation for cafe racer customization.
Kawasaki W-series: Kawasaki's W-series motorcycles, such as the W650 and W800, pay homage to the cafe racer's golden age. With their retro styling and smooth parallel-twin engines, they capture the essence of vintage motorcycling. And with modern day reliability, you can ride around all day, all week, or until your butt waves the white flag.
Moto Guzzi V7: Moto Guzzi's V7 series embodies the spirit of Italian craftsmanship and innovation. Its transverse V-twin engine and distinctive styling make it a standout choice for cafe racer enthusiasts with a taste for something unique. So if constantly tuning your old bike doesn't sound ideal, this modern beauty with performance to match, may be the choice for you.
Royal Enfield Continental GT: Last but not least, the Royal Enfield Continental GT is a modern interpretation of the classic cafe racer ethos. Its single-cylinder engine and agile handling pay homage to the golden age of motorcycling while offering modern reliability and performance. If going blindingly fast isn't for you, and looking ultra cool on your commute to work with peoples cameras or phones hanging out the window taking photos of you as you commute, this may be your bike.

Whether you're drawn to the timeless elegance of British classics, Japanese reliability, or the raw performance or sound of Italian bikes, there is a vintage or modern cafe racer base out there for every enthusiast. These top 10 picks represent the diversity and richness of the cafe racer culture, where craftsmanship, style, and a passion for the open road converge. So, dust off your wrenches, fire up your imagination, and embark on a journey to build the vintage cafe racer of your dreams. After all, in the world of motorcycling, the past is always present, and the road ahead is yours to conquer. Got a favourite not on the list? Leave a comment and tell us all your favourite. Or if you have a current, or past build that you want to share go for it we would like to hear of it!

Yes, I drew that picture with a few crayons!

Spotlight on : The Yamaha SRV 250

2013-10-05T20:29:00.003+10:00

We all have that one bike that we absolutely love that most people haven't heard of or know about. We all have that one favourite bike that some may not like whilst others absolutely love. For me, that motorcycle is none other than the Yamaha SRV250.

"But it's only a 250!!! And not even 2 stroke!!" One of my friends said puzzled, during a conversation about favourite bikes, after I had pulled up to a Cafe whilst riding it once.

And that my friends is the only real fault if you can even call that a fault. The other fault would have to be its drum rear brake. Easy to lock up like a BMX.

Now that the faults are out of the way I can concentrate on the bike's good qualities. And there are so many. This is one definite cult bike in Asia and Europe and fast becoming one in Australia.

The bike was made around 1994 until around 1998 or so. The main reason the bike didn't take off from launch until its demise is the higher price tag to other 250 retro, cruiser or even sports bikes at the time. One could have easily bought a Kawasaki ZZR250 (EX250) or Eliminator VN250, Honda CBR250RR, or TA200 Shadow and a Suzuki TU250X. Yeah? SO? Exactly....

The SRV250 has breathtaking performance for a 250cc Motorcycle. It isn't up there with the 2 strokes from Aprillia or earlier Suzukis like an RGV250 but if you wind the throttle from a "just turned green" light and accelerate through the gears even using the clutch you will be at 100km/h or near 60MPH in about 6.5 seconds.

Once you hit 120km/h though, there isn't a great deal left but the good thing is that it will sit comfortably at 120km/h. So for a 70MPH Freeway that isn't bad. And in Australia most big highways are 110km/h speed limited.

The real gem is in the bikes handling. It can corner phenomenally well for a learner motorcycle. It is not designed to compete with a Ninja ZX250 or Honda CBR250 but you can get the bike to go through corners without worrying about the skinny tyres sliding out, since you are more upright than on other bikes going around the corners.

The SRV 250 came in two styles. The Classic which was based on the old Norton style, it featured a Tachometer and British Racing Green usually but also came in a Dark Blue colour as well as a Maroon / Candy Apple Red colour. Then there was the Renaissa which featured Clip On style handlebars, no Tachometer and a different style tank. It also featured a Cafe Racer styled double seat. The Renaissa was more for around town or on windy roads near the beach where as the Classic had somewhat decent touring ability for a 250cc. If such a feat even exists.

Learner and Beginner Cruiser Motorcycles - Are they worth getting on your L's?

2013-08-08T21:31:00.001+10:00

In my unbiased opinion. Yes. I say unbiased as I have ridden a few different bikes before I chose a Metric Cruiser for my L's (Learner or beginner license in other countries). The year was 2005, and New South Wales had been utilizing a Learner Approved MotorcycleS scheme albiet in trial run form. It later proved to be a success. I was somewhat of a test mule, you see not many people from my area went for the Cruiser. Most were intimidated by Sportsbike riders or Suzuki GS500 riders, worrying more about what others think than what they actually wanted. Others actually loathed Cruisers and wanted a Ducati Monster or CBR250RR from Honda. Either way, not many people chose to ride a cruiser on their Ls. And with good reason. Some are cumbersome and a rather daunting ride for a novice. The fear of falling over with that big heavy bike on their Learner rides would spell big time anxiety not only in the show room, but in the saddle. Well take it from me, it can be done. I had test ridden a Suzuki GN250, XV250, CBR250RR, Kawasaki ZX2, Suzuki GS500 and Across 250 and still wasn't happy.

They were fun bikes to ride and probably a more sensible choice for my Provisional Rider test or P Plates in Australia. However, the "Chopper" boom of the early 2000s was running rampant in Australia. With American Chopper and West Coast Choppers showing off their bikes on T.V to the Australian masses, the big bit me. And I would read up on cruisers in Magazines and just fell in love with them. What actually got me off my butt to get my license was when I saw a Norton Commando, a 1972 model for sale at my work. I gave the number to my father, an avid Norton fanatic. He had not ridden a motorcycle in 20 or so years, due to raising kids. But now we are older and not at home he figured this was a good time to get back into it. So anyway, he started up the Norton and my ears lit up. I didn't want some 250 buzz box, and the Brit bikes were out of reach price wise for me. So it had to be a mid capacity cruiser.

I had test ridden a Yamaha Virago XV535, it was a great little cruiser. It was as if you had the XV250 sort of size, but with a larger 535cc engine. Certainly felt alot zippier. I could see myself on that bike for the duration of my Learner license. But something was missing. And at the time I didn't know what. So on I went to the 1996 Yamaha Dragstar, an XVS650 I believe. Now this bike was cool. It felt and looked a lot chunkier than the XV535. Speed was about the same but the freeway was a lot better. You could tour with it and not get annoyed with it. But I couldn't find one for the money I was asking. At the time most of them were going for $7500 to $8000. Way out of most Learner riders price range. This went for the Kawasaki Vulcan VN800, big and beautiful if I had the money this would have been the bike and it was big enough to want to keep well past my full license. They got it right with that bike. However, the price was also beyond reach. Upsetting. It was only after the VN800 that I stumbled upon a certain Honda at the motorcycle dealer near by. It had a $5490 price tag on it I had to stop and take a second look at the tag to make sure.

It was a 1997 Honda Shadow VLX. 600cc V-twin, dual carburettors and wait for it...5 speed manual. They usually had a 4 speed, but for some reason the European and some Japanese models made available for export have a 5 speed. The bike looks like a hard tail as the mono shock is hidden from view. But this ain't no bumpy ride.

Now whilst it had the daggy plastic paniers, screen and sissy bar I couldn't help but notice the paint and general condition of the bike. I had to get it. But not without a test ride first. I will admit, for a 600cc this bike gets up and goes, but you have to rev it to near the redline for it to be taking off. It has great low down torque for the city streets, you won't have to keep changing gears at low speeds. 2nd and 3rd gear cruising is bliss. The rear brake could have had more thought put into it, I did lock the rear brake up at speed, quite easily but moderately stomping on the rear brake pedal. Somewhat dangerous for the inexperienced rider.

Customization is a breeze with this liquid cooled beauty. There is a huge aftermarket following for this bike. I was able to get a decent exhaust for cheap (more on Cruiser exhausts in another article in the future), as well as mirrors, a K&N Performance Filter, Dynojet carburettor kit and a few more chrome dress up bits quite easily.

I can tell you now, once those Cobra Shotgun fatty exhaust pipes are installed onto the bike, its like a new bike. And the sound leaves you smiling. Sure its not a Harley, but it doesn't sound like a poxy XV250 or Hyosung 250 either. The Honda Shadow VLX VT600 is probably one of the better sounding Japanese cruisers out there. This has something probably to do with the engine configuration as the sound effect of the motor is alot different to other V-Twins out there. It sounds closer to a Harley than other V-Twin engines I've heard or owned.

Now if I can pass my P's test on this thing, so can YOU. It was fairly cumbersome at low speed, requiring alot of rear brake. Because if you use the front brake the whole thing will come crashing down. Don't try that at home. I sure did get some funny looks at the test course, but by the end of it I had passed without any fails or reattempts. I believe the "not to big not to small" size of the bike helped a lot. If you get to test ride one some day, you will see what I mean.

Missing in Action - Rise from the dead

2013-07-05T16:39:00.000+10:00

Wow...The title of the post sounds like the name of a movie. You have probably all wondered what the hell has happened. So much has happened in the outside world that if I were to make it into a movie I don't think many could top it. nor want to direct or produce it.

I have had to sell up my motorcycles and parts..
I have lost loved ones and a fair bit of time. But like they all say, to get back above water, one must free themselves from the bottom and swim all the way back up.

So as time goes on, my contributions to this blog will appear more frequent, there will be new bikes to work on and I will bounce back from the hell that has been the past year. I thank all the people who have stopped past and taken their time to read the articles.

For those that have struggled the past year and see no end, just remember that down time is only forever if you allow it to be.

Ride safe, chop safe, customize safe and talk to you all soon.

-Mike

The rest of the XJ 650 Cafe Racer parts story.....

2012-06-03T22:54:00.000+10:00

Apologies, for I have been massively tied up / side tracked / beer filled / etc the past few days... My list of Cafe Racer parts for this project keeps growing, and I'll be getting them bits at a time. I noticed online that there are a set of slotted rotors for the front, very cool considering the originals are a flat disc. Not that they are crummy brakes, but for looks and a little performance why not go the XJ650 slotted disc brake rotors for this project.

Now these brakes can be found on Ebay and various other motorcycle parts stores online. Do remember that if you have the Seca that you need a LEFT and RIGHT front rotor. Different order codes for both. If you have a Maxim they have their own single slotted rotor so make absolutely sure before ordering! I have a spare XJ 650 front wheel so I will be overhauling that starting with checking the alloy rim for cracks and wear. The rotors will come off as well as the tyre and then another inspection. Photos of that all when it happens.

I am still deciding on adding a front fairing to the bike that is more streamlined, keep the big chunky Mad Max Motorcycle fairing or ditch the front fairing and make it look more conventional Cafe Racer style... I stumbled upon a Viper front fairing to suit 7inch Headlight. It is a universal front fairing. From memory the XJ650 headlight is a 7inch headlight so it should fit quite well and look the part.

It is a cool looking mini front fairing, and can give the Seca quite a cool track work look to it. The next part was looking for front fork gaitors or fork boots as they are so affectionately known..The XJ650 Front Forks are 36mm so most 36mm Fork Boots should fit. This however may clash with the alloy 80's wheel rims so I may choose to leave it for another bike. The first mistake when starting a bike build I have found, is not knowing what you want from the build. At least with the XJ650, I can chop and change quite easily should I change my mind as this project is not a full blown Custom Fabricated American Chopper.

XJ 650 Cafe Racer parts list....let's go XJ650 parts shopping again!

2012-05-30T23:57:00.001+10:00

Things have been a bit quiet, and not much going on in the garage end. Day job, kids, sleep all catches up to you. They always say if you really want to do it, you'll do it. And right now, rest is what I really need at the moment. The ZZR250's clutch isn't engaging, most probably due to sticking plates, may just have to sit in oil just that little bit longer. On top of that, the ZZR250's revs in neutral seem to be headed up to the 5000rpm mark and rising upon starting the bike. Which means if the idle adjustment screw or throttle position screw does not fix it, I either have an air leak, or the carbs will need to be removed, cleaned and reinstalled... So anyway I thought to myself since I am waiting for other parts for other bikes, why not wait for even more parts, as I really am keen on starting the XJ650 Cafe Racer project soon now that it is the start of Winter in Australia!!

So to infinity and beyond I sort of went.....well not in a Toy Story way, but in a browsing on the pc way....I realized that the 1982 Yamaha XJ650 that I have is in the "Old Brit" / "UJM" style as opposed to the Cruiser look that alot of the XJ650's had. The difference between the two where the tank and seats, those where the main give aways, the front disc brake on my XJ650 are actually twin discs, where as the Cruiser XJ650 has only one disc. If anyone out there knows the difference between the two bikes and why there are two types (Not counting the Turbo or the XJ750), feel free to leave a comment! My guess is that the XJ650 Seca is the UJM / Old Brit style (Well its not really old Brit style, look at those alloy wheels!!!) And the Cruiser is the Maxim...(Well thank you, Captain Obvious!!!)

The XJ650 Maxim - Definitely Cruiser looking

The XJ650 Seca - Looks alot like those Kawasaki Z1000s from 1980 or some other bikes dubbed "Universal Japanese Motorcycle" like the Suzuki GS1100 or Honda CB750 from 1980. More of a Gran Tourer style of bike than the Maxim, but that doesn't mean the Maxim can't Grand Tour either....Beats Iron Butt riding on a Hard Tail Bobber!

The XJ650 Seca Turbo - Compared to the Seca and Maxim...... In a world of its own.

The XJ650 Seca - In Cafe Racer form...What can be done if you put your mind to it and have no excuse.

Yikes it appears that I have crapped on about the XJ650 without even talking about what shopping I have done to get the bike in a similar way to the bike pictured above (except it will be gloss black with chrome not white...)

Thanks for reading, and I'll post the rest of this sooner than 65 years time which is the length of time it takes some people to realize that Vegemite doesn't taste as good as Nutella when eaten from a spoon.

ZZR 250 clutch Part 2

2012-05-24T23:19:00.000+10:00

Haven't had much of a chance to really do much on the bikes lately so I quickly headed into the Garage to get my fix! With parts and other spares coming in via courier and clogging up the garage, I really needed to get a move on with the ZZR250 so that I can make room for the XJ650 and SRV250 Cafe Racer projects. The hardest one to source believe it or not was the ZZR250 EX250 clutch cover gasket. Mainly because I couldn't source one here in Australia and overseas were reluctant to ship to Australia a measly gasket!!! I finally found someone in the USA who would ship one, albiet a 2008 model EX250 clutch gasket. I was reluctant at first until I realized the engine and gearbox are the same as the 1994 so why wouldn't it fit? One way to find out I guess...

The 2007-2008 EX250 Clutch Cover Gasket is compatible with the 1994 ZZR250

Next on the list was the not so great Clutch Lever, the ball end had snapped off from when the previous owner dropped the bike. I only had a black one spare so got a silver one shipped to me. The lever is fairly easy to install, you just need a 10mm socket for the nut underneath the Clutch Lever box from there it is just a matter of removing the nut and just fiddling about until the lever pulls free. There will be a little rod trying to hold the lever in place, just remove that first using your smallest finger, or some small socket extender..Hell even a twig from outside.

The broken lever

The new lever installed. If anyone knows where to find brand new condition switch boxes I'd like to know about it! These 1994 issue switch / control boxes have seen better days.... As I was looking at the Clutch Lever I, for some reason turned to the back and saw the left rear indicator had a cracked lens....I quickly scoured the parts bin as I still had some parts left over from the 1994 ZX9 that a mate had purchased from me last year. Low and behold I found a ZX9 left rear indicator. Now why a ZX9 you ask? Because when I looked at the ZZR250 indicator, I thought to myself "gee, that looks awfully a lot like a ZX9 indicator..hmmm....

It was pretty much a straight fit minus the actual mounting hardware. The rubber grommet off the original didn't want to come off and the new one didn't have a rubber grommet. So I simply attached the top half of the indicator stalk onto the ZZR250 one. Success!!! After that I thought I should probably install the gasket. It was basically a matter of applying gasket sealant glue to the Clutch Cover, applying the gasket to the Clutch Cover after lining it up correctly, applying gasket sealant glue to the Engine side of the clutch, the side where the bolts screw into....After torquing the bolts that was that and late at night :(( They say don't give up your day job, well one day this will be my day job!

Hmmmmm probably a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitle too much Gasket Sealant Glue...... but it should become "Tacky" over time so I can peel it off when I get around to it....Well thats it for now, I guess the next step is to fill the bike with Motorcycle oil, start her up and test the clutch and see if it grabs and perhaps take it for a little test ride. Then it is just a matter of bolting on the fairings, seat, headlight and away she goes! As the next two projects will be more my style. Gotta love Cafe Racers!

Some SRV250 Cafe Racer inspiration

2012-05-12T18:35:00.001+10:00

The other day I was moving some bikes around and stumbled upon my poor old neglected SRV250 in the corner. Damn what a good looking bike! The lines are perfect. Which got me thinking, I should probably try and Cafe this bike before the XJ650 as the XJ650 needs more of an overhaul than the SRV250 does. And what better shop bike to get around in than a Cafe Racer Yamaha SRV250?

The Tank has a dent in it, but I'll either use a dent puller or just install a new tank. If you've never seen a Yamaha SRV250 before one thing you'll notice is that the tank already looks very "Cafe Racer". The seat however, blerrrrrghhh!! It functions well as a city commute / mild interstate seat as its alot comfier than a single Cafe seat. But looks horrible and your butt slides off fairly easy. The besides the tank, 2nd biggest change you can make to a bike when changing it into a Cafe is the seat.

I was scouring the net for some inspiring ideas as the SRV250 isn't a common bike. Just check the classifieds anywhere, nobody has them for sale and those that have them won't sell them. If you do find one in the paper or on ebay at least they aren't asking $5k for them....yet...so best to try and snap one up now before they really start getting rare.....

So anyways, back to the inspiring ideas... One in particular that caught my eye was this red old MV Augusta style SRV250.

This is an amazing looking SRV250, with alot of custom parts such as the tank, rearsets and the exhaust. Oh and the seat. Lets not forget the seat!

Another inspiring idea is to have the air filters facing the outside on both sides of the bike. I assume this has been achieved on this bike by turning the carburettors around. Note that the engine covers are off as well giving it that "British" look to the engine (minus the black paint). Yes that is a front drum brake but it is off another model bike. If anyone has put a drum brake SR500 front on the front of an SRV250 i'd like to know about it!

Cafe Racer seats definitely make the bike look better. Notice the stock tank and how it already looks "Cafe" enough...Clip on handlebars make the bike look even better. Note the custom rearsets.

This one, a Renaissa has kept the stock Cafe Racer style seat and has stock handlebars turned upside down. A homage to the traditional cafe racers of ancient times....But 7/8 clubmans will do the trick as well as clip on bars. Bar end mirrors definitely finish off this treat.

Lets go shopping for...Yamaha XJ 650 Cafe Racer Parts !!!!!!!!!!

2012-05-08T01:02:00.002+10:00

One of my favourite times during a bike build or restoration is shopping either online or at yard sales and salvage auctions, for motorcycle parts. Especially Cafe Racer motorcycle parts! The H4 ZZR250 EX250 Ninja that I am restoring slowly is nearly done, just needs some basics bolted back on like the new clutch lever, gear shift peg and restored fuel tank..more on that in another post...Paint on the front fairing and tank are needed so keep an eye out for that if you have a ZZR250 yourself and are interested in seeing how my bike is going... Now onto the meat of this post. There is something delicious sounding about Yamaha XJ 650 Cafe Racer parts. Most probably because an XJ 650 Cafe Racer is delicious!!

I was sitting on the XJ the other day and I thought to myself "hmmm this thing feels a little too Touring for me..." the footpegs whilst comfortable, will not do the rest of the bike justice once it has been Cafe'd...

I decided to start searching for XJ 650 rear sets and stumbled upon some already made for the XJ, they are Tarozzi rear sets and pretty much sound ideal for my project.

The site I stumbled upon had them listed for around 209 UK Pounds, not bad when you think about the cost of say Yamaha R1 rear sets. The Tarozzi rear sets will give me the exact positioning that I am after, especially when combined with say 36mm Clip Ons (That is the size of the Yamaha XJ650 forks) or 7/8 inch Clubman handlebars.

The Tarozzi rear sets for the 1980-1983 Yamaha XJ 650 comes as a kit and comprises of all the components necessary to fit on the bike. I noticed on the site that four options are available, with alloy knurled footpegs for that raw racing look or footpegs with rubber inserts for more comfort, folding or non folding pegs. As the bike may see track use as well as city and touring use I decided to mix comfort, style and functionality...I will be opting for the rubber insert footpegs that fold.

Check back now and again as I will be posting pics of the Yamaha XJ650 Tarozzi rearsets once they arrive, and are installed.

Right...now the other parts...The fuel tank I will keep stock for now as I like the XJ650 Fuel Tank...The seat however...yuck!!! Maybe if its a mint condition stock XJ650 I wouldn't mind it, but for this project the seat has to go! Now I have a choice of say the 1982 Maxim seat which sits alot lower and at least looks a bit streamlined, but that is the lazy way out...So I will be fitting a Cafe Racer seat to the bike. As the bike is fairly short looking, a short length seat pan may not suit what I am trying to achieve...So will be getting one with a longer distance between the bump stop and fuel tank...which equals more room to crouch down on!

Clip on Handlebars: 36mm Clip Ons dramatically change the look of the XJ650

And here is the proof! Whilst the Clip Ons on this bike sit a little lower than normal the lower sitting point looks amazing.

Stay tuned for the other parts I will be installing, as I am halfway through shopping!!!! I'll post the rest another time. Cheers

Want your bike to be bike of the month? Read on..

2012-05-01T01:05:00.002+10:00

If you have made it to this rather crummy blog (between my day job, life after work and working on bikes that leaves little time to make the best blog out there but its fun talking shit no less!) you are probably wondering what the fork tubes is bike of the month...well its bike of the month silly!!! It is a picture located at the bottom of this blog..And if you have made it to this rather crummy blog, no doubt you love motorcycles...and no doubt you love CUSTOM motorcycles from the simple bolt on 1 or 2 mod customs to full house REAL customs...the ones where you weld your wife's prized cutlery collection on her 1997 Yamaha Virago for that custom look...ok well maybe not that full house but anything goes in the modified bike world... One day I hope to fit an XV535 engine into a Yamaha SRV250 frame...if you have an angle grinder, a decent welder and some decent inspection crew or engineers to give your frankenbike the green tick, anything is possible...ok so how the fork tubes does your bike make it to bike of the month? Simply email a decent quality picture to

luckyandwildmotorcycles@y7mail.com

And then I pick one at random... I'll choose from the existing and new pool of pics. Hell if there are enough there may even be a "bikes" of the month section.. The owner will be identified, and notified, if provided in the email... as for example

"Bike Of the Month May 2012 - Jonesatmycat's 1982 Yamaha XJ650 Cafe Racer"

The email will be some silly short and useless "congratulations you have won a lego motorcycle shop set! (and your bike is bike of the month for May 2012)"

As has just turned May, this run will be for Bike of the Month June 2012.

1994 Kawasaki ZZR250 EX250 Custom Restoration first roadblock: Clutch woes Volume 1

2012-04-26T00:41:00.005+10:00

So I was able to find a 1994 Kawasaki ZZR 250 for a reasonable price, whilst a good runner it had been lowsided by the previous owner who decided to let it sit in the corner of the shed and gather dust....I felt that this was unacceptable to waste such a good little bike so decided to breathe new life into it...bits at a time of course! A Kawasaki ZZR250 Custom? Hell yes!! Most of it will be bolt on parts and paint however...First things first though, its time to do a ZZR250 clutch replacement...What the hell is a ZZR250? The bike is a Sports Tourer based on the GPX250 / EX250 platform which dates back to good old 1983. It is powered by a twin cylinder high revving 250cc engine, has 5 speed transmission and rides on 17inch wheels. Alot of GPX250, EX250 and Ninja 250R parts are interchangeable with the ZZR250 mainly due to the fact that the ZZR is the same bike mechanically albiet sportier and better looking fairing design...If you have a ZZR250 / GPX250, EX250 and the Ninja 250R tell us all about it and leave a comment or perhaps email me a photo to go into the entry for bike of the Month.

So the bike arrives at "the shop" in a dire state...so first thing was first..check to see if the thing runs...After pouring some fuel into the tank, priming it, and starting it. She fired to life. Ok so that saves me having to work on the engine. I feel that this job will be purely cosmetic...or so I thought!! The clutch lever was pretty crappy after the fall and so was the gear shifter peg...No problems..replacement parts are on the way. However the clutch was rather crappy feeling so decided to have a look...And while we are at it why not take the thing apart and give it a real going over!!

The teardown begins! All fairings removed, headlight, mirrors, fuel tank, seat....piss off!!! Much better, now I can see everything....And get to that clutch cover...After undoing some bolts the clutch was exposed....And one of the clutch spring bolts had snapped off!! WTF.....The bike would probably run on 3 clutch springs, but would cause alot of wear...Which explained the retarded feeling in the clutch...

Can you find the odd one out?

Ok so after removing the other clutch springs and clutch spring retaining bolts I decided to hunt around the "spares" section and see if a spare ZZR 250 / EX250 clutch basket was available...I found a good condition one sitting amongst a pile of crap, literally...ok well not literally but a pile of unused junked motorcycle parts...in the "clutch components" section...duhhh...ok so begin disassembly of the clutch basket...the nut holding the basket in is 27mm and I had no 27mm socket on hand...off to the shops to get a new one!

Ok so the 27mm socket did the job fitting on, however the damn nut still wouldn't come off...This thing was on solid. So after a few swear words, I decided to use the air impact wrench I recently acquired. People say don't use standard chrome sockets with the air wrenches, well the only thing that happens is that they break so if you are doing small jobs and not assembling a Mack Truck you can get away with a standard socket...Otherwise head to the shops and get an impact wrench socket. They are much tougher but not as shiny....And shiny...is nice! Ok back to it....Thats it for today, tomorrow should see the clutch basket replacement in place all shined up and good to go. If you ever remove the friction plates remember to keep them in order and remember which way the oil grooves on the friction plates, are facing!! Also try not to lose the rod bearing and rod as you will most probably need to crack an egg on your head just to make up for your sillyness if you do lose them...

The Air Impact wrench helped take the 27mm nut off both clutch baskets...I stuck two allen keys to lock the basket. If you are new to tools I would recommend just getting a clutch basket tool off ebay for however many dollars they go for...because if you don't get one or use something like allen keys to lock the clutch basket, the clutch will just spin like a merry go round!

New clutch basket installed and 27mm bolt Air Wrenched back on...Remember to re install the clutch friction plates in the order that you removed them...Notice the pattern of the grooves as per the shop manual...Good to go! Just waiting on a clutch cover gasket to arrive in the mail.

Clutch springs added, be careful not to over-tighten the clutch spring retaining bolts because if you do they will snap and what a big but enjoyable pain in the ass (is there such thing??) replacing a threaded clutch basket ended up being...

Good to go, all thats left is replace the shifter, clutch lever, paint, tyres and we are good to go...Stay tuned

Yamaha XJ650 Cafe Racer project - Coming Soon

2012-03-20T23:09:00.000+11:00

The Yamaha XJ650....do they make good Cafe Racers? Hell yeah...and if you read on you'll see why...They aren't the lightest bike on the planet but they make up for that in other areas.

The XJ650 Maxim was the successor of the XS650 Special introduced in 1978. The bike is notable for being the first mid-size Yamaha motorcycle with an inline 4 cylinder engine..It was released in 1980 in order to "head to head" with the infamous Kawasaki Z650..Yeah yeah, but how does this make a good Cafe Racer??? This bike boasts a powerful (for a 650) 71BHP @ a nice sounding 9500rpm and was a big sales success.. not only was it as powerful and fast as most 750’s of the time, it had a well developed chassis, strong brakes all combined with handsome up to date styling, and a very smooth low maintenance shaft drive, endearing it to the serious touring rider as well...Time has not been kind to many bikes of the late 1970s and early 1980s. But there were a few celebrated models that are still great bikes today, and Yamaha’s XJ650 is one of them.

Now if you want old and fast as a base for your Cafe, look no further...Whilst this bike's top speed is not that of a 300km/h Yamaha YZF-R1, this thing will still go over 200km/h big deal you say...but its not the top speed you get this bike for as your base for a Cafe Racer....Its the acceleration...this thing can stir the pot with alot of modern bikes. The bike is on the wrong side of 200kgs but the superb 4 cylinder DOHC 650cc engine has 71hp that is more than a modern day Suzuki SV650 V2...Which does about 13 second quarter miles..."Yeah but you were talking about acceleration and went off the track..." correct...back to it...The XJ650 from the factory would give you a turn key standing-start quarter mile time of about 12.6 seconds @ 172 km/h (or 107mph for you American folk)...not a bad trap speed...Alot of Cafe Racers are based on slower bikes so if you want something a bit quicker, try the Yamaha XJ650...

I was fortunate enough to find a decent example for Motorcycle World Peanuts and shall be transforming a once old honest commuter into a fire-breathing dragon Cafe Racer...Stay tuned.

In a few months, I shall be turning this....

Into something more like this... A Yamaha XJ650 Cafe Racer

What the hell is a Yamaha SRV250 ??????

2012-01-27T18:20:00.007+11:00

Find it on

What the hell is a Yamaha SRV250 ?????? Good question!! If you are one fortunate enough to one of these cool little bikes, you may have encountered numerous people on your rides, or parked on the street ask the very same question..Either that or "Nice bike, i've never seen one before!" or "That looks almost Norton or Triumph, but its got a V-Twin engine????" Those are the comments I received whilst on numerous rides and meet ups in the past. I was never able to answer "What the hell is a Yamaha SRV250" when I was asked but after digging deep into the depths of what Google had to offer, as well as getting in touch with a few Yamaha SRV250 owners I was able to come up with this summary:

The Yamaha SRV250 was a "Retro Theme" bike created by Yamaha in 1992 to 1996 to pay homage to the retro Cafe Racers and retro bikes in general of the 1960s and 1970s. The Yamaha SR250 was already on sale but lacked power and finesse and looked a little ordinary and commuter-esque.... If that is even a word!

Yamaha decided instead of using the Single Cylinder 250 or 500cc from the SR500, they chose to put in a 250cc V-Twin (Thats V2 for you non biker folk) from their current XV250 Virago Cruiser (Baby Harley Davidson rip off) into it and hoped for the best...The power and torque from the Virago engine still wasn't what they were aiming for so Yamaha modified and beefed up the engine with a slightly different camshaft profile and decided to make it Dual Carb instead of Single Carb that the XV250, SR250 and SR500 had... Given the lighter weight of the SRV250 compared to the other 3 bikes and more power you can imagine that this bike is alot quicker....and I kid you not...it is... This thing is a wolf in sheeps clothing. Whilst not a Superbike by any means, it is deceptively quick. I urge you to test ride one, one day and notice the power band on the thing..If you have ridden the XV250, SR250 and SR500 you'll notice the difference in torque straight away. It is pretty much on par with the SR500 if not faster. However it is not all about the speed. Lets see what else there is.....

There is the stretched fuel tank designed to replicate the Cafe Racers of the 1960s, definately sets the tone of the bike. From here we can see a Norton Featherbed style frame. Add to that skinny 19 inch wheels and you have a bike that can easily pass as an oldschool vintage bike, only more refined and alot quicker than bikes double the capacity back in the day. And then there is the famous Yamaha reliability, almost up there with Honda.....

If you're ready to jump up and head to a bike dealer in search of one of these machines you will encounter a huge problem...Unless you are from Japan or some parts of Asia, you won't find a Yamaha SRV250 within easy reach. Due to the limited production run from 1994-1997 they are an extremely rare bike to find, and gold within the Cafe Racer modification community. If you find one, hold onto it!!!! I'm never letting go of mine. I am in the process of restoring it due to the previous owner not caring for the bike and using it only to get past their L's...The thing is, had he looked after it and with a couple of tasteful mods like Clip On handlebars, a bigger exhaust, Pod Air Filters and a Cafe Racer seat, he would have kept the bike well past his full Licence..

The one thing this bike does suck with, are long rides. Unless you take regular breaks every couple of hours you are a glutton for punishment. Perhaps you have an ass of iron....in that case happy riding! Another flaw I want to point out are the shitty brakes..not so much the front disc brake, but the rear drum really sucks...perhaps it is in need of adjustment on mine and until I ride another I won't know..fortunately there are guys in Japan who have put twin disc fronts and rear discs off a Yamaha FZR250 race bike which gives me inspiration. Due to the rarity however, some owners may be reluctant to change parts over...The beauty of motorcycles is that you can easily change parts back and forth without worrying too much...However if you are taking your beloved Yamaha SRV250 to a bike show in original condition just leave it....

Fortunately they are not so rare that you have to mortgage a house to get one, but for the 250 class of motorcycles they are quite expensive. Also getting parts for the bike minus the general consumables are kind of tough to find...The engine isn't just a straight swap out of the XV250 cruiser either, unless you want more torque down low you will have to change the camshaft out. The Dual Carburettors should bolt straight on, but try finding a set of both. You could use two singles from an XV250 I suppose.... The rear wheel is hard to find as well as it isn't from the XV250. Perhaps the SR250 rear wheel may fit..

There are two versions of the SRV250.. The Classic style and the trimmed down Renaissa

The Classic has a mounted Tacho and Speedo, streched Cafe Racer tank and comes in British Racing Green, Maroon and Navy Blue

The Renaissia has no Tacho, just a speedo, smaller Cafe Racer tank, Cafe Racer style handlebars and a more Cafe Racer style single/double seat combo. Orange, Silver, White and Red are the colours I've seen the bike in. This model came after 1994 at a cheaper price as the Classic was considered to expensive at the time for most people to warrant buying.

The Yamaha SRV250 is a great bike base for motorcycle customisation (customization for you American folk!). Perhaps you want to build a bucket racer? Or even a Yamaha SRV 250 Cafe Racer? In my opinion they can be just as quick as say a Kawasaki Z500 with far less weight. Perhaps you have a Honda Shadow VT750 or Kawasaki Vulcan VN800 and you want to have a little Cafe Racer toy on the side. Perfect. With the experience you should have from modifying motorcycles (if that is your thing) then you will feel at home with the Yamaha SRV 250. Once I figure out a way to fit an XV535 or Virago 750 engine and gearbox into the little SRV frame it will be all over as I will be taking that bike to the track!

If you are an SRV250 owner and have misplaced your workshop and owners manuals you can grab a copy from here.

Here are some videos of SRV250s

The Classic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dudAobEJjQ&feature=related

The Renaissa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6-e2touGLc

A modified Yamaha SRV with Alloy Tank

An SRV250 Classic

Your input is needed!

2011-10-13T20:05:00.002+11:00

Leave a comment about your Bike or Bikes from the past, present and future! What you plan to do with it, any memorable moments or near misses, to choosing your bike over your wife when they say "either you go or I go!!", perhaps you have a story of going through the McDonalds drive through on a bike and successfully carting 2 large cokes on those cardboard trays on your fuel tank....spill the beans!!

We all remember our first bike, and a bike that we dream of owning...well maybe 4 or 20....I know I've got a few in my mind at the moment. Feel free to discuss your very first bike, or your very first experience on a bike, your current loves and future dreams.

My first experience dates back to the early 1980s when I was a kid and my Dad would have me ride on the back of his Yamaha XJ750 around the back yard at a slow speed. That was fun from what I can remember...it wasn't until 1998 when a mate from high school got his motorcycle L's that he let me ride his Suzuki GN250 around the car park at the shops near his house late at night. It felt awkward at first, but was much like riding a push bike only heavier...Having had a manual car licence from the start that helped as well. I then didn't really pay attention to bikes (due to work, getting wasted, insert time wasting or lack of attention here) from 1998 till about 2005 when the American Chopper and West Coast Choppers boom started in Australia. Sure there were Custom Harleys and Sportsbikes, but nobody ever really knew what mainstream Choppers were...and soon after that the Bobbers and Cafe Racers (although were around, were again reborn) followed...

It was the Chopper boom and the endless barrage of chopper shows that got me into motorcycles again. I am not sure what put me off bikes after 1998 other than almost losing a mate who ran into a kangaroo on his Kawasaki ZX-6 at 120km/h...He survived, although he took a year to recover with the amount of screws and metal plates required to repair his arm. He hasn't been on a bike to this day. But after the Chopper boom in 2005 that wouldn't stop me. Especially as my Dad got hold of a 1972 Norton Commando 750 which reignited his passion too. The fact we had a double garage and a heap of tools didn't help. So I bit the bullet and bought my first bike, probably the wrong choice for a learner as it was heavy and tricky bike for a learner to ride. But what better way to learn quicker I guess..Oh the bike...right! I ended up with the 1997 Honda Shadow VLX.. I was almost going to end up with a more upright and sportier bike say for instance a Suzuki GS500 Slingshot (which is by far a slingshot!!) or a Honda CBR250RR, but I figured what is the point in riding fast as a learner and with the Chopper boom of the mid 2000s, I wanted to get a cool looking Harley style cruiser and change some shit on it!! I had some great times and I thoroughly recommend the bike to anyone on their L's wanting a cruiser as it is big enough and fast enough to satisfy your needs on your Ps and Full licence. I thought the VLX was a slow machine, boy was I wrong. Especially once I bolted on the open exhaust, with a rider under 90kg you can keep up with a Harley Sportster no problem. Don't take my word for it, get your ass on one and test it today!

Dream a little dream for me (Top bikes on my mind):

Triumph Thruxton 900
Harley Davidson Rocker C and Fat Bob
Victory Vegas
Suzuki Hayabusa (not the Fuel Injected speed limited rubbish! im talkin the Carby one that goes over 360km/h ;))) )
Norton Commando 750S
Kawasaki ZX-7R
Bennelli Tornado
Suzuki TL1000R
Honda VTR1000 SP-1
BSA Rocket III
Yamaha VMax VMX 1200
Honda CB750 Cafe Racer

And my old VFR800 RC46 back :(((

Performance Parts for Motorcycles - The difference between overkill and just right...

2011-07-04T23:08:00.001+10:00

Owning a motorcycle and wanting to modify the bike usually means having to spend money on increasing the ability of the bike by using Factory upgrades or custom motorcycle accessories and parts. If you were to ask someone what the most important motorcycle part is that will help to increase performance, then you are likely to get alot of different answers. One thing that many new riders are not aware of is that it just like with cars, it is possible to "over do it" and actually diminish the bike's performance. I recall my first experience modifying my Honda Shadow VLX. I was young and excited and I had money to burn (well not really..) So off I went inspecting alot of catalogs and online parts stores...forums...you get the idea... I cracked it and decided to just get a straight through exhaust with very little muffling ability (showed up most Harleys!!) and then a high flow K&N Air filter, on top of that I added a Dynojet Stage 2 Carburettor kit because I thought it would need it due to the increased airflow in and out of the engine...Here is where I went wrong. The bike actually made less power whilst loud as an angry crowd... But I wanted it to be faster not slower!!! So I did more research, it happened to be that due to the high altitude level of Canberra, the Carburetors didn't really need an upgrade, and if anything a Stage 1 Dynojet kit would have sufficed and saved me $100. Lesson learnt.

Anyways, back to what I was saying before...of course when you do ask the questions regarding Motorcycle Performance Upgrades there are several suggestions given on what custom motorcycle parts or accessories to use. For example, the suspension is one area that you can work on in order to better the handling of the bike. However depending on the purpose be it road or track it could actually make it worse. Unfortunately, many riders, especially the more inexperienced ones, overlook this important fact. When you purchase a stock bike it may perform fine, but if you want that little extra and you push the bike beyond what is considered average, then it may not perform as you wish. That does not mean that you need to redo everything; just concentrate on the stock suspension and use the appropriate custom motorcycle accessory to accomplish this.

Another important motorcycle part to consider are the motorcycle tyres, as they are an extremely important component, with regard to how the bike handles and maneuvers. If air pressure alone can affect the bikes handling, imagine the tyre compounds! Most experts suggest that you reduce the weight from the unsprung parts, such as the rotors, wheels, sprockets, etc., as this technique will help in how the bike handles.

Most people who modify these bikes for a living or even race them know that the way a bike handles takes priority over both cosmetics and power as anyone can win on the straights, its around the bends that win actual races or help you swerve to miss a dangerous object or hazard on the road. An average rider may think that custom motorcycle accessories are the most important considerations, yet there are things that may not be visible to the inexperienced rider.

It is not always overtly obvious what needs to be done to a bike to improve its performance, which causes many new or inexperienced riders to miss small details. By adjusting just one motorcycle part, like the triple clamps that are on the fork of the bike when you install new tires, you can help balance out the handling of the bike.

Also remember the golden rule of modifying a car or motorcycle. Its all about balance. Upgrade one thing, then another will need an upgrade...somewhere...you have to find out where....A big exhaust is no good with a standard air cleaner. However a big air cleaner can benefit without a big exhaust...what the hell you ask? Exactly!

A turbo kit for a Yamaha R1. Overkill? I think so...what else needs to change? EVERYTHING!!

Ahhh the 2001 Honda VFR800i RC-46, whilst a beast in standard form, a high flow K&N filter, Dynojet programmable Fuel Injection kit and a nice open Staintune exhaust really gets this thing flying, and sounding better than most Ducati's out there especially at high revs ;) However no brake or suspension changes were needed on mine as I kept it as a dual purpose road and track bike.I did however upgrade the tyres from Bridgestone Tourers to Michellin Pilot Powers, whilst one of the grippiest tyres, also wear out fairly quickly..

The Yamaha SRV250 - Cafe Racer on a budget or full blown, the choice is yours!

2011-07-02T01:43:00.000+10:00

Just thought I'd post some info on the Yamaha SRV250 as it is such a rare bike that even Yamaha scratch their heads whenever you ride it in to get a service. Its such a rare bike that when you ride to vintage bike rallies or various motorcycle club meets, people from the other end of the paddock run up to it, and scratch their heads.... You could park it out the front of a cafe near the beach and people will come up to it.....And scratch their heads.....So what the hell is a Yamaha SRV250??? The bike is basically Yamaha's effort to get into the "Retro market" and also expand their smaller capacity or learner bike market....However, this bike is so much fun that even full licence riders (such as myself) keep one on the side for when we want a blast in between cars in the city.... I bought a British Racing Green SRV250 from my Dad because i liked how it looked and the styling cues...sensational!!! Although made in 1994, this bike was made to look exactly like the older 60s and 70s style Cafe Racers and other bikes around that era.... Which is why they are fairly sought after today. You get the speed and reliability of a modern bike but with styling and looks that stand out from regular bikes.

The bike is fast enough to 100km/h to beat most 250s how this is achieved is with a slightly modified Yamaha XV250 engine. The engine has twin carburetors added as well as a meaner camshaft and slightly modified exhaust. The power and torque are up but not by that much.... The weight is where it wins. This bike is so light its very easy to throw around. Add some Cafe Racer clip on or clubman handlebars and you're set. Brakes aren't as fantastic though due to the drum rear brake but hey, the front is what matters at speed and that too is just a basic 2 piston single disc job...I have seen upgraded twin discs, maybe off a Yamaha R2 but that will take some time to fit if you don't really know what you're doing...

So far mine gets 250kms per tank of petrol (91 octane), 300 on hi octane 98 and it costs about 15 bucks to fill. That 250kms doesn't count the reserve tank.

It weighs 140kg and is easy to handle even if you're light. I wouldn't fear about getting left behind as the only way you will is if you are with a bunch of Super Sports Bikes like the Kawasaki ZX9, Yamaha R1, Honda CBR1000, Suzuki GSX-R1000...you get the idea.....It's awesome to commute on as it doesn't strain to go 100 and it handles loverly on the open road.

The bike has superb manners so when you are stuck in traffic and are on and off the throttle, you wind find the bike jumping like my old Honda VFR800 that had fuel injection so precise the bike would jump forward if I sneezed with my hand on the throttle!

Unfortunately top speed isn't quite there as it is only a little dinger, 160-170km/h estimated, and allegedly estimated.... But who needs to go those speeds on a public road anyway!!!??

Speaking of allegedly the SRV250's were $9000 when they were sold here in Australia in the 90's so because they were expensive they didn't sell well. This plus they were limited in build numbers. Which means they are as rare as hens teeth. Parts for the frame and body work are rare, fuel tanks on ebay into the high hundreds almost a thousand so look after it!! The engine on the other hand, minus the cam and carbies the engine and transmission are almost the same as the XV250 baby Harley.... The exhaust is a rare and expensive item as well...

Don't let it put you off getting one, if you manage to find one try it out. If you manage to own one, be a bit reluctant to sell it!!!!!! Well you would anyway because you own one so you will know where I am coming from.

WHATS INSTORE MIKE?

Hmmmm lets see, Clip On handlebars, new exhaust, ram air pod filter, tuned carburetors, Cafe Racer seat, paint, possible twin disc conversion.

WHY MIKE?

Because I can!!!!

A look at the current

And with the racing seat. If you know the supplier of the seat leave a comment!

Motorcycle Customization and Restoration a dying legacy - NEVER!!!!

2011-06-26T14:42:00.000+10:00

No matter how dumbed down society gets, no matter how advanced motorcycles become, you can never truly get rid of motorcycle customization and restoration....its here forever!!

Handmade Portraits: Liberty Vintage Motorcycles from Etsy on Vimeo.

Triumph Bathtub, Norton Commando, Suzuki T500, Kawasaki Z500 - Trip away and Dad's garage...

2011-06-25T20:17:00.001+10:00

During my time away I managed to visit my parents place and have a look at some of his newly acquired classic vintage motorcycles. He is currently working on a 1959 Triumph Twenty One 3TA Bathtub. Once its finished it will be a beautiful piece of kit.

The Triumph Twenty One also known as the 3TA is a British motorcycle made by Triumph. The Model Twenty One was the first of the Triumph unit construction twin cylinder motorcycles. Known as the Triumph 3TA in 1959 it continued in production until 1966 when it was replaced by the Triumph T90.

Its sleek for the time design and moderate power meant that it was more of a Gentleman's Triumph motorcycle. It was nothing like the big bad boy Triumph Bonneville that was released in 1959!!!!

So when he bought it, it was in rather good but "Seen better days" condition...It was running, albiet a bit smokey. So after the engine rebuild its now just a case of fitting everything back together and seeing how it goes..

Stay tuned! More ZX9 restoration goodness, Cafe Racer section, Triumph and Norton pics coming soon! Enjoy the RIDE

2011-06-22T00:47:00.000+10:00

Well I never managed time to fit in a ride whilst I was away but I did grab some pics of my old man's bikes. Triumphs, Nortons, a Suzuki Titan 500, Kawasaki Z500 to name a few.... NSW ended up winning State Of Origin 2, was so jumping out of my seat. Pity about the retards sittin behind us spilling beer everywhere. I was 2 angels away from getting kicked out. Lucky they stepped in and held me back from demolishing them with whatever MMA / Muay Thai moves I could think of at the time. But that isn't worth going to prison over is it ;)

Anyways, an update on the ZX9 is just a small one. I merely replaced a ruined switch box that has the headlight switch, indicators, horn and choke attached to it. Whoopdy doo!!!! Well I had 30 minutes to spare whilst waiting for oil to drain, food to cook and other things. She'll be a beauty once she has been restored. Not sure what Kawasaki was thinking when they designed the switch box but its very very fiddly to get the choke cable to stay on whilst you are assembling the box and putting them on the clip ons.

Custom Motorcycles are more my thing but I am restoring this one to standard. However the bad side of me will order extended swing arms, led indicators, headers, reflective bubble screen and maybe even street fighter parts so I can chop and change the bike however I want at any given time.

Pennies being put aside for another Metric Cruiser maybe even another Honda Shadow VLX as I want to create a neat tidy but ratty road registerable Bobber....But for now I have my trusty old Yamaha SRV250 Cafe Racer project to keep me busy on top of the ZX9... The SRV250 is perfect for weaving through cars on busy Melbourne Streets and its faster to 100km/h than most 250s.. You wont know what I mean until you ride one. They are already a "retro" styled bike which means this will be a fairly easy Cafe Racer project. Bar end mirrors, Clubman bars or clip ons, Exhaust, Pod Filters, Cafe Racer single seat, new sprocket, OH YEAH!!!

Stay tuned....

Mini Holiday

2011-06-12T23:53:00.000+10:00

Well its time for that half yearly mini holiday. So i'm taking a week off to visit relatives and friends in Canberra and Sydney Australia. State Of Origin game 2 happens to be on the Wednesday....hmmmm....looks like i'll be going!!! The biggest Rugby League spectacle in the world...well I reckon anyways...

Back to the bikes, I will be visiting my father's garage so stay tuned for pics on a few classics and the rebuild on the 1959 Triumph bathtub 350cc he's been working away on...Might even take one out on a ride, even though it is winter and all...That shouldn't stop most of you from riding should it?

Nah....!!!

New toy....technology these days...

2011-06-12T20:48:00.001+10:00

There has been no new posts regarding motorcycles or what I have been doing in the garage as I have got myself a fancy old iPhone 4....amazing piece of kit. Retarded camera.... What where they thinking!!?!? Having been a Nokia man for over 10 years minus an episode with Sony Ericsson (my old W800 wasn't bad at all!!) I decided to see what all the iPhone hype was about...fairly easy to use, awesome games...lots of decent apps which was what i've always wanted. Always thought the Nokias were a bit lacking. Plus I got sick of my 5800 crashing all the time.

Should probably have waited for the iphone 5 but meh....im impatient at times especially when you've had a crashing (albiet not a bad phone though) Nokia 5800 Xpress Music.

Enter the ZX9

2011-06-09T23:14:00.000+10:00

With the departure of the Honda Shadow VLX and the Honda VFR800 I was hanging for another Sportsbike to compliment my Yamaha SRV250 Cafe Racer. Mainly because 250cc just doesn't cut it on the straights. Enter the ZX9 from Kawasaki...I use to be a bit biased towards Hondas growing up in the motorcycle world, having ridden a few ZX6s.... With winter coming up I posted an advertisement for a motorcycle in whatever condition, so long as I could work on it as a winter project. I got an email back saying "I have a 1994 ZX9 sitting in the shed, ive been meaning to complete it but I just havent got the time with the new born and my Suzuki Bandit 1250. You get the idea..."

Sweet I say, didn't even really ask what happened to it but he did say that he lowsided trying to miss a pedestrian. That was Challenge number 1. The fact its been lowsided. Left mirror, choke lever, foot peg, shifter, indicators., Left fairing. Front fairing, rear fender the usual....all cactus / kaput.... "Oh and it hasn't been started in 3 years but it was running when I stored it..." That was Challenge number 2....So 2 challenges to restore this beauty to her former glory.... I'll keep you up to date. So far I've just done the basics and trying to get the damn engine started. Everything else has been checked. Fresh oil, oil down the spark plug holes, repaired wiring, repaired fuel tank. Just needs a bit of fuel to go through and she should fire to life. And if not hey, a new engine can just go in.... As for challenge number 2, ordering all the parts to restore the cosmetic side of things is a drawn out process due to shipping times from the United States and Japan but hey, at least its like christmas when I check the mail now and then.... Stay tuned....

Not a sales pitch but check this out

2011-06-07T23:58:00.001+10:00

During my travels on the net researching Cafe Racers I stumbled upon an institution that builds performance engines to suit Cafe Racers... worth a shot if you can't be bothered doing it yourself! Located in Australia..

http://www.caferacer.com.au

Workshop 101: Tools, Toolkits, and all that McSh1te.....Part 1

2011-06-07T23:29:00.000+10:00

You should have a vast array of tools at your disposal to work on motorcycles.. Ok no problem you say.... Do you have to go out and buy a $1000 3 drawer cabinet with 800 pieces to do a decent job in the workshop? Nope...surprisingly a basic tool kit is pretty much all you should need. Well for most jobs. Servicing, minor bolt on customization parts etc... If you want to build a Chopper or Bobber from the ground up, well thats for later..

Remember that you can always add tools as you need them. Thats what I learnt. Real quick.... Whilst it is nice to have chrome plated pretty, shiny, new tools, the bolts don't care. You'll find that they come apart with old tools, as well as the new ones.

Where to source 2nd hand tools you say? What a stupid but good question! Start sniffing around... long lost family relatives, close relatives, friends, weekend markets (I got some decent scores that way), garage sales, Cash Convertors stores, pawn shops, I would say garbage bins but thats scabby and you have more chance of having a number 1 hit song...Ebay you may have some luck, but the shipping might throw you out..Remember that alot of mechanics start out with old, crappy tools and upgrade as they earn more money. And you know what this means...It means that there are alot of old tools floating around.

I got lucky and my ex girlfriend at the time bought me a couple of nice toolkits. And I got lucky again with my most recent girlfriend getting me a nice shiny new set of tools. I do polish them after use but don't tell her that ;)

You're going to need some Spanners. Spanners come in a range of types and sizes. The handiest ones are Combination Spanners and Socket Wrench. You will need sizes 6mm through to 15mm, and a 17mm and 19mm to start. 2 sets are handy, one for the nut and one for the bolt head.

You will definitely need lots of Screw Drivers. I'd repeat that but you can just re-read what I wrote. Small, large, big, long, small, short, short big and long small ones. What the hell did I just write you say? Exactly.... Find as many varieties as you can find. As you will need the different lengths to access certain parts of certain bikes. Believe me. There are all kinds of weird screw heads. Besides the ones we all know, Straight | and Phillips +, there are Allen, Torx, Square and others. You will most probably (like me) also use them for all kinds of bush mechanic things like prying things open, chisling, levering, even stabbing in frustration at cardboard boxes and the like.

Sockets come in 6, 8, and 12 points and 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", and larger drives. The points refer to the way a socket grips a bolt or nut. 6 and 12 point work on hex head bolts and nuts. The 6 point has a very strong grip on the hex head. the 12 point has a weaker grip but allows the socket to go on the bolt easier. I always try to get 6 point sockets. The drive refers to the square that is used to drive the socket. You will need sockets in the same sizes as your Spanners. Sockets from 10mm up to 19mm seems to be the sockets to use for most bike work. From my experience anyways...

Now if you own a British bike like a Velocette, Ariel, Triumph, BSA or Norton as such, it will have nuts and bolts that are British Standard. Imperial in other words. These are also called Whitworth. You will need a set of these Spanners if you work on British stuff. Same rules apply when looking for Imperial tools. Some Large automotive retail chains do sell some imperial stuff but you are best to go to Vintage and Classic Motorcycle rallies and swap meets. Or you could do what my Dad did and built up his collection since the 1970s...yeah right!

Memory Lane Part 1: Customizing my Honda Shadow VT600 VLX

2011-06-07T21:52:00.000+10:00

How can I forget my first ever bike that I owned. Sure I had ridden others in the past but when I finally got my licence and had to choose, the American Chopper buzz was still rampant in Australia. Whilst my Dad's Norton was cool, it was also out of reach due to licence restrictions and price....So onto the next best thing. A cruiser style motorcycle that was fairly simple to modify (according to ebay parts bins and other online stores). I chose the Honda VT600 as there were a hell of alot of custom parts available for it in the United States and Japan as well as the price being right for me at the time... It was pure bliss when I first started riding it, but after watching American Chopper so many times, it wasn't long before I got bitten by the customization bug... From standard form this thing copped what I had saved up at the time could afford. DynoJet Kit, Cobra Shotgun dual 2inch exhaust (yummm), ISO Flame grips and mirrors, various chrome dress up bits and some chrome tribal on the fuel tank. And no the bike wasn't part of a tribe. I got most of the stuff off Ebay, Amazon.com and CruiserCustomizing.com

Beer, wrenches and Mike's super sounds of the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's were on shuffle. Perfect. And away we go...

The finished product. I sold her (sniff sniff) before going even further...I had a wider rear tyre planned and a solo seat but the VFR800 (2nd Bike)'s charm was far too great for me to resist...but that is another story for next time. Stay tuned.