I Love Cafe Racers!!!

Here is a really clean build-up/restoration of a Yamaha XS650 into a cafe racer. So much about it is right, and just a few things need help (but they’re easy).

I think the overall look of the bike with the nice paint, fiberglass, and decals is really nice. It will stand out in a row of bikes at Alice’s Restaurant while not being over the top. That rear seat is particularly nice, and I like the way the CB500 tank looks on the bike. The red pin-striping/decals on the white bodywork is quite classy.

But here are two things that would change the bike radically on the cheap and easy: ditch the crazy square mirror, and get some clip-ons or clubmans. I know it is more comfortable to have the drag bars, but it is the one missing element for me. And the square mirror? Enough said…

This bike is only a little ways from my house, but finances dictate I stay away and concentrate on the SL350 cafe build-up I have coming up with my friend Paul at TheMotoWorld.com.

Bikes, eBay 1977, 650, cafe, cafe racer, caferacer, cb500, cb500t, clip-ons, clubman, drag bar, gas tank, racer, xs, xs650, yamaha

Here we have a bike that combines aspects of the street tracker and cafe racer styles of bikes. The triple motor is really cool, and the overall build is super clean.

Now that I’m thinking about it, I would probably call this more of a street tracker. I like the fact it has a uniqueness that won’t be seen very often when parked at breakfast during a Sunday morning ride.

Bikes, eBay 750, cafe, cafe racer, racer, street tracker, xs, xs750, yamaha