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.

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Sorry for the sh!tty picture (it appears to be of a prototype). But the seat appears cool. I am getting more serious about finding a seat for my Sportster, as I am finding more and more examples of these types of cafe racer seats for sale. I think it might be time to try one out…

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I don’t know if I’m a fan of the paint job, but this is one well-built, clean motorcycle. I’d adjust the bars if it were my bike, but what a good build! My girlfriend really likes this bike. Nice job on the Tokico brakes!

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