Wow a 'proper'cafe racer..

.. err well sort of, strangely no mention of engine maintenance.. but hey only 3750 USD...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAFE-RACE...0591651?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item5d50628223

J

 

It looks ok from a distance, but close up its a bit nasty.

As the listing says: ' I HAVE SEEN EXELLENT EXAMPLES AND UTTER RUBBISH WITH PRICE TAGS AT THE SAME PRICE' Hmmm, thats not an excellent example so it must be......



I like his comments about the electrics: 'THE WIRING I THINK SAYS IT ALL'
Yep, those crappy blue and red pound shop crimps really do say it all about the time and energy that has gone into the build.



Nice bit of customization with the barrell fins though....



Spoke wheels look ok for that Cafe Racer look ;-)

 

Yeah I'm not sure why but teh XJ 550 doesn't really suit retro style cafe racer, for that you surely need a parallel twin or summat like.
But did you see the black 550 in Practical Sportbike a couple of months back ? Looked sublime. Used a Thundercat swinger and monoshock I think
plus a different front end (R6 maybe) and was stunning. Looked like what an XJR550 might have been.

I would have loved to do the same swing arm mod but not enough skills and time - know my limits I think. Instead I have seen one or two 550s with Radian box-section swingers which seems like a simpler but atractive mod - now just need to find one going for a song.

Cheers

J

 

I dunno, if it checks out mechanically, I'd rather have a rider than a show bike. This, while admittedly rough, has some potential.

 

I think the issue is that for about half that money you can get a really decent orignal bike...

 

That I would agree with, I generally don't look at the price since I am not in the market, anyway.

 

I'm thinking the dangling keys could some day just fall