OK, so this has NOTHING to do with Classic Minis, but I know that poeple here love a good restoration story. I blogged about this as well, so here's a brief summary from that posting:

Steve "Carpy" Carpenter is an artist (there's no other word for it), living in SoCal. An ex-pat Brit, he's loved, and built, cafe racer-style bikes for decades.

I ran across his web site, cb750cafe.com the other day, and ever since then I've been daydreaming about buying, and riding, one of his bikes. They are, in a word, sexy.

I have no idea how I'll pay for one, but his rates are reasonable (if you're not looking for a full-bore show bike anyway) and he ships anywhere in the Lower 48 for only $600. Check out these photos!!











I've loved the cafe look and style (race-inspired dropped handlebars, cut-out gas tank, single seat, stripped-down instrumentation, etc.) since I saw my first modded CB750 at RPM Honda in Chicago, where I worked as a service writer in the late 80's. I had no idea that anyone was actually keeping the cafe style alive, and Carpy's not only doing so but improving on the look - many of his signature items like his tanks, seats, tail lights and handlebar hardware are custom made.

There are many, many more on his site - please do check it out. Carpy documents the rebuilds, start to finish, which is and of itself really something. So, so cool!

Best of all... If you go to the "Cafe Racers I Built" link, every build has a full write up with about 30 before and after photos. Basically, the guy must have ADD and a caffeine addiction the size of Texas because all he seems to do is build cafe racers out of old Honda CB750s and take photos detailing the process. Fascinating!!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to figure out how I'm going to afford purchasing a matched set of these for me and Amy - she actually wants to fly out to SoCal and ride them back on a week-long road-trip vacation. No rear seat for her, lemme tell you...

Enjoy!

 

Cafe isn't dead, here's mine :p

1978 CB550


Just took a little bit of money and a lot of time :D

 

NICE ... the CB does make a cool CAFE RACER.

I like the Black and gold one ...Kinda AJS / Norton looking.

The Yamaha RD was my Cafe Racer of choice (I built several) and may still build another. Or a Hawk.

One of the coolest DIFFERENT I saw was a BMW R90 Cafe racer.

 

Lovely bike, Lenn!! She's tough...

FYI - for anyone wanting to do their own cafe conversion work - Carpy carries a whole line of custom-fabricated build accessories, including drop-handlebars, cafe seats, smooth-bore carbs, chrome gauges with custom faces, chopped fenders, special badging and the like. His parts section is HERE.

He made them himself, he says, because he couldn't find anything he liked anywhere else. From the look of his photos, these custom bits are indeed high quality, although I can't speak to the fit and finish personally of course. Havig access to that resource should make the customization process that much easier.

 

How comfortable are those bikes for long distance. I know I can't ride my Bonneville for more than a few hours without paying for it later.

Anyways, its really a curse isn't it. I'd collect cars and motorcycles all day if I had an endless supply of cash. Don't forget if you get two of those you'll need a bigger garage for all your toys.

 

you are correct. those are some sexy bikes!

 

I dunno... People said I was nuts for driving to Florida and back on a CBR1000 - they swore the low, cafe-style clip-ons would kill my back. But they didn't. Of course, that was almost 20 years ago (yikes).

 

Just a side thought but It would be really cool to put one of those cbx1000 6 cylinder engines in a mini. You could run the chrome pipes 3 out each side behind the door. Wouldn't be that fast but would look awesome.


http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...x1000%2079.htm

 

The Cafe is a killer. I get pretty tired after a 40 minute ride. The clubman bars are low, coupled with the reach to get over the tank make for a back breaker.

 

Had myself a CB750 for a while and drooled over what people had done to them. I ended up selling mine 'cause it's hard to work on a bike while living in a condo w/ no garage

Mine, before I sold it. Still a stocker.


Carpy makes some good looking stuff.

Check out benjie also.
http://www.benjiescaferacer.com/







These aren't cafe racers but these are pretty sick.
www.bratstyle.com

 

OMFG... I cannot stop looking at Carpy's site. I've got it bad...

 

Cool Pics!