Not bad for a cafe racer made from a R11S

[fontana]

I wish they'd hurry up and get over this bleeding' cafe racer fashion trip. There'll be no bloody decent 1990s bikes left at this rate

Totally agree, although it's only me who get's flack for saying it.

[Herb]

I only give you flack for 'flip-flopping'.

It wasn't so long ago, under your previous moniker, you started a whole thread about how much you loved café racers.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18288&p=151048&hilit=cafe+racers#p151048

[fontana]

Who gets to define what bikes are worth preserving and which modifying? .

And then in the same breath

I don't see the r1100s as a classic worth preserving.

[Herb]

Who gets to define what bikes are worth preserving and which modifying? .

And then in the same breath

I don't see the r1100s as a classic worth preserving.

That's why I asked the question. Clearly the answer is that I get to decide!!

[fontana]

I actually like these café racer style machines if they're done well, and tastefully.
Most importantly, for me at least is that they have to be sympathetic to the original bike design.
The problem is that so many of these bikes are done in sheds by people who really haven't a clue what they're doing.
Have you noticed how many "un-finished projects" there are turning up on ebay nowadays.
Some of the professional builds are stunning.
Properly engineered, and genuinely improved over the doner bikes they are based on.
Sadly with the majority, that seems not to be the case.
A lot of great old bikes are being ruined by people who should really have their tool kits and angle grinders taken away.
It's a crying shame.
Sorry, but that's just my opinion.

[Jeff Highland]

What do you think would happen if by some miracle of science fiction, an R1100S was transported back to the Ace Cafe in the mid 60's?
Would it "blow their minds" or would the patrons reject it till it was stripped naked of all plastic body panels and the electric starter converted to a kickstarter?

[Herb]

What do you think would happen if by some miracle of science fiction, an R1100S was transported back to the Ace Cafe in the mid 60's?
Would it "blow their minds" or would the patrons reject it till it was stripped naked of all plastic body panels and the electric starter converted to a kickstarter?

They would laugh at it for being an old fashioned design from the 30s with cylinders sticking out in the wind!

[fontana]

They would laugh at it for being an old fashioned design from the 30s with cylinders sticking out in the wind!

Do you also think they'd dismiss telelver front end, abs brakes, fuel injection, shaft drive, and so on, not to mention performance and handling, which would obliterate pretty much anything those guys were riding..
Erm, I think not.
Can I ask you Herb, why do you frequent this forum.
I mean you don't actually seem to have a good word to say about Boxers.

Do you own one, and if you do, why exactly ?

[Herb]

I don't own a boxer, or even a BMW. In fact I don't even ride a motorbike. I have just been hanging round on this forum for 10 years to antagonise the pipe and slippers brigade.

Ref my previous post. I am quite sure every other member realised it was meant in jest!

[popsky]

I don't own a boxer, or even a BMW. In fact I don't even ride a motorbike. I have just been hanging round on this forum for 10 years to antagonise the pipe and slippers brigade.

That made me chuckle

IRef my previous post. I am quite sure every other member realised it was meant in jest!

WHAT !!!!!! You mean to tell me your only joking


Now where are those slippers……

[fontana]

Just to reiterate something I said earlier, here's a café racer style bike done properly.
Simple, uncluttered and without detracting from the essence of the original bike.

[milleplod]

Just to reiterate something I said earlier, here's a café racer style bike done properly.
Simple, uncluttered and without detracting from the essence of the original bike.

Bike1.jpg (80.43 KiB) Viewed 4492 times

They don't look that different to me tbh.

Pete

[Herb]

The Guzzi is much cleaner, very much a classic look for Guzzi. The beemer is a bit urban / mad max. I like them both, but of the 2 I'd have the Guzzi, assuming I knew how to ride one.

[bfisher]

Phew, that got some banter happening. . .

Guzzi very nice, although for the cash i am sure i would have to hand over to own it, i wouldn't want in-grip indicators & that front disc looks worn out & pittered ; )

R1100S - the reason i posted this (not a big fan as indicated of the cafe scene but there definitely some nice bikes out there), is it caught my eye; i really like the r1100s in its raw form but this is one of the better efforts i have seen to customise & overcome somewhat awkward dimensions / geometries that were never meant to be exposed as the cafe style do . . . . as for the mad max effect, yeah knobbies are for offroad . . . there's a challenge, turn the r1100s into a trail. . .

One thing for sure, like them or loath them, they (cafe racer) get the banter going!

[boxerscott]

They could have saved themselves an awful lot of effort by just buying an R9T in the first place, instead of butchering a lovely S...

My thoughts, or for less money as someone posted earlier a rockster.

Each to their own but not my scene.

The rider looks disproportionate to the bike.

chris