Donors for a a Cafe Build

[hughtwg]

I'm thinking of having a friend build me a Guzzi Cafe Racer. I was hoping the forum could give me some pointers on which models would make a good starting point and which should be avoided.

Also if anyone knows of a good donor east of the Mississippi please let me know.

Here is the page for my buddies moto business: https://www.facebook.com/Motorelic

thanks,
Hugh

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Hamilton, VA? About 20 miles from me.

Definitely do not use a V700, Ambassador or Eldorado.  ;)

[rodekyll]

Use any non-Convert version of the early (short wheelbase) Tonti frame.  Add engine of choice (850 - 1100 BB), and the obligatory sameness of café racers, and you're there.

[Vasco DG]

Here is a suitable turd to ruin. No one will care if you chop up this great chunk 'o munt.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-GS-1978-suzuki-gs-400-x-/261758336360?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3cf2033d68&item=261758336360&pt=US_motorcycles

Please don't destroy a perfectly good Guzzi.

Pete

[charlie b]

Search around and be patient.  A 'barn bike' shows up every now and then that would make a decent donor for any type project.

Like RK said, look for an early Tonti bike.  They have the type frame that cafe folks like.

I would say to please not mess up a good speciman, but seeing what I've done to a perfectly good T5 would make a lot of people weep  :)

[Perazzimx14]

A Breva 750 or a V7 classic or a 90's + Tonti. Leave the Loops and pre 1990's Tonti's alone.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Hugh, as you may have noticed, Vasco dosen't care for cafe racers.  ;D :BEER: In my opinion, the T is perfect. It has that cool looking rear drive/drum brake. Single disc front end that says, "old timey" but will actually stop.
Don't cut up any loops, V7 sports  :o Lemans of any kind, including the 4/5 scale Lemans, the Lario. Other than that, I'd think you're good to go. I don't think *any* of the injected bikes are suitable. YMMV, of course..
Edit for typo..

[Travman]

I think the CX500/650 and the GL500/650 make some mighty fine café racers and streetfighters.



http://www.bikeexif.com/cx500-cafe-racer#more-19258

[HDGoose]

Next year I hope to make a Millie out of my Cali 1100i. After I get another long distance bike of some flavor.

[JoeW]

I would think an 850T or T3 would be good base bikes. You can find them around especially floor board model T3s. I have 2 suitable bikes if you're interested. I'll be picking up a couple bikes on Delaware in March, I could bring one with me.

[arveno]

First question is about  bike budget .

these days cafe races are all the same ( even tho they all wanted to be different from the crowd ...ohh well )

Bike budget : ?

go on MGcycle.com and get these parts

Rear set
V7sport/le mans know off replica gas tank.
Semi handlebars
Mufflers
mono seat

u good to go...

Have fun !

[NCAmother]

I'm thinking of having a friend build me a Guzzi Cafe Racer. I was hoping the forum could give me some pointers on which models would make a good starting point and which should be avoided.

Also if anyone knows of a good donor east of the Mississippi please let me know.

Here is the page for my buddies moto business: https://www.facebook.com/Motorelic

thanks,
Hugh

Hi Hugh.  Here's a link to a really cool T3 cafe racer.  http://www.bikeexif.com/custom-moto-guzzi-850    I'm pretty ignorant though, in my eyes this looks gorgeous

[kevdog3019]

First question is about  bike budget .

these days cafe races are all the same ( even tho they all wanted to be different from the crowd ...ohh well )

Bike budget : ?

go on MGcycle.com and get these parts

Rear set
V7sport/le mans know off replica gas tank.
Semi handlebars
Mufflers
mono seat

u good to go...

Have fun !

I think that's pretty ignorant to say all cafe's look the same. It's a style like any style and it sounds like it's simply stale for you. This generalization is getting stale to me.

[arveno]

I think that's pretty ignorant to say all cafe's look the same. It's a style like any style and it sounds like it's simply stale for you. This generalization is getting stale to me.

To me they are all the same , whether you like it or not .
But hey if you don't like what i say please use the " IGNORE" button , is there for a reason.

 :BEER:
ciao

[kevdog3019]

To me they are all the same , whether you like it or not .
But hey if you don't like what i say please use the " IGNORE" button , is there for a reason.

 :BEER:
ciao

All you NY'ers are the same.  :P ;)

[arveno]

All you NY'ers are the same.  :P ;)

LOL ! i guess....even tho i am straight of the boat from Milan....but i know what you mean, hey it must be the polluted air and the nasty weather  ;D

Going back to the OP , i was just giving him a quick hint on what to do, thats what i did with mine 1000SP too nothing wrong with it , and i would add that to do those modifications he could try to do it himself saving money from the labor.
Swapping tank/seat/fenders and pipes etc is not that difficult and this forum is here to help .

I miss spring time .... :-\

[kevdog3019]

I meant no offense Arveno, just that there've been so many "bashing" threads lately regarding mods and some are jumping to the extreme in suspecting the worst. It is rue that there are hack jobs being committed no doubt. I think those images get burned into our memory more than the good ones. Fortunately some are taking an otherwise parts bike and turning them into a delicious runner. In the process they sell decent parts to others for their restorations. We must not forget this aspect. I for one am doing this with mine; others benefit. I'm keeping mine forever since there's $$ into it I won't get out, but it's what I want so no need to sell... win/win. I'm all for making something yours if you're planning on keeping it to ride and improving it for your own good. Cutting something willy nilly is a waiste and poor art form. Function is often overlooked in these cases.
As cafes fade to scramblers they will get their lusting until the next fad; they too will get their thrashing come time.

[hughtwg]

Thanks for the responses. I don't plan or want to chop up a pristine Guzzi.  My buddy who builds these things usually starts off with barn finds that rarely cost him anything. He already build a CX500 and it was seeing the CX500 that Travman posted that makes me want to do this.

My budget for the donor is $3k. Less is better.

I'll read up on Tonti framed bikes and will keep everyone up on any progress (even the haters :D) .

Thanks,
Hugh

[blackcat]

I always thought the CX was the easiest bike to "cafe" as it really doesn't change that much except for some rear sets and a rearrangement of the clock holders. No cutting, welding,etc. and it could be put back to stock if they ever became collectible which I highly doubt, but who knows.

[arveno]

Kev , I know you did not mean to disrespect , i did not take it that way .... and i agree with you regarding the whole cafe racer bashing etc.

 :BEER:

Hey Hugh , 3 k for a donor bike is a lot of money , you can find a good running guzzi and you only have to do few mods and u will be good to go .
If i were you i will stay away from super cheap bike because in the end you will put more money , well over 3 k.
Will be best buying a square head , so you dont have to deal with chrome bores and they are already pretty fast and they come with 36mm carbs.

If you like round heads better , keep in mind that if the bike got original cylinders you have to spend a good 1k $ to replace them .

My advice is to look for the best bike your money can buy...and u will only have to focus on " aesthetic modification "

Keep us posted on the progress.

ciao !


this one looks like a good candidate ;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moto-Guzzi-1998-custom-moto-guzzi-cafe-motorcycle-/131422618299?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1e996602bb&item=131422618299&pt=US_motorcycles

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Will be best buying a square head , so you dont have to deal with chrome bores and they are already pretty fast and they come with 36mm carbs.

If you like round heads better , keep in mind that if the bike got original cylinders you have to spend a good 1k $ to replace them .

Not true. The Le Mans 850, Convert, CX100, G5, SP1000 all have iron liners in early years and Nikasil in later years. 850-T/T3 do have chrome bores though. Also, not all of the "square fin" models came with 36 mm carbs, most came with 30s. 

[blackcat]

this one looks like a good candidate ;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moto-Guzzi-1998-custom-moto-guzzi-cafe-motorcycle-/131422618299?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1e996602bb&item=131422618299&pt=US_motorcycles

That would be good, especially at that price.

[steven c]

 I kind of like that. Sportster Tank?

[father guzzi obrian]

Here is a suitable turd to ruin. No one will care if you chop up this great chunk 'o munt.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-GS-1978-suzuki-gs-400-x-/261758336360?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3cf2033d68&item=261758336360&pt=US_motorcycles

Please don't destroy a perfectly good Guzzi.

Pete

Hi Pete,
For that kind of money, you can get a Japanese 4 cylinder of the same vintage and likely better condition. The twin Suzuki's were not very notable and with the mileage it has on it, its close to sacked anyway.  There are plenty of butt ugly early jap cruisers that could be cafe'd easily, and the 4 cylinder lot or the triple yamaha's were dead reliable once you clean the carbs and sort out the wiring corrosion... Just sayin

[rodekyll]

Face it, guys -- there is only a few way to draw a horizontal, straight line.   **C     :BEER:


Here's a cut-n-paste RE: possible donor from a correspondent on Whidby Island, WA.  She says it's from Craig's list:

Totaled Honda Goldwing. Hit a deer.
For parts or you repair. Hit a deer.
We’re fine, but the Wing is pretty much totaled.  Hit a deer.
Has brand-new tires, brakes, performance Compufire alternator, and Compufire performance battery with less than 1,000 miles on all. Engine is fine as well as transmission with 96,000 miles. Always garaged & still is. One radiator is good, the other non-useable. The fairing and support frame are toast.  Hit a deer.  We have an extra stock windscreen in perfect condition, Corbin seat, luggage liners, trunk bag, and more.


Asking $1,500
Will NOT part out.  I didn't hit the deer that hard.


We can deliver on South Whidbey free
or elsewhere for gas/ferry expenses.


Please call Roger at:
(425) 244-3593


I can testify to the completely out-of-control deer population on Whidby.  They have roadkill in controlled intersections.  They have roadkill in cul-d-sacs.  Whatthey don't seem to have is a hunting season.

[steven c]

 I have a Cal 2 that would be a good project. Already non stock.

[Penderic]

Oy! You are gonna need to immerse and synchronize the various components with the proper vibes.....

 :D

[Petrus Rocks]

Each to their own.  I like cafe racers-it's what I lusted out after when i was young...
Just because it's a style doesn't mean there aren't good things about it.  I'm biased of course.

I have an '85 Cali I'm working on as a cafe platform.  I think any older Guzzis with triple discs area great platform- rescue them from obscurity.

As was previously stated, change out the tank, seat, bars fool around with the footpegs and add some performance and handling mods and you have your own version.
I like the older bikes because they are a lot of fun slower.  You can modify them to work better, and you have something of your own.  Half the fun is solving the various problems with a build and making stuff.
 
Oh, the stock Cali II- now that's a turd to me. But hey...  what Pender said!  you want "que bella motorina"

[arveno]

Not true. The Le Mans 850, Convert, CX100, G5, SP1000 all have iron liners in early years and Nikasil in later years. 850-T/T3 do have chrome bores though. Also, not all of the "square fin" models came with 36 mm carbs, most came with 30s. 

 :+1 :+1

absolutely correct , sorry my bad for giving wrong information.. i totally forgot about the late round heads.
And i thought the SP2 3 and 850T5 , Mille etc came with 36mm carbs but i guess i am wrong.
sorry again

[blackcat]

My 1981 CX had iron cylinders and the speedo was in kilometers so there are no guarantee's in what you might get.