CR950 Guzzi Cafe

[rodekyll]

Ummm. .. . .  The café thing by definition is just a look.     

[Huzo]

Pete, what you say is as valid as anyone else's stance. But I'll offer the opinion that although there's aspects of the bike that are slightly gawky (to me), he's just exercising his ability in the way that he can. As an example, very few people can do what you're doing with the 1400 motor, it's the manifestation of a lifetime of experience and skill, but the reasoning you put forward regarding the perceived worthlessness of the drum brake, could cruelly be turned around and anyone could say, "why bother buggerising around with the 1400 project? Even when you're done, you'll have a bike that I can flog like a red headed step son, in a race with my R1", and although they'd be right, it's not the point. YOU do it 'cos you can. It's a statement of your ability, and you're curious to see if you can achieve it, my bet is that you will. These cafe's are a bit done to death, but each builder usually only does a couple, and while there's blokes who do these projects, the art of understanding your motorbike will be preserved. The bloke who built the "derivative POS", would be more interesting to have a conversation with than the bloke who runs in and buys a ZX 10 and has to get the dealer to adjust the chain. Bugger me, I'd like to be the bloke who owns a Red '07 wire wheeled 8v Norge, just to see if I could get the 8V motor in my frame, it's just a chance to test your ability, it doesn't have to make sense, or be " better" than it's predecessors.

[Huzo]

Why in the world does it only have a drum break up front?

Awwww, give the poor guy a brake !!!

[rodekyll]

Now that's funny, right there.   

[JJ]

Probably do what I've done before and stick a 750 crank in it and long rod it, stick on some mid valve heads and a warm cam with 36mm PHF's, lighten a ring gear and use an alloy flywheel, stuff a ZD box behind it and dress it up like a T3.

I already have a 'Vert.

Pete

Hi Pete -

Tough crowd indeed...  

I am just curious...can you post a photo of a Guzzi like you described above? 

Would you approve of a cafe Guzzi like this?  My old '83 850 LM-III with a few mods / upgrades...

[Aaron D.]

When I got into riding on the street, I liked low bars on any street bike, ostensibly for the stable feel and all.

I still like the look of low bars, rearsets and the whole thing, but the current cafe fashion thing is no different from Orange County Choppers. Looks only-and most are noisome refuse anyway.

And the final big reveal was realizing that higher bars generally were quicker than clip-ons in twisties anyway.

[pete roper]

Hi Pete -

Tough crowd indeed...  

I am just curious...can you post a photo of a Guzzi like you described above? 

Would you approve of a cafe Guzzi like this?  My old '83 850 LM-III with a few mods / upgrades...

I don't think any of the pics of my little hot-rod survived the melt down of my hard drive years ago so unless I find some somewhere the answer to your question is unfortunately no.

Nice Mk. III, it's not trying to be something it's not.

Pete

[Huzo]

Hi Pete -

Tough crowd indeed...  

I am just curious...can you post a photo of a Guzzi like you described above? 

Would you approve of a cafe Guzzi like this?  My old '83 850 LM-III with a few mods / upgrades...

Tough ???!

[JJ]

Tough ???!

Hi Huzo - I said "Tough crowd" because Pete posted this photo of what he thought should happen to that 950CR 

[Huzo]

Hi Huzo - I said "Tough crowd" because Pete posted this photo of what he thought should happen to that 950CR 

Eeeewwwwww!!!