ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear

Miscellaneous => Rants & Raves => Topic started by: Dante on July 01, 2022, 02:21:55 PM

Title: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Dante on July 01, 2022, 02:21:55 PM
In another (unrelated) post, MJMP asked me what a Cafe Racer was...

Here's the story (pretty close to how I heard it)

Café Racers (originally pronounced “caff” racers) were born out of the Ace Cafe in London. The patrons would put a coin in the jukebox, race around a circuit on their motorbikes and try to beat the song back to to the cafe before it finished. This developed a style of bike called Café Racers

Since there were no "race bikes" back then, they started doing everything possible to make their bikes faster. Engine upgrades, suspension upgrades, tires, etc. They'd also strip the bike down to it's very frame. So, you're left with a minimalist bike that's nothing but a frame with wheels on the ends and a motor in the middle.

Here are some before & after shots of my bike - I need to take some updated pix that are at the same angles as the 'before' shots
Title: Re: Re: What is it with "amp repair" guys?
Post by: MarshallJMP on July 01, 2022, 03:33:28 PM
Ah ok I see, must say never heard of these before.
Title: Re: Re: What is it with "amp repair" guys?
Post by: Dante on July 01, 2022, 04:51:00 PM
I like to ride sport bikes, always wanted to build a Cafe Racer...finally did it and I'm pleased with the look

I'm battling these carbs...she is not running great, but she is a big, fast gal
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: MarshallJMP on July 02, 2022, 06:26:51 AM
What is the problem with the carbs?
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Dante on July 02, 2022, 03:39:31 PM
They're not native to the bike, so I have to get them jetted correctly in order to work at all. I put after market Mikuni racing carbs on...because they're cool looking...I'm a poser - haha

I had the bike running pretty rich (too much gas) and started rejetting to compensate for that. In the process, I may have fouled my spark plugs one too many times, so I have new plugs...but my wire boots are too small...bigger boots on the way.

Once I have my spark plug wires back together, I can see if the new spark plugs help me get her started easier

The jetting is a puzzle. Pilot jet to handle the idle and 'slow' riding. Needle Jet and Carb Needle to handle the 1/4 to 3/4 throttle range. Main Jet to handle the Full Open Throttle (FOT). The thing is, when you change the main jet, it affects the needle and the needle jet...so that may change again later too. Fun fun
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: rnolan on July 02, 2022, 08:16:45 PM
Tuning carbs is a dark (and dying) art.  This is why god invented fuel injection and electronic distributors LoL.  From the various car tv shows I watch from time to time, you may also need to balance the air flow into each carb.  There was an episode of Wheeler Dealers where they got a guy in to tune the carbs and he balanced the airflow across the carbs, he had a device to measure the flow into the carbs and tweaked them to be the same.  IIRC it was for a ferrari or lambo engine ??
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Dante on July 02, 2022, 10:19:43 PM
I'm way ahead of you man, I already bought a carb synchronizer called the CarbTune Pro...yup...way down the rabbit hole, like buying gear. Except, I'm buying carb jets, needles etc.

BTW: The air screw is the first adjustment, I have that set already...but I'm at 2,000 feet - which has a bit less O2, so there's that. Hence, my pilot jet adjustments

Don't think I haven't started looking at EFI systems - haha
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: JarrettBlackBridge on July 02, 2022, 10:30:32 PM
Lucky you didn’t build an RE-5, good luck getting someone to work on one of those, lol!  :lol:

Sweet ride, I’m a fan!

These guys usually work on cars but the one guy did a cafe build, pretty neat video although they don’t narrate like they usually do since it’s usually 99% car content.

https://youtu.be/EZF6iT_X8Rk (https://youtu.be/EZF6iT_X8Rk)
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: MarshallJMP on July 03, 2022, 06:23:08 AM
Yeah tuning carbs can be a pain in the butt. I also saw that episode from wheeler dealers, looked pretty neat. I always used 4 vacuum gauges to tune my carbs on my Suzuki GSX600. Still have but I haven't used it in a decade. Maybe I should get it out again. I miss driving a bike.
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Kim on July 03, 2022, 05:55:59 PM
I always liked the look of most of those cafe racers.   :thumb-up:

My current motorcycle (2016 Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra) has an aftermarket tuner module on it (Vance & Hines FuelPak) that allows the rider to download an app on their phone in order to make adjustments wirelessly to the fuel maps and stuff.  I've never messed with it since getting this bike, as it seems the previous owner had it dialed in pretty good for the Screaming Eagle Stage 1 upgrade it has.  The bike has PLENTY of power now IMO; I won't need to go to a higher Stage upgrade but I'd lower the Idle RPM slightly if I ever did want to mess with it though...
(https://i.imgur.com/L2Nihf1.jpg)
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: rnolan on July 04, 2022, 01:28:57 AM
Hey Kim, that looks super comfortable.  My mate used to have a GPZ1100 back in the day, not so comfortable for the pillion (me)  :facepalm: but man was it fast  :whoohoo!:   

@MJMP, so you are a bike dude as well, look out.
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: MarshallJMP on July 04, 2022, 03:47:26 AM
@Kim, wauw didn't know that even existed for bike's, so did the Harley have carbs originally?

@Rnolan, yep been driving I was 16 on 50cc bikes, when I was 18 I went to 250cc two stroke dirt bikes (or cross bikes??) and then to the one I have now.
But for the moment I drive around on a spedelec bicycle, with the high gas price I don't even use my car anymore.
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: JarrettBlackBridge on July 04, 2022, 04:55:21 AM
with the high gas price I don't even use my car anymore.

I wish I could say the same  :'(
I’m like 40 mins away from work at 100$ a week now that used to cost me 35$. One day to and from work though in the rx7 is like 60$ though so it’s not too bad in the civic I guess  :lol:
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Dante on July 04, 2022, 11:23:41 AM
@Kim: I believe you are referencing a Power Commander, but I could be wrong. They have them for aftermarket stuff too, I think.

My last bike had one, it was a 2004 YZF600r (pictured below). Her name was Trixie, had all the fairings, cowlings etc. My new bike has ZERO body parts - naked bike with a semi-bobber fender (not very cafe, but whatever...it's mine).

Your Harley looks sweet man. I've only ridden one - my dad's Road King. I was going through all the gears like I was on a sport bike & my dad yelled at me - haha. He had a full dresser later...said his reverse gear was mom pushing on the windshield :)

BTW: I have to re-learn Machine Head by Bush (got a gig coming up). I never saw the video before, but it's about a Cafe Racer - lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WPbqYoz9HA
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Dante on July 04, 2022, 11:44:47 AM
Lucky you didn’t build an RE-5, good luck getting someone to work on one of those, lol!  :lol:

Sweet ride, I’m a fan!

These guys usually work on cars but the one guy did a cafe build, pretty neat video although they don’t narrate like they usually do since it’s usually 99% car content.

https://youtu.be/EZF6iT_X8Rk (https://youtu.be/EZF6iT_X8Rk)

That guy encapsulated my last 2 months perfectly. 1 month of pulling shit off, cutting the frame, ripping out extra wires, fixing the lights, draining very black oil, etc. 1 month of wrestling carbs (so far). I must point out that he only had one carb to deal with, way easier. Very nice video, thank you for that. One of the better 'build' videos I've seen.

Did you see the gaggle of wires he had in the headset of that bike? I have that too. I will invest in a simple wiring harness pretty soon, they have some that are a lot less wires (how many do you need for a bike anyway?)

That rubber boot holding on the carb? I had to replace mine too - all 3. That's what got me down the carburetor rabbit hole. My carbs were shot...yes, I could find jets for them, but getting them out was not easy and I did some damage. So, new carbs!  :facepalm:

Ride on, adventurers!
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: MarshallJMP on July 04, 2022, 12:04:41 PM
with the high gas price I don't even use my car anymore.

I wish I could say the same  :'(
I’m like 40 mins away from work at 100$ a week now that used to cost me 35$. One day to and from work though in the rx7 is like 60$ though so it’s not too bad in the civic I guess  :lol:

My work is about 12 km and it takes me around 17 minutes to get there with the bicycle, with the car it takes longer. And since I have solar panels the electricity to charge it doesn't cost me anything. I save with the actual diesel prices around 100 euro / month + my work pays me 25 eurocent/km (in my case 24 x0.25= 6euro) bicycle allowance every day I use my bicycle to go to work wich adds up to 110-125 euro / month. Also it's a lease bicycle (costs around 9000 euro) and I have to pay 88 euro / month for it.

I'm a bit curious what are the fuel prices in your country for the moment?

Petrol 95 RON E10 2.138 euro/l or 8.44$/gallon or 2.87$/l canadian or 12.28 $/gallon australian
Petrol 98 RON E5  2.402 euro/l or 9.48$/gallon or 3.22$/l canadian or 13.80 $/gallon australian
Diesel B7              2.144 euro/l or 8.46$/gallon or 2.87$/l canadian or 12.32 $/gallon australian

Maybe this is a bit of topic so feel free to move it maybe to a new topic?
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Dante on July 04, 2022, 05:15:50 PM
This whole thread is off topic, no worries

Gas is about $6/gallon around here...Northern California

I have never really 'saved gas' with a bike. For the minimal gas savings, you spend just as much on maintenance (chain lube, chain cleaner, oil, filters, etc.)

One cool thing about the 'new' old bike...SHAFT DRIVE. Yeah, no more cleaning the chain. I love that
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Kim on July 04, 2022, 08:18:06 PM
@Kim, wauw didn't know that even existed for bike's, so did the Harley have carbs originally?
No, it has the factory EFI.  Every street bike Harley makes has EFI after a certain year, not sure which year that started though. Early 2000s I think....maybe sooner.

@Kim: I believe you are referencing a Power Commander, but I could be wrong. They have them for aftermarket stuff too, I think.
Your Harley looks sweet man. I've only ridden one - my dad's Road King. I was going through all the gears like I was on a sport bike & my dad yelled at me - haha.

Thanks!  It's called a FuelPak and made by Vance & Hines.  Just an add-on thingie that plugs into the harness under one of the side covers.  Yeah, shifting (and revving) a Harley like a sportbike isn't what they're made for at all.  lol   These engines make a lot of low-end torque and it's RPM limit is considerably much lower than most sportbikes. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf7skdXOY-s
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: David Drake on July 04, 2022, 08:21:05 PM
Northwest Louisina = $4.59 for 87 octane @ the Wal-mart locatations? (yesterday only I presume...)  I filled up Rosetta and  RJ yesterday.
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: JarrettBlackBridge on July 04, 2022, 08:25:23 PM

I'm a bit curious what are the fuel prices in your country for the moment?


Up until Friday last week we were about 2.12/L (8.01/Gal) Canadian for regular (87 octane, I think we’re on MON though, 87 here is maybe around 95 in Europe? I have no idea really haha)
Our provincial government just dropped the provincial portion of the tax on fuel though and is trying to get the federal government to match it. Dropped our prices to around 1.85/L (7.15/Gal)
I’m 100% sure they’ll get their money back some other way  :lol:

My car takes premium though (91 octane) which is now like 2.22/L (8.40/Gal) Canadian.
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: rnolan on July 05, 2022, 05:32:38 AM
I run on 98 RON which is currently $2.25 AUD per liter and the gov have dropped 0.22 per liter excise until September (I think) so then it will go up to around $2.50/L. 

So $2.25L in US Gallons(USG) = ~$8.52/USG AUD   
~$5.78 USD/USG - $1.53USD/L 
~5.61EUR/USG - 1.48ERU/L 
~7.51 CAD/USG - 1.98 CAD/L 

Hey Dante, great song, have fun with that one  :whoohoo!: :metal: .
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Dante on July 07, 2022, 04:47:55 PM
Got the carbs synced, need to take a test ride later

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USDxaWbn8Js
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: rnolan on July 09, 2022, 09:12:02 AM
 :whoohoo!: :thumb-up:
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Harley Hexxe on July 09, 2022, 09:23:54 AM
Fuel prices here in NE Ohio were around $5.00/Gal up until this week, and that was for 87 Octane.

This week, the same regular gas is down to $4.59/Gal.  I use 93 Octane in my car which is going around $5.40/Gal.
Title: Re: What's a Cafe Racer?
Post by: Dante on July 09, 2022, 09:26:48 PM
I was happy to see gas under $6/gallon

Bike idles great, needs some midrange work. Got a couple needle jets and some more needles coming (this is my 3rd set). Still running rich, fouling plugs

so much joy