[nsr] Cafe Racer - Basket Case to Beauty

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 12:41 am

I know this is a scooter forum, sorry, but this has got to be one of the most amazing basket-case-to-cafe-racer buildups ever. To add to your sense of dismay, here is a pic of the ugly duckling basket case before the buildup. You'll have to go to the article to see the final product. It's so beautiful. Sniff.

caffeine65 · Post by **caffeine65** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 2:58 am

Wow, the color scheme is perfect! I love the old, vintage TT-style fairing a lot too.

Benzo Mike · Post by **Benzo Mike** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 3:00 am

Sweet mother of mercy...

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 5:32 am

Pretty cool...

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:36 am

Can you really call it a Scout with nothing but (parts of) the original engine and tranny? Guess I would have liked to have seen it restored or something.

Sure is pretty, though.

KrispyKreme · Post by **KrispyKreme** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:40 am

Syd wrote:Can you really call it a Scout with nothing but (parts of) the original engine and tranny? Guess I would have liked to have seen it restored or something.

Sure is pretty, though.

It's a Café bike Syd. That makes it cool.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:47 am

Syd wrote:Can you really call it a Scout with nothing but (parts of) the original engine and tranny? Guess I would have liked to have seen it restored or something.

Well, in the 1950s and early 1960s the folks who were building cafe racers might well have created just such a bike from those pieces. The telling styling cue is the beautiful curve in the vertical frame member behind the motor. That is carefully calculated to remind you of the curve in a Norton Featherbed frame, which was by far and away the cafe racer's frame of choice. The motor of choice was typically a Triumph, hence the "Triton" moniker. However, many different makes of motors were shoehorned into Featherbed frames, including Triumph, Vincent (the Norvin), Royal Enfield, and BSA, to name a few. It really wouldn't have been shocking to see a period machine with that motor in it and it certainly makes a tidy package both with and without the fairing. But, yes, you are right, it's not a machine for the purist.

KrispyKreme · Post by **KrispyKreme** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:50 am

^^^Give me a Honda. At least it will run.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:54 am

KrispyKreme wrote:^^^Give me a Honda. At least it will run.

As you wish, Krispy...

KrispyKreme · Post by **KrispyKreme** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 7:02 am

Straight 4? What displacement? Looks like a 750

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:00 am

KrispyKreme wrote:Straight 4? What displacement? Looks like a 750

Gonna guess that its a 500F or 550F/K going by the cover on the end of the head. Considering that the builder dropped the front disc for a drum, I'd hope they didn't go bonkers in the horsepower department. Heck, a stock 500F could top the ton on paper, but needed better rear shocks to avoid going squirrley over 75mph.

#1200

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 2:10 pm

az_slynch wrote:
KrispyKreme wrote:Straight 4? What displacement? Looks like a 750
Gonna guess that its a 500F or 550F/K going by the cover on the end of the head.

You're good!

It's a 550.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 2:45 pm

OK, that is pretty awesome.

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 2:50 pm

jrsjr wrote:
az_slynch wrote:
KrispyKreme wrote:Straight 4? What displacement? Looks like a 750
Gonna guess that its a 500F or 550F/K going by the cover on the end of the head.
You're good! It's a 550.

I had a leg up on that one. I bought a '71 CB500F as a project a few years back. It's a survivor, but needed several things sorted out. Dismantled and bagged/tagged until I had enough parts to put it together right. Maybe 2015 will be it's year; the remainder of 2014 has been slated for the basketcase C70 Passport.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 3:03 pm

I was gonna say, looks like my old '75 SOHC 550F motor. Looka that - no airbox, 'velocity' intakes. Cooler-looking than a box or foam filters, but geez, hopefully nothing gets sucked-in. For some reason, I used to pick up a bunch of road dirt and grime in that area.