One of the biggest headaches for anyone who is thinking of having their own cafe racer is to choose the model of the bike with which to start working.Do you already have it clear? If not, read on.
If you have already done some research before developing your own cafe racer, you will surely know that there are some tuners that enjoy an exceptional reputation in this sector: Honda, BMW, Kawasaki, Triumph and Harley-Davidson. When choosing one or the other, there are several things to take into account: the budget we have to customize it, the personal tastes of each one and the design we want to impose on our cafe racer.
Another very important thing, as we mentioned in a previous post, is to check the condition of the bike. Regardless of the model of bike chosen to develop our cafe racer, we must make sure that the bike is in good condition. The better these conditions are, the less we will have to spend on repairs, parts and tuning.
Without further ado, we are going to list some of the most commonly used models when developing a cafe racer:
1. BMW R nineT. This model enjoys great popularity because it perfectly combines modern elements with other more classic, among which is an impressive two-tone aluminum tank. Actually, any BMW R model is very suitable to create a cafe racer. In our garage we recently had a BMW R45 and we recommend you to see the work we did on it to get an idea of how a bike can change after going through a customizing workshop.
THE 5 MOST ICONIC MOTORCYCLES TO DEVELOP A CAFE RACERWhy is the BMW R nineT one of the most acclaimed models for developing a cafe racer? Because of its customisation and personalisation possibilities. Thanks to its standard design and huge accessories catalogue, this bike can be easily adapted to the customer’s tastes, reducing the subsequent customisation budget to a minimum. It should also not be forgotten that being a modular bike, it is very easy to make changes to the design. The BMW ninneT is one of the most sought after bikes by those who want to customise their own cafe racer because its design and manufacture makes things much easier. However, its main problem is the price, as this BMW model sells for quite high figures.
2. Harley-Davidson Sporster 883. It is one of the most desired Harley-Davidson because it moves away from the big Big Twin to which we are accustomed to the brand. By betting on a very compact engine, the weight of the bike is reduced but does not lose power, making it a delight for any lover of cafe racer.
Specifically, its twin-cylinder engine allows not having to bet on complicated deposits, so you get a very clean lines. Nor should we forget that this Harley Davidson allows you to get more power to your engine and even beautify it aesthetically, greatly facilitating the work of customization. In addition, being such a famous model, there are many specialized tuners, which greatly facilitates the search for parts.
Although at first glance this bike does not look like a cafe racer, changing four things you get a beautiful bike. Of course, we will have to spend money to change things in the chassis and tires, because with a larger diameter it looks much better.
3. Honda CB1100. Honda is the brand par excellence when we talk about cafe racer, so its models contain connotations of the spirit of the 70s. The retro look of this bike makes it a very good choice when choosing it as a model to create a cafe racer.
Why choose a Honda CB1100? Well, because of its initial retro design, it makes things a lot easier. For example, its classic instrumentation and metal fenders are impressive and will look great on your later cafe racer. Its design emulating the 70s, make it possible to get an old school bike without implementing too many changes and repairs, although, as always, the main problem is its price. If you are looking for something similar at a more affordable price, the Honda CB750 is your best option.
Kawasaki W800. If you are looking for an authentic cafe racer spending the minimum in customization, this is the bike you are looking for. It is interesting to know that there is a Kawasaky W800 Cafe Style, but it is not sold outside Japan.
However, some parts are available to add the Cafe Style line to your Kawasaky W800. This model is ideal if you do not want to get into difficult and expensive transformations, but perhaps it will cost you to customize it 100% to your tastes. However, with a good customizing workshop you will get a spectacular cafe racer and you will start the project with an ideal starting point.
5. Triumph Bonneville T100. As a general rule, any cafe racer based on a Triumph is a good choice. What sets a Bonneville apart from the rest of the Triumphs is that you can create two-decade-old transformations from a 2014-produced model without compromising originality. If you are looking for an old school bike, this is your best option.
If you have read this article knowing these models and their prices, you may have rolled your eyes. If you didn’t know about them and you ‘ ve done some research, you’ll have rolled your eyes. We are talking about great bikes, but their main problem is the price: you save a lot on customization but you need to invest in the bike.
In Bolt Motor Company, motorcycle customization shop specializing in cafe racer Valencia, we have a different mentality. We advocate squeezing every penny to the maximum to get the best customization at the best budget. Our more than 20 years of experience in the customization of motorcycles, make us know where to invest and in what parts to do it to squeeze the most of our customers ‘ budgets to get the cafe racer of your dreams with the best budget.
For more information, you can contact us at the following email: info@boltracer.com
