The time has come to trade my old motorcycle (currently a ZX12) for something different.
But which one? At first i wanted a supermoto or motard, but seeing as how i am building one, I was thinking about going the cafe route. I have also set myself a budget of $8000 all up. I do not want to spend more time buying something that requires a lot of modifications. The retro bikes such as Kawasaki W650 & 800 ,Triumph twins and Honda CB1100 are a bit too expensive. I want a bike that is fairly new (so I don't have to rebuild it) but has more up-to-date cycle parts. That only leaves bikes like the Yamaha XJR1200/1300 and Kawasaki ZRX1100/1200. Its a shame smaller capacities such as 750 or 900 are available. The Honda Hornet 900 is another possibility but requires too much modification to get to cafe spec. The XJR has some of the essential cafe elements such as an air-cooled engine and twin shock rear end.
I did this mock-up in photoshop to see how a modification such as changing the seat and tail combo can completely change the style. The bike is a basic black and grey, but just add a coloured cafe tail and seat with an imola style tail light and voila, instant cafe!
Still requires the subframe to be cut shorter and relocation of the battery and I also shortened the muffler as well.
