READY!!!!! SET!!!!!!! GO!!!!!!!

Here is my  FIRST  Cafe Racer that I designed and built when I first arrived in the USA. 

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Here is the K5 in the original guise, now, some of you will email me and then go into detail how such a clean bike should of been restored. If thats the case, why the hell are you looking at Cafe Racers?

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This was a clean example and I wanted to build a Cafe from it, why would I choose a snotty one to begin with, when I have a nice one to make a great project? only makes sense really.

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Also, this aint no sandcast, of which I have had 3 of them. Anyway, this was the first Cafe I built here in the United states and was the best thing I could of done to it. Them 2 into 2 exhausts are about as loud as a gnat taking a dump. So, the project began, and a few weeks later, like Frankenstein said to his creation. "it's Alive!!!"

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I took this bike apart and removed the front wheel, as it was as crusty as Mum's homemade bread.

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I fitted a DID aluminum CB750 Automatic rim, machined a left side rotor, to fit the ride sight and make a Dual Disc conversion.

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Hand sanded the front forks and polished  to shine more than Kojacks Melon.

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The paint is Blacker than prune juice and the Cafe I painted on the Gas Tank  with One Shot enamel by hand.

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I used a 16 inch rear Harley rim and laced it to a CB750 rear hub, it really handles better than most shopping carts.

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The Clubman bars I use from England as they are strong and reliable, also the chrome is thicker than a village idiot.

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I actually had an original chrome plastic HM20 headlight bucket, I think it made it look cooler than Eskimo pee and also had that British look, especially with the 48 Chevy headlight visor I attached..

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She now looks Tougher than a School Bully and I tried real hard to Emulate that English Rocker style of bike, like the GOD of all Cafe's, The Vincent.

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But, I chose to use HONDA SOHC bikes, beacuse of their availabilty and the cost of parts were far cheaper than if I was building a Brit bike.

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And also, the Honda is as reliable as a Tax bill.

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Many will ask what I have done to this bike, so here is a little sampler.

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Original Yoshimura 4 into 1 exhaust,.

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Super large, glass, original Paul Dunstall Gas tank..

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H2 Kwacka rear seat, upholstered in vinyl and snaps.

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16 inch Harely rear rim

CB750A front DID rim

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Twin disc conversion.

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Rare Chrome hm20 headlight bucket

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Original RaceCrafter finned speed equipment

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Chromed Dresda rear swing arm

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Clubman handlebars from England with Tomesselli puffy grips.

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Hand pinstriped tank and gold one shot scripting by your truely.

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This is a unique Cafe Racer and I am so stoked that so many of you have had this bike saved as a screen saver, or printed on an 8X4 and slammed on a fridge, a tool box, office wall and so fourth, how cool.

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OK, REAL NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Whats this I see?

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Yep you are correct, I have the Old Cafe back again in my stable.

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The guy hardly rode it and is now concentrating on his next project, a kick ass Chopper, based on a CB750.

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So a deal was done and on My 43rd birthday, the Cafe turned up at my door.

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Been sitting a few years, but a new Battery and cleaned the carbs, and in less than a couple of hours I was already 20 miles down the road.

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This Cafe performs so well and hugs the road well, and the ride to Triple A to re-register was a blast with no licence plate on it.

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There is a cool place to ride here inb California called Cooks Corner and The Rock store.

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I managed to get to cooks corner on sunday and it was great to see other bikes there, alot of Harleys but my buddy came out on his CB750 and it was a scream.

Thought I would add some photo's for ya.

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People will ask me , is it for sale.

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Everything has a price, so I guess, but I will need a wheel barrow full of golden nuggets to let this go again.

Well, here we go yet again, as I have now decided to TRY, and that's a big word for today, try , and get my Old cafe torn down to the frame this week, and then re-vamp, to be more stunning than an apprentice Cop with a Taser.

The Cafe was starting to look tarnished, the poor girl had been sat for a few years when It left my stable and to be Honest, my cafe was an everyday bike, the same as any other of my builds.

But, now I have to see if I can rebuild this Classic to look more appealing than a Free Banana's advert in the local Zoo newspaper for Monkeys.

So, I decided to try and Build TWO Cafe's for a show in January, yes, you heard it 2 Cafe's.

Both my older Creations,.

This Black Vincent styled Cafe and of course my Candy red tracy Kustom Cafe.

The grand national roadster show will be on in January 2006 on the 10th I believe, as well as a week later at the Autorama in Sacremento is where I hope to build and show these bikes.

This is a horserace for me as I have other customers rides and also I have to tear down Both my old cafe's and get more creative than a kid with a crayon at a sheet factory.

So, Here we go with this Classic Black cafe, I am now stuck for space in the garage, so, the old girl has to be built....OUTSIDE!!!!

Yep, I have pushed the old girl across the garden up the path and onto the porchway, this will be where she will be taken apart and then I shall start to rebuild.

Coughing, sneezing, snotty honker and sweating like a convicted killer at hanging time, I was bloody knackered pushing the bike to the front porch.

I must of pushed harder than a fat man taking a dump after eating for a week non stop.

Jeez, I was glad to get the thing in there, my neighbour had to give me a hand lift the 550 pounds of steel and aluminum onto the concrete slab, as i was more exhausted than a Yoshimura.

The Bike was put on the side stand, as that's all it has, I personally hate main stands, as nowhere is flat anymore, seems the way of building roads these days has been long lost like the Romans made.

So, on the side she sat and now was the time to take a final snap of her in her alltogether and now we start the teardown.

With a box full of wrenches I started the teardown, I bought a big 30 gallon Rubbermaid bin, so I could sling all the parts in there and not get all that snot and oil on the front porchway for me to try and steamclean off.

So, there I went, I took off the gas tank and seat and things seemed to roll along no worries.

I was fortunate to use anti lock grease on all the bolts when I built this, so they all came undone easier than a Nympho's bra strap.

But, taking the Motor out was another story.

Sometimes you can pull the Motor out in one attempt, but, not today, oh no.

With the threat of rain coming today I had to make haste and get this motor out as quick as I could.

But it was as stubborn as Grandma at a yard Sale.

I stuck a floor jack under her and made sure I had removed the exhaust spigots to give me more manouvering room.

I use a Milk crate to sit the motor on as it is the right height and havn't got to lift it so high.

But today she was stubborn and like a loose tooth, this thing took it's time vacating the premises.

I pulled, pushed, grunted groaned and almost split my own nutsack trying to get that motor out, finally, she plopped out like a weightlifter knacker in speedo's when attempting to lift half a ton BarBell.

The trick is to get the motor out on the right hand side of the frame, and then rest it on the milk crate, and, finally, after 20 minutes of Jane fonda work outs, I got the motor out and now on the milk crate.

I then went about the rest of the Cafe and took the headlight off and then all the wiring harness etc.

I had the bike apart in a few hours and now the frame is at the beadblasters, awaiting the paint to be taken off, then it is time for a new coat of powdercoat, but this time I shall go with GOLD!!!!!!!!

It's gonna be tough to make the dead linbe with 2 Cafe's to build for myself, and, I have to still work on Customers rides too.

I don't think Arnie will give me a stay of exacution if I dropped him a line, but, I gotta get at least ONE cafe completed for the show in january.

Anyway, As you can see, I am building this on my porchway as I have no room, bit like the old Jesus scenario, no room at the inn, so sling ya hook and scrabble about outside and do the best ya can.

Still he had 3 wise men to help,. I am lucky to get 3 wise arses.

The weather has stayed good, so I have worked until late at night with the good old Home depot light helping me see in the dark.

I have the chromes swing arm in and I rebuilt my old shocks, as they were looking as tired as a nightshift security guard.

the shocks came out great and detailed them by stripping the paint, I powder coated the springs Black this time, because the chromers are closed for Christmas.

They turned pretty darn cool if I do say so myself and they look great on the frame.

I have a polished rear brake hub and sprocket hub and a chrome safety shield, i shall be buying a GOLD 530 Chain for this Cafe and it will trick the rear right out.

Next up, the front end.

The triple tree was powder coated and the top was polished like the Queens crap house.

The forks had some age on them so I took them apart and rechromed the top nuts, then i polished the lowers and made these look nice.

I will be fitting a set of Marzocchi's later but that can wait right now as my forks are pretty much done now.

The fork ears had some pits in them and as the chrome shop is closed until January 3rd, I had no time, so walnut shelled the chrome off and then powder coated the ears gloss black.

I shall ad GOLD pin lines on them next week.

The headlight bucket is old school, this was an original 1970's aftermarket Chrome PLASTIC bucket, it is still good, but I have another NOS one in the garage and I slung that on instead.

Next up the headlight.

I like to be able to see at night and use bloody expensive headlights, no $10 crap, these are more like $60 now, but look as tough as Circus riggers hands.

I added my classic visor and popped this on/

looks great.

Next up is the harness. Mine was pretty good shape, but this is my bike and I wanted a NEW harness, so I just received mine today from my supplier, this will make things much more easier to get all together.

Plus there are no broken wires, or masking tape in the way.

Next I put all the fron end together, the Cafe is looking like a Bike once more, I am eager to finish this, but I am a long way from home and no map.

But I shall plug away and hope that in a few weeks this will be back on the road and ready for the show.

The gas tank needed more work than an unemployment office.

So I took all the old paint and decal off, and also the handpainted Cafe lettering.

Then primed, sanded, painted black and then 600 wet and dry and ready for decal, which I have just applied and sometime over Christmas I shall attempt to paint Cafe by hand in Olde English and then pinstripe the tank, then it is just a case of clear coating and color sanded and there ya go.

The tail section gets the same treatment and shall pinstripe it but add a decal this time, just to change her slightly.

I pretty much have this together.

Just got to drill the Rotors and then see if I can get them surfaced grinded and back on the wheel.

Once that is done I can fit the wheel and then have a go at getting the Motor in the frame.

I still need to clean the Motor and have just started that tonight on Christmas EVE.

Maybe the Jolly Fat Man in RED will give me a hand tonight?

Well, Here we are CHRISTMAS DAY, Where am I?

Out on the Porchway.

I have been cleaning the motor up today and have decided to paint the barrels and head Black with 1200 PJ1.

Took some time to get it how I wanted and I am sure the neighbours enjoyed the aroma of Thinners in the air as they ate their Turkey this afternoon.

But, it was all worth it, I pulled the tape off and there before me was another cool looking crisp Motor, Yep, I certainly am happy with this.

Although the Motor was not that bad, but had been sitting for a long time in a colder climate than here in California and the aluminum had started to oxidize.

So, I am now going to tape up all the frame with Duct tape and then cardboard and more duct tape.

Then, if my poor old saddlebags will handle it, sling this beast back in the Cafe frame, trying not to chip or scratch the smooth powder coating.

Before I venture into a town called "TornPlumsville" I wanted to attach the front end.

So, I took the front caliper off and completly dismantled it, the piston and O ring was taken out and then I cleaned all the channels out, as there was more solidified gunge in there than King tut's toilet.

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So, I removed all the goop, then walnut blasted the old black enamel off, then the Caliper was powder coated gloss black and I bought a new o ring and bleed nipples etc and put her back together.

The caliper bracket was looking bad, through sitting for sometime, so I buffed the bracket up by hand and this came out nicer than I thought.

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I then polished the old Allen headed Bolts, that go into the back of the caliper, as although you may think they are rusty, most of these bolts are actually Stainless and they buffed up with no problems at all.

I Then fitted the Caliper to the fork legs and turned my time onto the front wheel.

I had a Aklront aluminum wheel i got from an auction that was a Don Vesco's old Speed shop.

Poilished the hub and relaced etc, this is a cool rim.

I am going to add another rotor later but time is running out to get this bike and my Customers bikes finished, so i am sticking to just the single right now.

The rotor was uneven and needed some work, I also spent an hout marking out and drilling the disc at home in the garage, and this was time consuming, trying to stop the Colbolt drill bit from getting too hot.

I used coolant and it seemed to work great.

The Rotor was ready but, I needed to have the whole thing surfaced ground, as i wanted any of the eneveness removed and not to have any Chattering when I braked.

That done, I then cleaned the rotor and painted the center.

Then I used some polished bolts with stainless nuts to fit.

But, in the meantime I had the axle chromed as it was looking bad, and I spent alot of time polishing the speedometer drive.

I powder coated the Drive cover as it was rusty, so that's black and quite a contrast I reckon.

With that all back together, I slung the wheel in the space allocated and it looks great.

I still have to fit my fender but am a few days off finishing it, but thats an easy job, so, she is getting close now.

I am still quite slaughtered from taking the motor out and working on the porchway until 3am Christmas day, but I shall get this Cafe done in time.

I am trying not to rush this, but we have some rain coming soon, and tomorrow I may try and make some more room in the garage, that way I can work on all of the Bikes at the same time.

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I am sure that these photo's may help you lot out, as I get alot of emails saying they were stuck, until they had a good look at what I was doing.

So, all this 2 fingered hen pecking typing is all worth it.

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There is still alot to do right now and this week I am hoping to bring in the New year by throwing in the Motor, wiring the old girl up and then finishing the repaint on the gas tank etc and put it all together.

OK, The time has gone on a little bit and I pushed the frame into the Garage, as we had alot of rain coming and I wasn't wrong.

I actually had to cover the cafe up on the porchway, as there was more wet stuff around than pool party.

So, with the Cafe in the garage, I got up enough strength to get the Motor in, and I am so glad I used cardboard and duct tape on the frame, as it took a bit of grunting to get the Motor in the chassis.

But good things were the electrical.

Using a new harness is so much easier, as the wires are new and as flexible as a gynocoligist's arm.

The Electrical was all in, I fitted the Battery, I also had a new fuse box and a new regulater, so that gave her more miles of smiles.

The cafe was now coming together.

I had a british licence plate made, back when I was a teeneager the older bikes that were pre 1977 had what we called pedestrian slicers licence plates, and these were cool.

The goverment band them in the end as they were to dangerous in an accident.

This was something that I wanted on my Cafe as it represented the Cafe's of yesteryear.

I was pleased as to how the aluminum embossed plate looked.

The Electrical was tested and the TriBar headlight was brighter then Einstein ,and I could feel the heat blast out from it on high beam.

The gas tank was looking drab as I may have said, so a revamp was needed.

I added my new decal kit and then drew the Cafe on the side using a white chinagraph pencil, both by free hand and it took a little while to get correct, but in the end I got it and it was pretty much the same as the original I had done a few years ago. 

The New decals made the tank alot crisper and i was happy with the outlook once the clear coat was applied.

I added different decals this time, as i wanted to add the 59 decals, as I wnated to have that nostalgia of the old days from Back home, when my old man would jump on his 500 Matchless to get his family FISH & CHIPS.

The 59 club is still going strong with thousands of members who live this lifetyle I have adopted since a teeneager.

So, decals are on and this time I wondered what else to do, and made my own badge brackets on the front headligt fork covers.

They turned out great, and I was more stoked than a Steam trains boiler.

The side covers I had repainted and re-enforced the inside with Glass resin, as they can get brittle after 30 years of being yanked on and off.

There is so much I have done to this Cafe it is hard to remember, but the photo's help me and I can tell you that I enjoyed this build.

The rear brake cover I took off and drilled, then polished and fitted new shoes etc.

The brake rod was removed and chromed.

The Brake lever too.

I Added NOS shock nuts etc and then went about and polished everything else up I could see.

Other things I had done was to the front of the Cafe.

The oilfilter cover was great, but I have had this old Custom Oil filter cover in my cupboard for years, so, I hand buffed it to shine like chrome and then I polished my original 1970's aftermarket Oil Cooler.

I added new filtyer and then new braided Hose lines and slung her back together.

The front end looks great.

I was happier than a dog with a bladder full piss and just moved to 3 acres of forrestry.

This really looks cool.

The yoshimura was stripped of the old high temp paint and bead blasted, I then powder coated the pipe with new 1000 degree powder.

Looks really good and should last alot longer.

The carbs were gone through and cleaned up.

New pod filters were added and my New stainless Clamps fitted over the NOS intake Manifolds.

I also added braided steel lines to the oil tank and as well as the overflow hose on the back of the tank.

New clutch and throttle cables were added.

I also took the clutch cover off and drilled the back plate and polished.

Then I added a new braided hose for the front brake.

The Caliper was torn apar and new piston, new seal and bleeders added.

This has more new parts than the Bionic man.

All my finned parts were repainted Black and I polished them on my buffer.

I am now ready to finish my RED Cafe, as I have a show in january at the Pomona Shop grounds in California.

It is for the Grand national Roadster Show and the motorcycle side has all sorts of cool rides, but I will be in with the big hitters like Chip Foose and chica of chica custom Cycles, but, being in the show itself is a true Honor.

I am excited but also nervous as hell, probably be sweating like a rapist on the the day.

Me and my Nieghbour John, loaded up both Cafe's and I headed off in my truck to Pomona for the 57th Grand National Roadster Show.

This was only a 25 minute drive, so I was glad to be close to the area, and we got there pretty quick.

Unloaded then Cafe's and then went about the task of sorting a display out.

I didn't wanna go too overboard, some of the displays at this show cost 10 grand.

I kept mine down to $140 !!!!

Soon as I unloaded it people were looking, and I knew I would get a few heads turning looking at my stuff as there were alot of Choppers entered too.

I saw I had Chip Foose his freshley built Custom Chopper right behind my bikes, that was scary, as his work is unbelieveable.

Then I saw Chica pull in and he too was behind me, with all his totally cool creations.

I could not believe I was in the middle of the big hitters, my ole ringer was starting to sweat I tell ya.

I got all the Displays done and then cleaned the bikes up abit and they looked Killer.

I was really stoked to be here and just to be entered at this prestigious show was a true honour.

I found out that in 57 years of the show, they have had Bobbers, Customs, flat trackers and speedway bikes, but mine is the first Cafe at this show.

Not one Cafe but two, so that was cool feeling to have accomplished that for a start.

I spent alot of the weekend there and Chica really dug my Cafe's, we chatted quite some time most days and I am going to see him at his shop after the show is done.

His work is amazing.

OK, after the Friday,Saturday and Sunday, the show was all but done, I had both my bikes judged and I am happy I came here.

But I did not know I may be up for an award.

I waited at the trophy ceromony and all the big guns were there.

I could of dropped a nuts sack when they called my name for 1st and 2nd place for my cafe Racers.

I was totally gobsmacked.

Chica said well done and many others too.

So, finally the CAFE RACERS have now got in the record books and are a piece of History now, these memories will last me a lifetime anyway.

What a superb weekend and a great show, I made many friends and gave alot of smiles to young and old, that was so cool to see the old boys look at my stuff and make cool comments.

I just wanted to share the photo's with you lot.

Thanks for looking at my website and also Customers who have commisioned me to build them Cafe's.

You are all Personal friends of mine.

Peace and Grease

CARPY

This is my First cafe i built here and now in its 3rd guise.

As it is now a Trophy winner at that prestigious show, it has sought many offers.

I would sell my Cafe for $20,000 but that's it, as a new nutsack is gonna cost more than that when the Mrs finds out I have sold her.

So, if you want a piece of History and, a Bloody good Cafe Racer built with my hands and more dedication than a seeing eye dog.

Then this may be right up your street.

714-283-5725 if you want to buy this or, buy my other half a SUV .

Well, It took me a couple of weeks to get my feet back on the ground after the show, I was so stoked to win any sort of trophy and to now have 1st and 2nd on my shelf, it just makes the days seem a little more warmer.

Yesterday I jumped on the cafe and I took it for it's first ride since the show.

I fired her up, slung my skid lid on and headed for Huntington beach, I jumped on my steed and about 3/4 of the way there, it started to rain.

it reminded me of being a motorcycle dipatch rider back hoe in LONDON and I smiled as I pulled up to Chica's Custom Cycles.

Chica came out and automatically sat on the Cafe and loved it.

I was so stoked, this guy is one of my Icon's and here he is, sat on my ride and approving it too.

Chica rode it up and down the drive way, I could not believ this was happening, he is such a great guy.

I stayed for about an hour and wanted to just take in every minute of this top bike builders warmth and good will.

We had storm watch going on so I had to leave to get back to orange, but I had a grin on my face like a Cat with fish essenced arsehole.

I wound her up to over a TON coming back to beat the rain, the Cafe roared, it ran like a Cowardly Army and I blew past all and sundrie.

I got back to the garage, slung the old girl inside and then the clouds opened.

What a Fantastic day.

NEWS FLASH !!!!

WOW!  What cool news, I open the JUNE edition of the Infamous Magazine CYCKE WORLD, and there, for all to see on page 74 is a double page shot of my K5 Cafe.

I am so stoked to see my ride in the magazine, I am just a guy who works at home in his garage and to get any recognition is awesome, but to mame a major league Motorcycle magazine such as CYCLE WORLD is just gobsmaking for me.

So if you get a chance this week, check out JUNES CYCLE WORLD and look at the cool pic they took of my mean Machine.

OK Gang!

Many of you now know that this Motorcycle has become World renowned as a Classic ride of mine, the first i built here.

Unfortunatly, due to projects and investment into molds for my parts, i had no money tree to shake.

I sold my beloved Cafe racer, but-It went to a super cool Guy (brian) AKA "BEAR" of WWW.OLDBIKEBARN.COM

And it now resides in Canada and is on Display at his office, I am stoked he got it as he will give it a good home.