My NEW Cafe Racer....fighter....whatever

[BlackBII]

Don't know if ya'll remember, but I built this XS1100 about 2 years ago. Well, I sold that one and got another.




Here is my XS850 3 cylinder. It is alot lighter than my 1100, but not quite as fast, but oh well. Here are some pics of when I got it, and how she looks now. So, in case you have been wondering why my BII hasn't had any progress on it, well, this is why. As you can tell, I added an R1 monoshock, buell headlights, custom swingarm and I'm getting a seat and some foot controls still.

Enough rambling, on with the pic whoring

What it looked like when I got it, it had bags, a fairing, dual shocks on the rear...etc. That is NOT me in that picture...



After some progress and putting her on a diet.





























Here is the seat that I will be adding in like 2 weeks.

[Kyle M.]

That is sweet looking! I had one I was working of for a while, a 78 GS750 but I sold it too....



I think you should use a bobber style seat with a short rear fender or non at all.

Great work so far!

[BlackBII]

Originally Posted by Kyle M.

That is sweet looking! I had one I was working of for a while, a 78 GS750 but I sold it too....



I think you should use a bobber style seat with a short rear fender or non at all.

Great work so far!

I remember seeing that bike on here! Shame you sold it....I was waiting for you to finish it.

There wont be any bobber seat or fender here, this is more of a hands forward, ass in the air, feet back stance. Think TZ750

[Sunk]

Nice! Here's mine... Unfortunately pretty close to stock, but it's getting farther away all the time.

I took a few today showing off the new Ford Sonic Blue paint.

[BlackBII]

Looks good Sunk. I dig that color...I cant decide what color to do mine.

What other plans do you have for it?

[Viva*the*Ranger]

I love what you've done with it! That mono shock will improve the ride, ten fold. Keep it up man. I'm looking forward to seeing progress!

[crawlin91]

I always liked your bike. The new project looks like fun, for sure. What tank is that on the 850? I like the monoshock rearend, it will set the bike apart from the crowd. Im trying my hand at hammering my own tank and seat pan for my 81 xs650 cafe.

[Sunk]

Originally Posted by BlackBII

Looks good Sunk. I dig that color...I cant decide what color to do mine.

What other plans do you have for it?

I've always loved the color so it was a no-brainer for me.. I want to do a longer shock in the rear (good new ones are like 800 though), straight clip ons and bar end mirrors and different blinkers. The rear has a set from a Buell and I'll put those on the front too I think. I may swap a different front end on too, like from a CBR.

I'll eventually repaint it the same color too, since it got a bit messed up when I did it. I'm thinking about swapping to a tank that's ~5gal instead of the current ~3 (lame).

[PORTnPOLISH]

Nice, I had a 81 gs850 that I sold, I have a 82gs550 and a xs650 im working into cafe street fighters now. What shock is that? Be careful with selecting a shock because if you get a linkage shock and run it without linkage its going to be as stiff as a hardtail.
Looks good though man.

[AgPete139]

Both look great! Makes me wanna buy a bike, for real. I've been contemplating this for a while, and seeing yours gives me the urge again.

[gwaii]

Originally Posted by BlackBII

...I cant decide what color to do mine.

although i realize it's something you've done already,the black on the other one looks really sharp.

a semi gloss black would also look really mean,with brushed aluminum accents.

i like what you're doing with these bikes,you've got a good eye for the style-it's the details that make it

[BlackBII]

Sunk, I think some clip ons, bar end mirrors and smaller blinkers would make a HUGE difference on your bike.

The tank is the stock xs850 tank, I didn't change it at all. The shock I used is from an 08 Yamaha R1, and it is actually softer than I expected it to be, but, my bike does weigh a little more than an R1 does. When you are choosing a shock, you just need to check the spring rates

I have thought about doing this one black as well.....black bikes just look so damn good. But I have already built two black bikes, and there are way too many chopped, bobbed, and cafe'd bikes that are black. Its almost a cliche now...

I think I am going White with a Red stripe, or, maybe the blue and orange Gulf colors...who knows..

Ordering my seat, foot controls, lights, and exhaust parts tomorrow. Shouldn't be too long now.

I appreciate the kind words. I try to make these as cool and unique as possible..I hate having something that is identical to what everyone else is riding.