A new kind of Cafe seat

[T99Ford]

It really bugs me that I have not got a proper Cafe seat/ tailpiece on my bike. The problem is (not a problem really) that my wife loves to ride along, so I cannot go to a solo seat/ tail. I am thinking about molding a fiberglass tail that will attach to the rear of the seat and house the taillight, and then remove the rear fender. The tailpiece will probably extend 12-14" rear of the seat.

Has anyone seen this done, or seen any method of two upping a cafe bike that looks good? Here is my bike, if you can imagine a black tailpiece with two orange racing stripes mounted where the diamond plate block off is now:



Please help! I need another winter project.

Oh, the crash guards are gone and the guage housings are painted now, too.

[TomRodgers]

T71...

I too am looking to do some mods to the seat/rear fender/ brake lite area...



That is a seat off of a 79 with a cover on it. i have another LED brake lite that im going to fit into that cover and cut the rear fender down a bit to make it cleaner back there....

[xs11bobber]

T71... you practically stole the image in my head of what my dream XS looks like. That is a great looking bike. Paint, wheels, chrome, black FD... it looks killer man. Absolutely great (there isn't a drueling icon, but I am). Good job.

[T99Ford]

Tom,
For some reason I can't see your picture, but it sounds kind of like what I am looking for. I will keep trying to check it out!

XSBob,
Thanks for the compliment! It looks good to me anyway. I checked out your website blog and it looks like you have a couple projects going.

[Silent]

I grafted a cowl from a '78 Standard onto a seat pan from a '80 Special and had the seat foam custom built and covered for my '79 Special. It allows for a passenger, but still closes the tail end in a cowl. All the info is in the link in my sig. I think page 9 or so.

[T99Ford]

Silent,
Nice job on the back end of the bike! I am looking for just a little more rounded and tapered, with the taillight mounted in the tailpiece. But I am able to envision it after looking at yours. That is one long story!

[xs11bobber]

XSBob,
Thanks for the compliment! It looks good to me anyway. I checked out your website blog and it looks like you have a couple projects going.

I sure do. My bikes have been on hold for a while with trying to get the 'ole man satisfied with his E. Then I just ordered one of those harbor freight portable garages recently and a good portion of my free time has been going toward that little project with assembling that and putting a wood floor inside it. I can't get my XS addiction under control enough for the whole winter season, so I'm adjusting. Between that little task, leaves/yard work, vehicle maintenance, side jobs, and job hunting I haven't gotten to do a whole lot lately. I will soon have the decking on and will slowly be making my "portable" garage my new man cave. I expect to have both bikes running in the spring. I have a few surprises in store with my bobber project, but I'll leave them to my website... you know... that suspense effect Once again... great bike.

[xs11lover]

t71ford, your bike looks nice, I have the same bars only flipped over, how is the ride with them so low and can you see with those bar end rear views?. I'm thinking of getting a set.

[danteinien]

Why not get a seat like mine and just add some reinforcement and a seat pad on top? It's actaully more comfortable when the back rider is up a little higher, they can wrap their knees around you better. (Although, mine is pretty tall, and probably wouldn't work well, but something a little shorter would)



I would look here:
http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/...ntageseats.htm

Find one you like, then add some reinforcement and a pad on top.

[Luxury]

Here's my "design on a dime" attempt at a cafe/rat bike. I removed the rear fender and grab bar from my 79 standard and added an LED tail/signal light. It might not be too practical if you ride in the rain (I try not to).

[TomRodgers]

Luxury... WTF!!! Other than a larger brake lite....thats what im looking to do!!! Awesome!!

[T99Ford]

Dan,
I really like the look of your bike, especially that particular tailpiece. If I always rode single, that is the one I would have. I thought about your idea, but like you said, she would be riding pretty high. And, with the clubmans, she is then getting alot of wind. The stock two up seat is actually about right.
I have thought about making a tailpiece/cowl that would cover the rear seat when not in use, and look more like the tailpiece that you have. Right now I am just thinking and gathering ideas, since riding is slowing down. I will then make a mold and make one from fiberglass when I have decided on a style. Thanks for the link, that will help alot.
Also, how did you attach your side panels? in all the pics, it looks like they are bolted into the frame tubes.

XS11lover,
Flip your bars over! You will love how the bike handles. You may want to do rear sets for comfort, as the stock ones are then too far forward. I have not done this, again only because of the two up situation. You will be carrying more weight on your wrists, so riding slowly (town speeds) gets tiring. But at highway speeds it is really comfortable. It is also easier to tuck in and low. Dan's pic shows the riding position, except that he is going slow in the pic. When you are going faster, you will be nearly laying on the tank and just peaking over the gauges. I lowered my gauges to improve vision. They attract alot of attention here in MT, since there are virtually no cafe bikes here.
The bar end mirrors are the best. There is virtually no vibration, and they don't come loose. I like the low profile look, and they really help with that. Mine are slightly convex, kind of like a fish eye, so you have a good field of vision. My Dad even uses them on his 76 KZ900 full dresser and likes them better than stalks.

Luxury,
That is a really clean looking bike. I like the minimalist approach to the lights.

Thanks for all the ideas all! keep 'em coming, I could look at Cafe bikes all night.

[lee_dutcher]

what rear sets would work well with the "cafe" set up? custom or maybe make some r1 rear sets fit?

[Mathh]

In the eighties I did this with my bike:



I used the tail end from a Honda CB900 Bol D'Or. It can be bolted to the existing holes in the stock seat. That way you can get rid of the stock tail light and rear fender..

[danteinien]

Hmm, what about a Suzuki GS1000 seat?

\

Also, I think it would be rather easy to make a tailsection that clipped or bolted over the back seat..you would just have to make the back seat rather skinny, so a tail peice like mine could fit over it.

My side panels are bolted to the frame tubes. At first, tried to drill and tap the tubes, but the walls were too thin. So i drilled the holes out larger welded a nut in the hole, then bolted them.