Ambitious new rider seeking cafe racer ideas/suggestions

[natebracken]

Hey guys! I'm just a nineteen year old 'punk kid' who has gotten into vintage bikes. My mechanical experience on a bike is pretty minimal but I've worked on cars for quite a while so I atleast know how to turn a wrench :P Anyway I look forward to your wisdom and advice! This is my 80 midnight special and the second set of pictures is what I want to turn it into.










Now this, is what I want to turn my bike into I looove the two toned gas tank. Anyone have any ideas as to where I can get parts like this?

[jetmechmarty]

If you're pockets are deep, you can buy a cafe seat.

Yamaha XS1100 Midnight Special XS Eleven cafe race seat

Shipping from Vietnam can break the bank.

Most of the stuff is available domestic from numerous cafe bike parts suppliers.

[crazy steve]

There's pretty much zero available in the way of 'bolt-on' custom parts for these (and most vintage import bikes) so you'll be looking at a lot of custom fab work and/or adapting parts. Clip-on bars can be had pretty easily, but after that you'll be building most of what you need.

For ideas, use the 'search' function in the toolbar above, click on 'advanced search' then type in 'cafe' in the keyword box. You'll get a ton of hits, happy reading.....

And welcome!

[natemoen]

Welcome, for the love of God take an MSF Basic Riders Course.

[fredintoon]

Hey guys! I'm just a nineteen year old 'punk kid' who has gotten into vintage bikes. My mechanical experience on a bike is pretty minimal but I've worked on cars for quite a while so I at least know how to turn a wrench :P Anyway I look forward to your wisdom and advice! This is my 80 midnight special - - -

Hi Nate and welcome,
be advised by us old farts.
We don't wanna see your name in the "In 'Memoriam" forum and you don't wanna die so fer Chrissake take a rider's course.
The XS11 is an overweight top-heavy monster that runs out of brakes and steering way before it runs out of power.
Your bike may have started out as a Midnight Special, the serial number will tell you for sure, but someone's been at it.
All the gold-looking trim is gone except for the gold streak in the cast grab bar groove.
the wheels should be gold, not black.
The brake disks should be slotted but they ain't.
The bars have been changed but everybody except Marty does that.
Nevertheless, it's a nice looking bike.
There's nothing "off the shelf" to help with getting the cafe look, it's strictly parts swapping and DIY.
What I'd look at is:-
Ditching the bars & sliding the fork tubes up through the triple trees just enough to put clip-ons on the stubs that stick up.
This lowers the front end which reduces the fork trail which quickens the steering.
Adding a TKAT fork brace will reduce the fork flex that'll show up more after doing that.
Swap in a Standard tank. Drops straight on and holds more gas as well as looking more cafe-ish.
Rear sets & bumstop. Use the "search" button to see what others have done.
OTOH, the bike looks OK as it is and riding season is just around the corner. No time to meddle. Take the course and hit the road.

[crazy steve]

Your bike may have started out as a Midnight Special, the serial number will tell you for sure, but someone's been at it..

I suspect that the only MNS parts are the sidecovers... The parts you noted missing include all the 'gold'-plated bits; swingarm pivot covers, gas cap, headlight rim, carb tops. Even the sissybar is a 'regular' part, as those were gold also; the indent is supposed to be black on all models. But it's still a pretty decent-looking bike and it appears that whoever did the mods gave some thought to it...

[oldyam80sg]

You need a new rear tire!That should not be ridden with the tread.

[jwhughes3]

It will look like THIS in a few miles, then LOOK OUT!



John

[fredintoon]

- - - - Take the course and hit the road.

Hi Nate,
other posts have reminded me to add this:-
- - - but before you hit the road fer fuxake put a pair of new tires on it.

[Shockman54]

helpful videos

part 1 of a 3 part series. if you can get your hands on a cheap welder, and have either the metal bending machine, or the patience to do it by hand, getting a nice strong seatpan is pretty easy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT31eNdQaEI

[Shockman54]

love that chopped front fender too btw..

[Crusty Snippets]

Cafe dude

You might find clipons to be a bit low for riding around town. I would experiment first. A set of flat bars could be more comfortable, but you will not be able to slide the forks up. A bullet style half fairing would add a racy touch.
You will likely need to move the pegs back as mentioned.
Usually the bikes with low clipon bars, also have low seats. The low seat changes the angle of the dangle. If you want a padded seat, the flat bars may be better. Would still look okay.
It is what the flying marshalls used to use at the IOM.
With very low bars, at warp speed the wind can hold up your upper body, and it all works, at impulse speed around town it is not so comfortable.
A tank bag gives you something to rest your tummy on, and store some gear.
All traditional cafe fair.
To get you in the mood I suggest " Just for kicks " by Mike Sarn.
Unkle Crusty

[natebracken]

As far as the rear tire goes, I got one shortly after taking those pictures that I took a couple months ago! And I know its not very original. The guy I bought it from showed me some of the original pictures before he blacked out the whole bike and I'm glad he blacked it out! I wasn't much of a fan of the black/gold scheme. But he game me a lot of the original parts including the gold rims just because he really didn't have anything he could do with them. And I also took a basic riders course and got 100% on my test, so thats cool right? and I NEVER ride without my leather jacket and a full face helmet, I definitely do not want to become road kill...