Motorcycles — Cafe Racers? What bikes are good for a novice? Conversion?

Question

I'm just getting into riding and want to get a first bike. Small one. Lightweight and easy to ride.

I like cruisers but I REALLY like the cafe racer style. What bikes that are small displacement / low seat height that can be converted or already 'there' to be a cafe racer? I even like the styling of old Honda's but not sure if a vintage bike would be a good starter bike since they have older technology and handling...

any advice?

Answer 1

Some of the older Japaneese parallel twins make good looking cafe racers. Older Honda CB350 - CB650 and Yamaha 650s are popular for cafe racers. They're still easy to find, handle good and are easy to modify. I'll provide some links.

http://www.caferace.com/cafepix.html

Answer 2

Get a second hand 250 cc (Suzuki GZ250=cruiser, Honda Rebel or Nighthawk=standard, Kawasaki Ninja = racer) around now, this is a good time of the year to buy bikes (end of riding season).

Keep it half a year, or one-and-a-half, and sell it around March-May (beginning of the season, when everyone wants a bike. Chances are you will even make a profit. Then, get the bike you want.

When you're a beginner, or ride a lot in city traffic, better not get a racer, they're only good when you have the lift from the wind, over say 50-60 mph. Below that speed on a racer you will have pressure on your wrists which gets really tiring after a while. Your speed should be slower in the beginning, until you can handle a bike well enough.

Don't worry about other riders laughing at your "little 250cc" - they won't, most of them are just happy to see someone else on two wheels ! And every rider had to learn ro ride in the beginning, nothing wrong with that !

Answer 3

Honda Rebel Cafe Racer

Answer 4

Best Cafe Racers

Answer 5

It's tought to get that vintage cafe racer look out of a modern bike. You could always look at Triumph. Last I checked, they still made bikes that looked like they were from the 60s. I'd get a small, used one for your first bike but that might be hard to find. Not a lot of people ride triumphs but you might get lucky. See if there is a Triumph dealership around you.

Answer 6

The old Honda`s great bikes with minimal problems and can easily converted in cafe race or chopper stile and as standard for a novice the handling is not so bad

Answer 7

Triumph Thruxton is what you're thinking about. You could also go with the Bonneville or Scrambler.

The Thurxton has much more aggressive ergo's. Maybe not the best for starting out on. Not to say that you couldn't. Being more upright tends to inspire a bit more confidence.

Those bikes will all be decent beginner bikes and none of them are all that expensive.

Answer 8

i don't know about cafe racers but these are some good starter bikes

Kawasaki Ninja 500R
Kawasaki Ninja 650R
Honda 599
Suzuki SV650
Suzuki SV650S
Aprilia Shiver
Kawasaki Versys
Yamaha FZ6
Suzuki GS500
Suzuki Katana

To me, the Aprilia Shiver seems to be more like what you are thinking of.

Answer 9

A big part of that look is the gas tank, yours is a million miles away from the classic rectangular look. I think if you wanna do custom stuff look into street-fighter style mods. That said most bike customizations are totally cheesy and white trash, there is something really nice about a totally stock bike, resale is better too.

Answer 10

Kawasaki 250 ninja (EX250).
If you want some more power, but don't want the performance of a 600cc+ sport bike, the twin cylinder Kawasaki 500 ninja (EX500) is a good alternative.
Research them on the web.