Pictorial Progress: V12's Cafe Racer Project! Updated pics!

[kkr2k2]

Originally Posted by Gordon

Sure. There's this guy in Andheri (E) who does chrome plating.

talking about chrome paiting, can anyone tellme how it is done:
1. is it by electrolyte dip method
or
2. is it by paint gun, like other colors.

[Gordon]

Originally Posted by Sankar

Gordon make the goldstar silencer sit at a slightly higher angle for the cafe look.

There is hardly any place to raise the silencer upwards because of the guard and the rear footrest.

Originally Posted by Sankar

Instead of using the ceat rubber it'll be better if you put modern pattern rubber but not too wide. For that you should make the rim 18", but a 19" duro tyres with modern tread design is available in delhi.

18" would reduce the height of the bike. The Ceat tyres give a classic look and have better grip compared to the MRF. I've heard that Duro Tyres don't last for long.

Originally Posted by khanak

Btw Awesome pictures. Does your camera take them like this or have you worked on them with your computer

Use computer for minor color correction.

Originally Posted by kkr2k2

talking about chrome paiting, can anyone tellme how it is done:
1. is it by electrolyte dip method
or
2. is it by paint gun, like other colors.

I think its mostly done by dip method. Definitely not done by spray.

[Gordon]

Tax disc holder: Any idea from where I can source this item from?

Tacho: A small appropriate tachometer to fit on the handlebar. It should blend with the Cafe Racer look.

[Gordon]

Update as on 13th Feb 2007 :

- The mudguard has finally been lowered. The bike looks better now. At first, everyone thought that it would be an easy job to just cut the frame and lower the mudguard. But it proved to be a bit more complicated To do this first the mudguard was removed and the frame was moved further at the right place to lower the mudguard. However due to another bracket under the seat, it was not possible to just cut the frame. So there were 2 extra holes drilled into the bracket and mudguard and after a lot of hammering the mudguard was finally lowered at both ends. The only problem is that now the frame and the mudguard are not aligned in the same shape.

The bike with the lowered mudguard : The bike looks out of shape now since the seat too is now facing upwards and theres a huge gap between the seat and the tank.


Height before after lowering the mudguard :


Height after lowering the mudguard


Half inch of the frame cut and welded back :


Extra hole drilled into the bracket and mudguard : The lower hole is where the bracket was originally attached.


The frame not aligned with the mudguard :

[Rehaan]

Looking good V12/Gordon,

I had this pic with me so i thought i would just throw it up here for the heck of it -



cya
R

[desigNation]

gordon-good effort,looks like its coming out great,just 1 question,why is there 2 crash gaurds, wont just 1 in the front look much better and simpler or is it cafe racers have 2?? jus askin.

[Gordon]

Cafe Racers dont have either crash guards. But they've been kept since they've always been there and they're very useful for the rider, pillion and bike.

Rehaan - Those unpolished lighweight alloy rims look beautiful. Sold as an accessory abroad. At 9000 bucks (excluding duties) they are way too epensive.

[Gordon]

• The tail-light currently finalised is a BSA unit. Although it may be changed at the last minute. The number plate will be fixed below this.
  
• Indictaors would be fixed near the shock absorbers.
• Rear number plate would be in the same embossed style and not a sticker stuck on the mudguard.

[Sankar]

Gordon, The goldstar silencer can be raised I & jkdas once on the road saw an old man riding a bullet with a raised goldie silencer.

The tyre pattern on the Guzzi (above) looks the part. I say go for a 120 section higher profile 18" wheel and you wouldn't lose much on height, maybe an inch that's all.

The BSA light (Minda make) that you get here (i had it on my bike) comes only with tail lamp and no brake light, you might have to replace the holder in the lamp to get both brake and tail lamps.

You should make the seat shorter in length as well, if possible with that hump that slopes backwards where the pillion sits. I know it's not very practical for two up riding. At least should make the seat lower in the front and mudguard hugging at the back.

[Gordon]

Hi Sankar,

Yes, the Goldstar silencer can be raised. But that would mean bending the end of the bendpipe. And that'll spoil the quality of the silencer.

18-in rear and 19-in wheel front would look a bit wierd. Also that would increase the cost. 18-in wheels + 120/90-18 tyres + widening the swingarm. I doubt theres place for a 120/90 to fit in.

The BSA tail lamp has a holder in it. Will check it.

The seat will be shortened by almost an inch. The seat design has not yet been finalised. Would be something like the BSA Goldstar or like the Royal Enfield Interceptor 750 (I guess is thats what you meant):
Also having the mud too low would be impractical since it would touch the tyre. Also a tyre-hugging rear mudguard would hamper the cafe racer look.

BSA Goldstar :


Royal Enfield Interceptor :

[Sankar]

The interceptor seat looks the part. I didnt mean to make the mudguard tyre hugging, what i meant was that the seat should be very close to the mudguard with minimal gap between the seat base and the chasis/mudguard.

Are you doing anything to the header pipe or are you leaving it original, i like the shape of that Goldie header pipe. But it would be too close to the footrest if you're not going for rearsets.

As for the tax disc holder see if you can get an old plastic sample and based on that you can get one made in aluminum or sheet metal, and then buff it/chrome plate it.

[Gordon]

Nopes he's leaving the header pipe as it is. The Goldstar style header pipe would have to be fabricated and would be expensive. And regd the tax disc holder, might have to fabricte this. Have heard that its available for 1000 bucks.

[Gordon]

Update as on 18th Feb

The Goldstar seat has been finalised. Will be the same as below with white piping.

[Gordon]

A short sound clip of the Goldstar silencer. Click on the below link to download:

RapidShare: 1-Click Webhosting

[Sankar]

Sounds nice How much for the Goldie pipe? It's not available here in Banglore :(