Silverstar als Cafe Racer - ein Projekt aus Alabama

[Berni]

Hallo Freunde des ruppigen Rotax-Motors,

einige von euch werden ja mitbekommen haben, daß unser Forumsmitglied Donny aus Alabama aus einer Silverstar einen Cafe Racer baut. Das Projekt iist schon ziemlich weit gediehen und jetzt habe ich von Donny die ersten Bilder bekommen. Bis auf den fehlenden Alu-Tank und die Lackierung sieht das schon sehr fertig aus.



Donny hätte gern von euch ein wenig Feedback zu seinem Projekt und bittet um Komnentare - gern auch kritische. Wer mag, kann seinen Kommentar auch gleich in Englisch schreiben - Donny wird's euch danken. Wer weiß, was bei einer Google-Übersetzung eurer Bemerkungen für sprachliche Entgleisungen heraus kommen.

Mir persönlich missfällt an dem Projekt nur eines: Der Bürzel des Einzelsitzes erscheint mir zu groß und stört die Linie des schlanken Motorrades.
Bin gespannt auf eure Meinungen.

Weitere Bilder zu Donnies Umbau gibt es hier: Silverstar Cafe Racer

[daniman]

Mir persönlich missfällt an dem Projekt nur eines: Der Bürzel des Einzelsitzes erscheint mir zu groß und stört die Linie des schlanken Motorrades.

Du sagst es. Dieser Sitz ist ein absolutes No-Go.

[Schumi1]

Den Sitz selber find ich garnicht so schlecht.Nur der Heckbürzel wäre mir auch etwas zu wulstig.
Aber das müßte man wohl im ganzen,also vorallendigen auch mit Tank,betrachten.
Ansonsten finde ich das die Maschine eine doch recht schöner Umbau ist.
Auch der Kontrast von polierten Teilen,Fußrastenanlagen und dazu die Kettenschläuche samt Kettenkasten.

Gruß Schumi.

[sammycolonia]

ich würde da auch zu einem Lederhöcker tendieren....
auf DIESER SEITE gibt es ein schönes Beispiele (übrigens auch für Berni nicht uninteressant)...

[Berni]

Da hast Du verdammt recht, Sammy.
Könntest dich übrigens ruhig mal wieder im Mückenland sehen lassen ...

[sammycolonia]

Da hast Du verdammt recht, Sammy.
Könntest dich übrigens ruhig mal wieder im Mückenland sehen lassen ...

mit zunehmenden Temperaturen wird das sicherlich auch mal gesehen....

[motorradfahrerwill]

Also ich finds recht gelungen bis dato.
Der Höcker - mmmhhtja - mal abwarten wie sich das ganze MIT Tank präsentiert.

[Ysengrin]

Ich würde unbedingt auf den Kettenkasten verzichten! So ein Caferacer soll doch auf das Notwendigste reduziert sein und sportlich wirken.

Und der Bürzel ist wirklich Geschmackssache. Mir gefällt er nicht.

Die Fußrasten sind aber echt klasse!

Evtl. eine Duplex-Trommelbremse anstelle der Scheibe?

[Nordtax]

Mir persönlich missfällt an dem Projekt nur eines: Der Bürzel des Einzelsitzes erscheint mir zu groß und stört die Linie des schlanken Motorrades.
Bin gespannt auf eure Meinungen.

Der gesamte Sitz ist grauenhaft, viel zu mächtig für dies filigrane Moped.
Der Lenker soll hoffentlich auch nicht so bleiben.
Und den Kettenkasten könnte man weglassen.

[Nordlicht]

Höcker muß unbedingt viel kleiner werden....Auspuff nur der steile Winkel nach oben..könnte weniger sein....aber alles Geschmackssache....2 von den kleinen Pöffs würden auch gut aussehen

[Donny]

Thank you Berni for posting this topic and thank you all for the comments. I want to preserve what I consider the good qualities of the Silver Star, like the enclosed chain drive, gauges, etc. so it remains unmistakeably recognizable as still an MZ. It will have the MZ logo on the tank and Rotax logo on the tail. The rear seat I agree looks overly large at this point, but I think will balance out when the alloy tank is installed. We will see. Below is the AJS tank we will be using. It is about 23" (584mm) long so it may look okay. If not we will modify the tail. Please keep the comments coming.

[Der Bruder]

Die Heckverkleidung muss den Rahmen hinten verstecken
Oder einfach zierlicher werden

[biene&lu]

die sitzbank einer honda clubman sieht bestimmt auch nicht schlecht aus.... geiler tank

[baunix63]

Howdy,

the rear seat looks twice as large as the AJS tank. If I imagine that , it looks like a bubble butt
For a cafe-racer the rear seat has to be smaler than the tank, that´s my opinion.
The other part is the exhaust, wouldn´t it be better the line is parallel to the street? The angle does´nt look good.

Ton up!

Michael

[hesi]

Hello Donny,

nice project.
Have you ever been testing the fuel tank to the bike? In general it should fit but I think you get problems with the position of the oil filler.
I am currently preparing my Rotax project and just have found 2 suitable sources for a fuel tank - which are Moto Guzzi V50 and Yamaha SR500 - both have a long entrance on the fron and so enough space for the oil filler.
And regarding the seat - there are enough comments yet .

I would suggest putting the fuel tank to the bike and taking another pic for us.

Also a nice exhaust you have chosen. I gues you don't need an approval for it? But this small pipe is another point against the big seat.

good luck, kind regards and keep us updated
Torsten

[Donny]

Thank you again for the comments. I will see how it looks with the AJS tank and hopefully it will look better. If not I will probably go with the tail below.



http://omarsdtr.com/cafenew4.html
http://omarsdtr.com/cafe.html

Problem all the electrics and battery is mounted under the seat, and it needs room. As far as the offset needed for the oil stick, the tank builder in the UK is aware and will build for that.

-Donny

[Emmentaler82]

Also ich finde den Höcker auch zu groß, der muss so klein wie möglich sein! Und die Kette sollte bei nem Cafe-Racer ohne Kettenkasten und Kettenschläuche laufen(sieht einfach sportlicher aus).


Ansonsten sieht es schon gut aus!

MfG Dirk


So hat nen Cafe-Racer auszusehen:

[Emmentaler82]

Habe dazu noch ne sehr geile Emme gefunden! Sowas ist klasse und steht nach der ETS auch noch auf dem Wunschzettel!



MfG Dirk

[ElMatzo]

der erbauer treibt sich hier im forum rum.

[Emmentaler82]

Sehr cool! So kann man aus nem optischem "Biederman" echt nen schönes Sportgerät machen!



MfG Dirk

[Küsten-Mz]

@ Emmentaler82: schau mal hier , das ist der erbauer des grünen Cafe Racers.

[Donny]

This will be the tank I have decided to use from an 1980 Suzuki GSX-400. Tank is coming from Singapore, brand new. I have badly Photo-chopped it on a photo, but you can see it looks better I think. The paint I think will be the original Silver Star silber with gold piping, not Suzuki RED. Besser?

[hesi]

Hello Donny,

those chopping games are dangerous as it is too hard to compare the original size of the tank with the original size of the bike.

And in my opinion the tail is still too big. If the reason is the room for the battery you need - than choose another one battery with a smaller form factor.
I would start with a seat and then build the tail yourself - I have seen in another topic somebody has used a part of a plastic bucket (Plasteeimer) as a tail - I think it was discussed in another topic here but currently I cannot find it.

good luck and kind regards
Torsten

[Donny]

Hello Donny,

those chopping games are dangerous as it is too hard to compare the original size of the tank with the original size of the bike.

And in my opinion the tail is still too big.Torsten

Agree Torsten. Here is another pic with the UK alloy AJS tank. Still awaiting the Suzuki tank from Singapore. After comparing the two, we will go from there. The seat is very comfortable though for riding.

[Ralle]

It does not matter which you are using, the tail is anyway to big. You should shrink it

[Richy]

It does not matter which you are using, the tail is anyway to big. You should shrink it

Yes!
You have such an nice racer! The alloy tank looks pretty nice. But please shrink the tail!

regards,
Richard

[MaxNice]

hmm, i think the problem is the relation between tail and reartyre. the tyre looks too small AND the tail too big, maybe you kan lower the whole frame by using shorter shocks at the rear.

[Donny]

hmm, i think the problem is the relation between tail and reartyre. the tyre looks too small AND the tail too big, maybe you kan lower the whole frame by using shorter shocks at the rear.

MaxNice, that is brilliant! I will look into this. It's a whole lot easier than changing the tail out. Danke!

[MaxNice]

no, that was not my intention, the mainfact i wanted to tell you, is that slim reartyre, this does not fit to your motocycle

[Donny]

Shortening the shocks maybe 2" will lower the rear end and the tire will sit up in the fender higher; maybe make the tire look better. Maybe. Si?

[MaxNice]

give him a try

[Ralle]

I have customized your bike a little bit

The tail is smaller now:

SmallRightSide-1.jpg

In second step I cut off the front fender

SmallRightSide-2.jpg

After this modification I guess that as front wheel a 16 inch rim maybe would fit

[Jockel HB]

SmallRightSide-2.jpg

So würde das Ganze wirklich stimmig aussehen.


Gruß, Jockel

[MZ-Chopper]

SmallRightSide-2.jpg

So würde das Ganze wirklich stimmig aussehen.


Gruß, Jockel

I like that very well .... very consistent

[Wolfi92]

Wenn schon dann nur SmallRightSide-2.jpg .

[Donny]

I have customized your bike a little bit

We think alike Ralle. I played with photochop to downsize the seat here:



Also the Suzuki tank came in today and I just set it on the frame. Fits well and plenty of cutback for the oil fill:





Will do the mockup and position seat/tank tomorrow in their permanent position with the new Suz tank. I think I like the Suz tank looks better than the AJS tank. It is very difficult to do a caffer conversion on a 500 cc MZ frame. It is a strange frame with the oil tank in the frame and the width and the angle of the rectangular box upper member. So I am limited for seat/tank selection. I also plan to lower the rear end with cut-down shocks or new shorter shocks. I can lower 2" and it will look better. I still may use the original MZ A2 muffer as I don't care for the upsweep, looks better straight back. Danke Ralle and everyone else for all your comments and drawings. This is why I love this forum even though I can not communicate in German language. You guys rock.

[Ralle]

I also plan to lower the rear end with cut-down shocks or new shorter shocks. I can lower 2" and it will look better.

You´re sure that a lower rear end will fit the bike? I mean that after this change the geometry of the bike would looks nearly a chopper. You shold make the front also lower, either with shorter fork-springs or with a 16" rim. The line of a nice Cafe Racer should be straigt from front to rear or sloping from rear to front

[Donny]

You´re sure that a lower rear end will fit the bike? I mean that after this change the geometry of the bike would looks nearly a chopper. You shold make the front also lower, either with shorter fork-springs or with a 16" rim. The line of a nice Cafe Racer should be straigt from front to rear or sloping from rear to front

Agree. I can go 1" lower in the back and still have the slight "rake" back to front. 1-1/2" would be level and could work with no rear tire rub. Just playing around at this point, and if necessary I'll lower the front forks using shorter fork springs. Right now the emphasis is on conformity/continuity while keeping the seat as is. We'll see how she looks with the Suz tank in correct position and go from there. Much fun!

[Donny]

Made some transition pieces between the seat and tank, will lower it about 1" front and back, chop about 2" off the tail, then paint. I am getting tired of working on it. But it's getting there..........

[Berni]

Amazingly for me the Suzuki tank looks better cause it covers most of the not good-looking frame backbone. Now paint it, Donny, and chop the seat as promised - the result will be a lovely caffer.
Keep us informed please.

[Donny]

Chopped the point off the tail, looks better I think. That's about as far as I'm going to go. It will look fine when painted. Am also going to get an old school Monza petrol cap brazed on the Suz tank. Then finish up odds and ends and paint. Still haven't decided firmly on paint yet.............

Forum Question: Why do the images I post sometimes have a full-view icon in the upper left corner and sometimes do not? As in the two pictures below?

[kutt]

Forum Question: Why do the images I post sometimes have a full-view icon in the upper left corner and sometimes do not? As in the two pictures below?

this depends on the resolution of the image you link in here

[Donny]

this depends on the resolution of the image you link in here

Understand. When I post a 640x480 pixel image, sometimes the icon is there, sometimes not. What is the ideal resolution for images? danke kutt.

[Ralle]

Now you are on the right way, Donny

[kutt]

this depends on the resolution of the image you link in here

Understand. When I post a 640x480 pixel image, sometimes the icon is there, sometimes not. What is the ideal resolution for images? danke kutt.

Well yes and no it's a bit more difficult than that:

If you use the servers uploadfunction, then you can upload images up to 2MB - the resolution doesn't count.
The server creates a smaller image (I think 800x600px) and shows that in the threads (good for loading times). If you click on a image uploaded to the server, then the image in it's original resolution is shown.

If you upload your pics somwhere else my server doens't care about the image - it just tells your browser to size down the images to 800x600px (if the image is bigger). If this happens the "full view" Icon is shown

However - on external linked pics you have to load all of the images to your computer - thats why I limited the size of external pics to 2048x2048px. Else if someone links 20pics @ 20MP, each pic would be about 8MB - this makes a loading time of 22mins @ a DLS 1000 account (like I have at home )

The best way to keep the bandwith low is to use the Forum-internal upload function where a preview of 800x600px is createt - or even better - the gallery

here are some examples:
an external linked image - this Image is on an external Site and just linked here. It's > 800px, so you see the view full icon:


The same image - but with the upload function - click on it an you'll see the full version:

Guzzi-neuer_Auspuff.jpg

The same image uploaded into our gallery and just linked here using the [album] bbcode...


I hope now all your questions found an answere

[MaxNice]

donny, its growing to a beauty keep on, just some last steps to finish.

[Donny]

Else if someone links 20pics @ 20MP, each pic would be about 8MB - this makes a loading time of 22mins @ a DLS 1000 account (like I have at home )

Me too. Understand now kutt. Thank you for the explanation.

[muffel]

Hi Donny,

great job so far, your racer looks pretty good. But now please go on for the last steps - I'm mad keen to see it painted

regards

Uwe

-- Hinzugefügt: 11/1/2012, 21:12 --

I've got a question about your tires - looking "fast" what brand and which dimensions have you used?

[Donny]

I've got a question about your tires - looking "fast" what brand and which dimensions have you used?

The tires are Maxxis M6102 Promaxx brand and are 90 / 90 R18 (front) and 110 / 80 R18 (rear), same size as the originals. Maxxis are no longer sold in the US (except old stock) and I got them for about $20/ea on sale.

Thanks everyone for the positive comments. It will be ready for painting after the Manx petrol cap is brazed in, maybe next week. Still have not finalized the paint scheme yet, will probably go with something similar to the Honda below. If any of you expert photochoppers want to edit a paint scheme on one of the pictures of my bike, please do! Would love to see them.

[Donny]

Tank and seat went to the painter today. It should be complete in two weeks. The tank has the bung for the Monza petrol cap brazed in and was pressure tested. I decided on a Ducati Red main paint color with a full length white/black border racing stripe. Rough photochop of the Suzuki tank below. This tank is perfect for the Rotax frame and covers it all. It is from a 1981 Suzuki GSX 250. There is plenty of room for the oil fill and it uses the original MZ tank mounts with little modification.