xj600 cafe fighter (pre diversion)

been a while since i've posted anything....had new baby girl, moved house several times and just haven't had time.

the old thread is:
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/p=2 ... tml#236753

But i've changed direction since starting again so thought i'd make new thread.
Yes i know another cafe build but its the aesthetics of the cafe that i'm after. the overall style and idea of a simplified light weight bike with improved handling, also fighter influences..

I appologise for the pictures only got my phone and not the best quality.

Stripped down to bare frame.


Cut out the battery tray and brackets on the subframe that will not be reused. Also cut the subframe tubes and raised the rear by roughly 100mm.




Cut the rear section off the seat foam....not changing tanks so will be using the standard seat foam due to shape of tank.

 

Re: xj600 cafe fighter

Going to fibreglass my own seat hump which will have battery and electrics under.
bought some florists oasis foam and glued the blocks together.


Cut out the basic shape....



And with seat foam to give idea of scale...


Added a couple of scallops to the seat so it would reflect shape of the tank rather than just a plain hump.


Then just started sanding out a shape that i liked.....came out something like this......

 

Re: xj600 cafe fighter

Looked into changing the rear shock, but no matter what shock or linkages i tried nothing fitted...measured swingarm pivot and did some research on alternative swing arms so i could get a better /modern tyre fitment.



Up came a bandit front and rearend at a very reasonable price.


even came with a couple of clocks..so that will save some leg work. Will change the bars and fibreglass a new front guard. think clubmans may be too extreme so maybe just some straightish drag bars.


The rearend fitted in quite easily without too much messing.




So this is trial fitment.


Thought i might be able to have under seat exhaust but think that was unrealistic not enough room really. So raised the subframe by another smidgeon and that is as far as i have got so far. Now i know the final subframe angle i can get it welded up and jump on with fibreglassing the seat unit and seat pan.



Will need to sort some rearsets and get mountings for these done at same time as subframe.

 

Re: xj600 cafe fighter

sweet build mate!

 

its gunna look good when its done ,, need to get them rearsets before we weld that frame up ,, just incase need to manufacture a bracket,

 

wow so far so good, looking forward to the end result.

 

Will the rear sprog line up or will you need to play with offseting?

 

Going to have to play with offsetting i think but will be 530 pitch chainset, there's a company here in the u.k i've ordered chainsets from before and they can work out teeth ratio and such like.

 

Coming along nicely. Gixxer - unfortunately "Grinder" belongs to another Norfolk XJ'er!!!

 

Sorry but picture heavy.......

Pinched inspiration for exhaust from col Scottish cafe racer... :?



Wanted to try a direct mount shock so the mock up began.

 

Once happy the shock mount was dooo able.

 

Put engine back in to check suspension sag and stance...






Sorry bout the crappy pic


Bandit front guard was cut up and turned round so now have a little front


and the left over should do a hugger

 

Good to see another cafe racer XJ being progressed. Starting to really look the part now matie69, your doing a good job on it.
The exhaust looks sweet :wink:

Keep it going.

Cheers
Col.

 

Looks great! Can't wait to see it done.

 

I like the look of the bike - especially the drops.

Do I spy a Cibie headlight? (The best headlight I ever had on a bike)

 

Can't believe I missed this! Fantastic stuff, keep it up!

 

definetly a very cool build!!!!

 

Any up dates on the bike? I would love to see some new pictures and how you put the seat and rear together. For I am doing a cafe racer build my self and could use all the help I can get.

 

Seat foam is being covered at the moment so will be jumping on with fibre glassing the hump and mounting electrics very soon..

Been sorting the rear brake, the bandit caliper is under slung with torque arm but using that would be too easy and i think it looks a bit cluttered.
so been trying to adapt the xj caliper to fit.







Enlarged the pivot hole to 22mm on the slider and mounted it to the bandit swinger. Have drawn up an adapter plate that i'm waiting for a mate to cast so the caliper will cover swept area of disc.





Think it looks quite discreet and means i can still buy over the counter servicables.

 

Question what would I need to do to get my 1983 Maxim 650 gas tank leveled so it can have that cafe look? Anyone