Hello to all!
I found this Forum just a few hours ago and read through some of the articles so far...
Let me introduce myself: I'm Chris(tian) from Northern Germany, 32 years old and interested in (old) bikes since I was 15...
Last month I got an '81 Yamaha XV750S "Softchopper" as a gift from my dad, there it has been waiting in a garage for maybe 5 or 6 years...
I didn't know what to do with it (it had the typical look of the early 80s with small headlight, footrest at the most forward end of the bike, ugly seat, AME-tail... you know..) and catched a glimpse of some cafe racers in the www. There I found some pics of a nice dutch caferacer made of such a XV wich looked really mean to me and the idea was born to make one racer of mine too.
The first things were the removing of the 80s junk and cutting the fork 80 mm down to get a straighter line. The tail is dismounted now, the headlight also, I'm awaiting the delivery of a seat/tailpart and the rear lamp. I ordered some black motocross-footrests (these toothed metal things which will look great
and will mount them where normaly the passenger-foots rest. Brake and Geardrive leverage of course have to be fully modified...
Fortunately the whole frame tail is screwed, so that I can build a new part out of stainless steel hoses and just screw it to the main frame and place the new seat onto it.
I'm also looking for some clip-on handlebars, what will be a bit more difficult as I thought (but I'm working on it).
As some might know (and some maybe not) we have many regimentation and laws which have to be fulfilled to get a registration and number plate for bikes and cars here in Good old Germany... Its called "TÜV" (Technical survey association).
Thats for example why I have to care for a good working splash guards at the rear wheel. Because the tail will be very short and ending right above the middle of the rear wheel I decided to place a splash guard part from a newer BMW R1100 GS at the housing of the fully suspended rear wheel drive. Pics will follow!
Hopefully you will see some before/now pics now, I am trying to upload some and post here.
I will keep you postet as soon as anything happens!
Comments are welcome!
Greetz,
Chris
I found this Forum just a few hours ago and read through some of the articles so far...
Let me introduce myself: I'm Chris(tian) from Northern Germany, 32 years old and interested in (old) bikes since I was 15...
Last month I got an '81 Yamaha XV750S "Softchopper" as a gift from my dad, there it has been waiting in a garage for maybe 5 or 6 years...
I didn't know what to do with it (it had the typical look of the early 80s with small headlight, footrest at the most forward end of the bike, ugly seat, AME-tail... you know..) and catched a glimpse of some cafe racers in the www. There I found some pics of a nice dutch caferacer made of such a XV wich looked really mean to me and the idea was born to make one racer of mine too.
The first things were the removing of the 80s junk and cutting the fork 80 mm down to get a straighter line. The tail is dismounted now, the headlight also, I'm awaiting the delivery of a seat/tailpart and the rear lamp. I ordered some black motocross-footrests (these toothed metal things which will look great
Fortunately the whole frame tail is screwed, so that I can build a new part out of stainless steel hoses and just screw it to the main frame and place the new seat onto it.
I'm also looking for some clip-on handlebars, what will be a bit more difficult as I thought (but I'm working on it).
As some might know (and some maybe not) we have many regimentation and laws which have to be fulfilled to get a registration and number plate for bikes and cars here in Good old Germany... Its called "TÜV" (Technical survey association).
Thats for example why I have to care for a good working splash guards at the rear wheel. Because the tail will be very short and ending right above the middle of the rear wheel I decided to place a splash guard part from a newer BMW R1100 GS at the housing of the fully suspended rear wheel drive. Pics will follow!
Hopefully you will see some before/now pics now, I am trying to upload some and post here.
I will keep you postet as soon as anything happens!
Comments are welcome!
Greetz,
Chris