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4 Posts
Hey everyone!
I'm looking to start the LONG process of learning to build my own cafe racers, top to bottom. I own a '81 Honda CM400T that's currently in 100 pieces which I rode and took apart for about two years before it ended up in it's current state. I got a bit ambitious with my modifications right before I moved to New York City. I'm relatively comfortable taking everything on that bike except the engine apart on my own- even if it's not wise for me to do so. I plan to pick up a KTM 390 Duke to hold me over in the city til I can move somewhere with a garage, but in the meantime, I'd like to take classes to teach me what I need to disassemble, repair, and modify bikes into cafe racers.
I'd like to be clear that I have zero training on anything related to what I am looking to do. I know that this process will likely take several years, and is unlikely to make me money. I am ok with that. I am doing this because in my few years of riding my bike, I've realized there's nothing I'd rather spend my time doing than taking bike's apart, improving them and putting them back together.
What I'm really asking is if anyone knows of specific classes I should take or skills I should gain. I know I need to learn welding, engine repair, electrical, painting and upholstery (though the last two are not priorities as I could outsource those at first). As an engineer, I found that I use about 5% of what was taught to me in college in my current position. I am trying to avoid wasting my time on classes that cannot really be applied to what I am looking to do. Are classes provided at local community colleges sufficient for what I need? Would these classes be more than I need to know or not enough?
For example, I know I need to learn to weld, but is there a specific type (MIG, TIG etc.) that I should look to concentrate on? I welding a frame something that can be learned in a reasonable amount of time or will it take 10 years to learn to weld something as important as a frame together?
I am new to this forum and this is my first post. I expect criticism, but I am willing to put in the time to learn what I need to. I am just here to figure out what I need to learn from people who already do this. Thanks guys and gals.
I'm looking to start the LONG process of learning to build my own cafe racers, top to bottom. I own a '81 Honda CM400T that's currently in 100 pieces which I rode and took apart for about two years before it ended up in it's current state. I got a bit ambitious with my modifications right before I moved to New York City. I'm relatively comfortable taking everything on that bike except the engine apart on my own- even if it's not wise for me to do so. I plan to pick up a KTM 390 Duke to hold me over in the city til I can move somewhere with a garage, but in the meantime, I'd like to take classes to teach me what I need to disassemble, repair, and modify bikes into cafe racers.
I'd like to be clear that I have zero training on anything related to what I am looking to do. I know that this process will likely take several years, and is unlikely to make me money. I am ok with that. I am doing this because in my few years of riding my bike, I've realized there's nothing I'd rather spend my time doing than taking bike's apart, improving them and putting them back together.
What I'm really asking is if anyone knows of specific classes I should take or skills I should gain. I know I need to learn welding, engine repair, electrical, painting and upholstery (though the last two are not priorities as I could outsource those at first). As an engineer, I found that I use about 5% of what was taught to me in college in my current position. I am trying to avoid wasting my time on classes that cannot really be applied to what I am looking to do. Are classes provided at local community colleges sufficient for what I need? Would these classes be more than I need to know or not enough?
For example, I know I need to learn to weld, but is there a specific type (MIG, TIG etc.) that I should look to concentrate on? I welding a frame something that can be learned in a reasonable amount of time or will it take 10 years to learn to weld something as important as a frame together?
I am new to this forum and this is my first post. I expect criticism, but I am willing to put in the time to learn what I need to. I am just here to figure out what I need to learn from people who already do this. Thanks guys and gals.
