ZX10 Cafe Racer Build

[DaveG]

Rather than approach this build like the last one, I have decided not to smash the bike up first but to start with a perfectly good, well proven bike.
I should also add this build has nothing to do with my talent at all - it's all via Ben at Extreme. He did an awesome job on my previous bike and so he was the obvious place to go for this one.

I wanted to get a cafe racer built. I had a great SF from a K4 GSXR and it handled so well, it's always going to be hard to top it.
And i actually like the feel of a bike with clips ons. So a cafe racer was a good alternative. Originally I wanted to buy an old 999 and but that meant not enough cash for the build. So i'm taking my current bike and using that. And then I'll work another bike just for the track.

This is the last time it was seen with it's kit on and then Ben quickly got rid of a sizeable 17kgs

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There's quite of bit of custom stuff to build now that it's been pulled apart but the end game is to have something along the lines of this..

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[latheboy]

I'll bet it comes back with a turbo :)

[BANDITROD]

yeah i reckon your right ivan

[Gix11]

Nice one Dave. A Cafe racer looking bike with that sort of power will mess with quite a few heads.

[TheRussian]

Love the cafe look. A bit hard to do with modern type of frame :( but the 3rd pic looks great !

[oldskool]

I love the idea!
http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww355/regul_bucket/avatar_43.gif

[Bob]

Its gonna look great when its done mate.

[RevHead]

yup im with Ivan and Rod on this itl get boosted,

[DaveG]

So stuff is starting to arrive and get made and whilst it's not on the bike yet, you get an idea for where it's going

Bens going to get rid of the stock top clamp and build a new one probably something like this:
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And then a similar dash but in black will drop in to replace the pretty ugly and heavy set up that's sits in it right now:

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The seat is being made in carbon fibre and will look the same style as this;

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It's being made now(ish). I hope so anyway. The dude speaks spanish so I assume he said he'll finish it in Jan. If nothing happens I know that what he said actually means, 'fuck yourself, it'll be ready when i am'

There's some other bits on the way - new clip ons, engine guards and carbon fibre bits so I'll get up once they get here.

[ozzy1100]

Ill be very intrested in what you think of that moto gadet clock
I am looking very hard at same one but taco

[DaveG]

Santa got the postman to get his arse in gear and suddenly everything has started turning up.

Seat unit is here. It's a little bit rough in spots but it the right shape. Just need to now work out of the old sub frame can be made to fit or that has to be changed too.

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This will get painted along with the tank so it's not too much of an issue that it has the odd spot on it.

Got to pull the rest of the stuff out of boxes later and i'll stick it all up. Then off to Ben's on Sat to get some pictures of where it's all at.

[DaveG]

And because i am getting what was a perfectly good track tool chopped up, i got hold of this last week to replace it. It's got rego til April and then once that's up, I'll just get race glass for it and keep it for track days. First one os Sunday providing the rain stays away
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[BANDITROD]

nice

[Hillsy]

Looks loud.

[DaveG]

Had a catch up with Ben at the weekend as a bucket load of stuff has arrived - clips ons, new levers, rear sets, carbon guards front and back, engine casing etc and the seat unit.

The actual arse end that will make it look like a cafe racer is from a site that makes after market stuff for Ducatis. So the profile is perfect but it's too skinny by far. So It's being cut in half and widened so it'll fit the new subrame

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[DaveG]

Even with the widening though, the old subframe just looks nasty. It looks like a couple of RSJ's hanging out the back once it stripped back. So Ben's making a custom sub-frame for it that'll look something like this

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You can see that the new hugger is too big once you get the arse end on. So that's going to be cut back too so it finishes shorter than the tail unit. Need to work out what the lights and hanger will look like but I'll probably get a new number plate.

I'm not a fan of personalized plates only because they seem too easy to remember for anyone who clocks you doing something you shouldn't be. But i figure once this is finished it'll be pretty unique so it doesn't matter. So I will change it for less letters and numbers so the width of the plate is less.

[DaveG]

Still stuck on how to finish it all off. The original idea was to have the whole thing orange with a carbon fibre GT set of stripes running a little off centre from front to back. The guards will be carbon fibre and anything else will be black or silver.

Closest colour I could find that suited was this as the orange is a bit deeper;

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But I'd forgotten that the ZX10 came in an orange anyway. So it might end up looking just like a standard 10 after all the paint work. As Large pointed out, he's got an orange one anyway so he'll just chuck a cafe racer seta on it and say they are the same bike.

So might start again on that but either way it'll be bright

[BANDITROD]

fuck thats looking good

[MattyDucati]

Nice mate!

[Jinx]

Looking good Dave. The Radical seat unit has been used on a Ducati ST2 in the latest Motorcycle News. It does look a bit small.

[DaveG]

Yep you're right - they do some pretty cool stuff to turn a ducati into a cafe racer - this was the original inspiration for the idea:

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But that means having a Ducati for start and I've already had a shite experience with them so don't really fancy one again. And the 999 feels like a mountain bike with a motor when you're on them. The tail end and tank are skinny as.

But the profiles right and Bens already doing a perfect job on making it suit so it's probably saved some time and money.

[Jinx]

Know what you mean about the Ducati experience. Brothers got a 749S and needed 3 speedos/dashs replaced in the first year not to mention the computer and a thousand other problems.
The ZX10 is going to be very different. Great to see.

[DaveG]

Top clamp has been cut and it looks awesome. It'll be black on the finished bike but this is a shot of it now with the new clock, clip ons and levers all attached3346

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[DaveG]

And now the tail unit is a bit wider it looks better too. The battery is going to be changed to smaller and lighter jobbie so the power commander and computer can all still be wedged in under the seat bump once it's finished.
The lights will all sit on the back and probably just look like old round ones to suit a cafe racer. Issue is the number plate - whether to wedge it right in against the shock and encourage getting pulled up all the time. Or just live with it hanging off the end.

Going to get a new one anyway with only 4 characters on it as they now come on a smaller plate - see what it looks like when it arrives
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[DaveG]

And this is the headlight. Its off a VRod and probably the closest I'll get to a Harley for a while. its got the perfect gradient on it though as it follows the rake of the forks.
Only thing to work out is how to get the air flow in behind the light. It's not like the GSXR when the air flow went through the vents in the frame. It sits right behind the light so it's going to need some kind of scoop that sits over the vent and hen comes down under the light. Without looking like that thing that is on a ZX12

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[ozzy1100]

keeps getting better and better

[wackyrider]

I'm loving this build. This bike is gonna be awesome when finished

[DaveG]

For slightly less positive reasons, the conversion of the other bike into a track only toy, has been a bit accelerated. Last Sunday i was at Eastern Creek on it for the first time. Awesome day out and had a lot of drama free fun. I put some Dunlop cut slicks on it which are ok but get chewed to fuck like Pirellis just don't seem to. There were OK but slide around a bit once they ball up. Cool at the track, not so cool on the road.

So on Tuesday I put the lights and plate back on and went to go to work. On my road there's a little bend at the bottom. I lent over just like normal and went to open it up just like normal. As I did, the back suddenly slid way more than I expected and then gripped. Chucked me right in the air and had a high side for breakie. I was probably only doing 60 so no real chaos but enough to take it off the road.

You can see on the tyre pick where its just started to spin and not gripped before it grabbed the road again. If there's a silver lining, all the bits that are fucked - fairing, exhaust, pegs - are all getting replaced anyway. And its my fault - i know better than to give it handful on cold tyres. I must have had a big cup of fuckwit before i left.

On the bad side, I am now spunking way too much cash so i am having to sell my truck to pay for them. Which sort of fucks me as that's what I take the track bike to EC in. But Ill work that one out later. Getting the bikes up and running trumps worrying about where my 4 wheeled transport is coming from.

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[Cruisecontrol]

I had a similar problem with the number plate, Dave.
I tried about a dozen different locations till I found one I hated less than the others.
The plus is you get a smidge more protection from the rooster tail in the wet...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/mintbread1/tail_zps6ec3c454.jpg

[Yella]

I had mine on the 7 like that the only problem with the plate like that is the angle they will defect you for it and the problem with NSW is 2 defects for the same thing and they pull your rego

[CookyMon]

I had mine on the 7 like that the only problem with the plate like that is the angle they will defect you for it and the problem with NSW is 2 defects for the same thing and they pull your rego

Is the angle that bad? I've seen plenty of dirt bikes with the plate mounted horizontally on the rear plastics.

[Yella]

If they are looking for something they will find it mine wasn't that bad but still defected for that, no rear reflector and no rear indicators but they didn't see the turbo so I took it without a fight and moved on :)

[K6Thou]

Good to hear you are ok mate. Shame the gixer isn't a K6 I've got a set of race glass to fit one thats going spare....

[DaveG]

Cheers dude - never mind - race glass is on the way, the stuff from China is cheap as fuck these days and as its just a track bike, that'll do fine. Bit of messing about with a heat gun and it'll fit.

For the plate, I'm thinking your option is right Dan. I have a mate who's put one of those new Ducati Pengalis (spelling?) and he has the standard tail tidy on the back. But he's been nicked 3 times since he's had it as the angle is just a little high. The last time, like Yella says, they said they'd suspend his rego til he got it changed.

When i had this streetfighter, although it wasn't technically in line, the fact that enough effort was made for it to be nesr enough meant I never got pulled and too much agro to get stuff changed back. i think if i can stick with that principle on this one, it might be OK. so the plate is probably going to have to go on the arse with the lights just to suck it up and keep the peace3357

[Gix11]

That bike is coming on nicely Dave. Good choice mate.

[Busakid]

Rather than approach this build like the last one, I have decided not to smash the bike up first but to start with a perfectly good, well proven bike.

Might have to amend that just a wee bit Dave ;)

E

[DaveG]

Well I still haven't actually smashed up the 10. And the GSXR is really just in need of a bit of prettying up. Started today:

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This is the starting bike and the stripped of all I don't need at the front:
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I'm assuming I can just put a cable tie around all that electrical left overs and secure it in the new fairing when it arrives
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Busted the brake when i had the high side so replaced that and the clutch lever with shorties. Much more comfortable anyway.
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The got ride of the old pipes and the cat converter and put a new link pipe and can on. I don't think the cat fits in race glass anyway and it extra weight
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Last thing today is just crash bungs on he swingarm and frame and tidying up the casings with new covers. The smaller ones can stay as they are for now.
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And i'll hang onto this lot until the race glass turns up as i've no idea if I still need the tubes for the air or they are built into the race glass.

Braided lines and rearsets should be here next week and then thats pretty much it. Just need a track day

[DaveG]

In the pictures above, the original idea for the subframe was still just a template but Bens now cut the real thing out and it looks awesome:
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He's alos built a tray so the power commander, lithium battery and the other assorted electrical junk can be neatly stashed away:
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And once the whole thing goes together, it really sits neatly under the hump for the cafe racer end. Need to make a call on where the ignition goes now that the new top clamp is in place and given the rest is looking so clean and neat, that may well need to get stuck under here too:
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[DaveG]

On the front end, given now its exposed, its a feature of the bike, everything needs to look as good as the top clamp Bens made.

So the standard clips on have been replaced and now have new levers and some rizomo grips too. The mirror is the same sort of style as the one i had on my streetfighter but a shite load better quality.
It actually works and if you get pulled it at least looks like your making an effort but it keeps the bars clean of massive stalks with mirrors on.
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[DaveG]

this is an idea of what the tail light will look like too. the new number plate will be a bit shorter than the old one and have indicators as part of the hanger but this sort of fits with the old cafe racer style of lights too
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[kev@vcm]

Dave G i had the pleasure of viewing your bike at Extreme Creations mate WOW what a great bike well done to you and ben

[DaveG]

Cheers dude but its got nothing to do with me!

I turned up with a bike and an idea and the rest is Ben. The man's a fucking geenyus

[STK51]

Sometimes Ben doesn't even need the idea! Blokes a Legend!

The bike is looking the goods, keep them coming!!!

[wackyrider]

Any updates on this Dave?

[DaveG]

I haven't been able to get down to Ben's and I know he's been flat out with other bits. But the top clamp and subframe have been anodised and headers the headers went off to be power coated last week.
Stuff left to do is make a new water overflow tank, finish the seat, re-shape the side panels that are left after the plastics have come off and get the thing painted.

All the new bits like rearsets, grips, mirrors and lights are all ready. It's just a bit of tarting it up and it's good to go.

Going to get it stuck into Rapid too as Geoff is apparently keen to see it and we can re balance the POV of Bens work too. I'll see if I can get some pic from Ben.

[DaveG]

Things are getting closer to ride day and the final tweaks are being put to the new build parts before it goes off to get some lipstick at the paint shop

Anodising and powder coating is done. This is the top clamp now and you can see the V-rod headlight is sitting back nicely against the frame. It looked like it might stick out a mile to start because of the air intake but Bens master touch has fixed it up nicely. 4340

[DaveG]

This is pretty trick - check out the indicators and where the ignition now sits:
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[DaveG]

The box Ben built to sit inside the new subframe is brilliant - all the electrics, PC and new lithium battery fit pretty snuggly inside
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[BANDITROD]

thats looking good mate

[DaveG]

And this is the side before it gets painted up. The wheel base looks a lot shorter for some reason and without all that weight on the front, it's going to feel like it wants to mono everywhere. However sod that - I need to master a mono a lot better than i have before i risk that seat unit getting closer to the tarmac
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[xa-mont]

that subframe gets me hard

[ozzy1100]

/\/\/\ what he said /\/\/\/\

[K6Thou]

Very nice mate.

[hooligan]

You had better be riding this to NFC this year Dave, I wanna see it in person.
Nice work, Ben and Dave.

[StuNVA]

Very nice, that whole tail section is porn.

[Surt]

nice bike mate!
the subbie looks familiar lol

[DaveG]

You had better be riding this to NFC this year Dave, I wanna see it in person.
Nice work, Ben and Dave.

Yep will do - I missed out last year and def in need of a decent trip out.

[DaveG]

There's been a bit of a delay on getting the painters sorted. So Ben's multi-talented tool kit means he's started the job himself. These are only shots of the front and back guards but the tank and tail unit will have similar detail.

Some carbon vinyl is coming from the states so the stripe matches the pattern on the guards. Then its a final coat, on with the seat and it's finished.

Well nearly. I'm going to get some round indicators for the back end as the ones off the original bike don't look ideal.
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[LKC73]

Been away for a while, very nice build mate!

[wackyrider]

Coming along nicely Dave

[bluedrags]

That's a sweet looking ride all ways like the cafe racer look.

[DaveG]

Getting close to ride day. Bens finished the paintwork and now it's just a case of getting the seat fitted.

I know I shouldn't be surprised as it's Ben's work but I think it looks better than I'd imagined. The sub-frame makes it as it sorts the lines out nicely but I really didn't expect it to have come together so it almost looks like it was supposed to be that way.

Geoff from Rapid is taking pics of it next Tuesday so we can get some well deserved coverage for Bens work in the mag.

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[Gix11]

Wow! Now that is a very fresh take on a ZX10 mate. I like it. Nice one.

[BANDITROD]

thats looks great well done

[Watto]

looks very nice :D

[MattyDucati]

O dear... thats fucking yum!

[ozzy1100]

Tasty

[latheboy]

Number plate bracket is bent :)

That looks great, well done to all.

[wackyrider]

Nice looking bike mate. That's come up a treat

[MDM]

Love it, great job. Really comes together with the paint on the panels ;-)

[oldskool]

That looks awesome, hate the hugger makes it too bizzy.

[Bob]

Looks great.

[DaveG]

That looks awesome, hate the hugger makes it too bizzy.

Yep - still not sold on the hugger myself. It's looks a bit too big. I'll see how it is after living with it and maybe change it then

[Redmohawk]

black it out , to blend it with the tyre ?

[Cruisecontrol]

black it out , to blend it with the tyre ?

Agreed.

Top shelf build, Dave. Congrats.

[DaveG]

black it out , to blend it with the tyre ?
it was carbon fibre to start but its difficult to get a short one. There were shorty huggers out there but they had really triangular lines and didn't match an older cafe racer look.

might be best to just get another one and cut it down. Now the arse is quite a bit shorter, stock huggers line up with the end of the tail and it looks too much.

I've sold 2 cars to get the fucker built (well ones gone, one's got to go now) so i'm cleaned out now! It'll have to wait.

[Redmohawk]

I'd try some mat vinyl wrap over it first, then maybe airbrush some mat black tread over the vinyl. You can always peel it off if you dont like the effect.

[EXBEN]

Woah hold up guys, at least wait till you see the thing all together before you start changing it guys...

[Redmohawk]

Looking after another baby

[Large]

That would look hot with an 8" rear wheel

[rod185651]

Very cool, almost looks like it came from the factory, very professional finish.

[DaveG]

All done - haven't actually seen it in the flesh yet but given pictures never did the original bike justice, i can't wait for Wednesday when i pick it up.
Ben's ridden it and says with all the shit stripped off it feels like a 250 with a shite load of grunt as it's so compact.
Roll on NFR - can't wait to take it up the mountains
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[DaveG]

Rode this for the first time today. Its fucking sensational. The whole thing is so well balanced and comfortable to ride. It's feels tiny but then you open the throttle and it's clearly not. Pulls like a fucker now it's light.

Ben, you're a genius. I don't think i'll ever buy a standard road bike again. All the time you can turn an idea into something like that, why would you?

[Gix11]

Well said Dave!

[ozzy1100]

the man has a piont, when will the rest of those std bike riding cocks learn the way of the fighter

[stiffsimon]

the man has a piont, when will the rest of those std bike riding cocks learn the way of the fighter

I hope most of them don't mate.Awesome bike by the way Dave and Ben

[K6Thou]

I like the way it's turned out. How long before it's doing the rounds of the local bike rags ?

[hooligan]

That looks fucking lovely. And one of the best descriptions of what a bike is like to ride ever.
Great work guys.

[wackyrider]

All I can say is I look forward to seeing this in the flesh

[Bob]

Outsatnding bike mate. Cant wait to see it at NFR

[DaveG]

I like the way it's turned out. How long before it's doing the rounds of the local bike rags ?
Not sure - a photographer from Rapid turned up at Bens on Tuesday but no idea when it'll appear. I'll keep an eye out.

[DaveG]

so today the bike passed the copper scrutiny. I purposely pushed the due to see if he would pull me but even though he excelled in being a cock chugger, he left it alone.

Anyone who knows Moore Park road (out of Bondi to Slurry Hills), will be familiar with the fact that it is a 2 lane car park from about 8am. On the bike thats no drama as a cycle lane goes all the way down it.

But today I get to the bottom and a copper is pulling every fucking bike up. Conversation was as follows:

'Get off the bike - do you know how many lanes there are?'

'Yes 2'

'so where were you?'

'i was on the inside of the inside one. The traffic is sitting still and whats the point of riding a bike if i have to sit with the cars?'

Copper proceeds to bend down and go over the bike 'because if you ride down there and a car turns left, it will hit you and then you'll come moaning to me about it'

'You mean left into the kerb? There are no junctions'

'Don't be smart'

'I'm not being smart - if that is the reason you pulled me up, then why aren't you also pulling all these push bikes up? In fact why even build the cycle lane?'

'do you want some paperwork to convince you that you shouldn't do it?'

'No thank you'

'Right get back on your bike and i've marked your card'

So good result all round really. He was a powerful man in charge of very small penis, looked all over the bike but let me go without any more than a look that said 'you are a cunt'

[ozzy1100]

a look Im shore you reciperated.....

[Hillsy]

He was a powerful man in charge of very small penis

That's my new quote of the week.

[bluedrags]

That is an awesome looking bike and well done to all involved.

[Surt]

That's my new quote of the week.

id borrow it either

[slingy88]

That is an awesome looking bike and well done to all involved.

I second that statement. I've got a friend with a smashed ZX10. What better inspiration to do something with it than this.
Bloody Awesome ;)