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[Closed] Is This A Bad Idea - BMW R80/7 Cafe Racer

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[#4545226]

Having just moved to a new house that has the luxury of a garage, distinctly my garage, the missus has no interest of venturing into it on any account!

Currently in there is my work horse BMW F800GS, but I have this itch I feel I need to scratch, namely of the old boxer engined variety.

So, it's come to the stage where I'm thinking of getting an old R80/7 and making it into a cafe racer/bobber/flat tracker/trailie mix, along the line of this...however the missus isn't so happy with me riding bikes nevermind buying another. So what would you do, and any inspiration for the finished article would be great...

[img] http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m92it5r2Pk1qbabg3o1_1280.jpg [/img][img] http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6jjzyWaCv1qbabg3o1_1280.jpg [/img][img] http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m144kfdI6X1qbabg3o2_1280.jpg [/img][img] http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m144kfdI6X1qbabg3o4_1280.jp g" target="_blank">http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m92it5r2Pk1qbabg3o1_1280.jpg [/img][img] http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6jjzyWaCv1qbabg3o1_1280.jpg [/img][img] http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m144kfdI6X1qbabg3o2_1280.jpg [/img][img] http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m144kfdI6X1qbabg3o4_1280.jp g"/> [/img]


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:03 pm
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Looks shit


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:06 pm
 AD
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Looks cool


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:10 pm
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Thanks both, I'm aware old BMWs are a very marmite in the looks stake. For me it's a chance to build myself a motorbike how I want it, and to learn a lot more than I know now about how they work. Also, it's a chance to drag my dad into working on it with me!


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:13 pm
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this is also along the lines of what I'd want the finished article to look like...
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:14 pm
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Like the bike rack 🙂 I saw a bmw a while back with a rack on wonder if I could get one for my tl1000r as I don't have a car


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:17 pm
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Want one myself

more in the dirtracer style though
love Brendogs
[url] http://blog.derestricted.com/photography/s4pmc1/ [/url]

This one looks pretty mean though
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:18 pm
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is that a kevil speed shop bike freeridenick? I had a look at his stuff and thought I can do that, the reality may be much much different 😀


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:21 pm
 Kato
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Awesome. Do it


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:22 pm
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Yes a Kevil, how much would you think something like that cost out of interest?


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:25 pm
 br
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It'll have crap brakes, be uncomfortable, slow and due to its unreliability you'll never ride it.

Unless you've cash to waste, don't do it - and if you've cash to waste, just get yourself a decent m/c instead.

And the fact that none of the m/c's pictured have number plates...


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:25 pm
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br = missing the point


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:26 pm
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[img] [/img]

[url= http://www.bikeexif.com/custom-bmw-r-100rt ]BikeExif[/url] is a good place for droolworthy stuff if you don't know it already.


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:27 pm
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[url= http://http://motorcyclephotooftheday.com/category/ural/ ]Ural[/url]

Try again


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:27 pm
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Want...

Do it...

Make it the same colour as your current bike ad shell never know


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:29 pm
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Always fancied a Guzzi Cafe racer myself.

[img] [/img]

But Really like the Beemer as well. Got a touch of an Aga about it ?


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:29 pm
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teddy, good idea and I fly to Russia in one week...worthwhile riding it back?

freeridenick, base bike price is circa £1k. I think if you get one that's a runner, then a full strip done by myself, a repaint of everything and a smattering of parts made by the engineering shop down the road, the lads at work and myself then I think I'd manage it with £2k.


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:32 pm
 br
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[i]br = missing the point [/i]

Nope, I'm a biker and have been for 30 years - old bikes are mostly crap compared to the bikes you can buy now.

If I wanted an ornament, I'd buy a picture and stick it on the wall.


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:32 pm
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Beautiful. Do it.

Looks shit
You have no taste. 😕


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:34 pm
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[quote=b r ]br = missing the point
Nope, I'm a biker and have been for 30 years - old bikes are mostly crap compared to the bikes you can buy now.
If I wanted an ornament, I'd buy a picture and stick it on the wall.
+1


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:36 pm
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Do it.

I actually meant how much does a Kevil cost ?


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:38 pm
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around the £6-8k mark I think


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:41 pm
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[quote=nukeproofriding ]You have no taste. I think what you mean is "you and I don't share the same taste in retro motorcycles".


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:49 pm
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Lank45 top idea. Some old BP pals bought them in Baku and rode them at weekends into the mountains. Good fun with the locals taking pot shots At them.
They rode them back to the uk.

The finish ain't brilliant, but cheap as chips - circa 4k new I think.


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:54 pm
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a garage with only one m/c..a wife who never visits.. that wont last .. currently 9 in mine with a 75 400/4 added this week for a cafe project..


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 10:59 pm
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googling bmw r80 flat tracker throws up loads of good stuff.. kevils have made some tough looking bikes.. 😯

who would have thought so many folk would want to attempt to polish a turd..!!
this one is pretty eff off

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:03 pm
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All nice - always wanted to cafe racer a Honda 400/4.


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:11 pm
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[img] [/img]

Love some of those old Bimmers. The utilitarian look that they and Ural have is something not many can compete with in my opinion.


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:24 pm
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[img] [/img]

I think what you mean is "you and I don't share the same taste in retro motorcycles".

Is it just bimmers you dont like or old bikes in general? Don't get me wrong I don't like all the classics. Im buying an 08/09 r6 in a month or so.


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:29 pm
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Old Beeemers are Ace, fact.
It needs to be done and tell your Mrs to shut up.


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:30 pm
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before you start, you need to decide how tough you want to go..

[url= http://cafebeemers.blogspot.co.uk ]cafebeemers blogspot[/url]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:36 pm
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[img] [/img]

This is the one freeridenick was talking about - lovely looking thing.

It'll have crap brakes, be uncomfortable, slow and due to its unreliability you'll never ride it.

Ugggh I bet you ride an sv or a gtr1400 or some boring piece of overpriced commuter junk like that.


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:38 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:42 pm
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I bloody love that BMW, I want one now even tho I cant ride. I prefer them with the high bars. Are they designed as road bikes or for dirt trails, I ask as a few of them have nobbly tyres.


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:46 pm
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Long live the Kings
[url]

so cool...


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:47 pm
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It'll have crap brakes, be uncomfortable, slow and due to its unreliability you'll never ride it.

But yet people keep building their niche mountainbikes 😀

Horses for courses, I love old BMW's, not sure why, they just look right.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Don't know where you are, but there's this guy in Devon who custom builds bikes based around BMW's

[url= http://www.kevilsspeedshop.com/ ]http://www.kevilsspeedshop.com/[/url]


 
Posted : 10/11/2012 11:59 pm
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this thread is either good or bad timing for me. i've had motorbikes on my mind for months now and i just sold a classic car and i'm planning on having a break from that particular hobby. maybe it's time to get something with 2 wheels that i don't have to pedal. i know very little about bikes other that i want one that looks like the ones in this thread!

already checked out loads of local BMW's and really like the look of them.

if you need any more inspiration have a look at this;

[url=


 
Posted : 11/11/2012 12:40 am
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Is the top picture an r80 boxer by the way? I want one... really bad.

this thread is either good or bad timing for me. i've had motorbikes on my mind for months now

Me too man. I've been planning my purchase of an r6 in a month or so but I'm getting drawn to doing up cafe racer or something. I'm assured by a friend that if I find one that is essentially mechanically sound, then all the work you need to do to make a decent looking cafe is not
hugely difficult.

Anyone here ripped the plastic off a retro bike and turned it into a cafe before?


 
Posted : 11/11/2012 12:45 am
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Ai it's a r80/7, I love it!


 
Posted : 11/11/2012 12:55 am
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 11/11/2012 8:10 am
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It was definately a mistake bringing these things to our attention, and just as I'm getting a garage!


 
Posted : 11/11/2012 1:31 pm
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I got a quote from kevills for the bike shown by bikebuoy. £8K!
Lovely lovely thing but that's too rich for me.


 
Posted : 11/11/2012 1:34 pm
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It'll have crap brakes, be uncomfortable, slow and due to its unreliability you'll never ride it.
Unless you've cash to waste, don't do it - and if you've cash to waste, just get yourself a decent m/c instead.
And the fact that none of the m/c's pictured have number plates...

An R80 is going to be slow? Compared to a modern bike, but not compared to a cage, which is really the point. Plenty enough power to hustle along and zip past cars. Twin disks on my R100 pull up as quickly as anything I've ridden. Zero brake downs, 120 mile a day commute in winter, all over Europe, morocco, all over uk etc. My V50 had cracking handling, slow by modern standards, but more fun throwing it in than my Monster.
Really a load of shit what you've written, factually incorrect and you're missing the point. For 30 years.

Come and have a crack on my R12 or my ZB31 and see if you don't get off grinning from ear to ear.


 
Posted : 11/11/2012 1:50 pm
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I love boxers.

I hate the fact that they're becoming really popular as custom bikes, as I'll never be able to afford one now.

Ah well.

Urals are stupridly expensive too £10,000 for a new outfit?, no ta.
Some nice Ural customs out there though:

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 11/11/2012 2:16 pm
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