BMW Cafe Racer. Sweeeeet.

Publish Post

"Cafe Rouge" Norton.

We here at "Motorcycle Picture of the Day" do not endorse doing this to a Norton... at all. But you have to be awestruck at the amount time effort and detail that went in to this... this... well decide for yourself I suppose. different strokes and all that.

A pair of vintage BMW.

1938 R66



1929 R11

BSA powered CCM.

I never knew that the early CCM's ever used the BSA engines. This is a really beautiful example.

Kawasaki Zephyr 1100 fresh out of the crate.

These bikes sort of broke my heart when they came out. At the time I couldn't really afford one as I was in school and Americans never really warmed up to them so they were short lived over here. Someone (I'm guessing over in Japan) has one fresh out of the crate still with the plastic wrap on it. What a great find!

For those unfamiliar with the model here is the Wiki age entry:

The Kawasaki Zephyr is a line of air-cooled inline 4-cylinder-engined motorcycles built by Kawasaki to meet the demand for retro-styled naked motorcycles in Japan and elsewhere in the 1990s. There were a number of Zephyr models available in four engine capacities - 400, 550, 750, and 1100cc.
The 400 was produced for Japan due to the demand for 400cc motorcycles in that market. It was very popular. Many aftermarket parts were produced, with companies like Over Racing producing exhausts, swingarms, fairings and engine modifications.
Zephyr styling is roughly based on the old Z1, with twin shock rear suspension, a relatively upright riding position and air cooled power units. The 400, 550 and 750 engines were developed from the old Z400/500/550/650/750/900 series. The 1100 engine is a re-engineered version of a liquid-cooled powerplant and is the only Zephyr built with two spark plugs per cylinder. The Zephyr offered the customer retro styling coupled with simplicity and reliability. Performance of the line was adequate for normal riding and the engines were tuned for low to mid range power.
The Zephyr started the Naked/Retro bike boom in the UK and Europe in the early 1990s and for a while moved Kawasaki to the 2nd best selling manufacturer of motorcycles in the UK Market.
The Zephyr Z 750 engine reappeared in the late 1990s in the short lived ER7.
The Zephyr 1100 had a Z1 restyle in its last year of sale including a return to wire wheels. Wire wheels also appeared on the 750. It was replaced in the Kawasaki UK range by the popular Z1100R styled ZRX1100(later ZRX1200).
The ZRX series of motorcycles had a great impact on the growing market for retro style motorcycles, particularly in the United States. It was modeled after Kawasaki's superbike championship winning KZ1000R-S1 that propelled Eddie Lawson to Superbike dominance in the early 1980s and even spawned an international owners association known as the ZRXOA (ZRX Owners Association)

Rickman Kawasaki Cafe. Drooooolllll....

Lots more at.. http://ottonero.blogspot.com/

One serious XLCR replica. (Update: or maybe not Replica.)

I love these replicas. Courtesy of Loud Lightening. You can get a nice complete kit for these at Mecatwin or get the parts from Airtech

After taking another look I just realized that that is NOT a modern mill in there so this is likely a seriously upgraded original. Whatever it is it's well done.

1968 Bultaco Sherpa.

It a flat Tracker extravaganza around here lately. Here's a nice old Bultaco set up Flat Track style!

A perfect Honda Trail 70.

The object of lust for a generation of 10 year old boys. The terror of thousands of campgrounds. The decoration strapped to the bumpers of millions of Winnebago's. The Honda Trail 70. And a damm nice one to boot.

A pair of great pictures from reader Don Miller.

Don picked up on the MX250 pics I've posted and chips in with a couple of really great shots.

Don Writes:

Steve;

Not only did the motors appear stock in Moto Crossers. A lot of flat track racers used them in the late 70's and early 80's. Here's a couple of my Harley MX 250 in a Boss frame. On is of Jay Springsteen on it and the other is me being chased by 2 very big 4 strokes.

Later,Don

Thanks Much Don. As always, very much appreciated!

A stellar CB350 Cafe Build-off by a Couple of high school technology departments!

From their Website:

"A friendly competition between the technology departments of Newfield Central Schools and Nskayuna High School in Niskayuna, New York. This design challenge is the brain child of Mr. Ketcham and Mr. Desimony of Niskayuna. This challenge centers on the building of a vintage cafe racer. "

LOTS more info HERE and HERE along with build pictures and some new projects!

These classes should be very proud of such stellar work! This gives me hope for the future of our vintage bikes!

Flawless Husqvarna 250 Cross Restoration.

I love the reflection in the chrome on the tank.

Sankyo Rikuo. A very rare (at least in the U.S.) Japanese Harley Davidson "Road King".

Kawasaki Z1 Kz900 Scrambler.

I absolutely love this bike by Italian builder Gitellemoto.

Nice BSA Scrambler.

I love the look but I'm not sure of this bikes designation. My best guess is that it's a modified Goldstar Scrambler?

Thanks!

Laverda Corse Endurance Racer.

Sweet little Ducati Flattracker. Looks to be a 1964.

Harley Davidson MX250 Flattracker.

As an update to the earlier post with the Harley MX250 I realized that I had a great picture in my archives of a flat tracked version from a local show a few years back. This thing must be a blast!

Vincent Black Shadow.

From last years "Riding into History" event in St Augustine, Fl.

Nice Cafe Norton

1972 Rickman Triumph Cafe Racer. The Amazing work of Ron Peck.

Really jaw dropping stuff. For a slideshow to the complete series of the build go HERE.

The new Victory Core Concept bike.

Lots more info here.

Nice Triumph Thunderbird Sport from a local bike night.

Love those pipes!

Insane Custom "Monkey" Bike!!!

Holy crap!! What a craftsmen. More here (in German).

Here's a video!!

A 3/4 scale Ridley and a Nimbus for Reader Ted Guthrie

I love the Nimbus design (see link here). It's like rolling industrial art. I've never heard of the Ridley. Really interesting bike. Kind of like a Cushman on steroids.

Ted Writes:

Hi, Steve. I enjoyed seeing the unique and rare Harley-Davidson motocrosser, featured on your site. Speaking of unique bikes, one of the more interesting I've ever come across is the Ridley. Produced right here in the USA, these 3/4 scale cruisers feature a 500cc v-twin engine, and fully automatic transmission.

I spotted this one at an Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club meet. Check out the old Yamaha IT200 parked behind it for a reference to its diminuitive size.

Also included is a photo taken at the same event, of a Nimbus. I've not done any research on the brand, but I believe it was produced in Sweden. A very interesting mix of engineering. Note the perimeter frame, yet exposed valvetrain.

Ted

As always, Much Appreciated!

1978 Harley Davidson MX250

Since we're being obscure here lately I just figured I'd toss in one of the odder bikes from the late 70's.