Streetfighter or Cafe racer?

[badgerKDD]

After a blast out with Graham the other evening he commented on my 'Mickey Mouse Ear' mirrors which has fired me up to trying to sort my bike out properly. I'v done a few things to it over the last few years but with no direction or final 'look' to it, so what do you guys reckon? I'v been heading down the streetfighter route but now I'm not sure wether I should go for a more modern Cafe Racer look as its not really got the bollocks of a fighter ( 400 cc ) and I cant really afford to throw much money at it at the moment ( heavy customising aint cheap ).

This is it at the mo...


Apart from a good clean , I'm thinking replace mirrors with one smaller one on right ( black) and maybe put a white stripe along the middle of the bike from front to back ( maybe Sheene style white with black and yellow pinstripes), then either Ace bars or flip the exsisting Renthals upside down so gaining the bum up, head down riding position. I'm about to frabricate out of GRP an undertray and tail tidy to sort the back end, hopefully!

Any thoughts or advice?

[Cheese Monkey]

Some low set clip ons or ace bars would look AWESOME. Cant believe I just said that lol. Stick a 750 engine in it . Its got the whole cafe racer look going on already I think

[jam]

The frame is steel so with a bit of welding and fuckin about you can fit an SRAD or early K series Gixxer motor in there. Fit some K series USD forks and wheels, and a decent braced swingarm in there and you'll have a crackin little fighter. Failing that you can give your 400 motor a bit more life by fitting 34mm carbs from a GPZ900 with individual filters and a decent 4 into 1 system from a GSXR400 and you should see around the 55bhp mark from it.
Or you could sell it and pick up something else more suited to modifying.

[Cheese Monkey]

Bigger engine . Is a beauty frame, keep it!

[badgerKDD]

Failing that you can give your 400 motor a bit more life by fitting 34mm carbs from a GPZ900 with individual filters and a decent 4 into 1 system from a GSXR400 and you should see around the 55bhp mark from it.
Or you could sell it and pick up something else more suited to modifying.

Like the sound of the carb up-grade, when money isn't so tight I might look into that. Its already got a stainless straight through system on it, had to put the original silencer back on it though, the one supplied attracted far too much unwanted attention ! Did look into selling option a while back but to buy something worthwhile I can't afford to go that route.

Bigger engine . Is a beauty frame, keep it!

Looked into that a while ago but frame would need serious chopping about as its quite narrow.
Think I might go down the cafe racer route as you say it's on its way there already.

[ZXR400Lee]

Either.. sell up and get something else..

Or..

Change up the colours a little.. I'd keep red frame, go for black plastics and tank.. not sure on wheel colour.. Some low bars.. would look sweet!

Its already a pretty cool looking bike!

[badgerKDD]

Definately thinking along the customised paint scheme. Probably going to go for the 3" white stripe with black and yellow 'Sheene' esque pinlines, as I like the original red colour just want to refresh it abit! Ditched the big mirrors today but replacing only the right mirror with a smaller one, rode it with no mirrors today and really didn't like not knowing whats behind me without doing yoga style stretching to see! Measured up for making an undertray and plate hanger today and also looking into cutting down the headlight fairing, want to keep a bit of wind protection but also want to expose the clocks a little for the classic Bandit look. Also can't afford new clip ons or ace bars at the mo so considering flipping the Renthals over to give lowered bars with out the cost, just not sure if it will look 'old school' or just crap !

Already updated the fork protectors from prototype 1:



To this prototype 2



More photo updates as I do things!

[deej]

mmmm carbon

if you need vinyls done look up ratmally in newquay,im sure mark can sort you out

[badgerKDD]

Yeah will do!

As for carbon, helps having a mate who fabricates carbon race yacht components, brings me in the off cuts !

Flipped the bars over today, looks great, but unfortunately I'm having clearence issues with steering lock and choke cable. Now thinking of getting a length of stainless tube and having flat bars as I can sneakily get it on account from a work supplier! Would give a lower than standard bar position and solve clearence issues. Definately putting clip ons on my 'when I'v got some spare cash' wish list tho !