The Water Buffalo-Seemingly never ending cafe project

[LukeM]

Sorry the sidecovers don't fit.  I've seen some guys who cafe their bikes, and they use either smoked plexiglas or thin diamond plate.  If you can relocate the battery and all the other goodies, you can leave the covers off and make it see-through.  That's a cool look as well.

I'm also selling off stuff to add to the MC fund.  Sold my old Shadow tank (all rusted/gunked out, as the PO put Kreem in without treating the inside first).  Going to rummage around in the garage and put up some other stuff as well.

As far as what you've done so far, to my eye it looks a little too pointed.  Most cafe bikes are more rounded, like the tank.  Rounded fenders front and rear, rounded seat, rounded fairing.  Now, if you're going in a different direction, this may not apply.  Ultimately, the person you have to please most is yourself. :-)

Luke M

[Piute]

 I'd say to keep it At or  Lower then the highest point of your tank ,to have a aerodynamic(i love chk spell)look,
  Now make one out of cardboard N duct tape as smooth as possible and you have a mold fo fiber-glass,OF course you'll have to have 2 peaces(top and sides one) and bottom thee other with hidden steal were holes are for mounting,
   more on your P.M. ...Piute N Judose...I poured more res. after this cause after painting could see low spots.

[TOOLS1]

I would take that 360 tank, you have, and cut the rear section off. Then make the tail piece out of it. Very easy.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

I had considered that,Tools.But hated to ruin a good tank.that thing is nearly spotless inside.Just stepped in the house to grab a sharpie,working on tail section part 2 right now.I'll holler at you in a little Piute,thanks man

Oh and Luke,you are right about the rounded look.I am shooting for a slightly longer,less stubbly look,but still rounded.Trying to follow the slope and look of the tank for now.Just ain't figured out how to pull it off just yet.

Stay tuned!Sure to be plenty to laugh at coming soon!!

[shinyribs]

Any better??Seat still stops at the shock mounts which is pretty common.Tail is a touch short of the rear edge of the rear tire.Still too long?

Also,with or without the duck tail?I kinda dig it,myself.Honest opinions please

[rich]

Just a little shorter over the tire:

[shinyribs]

How'd you do that?!?! Thats a neat lil trick.If i knew how to do that it would save me a lot of work

Also i have the Maltese cross tail lights.Not thinking of using the entire unit with bezel and all,but flush mounting just the lens.Maltese cross on a cafe?Bad idea?I built this tail piece with no idea on what i was gonna do for a tail light,it just happens to fit perfectly.Again,thank you all for your honest opinions!!!


I dont care the stubby looking rear ends    like this



But also dont want a real long one either.Shooting for about this length.Just shy of the rear tire edge.But not as pointed

[shinyribs]

Oh yeah.Right now my rear axle is ALL the way forward on the adjusters.Will it move to about middle with the chain on?I guess that depends on where i cut my chain,huh?Where should it go for best results?

[TOOLS1]

What are, you going to do? Hide a JATO rocket in there? I like what Rich did. Only it needs a little more slope.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

Shhhh!!! Dont tell everybody I think im gonna take about 2 inches off tomorrow and see what it looks like.That is gonna be my only storage are,though

Peter!!!Here is what i used bud.Cleaned the engine with oven cleaner(Tools' idea,thanks!) and my lil baby pressure washer.Used a thin soft(brass) 4" wire wheel on a drill to get between the fins.I knocked out the rubbery vibration spacers to get in there real good.They will come in and out,but it sucked.Wouldn't do it again to be honest.Dried it good with an air hose.Cleaned it with solvent,stuff called Final Kleen.Used to prep vehicle bodies for paint.Super Tech carb cleaner works just as well,but will leave streaks if you let it dry and dont blow it off immediately.Sprayed the etching primer,scuffed with 360 grit,and than second coat of etching primer.I wish i had a better camera,been using my cell phone(i know...sorry),but this silver i used is very similar in color to the factory,but has a lot more metallic to it.You may or may not like it.Then when the silver was almost dried,but still just a hair tacky,i shot it with high temp clear.The clear really helped to tone down the metallic in the silver and gave it a nice wet look.If the clear had not toned down the metallic i was gonna redo it.Was too gritty looking without it.I do not recommend using this particular silver alone.It even felt grittyAll of it came from Advance Auto.Couldn't fine the can of clear,think i tossed it,but it was Duplicolor as well.The only high heat engine enamel that Advance had.It all came to right at $20. But it is the polished covers that makes it pop.Ain't no paint like polished aluminumAnyways,hope this answered your question.

[rich]

I just used MS Windows "PAINT". It's on all windows computers. Click the eraser looking thingy and start cutting (it's like a flame wrench, but it eats pixels instead of metal).

[shinyribs]

HAHA   Gotcha!   Wndows paint...hmmm....Crystal! C'mere! Show me how to paint windows!!  

I suck on 'puters..gotta learn that one though.Thanks rich

[Piute]

any special color coming up >Still buds right

[shinyribs]

Okay....now you guys are just rubbing it in.    Pink looks good

[Daddyman]

Well if it's going to be pink it may as well have a V Twin

[Daddyman]

I Like this look

[TOOLS1]

That's it!! Perfect.
TOOLS

[Daddyman]

Here is your tank chopped and used on the rear, if you like it all you have to do is pop a fiber glass mold off of your tank.

[TOOLS1]

Daddyman That is awesome! I wish I had thought of that. Damn Now I wish I was building a cafe. I'm going to have to find another Suzuki.
TOOLS

[Piute]

be sure to save that dent to ,looks great