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Message started by old_rider on 02/27/15 at 11:29:17

Title: He is wrong for all the right reasons
Post by old_rider on 02/27/15 at 11:29:17

Well, at least he got the "Example" right!

But his reasons are all outta whack I think... he must have chosen the wrong motorcycle to ride.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/why-a-cafe-racer-makes-a-terrible-first-bike-1688355535

Title: Re: He is wrong for all the right reasons
Post by verslagen1 on 02/27/15 at 12:17:18

I read this like a lot of those complaints about a savage.
They may be regional and may only apply to the target audience... moms and dads who've never ridden... and it feels if the author hasn't ridden either. In fact, many of the pictured cafe racers would be highly desired as cafe racers hence making them completely outta reach for the beginner. So I have ta reason that the author was incapable of selecting his own picts and writing the column to match.

Title: Re: He is wrong for all the right reasons
Post by Dave on 02/27/15 at 13:17:50

If the bikes are made from Vintage Iron.....most likely they aren't really good bikes for folks learning to ride for the first time. The seating position isn't all that comfortable, and I will admit that coming to a hard stop while traveling downhill is a bit of an isometric challenge to do a "push up" while leaned over the Clip-On bars while clutching/braking/and adding a tad of throttle to cut down on the backfire rumble....all at the same time. And my limited turning radius makes turning the bike around in a parking lot a bit of a challenge.

Also one must consider that as a "beginner" or first bike....do you really want a bike that is 30-40 years old and has limited parts availability? A beginner rider is also most probably a beginner "mechanic" as well...unless you have come into motorcycles later in life and already know how to fix stuff. (I also believe a lot of this is applicable to bobbers and rat bikes).

It may not be socially acceptable - but I do believe the Blue Collar Bobber kit for the Ninja 250 may make an excellent Cafe' bike for a beginner. It has a very reliable engine, is light weight, has a good seating position with the handlebars a bit higher and farther back than most Cafe' bikes, the peg position remains unchanged, and it is a nimble bike with modern suspension and brakes....and parts are easy and cheap to get. And who can complain about 70+ mpg!

Title: Re: He is wrong for all the right reasons
Post by old_rider on 02/28/15 at 14:43:46

I politely thanked him for using the savage/s40 as the "example" picture and then explained to him availability of parts for the Suzuki 650 and the length of time being produced and not being changed much made the savage/s40 the perfect "beginners" bike.
But like Dave says, once it has been modified to a café racer, it does have its challenges.
He did also have another write-up where he mentions the s40 as one of his preferred starter bikes.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-beginners-bike-1639926141

Title: Re: He is wrong for all the right reasons
Post by mpescatori on 03/02/15 at 09:47:51

My own two cdents...

A cafè racer being a style, you can compare it to the principle of "hatchback".

Is a new TYoyota Yaris a good beginenr's car ?

How about an AMC Gremlin or a Chevy Nova from the 1970's ?
How about a V8 Hornet ?

Cafè racers are NOT an old bike, they are a style, something that the author of the article simply overlooked.

So... what makes a Triumph Thruxton NOT a cafè racer ? Or a Moto Guzzi V7 Sport ?

http://https://cdn.rideapart.com/images/2009_Triumph_Thruxton_ohlins.jpghttp://www.chemoto-roma.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2013-moto-guzzi-v7-racer.jpg

IMHO the author is COMPLETELY off his mark...