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Message started by Mospagats on 07/28/16 at 11:25:56

Title: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Mospagats on 07/28/16 at 11:25:56

Hey there friends, newb here. My name is Mo and I've had my savage for a few months now and I love it. However I do have a dream of it being a personalized Cafe, something I can put together or fabricate myself. I know that I could take the Ryca route but again, I want something a little more personal. But I need help getting started. Soooooooo my questions are:

What tanks are a good fit with minor fabrication?

Best way to install rearsets?

What non-wired wheels are the best fit? 18\19in preferred

Can I switch rear brake to disk?

And any other advice for this newb would be awesome. Thanks everyone and cheers!!!

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Dave on 07/28/16 at 11:37:01

You can find the Bike Builds thread at the top of this RSD page. Members have used several different tanks in their builds, including the stock tank.

The rearset mounts is tough to make if you don't have cutting and welding and drilling tools.

Changing the rear drum brake to a disc is a major undertaking. Most likely it is the "if you have to ask...you most likely don't have the skills needed to make the conversion" kind of thing. Making a hub/disc/caliper/pressure cylinder/pedal arrangement is very involved, and even then you are going to have a bit of a challenge getting the pedal pressure/brake force workable. The rear hub may not look the way you want - but it works very well.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Mospagats on 07/28/16 at 11:47:29

Thanks for the reply Dave.

I did take a look through the builds and got a couple of ideas but they were also a bit older so I wanted to see if I could get any other/more current ideas.

I have access to everything I need for fabrication as well so that's not something I'm too worried about.

I also figured that the brake conversion might be a pain, but nothing afraid to take on. While I might not be knowledgeable to start, it doesn't take much for me to learn and I try to be as mechanically inclined as possible. But the main reason for me asking is because I wanted to switch the wheels out to a nice 5 spoke or something similar, and if I ended up with a wheel from a bike that was disk to begin with then I would like to keep it that way for sure.

I appreciate the help so far though and look forward to learning the ins and outs of the cafe conversion process. Any and all help and advice is super welcome.

Cheers

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by SavageMan99 on 07/28/16 at 12:17:16

I know in my 83 Scamp truck it was about braking ratio front to rear. You don't want the rear locking up at minimal pressure.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Mospagats on 07/28/16 at 12:22:23

Ah I see. Well it is more of an optional thing that I might want to do so I'll do some more research on the brake situation.

However any other sound Cafe build advice is more than welcome. Any recommendations or things to keep an eye out for to make the build itself as streamlined as possible. Thanks a lot, I really am finding more out as I go so I appreciate everything.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/28/16 at 12:44:40

Do you WANT the disk brake just because it's sexier or to point to and say
I did that
And both are reason enough for some,
Or, are you unhappy with the stock rear brake?

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Dave on 07/28/16 at 12:48:54

706F696E73744575457D6F63281A0 wrote:

Do you WANT the disk brake just because it's sexier or to point to and say
I did that
And both are reason enough for some,
Or, are you unhappy with the stock rear brake?

042624260F262C1A2126490 wrote:

But the main reason for me asking is because I wanted to switch the wheels out to a nice 5 spoke or something similar, and if I ended up with a wheel from a bike that was disk to begin with then I would like to keep it that way for sure.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/28/16 at 13:07:56

If he lands a Prepackaged disk, sure, but I wasn't sure if he was determined to go with a disk, if the wheel is drum. I wouldn't have a clue how to swap a wheel from drum to disk.

Having equipment available is great. Having the imagination and ability to make it happen? I've done some pretty tricky stuff, I don't want any of that. Good luck, I will be following your progress and helping if I can.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by verslagen1 on 07/28/16 at 13:15:43

In the tech section index you'll find a link to cast wheel conversion.

as far as rear disc goes, I'd love to but too much trouble.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Dave on 07/28/16 at 13:47:06

Is this your first bike....and your only one?

How long have you been riding?

You should be riding your bike and planning/scheming/gathering stuff before you tear the bike apart. Nothing worse than tearing a bike apart for a long project - only to find out that it takes all riding season to get the project done. The transformation can occur over the winter, and you won't watch others ride by as yours is sitting in the garage. (When I did mine the winter project extended into the spring - it sure was hard to keep my concentration as I heard others ride by on those nice springs days).

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Mospagats on 07/28/16 at 13:50:25

This is all great input guys!!

To answer justin_o_guy2 though, as Dave pointed out if I find a wheel with disc then that would probably be the reason to use disc but I do also 1) love disc brakes and the way they look 2) am always up for any mechanical challenge so it would give me pride to say that I converted the hard way, but again it's the hard way and 3) because of my experience with cars and brakes I've always had an easier time with changing disk pads over shoes.

It seems that unless the disk is on the wheel then it would be a hard time converting it so I may just find one that I like.

Overall in the very long run, it doesn't matter, so I guess it becomes more aesthetic than anything.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Mospagats on 07/28/16 at 13:52:49

Thanks Dave, no matter what I plan on riding as is until the off-season for that very reason. It is my first bike and project but I've been riding for a couple years via my friends bikes and whatnot. I definitely don't want to watch others enjoy their time while my bike is inoperable.

645F5245545843455E565B44370 wrote:

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Dave on 07/28/16 at 18:17:27

You will most likely wear out the front disc pads a time or two.....you will never wear out the rear shoes, as they seem to last forever.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by batman on 07/28/16 at 18:46:58

And aside from pulling the wheel ,a three year old could change rear shoes on this bike.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Armen on 07/30/16 at 03:55:02

Here is the seat/tank combo I am using.
Got them on Ebay.
Nothing 'Just bolts on!"
;)

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Armen on 07/30/16 at 04:57:12

Hmm, pic didn't load :(

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Armen on 07/30/16 at 05:01:22

Once more, with feeling.
This shows the bodywork and an 18" rear wheel.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 07/30/16 at 18:47:34

Armen

What is that tank/seat combo from and where did you get it?

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Brassneck on 08/01/16 at 13:54:11

Love the tank. I'm using a Benelli Mojave also but going a different direction in regard to seat. Do you have any pictures or instruction on how you mounted it? I just got my bike stripped down and am trying to figure it out.

Thanks

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by ohiomoto on 08/02/16 at 06:06:13

Here's one way to do it: http://suzuki-s40-ratbrat.weebly.com/page-5.html

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Dave on 08/02/16 at 06:24:55

Here is a link to a fellow that mounted a rear wheel disc.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1421106431/0

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Brassneck on 08/02/16 at 17:13:57

Thanks, ohiomoto. I believe that guy was known on the forum as braveteacher. I've seen that blog before and I think he's taking a long bolt and screwing it down through the top of the tank, just forward of the gas cap and into the nut he welded into the frame. I was hoping for something where I could keep it a bit cleaner up top.

I see braveteacher hasn't frequented the site here in a while which is too bad since he could answer a few other questions for me about the tank fitting. If anyone has contact info, please pm me.

Armen, if you get back to this thread, if you would be so kind, I'd love to hear how you're doing it. Thanks

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by KennyG on 08/02/16 at 21:05:56

Brass,

BSA fastened their fuel tanks with a bolt going down through the tank and threaded into the frame. There was a piece of hose like material around the bolt that expanded when tightened. The BSA system held the tank snug and reduced vibration to some degree. There was a rubber cap that went over the opening in the tank to hide the bolt.

Kenny G

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by Brassneck on 08/04/16 at 16:42:20

Cool, thanks KennyG.

Makes sense, now I just need to figure out how I'll fasten the back half of it.

Title: Re: Future Cafe help!!!!!
Post by KennyG on 08/04/16 at 17:40:21

Brass,

As I remember, and it was a long time ago, there were flat things welded to the frame and there were rubber cushions that the back of the tank rested on.

I adapted another tank to a BSA and used thin wall electric conduit, brazed to the tank, for the rubber and bolt to go down through the center of the tank.

Maybe Lancer can remember what his Gold Star had.

Kenny