...I change the front fender, head light, the front caliper, and brake disc, front wheel, the forks, the triple trees, the handlebars, the switches, levers and masters, the speedo, mirrors, tank and the seat, the rear frender, the rear wheel, the belt drive, the shocks, the tail light, the carb and air filter, muffler and the exhaust pipe, Oh, and the frame and swingarm.   I guess I will keep the engine.......is it still a Savage?  


Well after a year of catching up on other projects around the place I am finally starting my Savage project named Cafe ala Carte.  The goal is a very clean, minimalistic Cafe single.  I am going to try to come in under 300 lbs and I think I can do it after dismantling the Savage.  There is some heavy parts on that bike!

Here are some pictures of where I am so far.  I can tell with my limited time (two busy kids) it will be a slow process.

Here is the frame I am going to use.  


It is a 1968 Wards Riverside Mojave frame.  It was made by Benelli in Italy and a knock off of a Rickman racing frame.  It is large tube (1-1/4") with a super brace design in the steering stem area.

Take a look at the swing arm though,  the back end of it is really flimsy looking.  I will be changing that out for a  GS450 swing arm modified to fit the frame.

Here is my frame jig I built out of an old photographic enlarger frame.  Because it was a photographic enlarger it is very heavy duty and accruate.  So far it looks like it should work well.



Here is a picture of the engine sitting in the frame.



It fits well as the frame was originally designed by Benelli for a 650 twin that they never built.  They were imported into the US with tiny 260 and 360cc singles in them.  People have stuffed many Triumph engines in them so they are quite spacious.  The biggest issue is I have to offset the engine 1/2-3/4" to the right for the chain drive conversion to clear the frame.

Here is the Tank (new old stock Mojave) and a seat pan I found that I really love.



As far as the Menu at Cafe ala Carte, it looks something like this.

Engine - 1997 Suzuki 650 Savage
Frame - 1968 Wards Riverside Mojave
Swing arm - 1981 GS450 modified to fit
Rims - High Shouldered Aluminum spoked 1974 XS650
Hubs - Suzuki GT250 hubs laced with SS spokes
Forks - 1992 GS500 with Race Tech valving and springs
Bars - clubmans
Brake Disc - 1998 Ducati 996 (320mm of stoping power
Brake caliper - GS500 twin pinston Nissan (my 4 piston won't clear  :'(
Headlight - 1964 Honda CL72 with built in speedo bezel
Speedo - Trail tech/Vapor digital speedo and tach
Exhuast - All Stainless steel custom with pea-shooter muffler
Shocks - TBD
Tail - aftermarket seat/tail
Tail lights - SV 650 LEDs cut,split and frenched in to tail piece.

Eventually for dessert it is planned to have a Lancer carb and cam added for a sweet topping.

Ok...so I have a little work before the cafe opens but hey.  Isn't that the excitement of starting a new project??

I think the motor keeps it a Savage.

Very cool 8)

Beautiful work in progress! This is approaching real motorcycle "building" instead of just bolt-together kit building as practiced nowadays by so many so-called "custom builders."

I admire and covet your frame jig, or something similar.

In past posts, I've mentioned more than once that a whole stable of purpose built Savages could be constructed for less than the cost of one decent Harley. And I still not so secretly hold the hope that I may accomplish exactly that over the period of a few years.

Though it isn't "wild" I've got my 99 as the basic pseudo "chopper" and plan to make the 87 into a fat little "road dog" semi-bagger with Indian styling and soft (leather) bags.

My list includes a cafe' bike, but I don't know for sure at what priority. Probably not #3, as I think #3 will be a dual-sport/scrambler. The cafe version would probably come in at #4. My reasoning for the trail bike before another street only bike, is that I need the exercize from trail riding.

Now that I've taken a 300+ mile journey in a couple of days on the 99 chopper, and it has proved itself completely capable of serving as a long haul bike; it becomes more realistic in my mind, that the Savage can be built into about any type of bike.

Of course, it isn't a realistic expectation to win any kind of serious racing, or high level show awards; because, well, a Savage is what it is to begin with. And regardless of some opinions, I do have the common sense to know not to try and make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Unfortunately I've not kept records of every expenditure to this point, but none the less, I still think that 4 really nice custom Savages could be built for much less than the cost of just one Harley build; even if you built the Harley from a hard tail "econo-kit."  

And personally, as a loner-rider, I was always much more concerned about the utility of my ride; rather than what other people though of my ride.

And I believe thinking like this is what makes the few of us Savage, Triumph, BMW, Norton, Ducati, Yamasaki etc... riders; instead of one of the throngs of "individualists" who ride a Harley.

Anyways: Smokin_Blue, I like  how your build os shaping up, and the way you have shared the details and tech documentation/history. Keep up the excellent work on it;
and I'll be greatly disappointed if we don't see future progress reports on it!

BTW, one question/suggestion... Are you using Omar's as a source on any of your stuff? I figure you already know about them; but just in case you don't:

http://www.omarsdtr.com/cafe.html

Savage frame + savage engine = Savage

The tanks are now priced at $250.
They are beautiful though.

LANCER wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


That is his buy it now for a spotless tank.  If you call him he has prices that vary from $250 for perfect on down to about $45 for a small dent.  I bought mine as an auction for one that had one badge slide out of place after 40 years of sitting.  The auctions for those typically start at $9.99.
If anyone is interested just watch continously for Cosmo auctions.  He lists the tanks now under at title of
"Benelli Ducati Honda 350 Vintage Racer Cafe Tank NOS"  
They really vary in price.

if you keep the VIN then it would still be a savage, since you have a kick a$$ jig there I would cut the neck off the savage frame and transpant it to the frame you have there, Keep the VIN and Keep it a savage, also saves the hassel of "special Construction" title

Bike is looking great! I love the color 8) I'd say it still be a savage.