I love the cafe concept, certainly I like it when I put my feet on the passanger pegs and hunker down a bit. I origionally bought my 89' because i needed to slow down from riding Jap sports bikes- (the traffic fines and rubber where costing a fortune), only im finding that although im running about 50-60kms slower Im still whereing out tyres (I like sticky ones) and riding hard.
I ride maybe 89kms each way to work (approx 55miles I think)and on the way sit at about 120kmh and anywhere up to 160kmh on the way home. The engine is punched out to 1200; oh and its a four speed/chain drive, does this seem excessive?
Im thinking of turning it cafe- its comfy and Ive got a chop if i want to cruise (which i never do).

sounds like you're headin to the dark side :D


I bought mine for similar reasons and cafe'd it...


the only minor probs with 4 speeds was the trap door and the clutch.... the rest of the motor is fine....

I find I stick my feet on the rear pegs on trips but I'm gonna make up some rearsets this time round as it's single seat rego anyway...


Whereabouts are ya?????

Sydney Australia- i hope the dark side doesnt include me sittin by the Dark side of a road in the middle of sweet FA, twiddelin my thumbs until the breakdown truck arrives.

The bike is handeling it well, but its the uncontrolable rage in me that is melding with the machine that is drivin us to more refined riding. Muhahahaha! No really the bike will wheelie when you want it too, it doesnt go so fast im afraid of duisappearing altogether but its got enough TNT energy to do as I need the instant i need it- Thats the perfect bike...........right?...........right!

Now rear sets, clipons or flat bars, a decent seat and the fatbob guard that just arrived should make a good thing better, I hope. Anyone put an 18" rear wheel on and did it make the bike better handling and or make the pace a little less frantic? or maybe 17" three spoke...........

I'm up in sunny Townsville...way up here in the deep north


I've gone to a 140 and beyond a couple of times on the rear and it ruins the handlin at the limits.....makes it downright unenjoyable...a change in wheels will lighten your pocket far more than improve things..

Flat bars on std risers is about all ya need... and I run bar end mirrors to help dampen the vibration and so I can see behind me..

Rearsets are not a bad idea either...as it puts your feet right under ya butt, makes it easier to move around on the bike in corners...

Yeah too right Stevo, thanks for the wheel hint. I was thinking the larger tyre would be good for lowering revs rather than bigger contact patch. Im generally happy with the tyres (wear out quick when ya crackit though) its just the bloody frame that twists around the swingarm pivot, (kind of like riding a cork screw). Still if the body changes position so too will the seat of the pants feel.

Ive found that pull backs give me a sore back, stock is good but the bars are too wide for the type of lane splittin that shouldnt be encouraged- so flat (or with small bend or clip ons) will be the go. Of course Im getting a set of 18"apes this weekend and figure that might slow me down as well. Should keep my bits out of the way of car mirrors too.

Im gonna have to make my own rear sets or the missus will skin me for spending more money. Still Im happy to do it.

What years your bike?

one wheel at 140- youre nuts. Or should i say you've got nuts a rhino.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I meant a 140 section rear tyre.....


but yeah my '98 1200s was doin 11's in street trim and I've had it to 7000RPM in top gear..and it was still pullin..just.


I get way past 140k on the rear only on the gixxer tho......

the gixxer is in my avatar and the sporty is in my sig pic

Found these pushbike stunt pegs at kmart today, bought them thinking that id be able to turn the inside end down and slip a bearing and some alloy ive got over them to make some rearsets. but turns out the bloody pegs are hollow-so no turning them down. hadnt checked out how the rear pegs mounted on my swingarm either. oh well i tried bolting them on my boniville bobber and even if i dont use em (they fowl the kickstart) at least i know the peg idea i had for it is spot on. get my new rear guard tommorrow.