tips
Cafe Racer Build Tips & Advice
Building a cafe racer is about much more than making an old motorcycle look good. Choosing the right donor bike, understanding what parts will actually fit, working out the electrical system, modifying the suspension, fabricating parts and even deciding where to spend your money can make the difference between an enjoyable build and an expensive headache.
The Tink Customs Cafe Racer Build Tips collection brings together practical advice from real custom motorcycle projects, covering the things that are easy to overlook when starting a build.
From what bike to buy and what to avoid, through budgeting, wiring, fork swaps, shortening forks, custom exhausts, painting, seats and lighting, these videos focus on the real-world problems that come up when building a cafe racer, bobber, brat bike or other custom motorcycle.
There's no single right way to build a custom bike. Some jobs are surprisingly simple, while others can become complicated very quickly. The aim here is to share what I've learned along the way — including the mistakes, unexpected complications and solutions that can help make your own build easier.
Cafe Racer Project: Choosing the Perfect Base Bike
Choosing the right motorcycle is one of the most important decisions you'll make when starting a cafe racer project. The bike you choose as...
What NOT to Buy for a Cafe Racer Project
Before you buy a motorcycle to turn into a cafe racer, it pays to know what to avoid. The cheapest bike isn't always the best starting point,...
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Cafe Racer?
How much does it really cost to build a cafe racer? It can be surprisingly difficult to put a final price on a custom motorcycle build, because...
Can You Build a Cafe Racer for $0?
Can you really build a cafe racer without spending any money? While a completely free motorcycle build may sound impossible, there are ways to...
How to Install a Motogadget mo.unit blue on a Cafe Racer
Rewiring a custom motorcycle can be one of the more intimidating parts of a cafe racer build, but a Motogadget mo.unit blue can dramatically...
How to Swap Motorcycle Forks on a Cafe Racer
Swapping the front forks can be a great way to improve the suspension and handling of a cafe racer while giving the motorcycle a completely...
How to Shorten Motorcycle Forks for a Cafe Racer
Lowering the front end can make a huge difference to the stance of a cafe racer, but simply dropping the forks through the triple trees isn't...
How to Paint a Motorcycle Fuel Tank
Painting a motorcycle fuel tank is one of the best ways to transform a cafe racer, bobber or custom motorcycle, but getting a professional finish...
How to Paint a Motorcycle Engine Without Removing It
Painting a motorcycle engine can transform the appearance of a cafe racer or custom motorcycle, but removing the engine from the frame isn't...
How to Paint a Motorcycle Frame Without Removing the Engine
Painting a motorcycle frame can completely change the appearance of a cafe racer, but removing the engine just to paint the frame isn't always...
How to Paint Motorcycle Wheels | Preparation & Custom Paint
Painting motorcycle wheels is a great way to transform the appearance of a cafe racer or custom motorcycle. Whether you're restoring tired...
DIY Custom Motorcycle LED Tail Light | Cafe Racer
Custom motorcycle parts don't always need to start life as motorcycle parts.
In this project, an old piece of...
How to Make a Cafe Racer Seat | Custom Seat Pan & Upholstery
Creating a custom cafe racer seat doesn't always mean buying an expensive aftermarket unit. Sometimes the best solution is to modify the...
How to Fit a Custom Cafe Racer Seat | Mounting & Brackets
There are hundreds of aftermarket cafe racer seats available, but finding one that actually fits your motorcycle is often a different story. Most...
How to Build a Custom Motorcycle Exhaust
A custom exhaust can completely change the look, sound and character of a cafe racer or custom motorcycle. But building one doesn't necessarily...
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