lets see Cafe'd Sportsters

It was a legitimate question. When I think café bike, I think of a bloke named Charles zippin his super light and purpose built bike with giant aluminum tank with knee dents and checker pattern. And tiny cowl and maybe some clip-ons and giant head light... Etc etc.

I honestly don't know what classifies the two styles. I typed in 'sportster tracker' in Google images, and most of these bikes came up. Same thing with 'cafe sportster.'

I'm just trying to learn something here.

to me its in the bars. a cafe racer should usually have clip ons, and a seat cowl at the back. Knee dents are normal too. A tracker usually has risers and a single piece handlebar. Notice i put 'usually' in both these sentences. If anyone can clarify it without a shadow of a doubt, i need help with 'bobber/short chop' as well. I think the Japanese have it sorted, they just call it a 'nice bike!"

A "Tracker" evolved from dirt track oval raceing. A "Cafe" evolved from the UK and is more suited for twisties.
Trackers have more of a moto x style handlebar /riser setup . They bars are wider and taller than that of a cafe. A Cafe has clubmans or clip ons that are narrower and lower for quick steering.. Trackers have An agressive tread pattern on the tires (think dual sport looking) . Cafes have old school performance tires. Both styles have performance suspension (several of the bikes in this thread dont and would put them more in the drag bike catergory). A tracker seat cowl is slightly different than a cafe seat cowl.
The cafe is more rounded and a tracker kinda comes to a point in the rear.
Trackers have mid mount foot controls. Cafes have rear sets.
The styleing cues are similar but are set up for very different rideing styles.

I think this one is rad.



This one I found looks more traditional to me though



Not sure who they belong to, but they're both nice.

The top one is a Hidemo. http://www.hidemo.net/modules/choppe...?content_id=21

I LOOOOOOVVVE Hidemo!

A visual explanation Tracker



Cafe

what mine used to be...

Mercurymoto67, are you asking the difference between cafe and flat tracker or cafe and board tracker? Both "trackers", two totally different style bikes. First thing that came to my mind was board tracker, hence the fifty years answer I gave.

I think the bikes I posted are more cafe than flat tracker, Mostly due to the seat/tail sections. Besides the first bike I posted, none really have fairings or clip on bars as traditional cafes. But they are in the same vein.

Cafe-ish. Low stance for lowered center of gravity for better handling. Clip ons. Hopped up fast engine. Most of the ones I posted are more in this vein even though they don't all have clip ons, they all have low bars. Japan's version of a traditional sportster cafe.




Typical flat tracker. XR750. Notice aggressive dirt tires. HIGH stance. Exhaust is VERY HIGH, almost at tank/seat pan level. The fact that it has a seat pan is about the only thing it shares with a cafe.





Board tracker loos like a very old anitque. No real explanation needed, self explanitory, you know one when you see one. This is a nouveau example. Totally awesome. Totally Japan.

I'll agree to most of that except a cafe racer isnt lowered . They have performance suspension often with piggy back shocks. The lower center of gravity comes from the riding position. Low bars and rear sets . And most of the bikes you posted are closer to drag bikes. Low rigid frame, performance. Thats drag bike.

except for the Bell & Ross big twin and the Vrod, every pic was spot on! Keep the sportsters coming... tracker, café, whatever.... its rad to see some of the custom sportys (that are not crazy flaked, 70s chopped, silly rake or blinged out) I love these styles, but not in this thread. This is all about cafes, trackers, sportbike influenced, drag bikes, etc.

Hey JohhnyRainbow and anyone else.....
I am looking for details on this white sportster.... any idea where it was built or a link to who built it, a blog, etc.???

Thanks,
Eric (evobuilder)

[IMG]http://www.hidemo.net/modules/choppers/images/img/kasuga1.jpg[/IMG

Originally Posted by evobuilder

Hey JohhnyRainbow and anyone else.....
I am looking for details on this white sportster.... any idea where it was built or a link to who built it, a blog, etc.???

Thanks,
Eric (evobuilder)

Eric, it was built by NICE! Motorcycles in Japan.

Originally Posted by CM

Wow. Very nice.