A lot of “cafe racers” these days are just a cleaned up old bike with some bodywork removed, clip-ons added, and maybe an aftermarket seat unit. Don’t get me wrong – that is, after all, how the whole genre was created back in the 60’s and 70’s. What makes one special is when you can assemble all those parts in a design that actually flows, make it functionally BETTER than the original, and make it look like it came that way to begin with. I think this bike does that pretty well…
This cafe started out as a CX500 Turbo frame, but with a GL650 engine and a CBR600RR front end. It is from the shop of Bobby Thompson, a retired Honda master mechanic. There is all sorts of custom work done here. Pretty much everything has been massaged in some way. Custom tank and tail section. Lots of detail work on frame and swingarm.
Look at the cool idiot lights wired into the upper triple clamp. All other lighting is custom.
There is a lot of info in the listing, as well as a link to a video detailing the bike on YouTube:
What do you think? Is this just another cobbled together Frankenbike, or something a little more special? If you can get to Lakeland, Florida, you like the build, and you think it’s worth $6,000, you can contact the seller here on Craigslist.
