VL800 cafe Racer + Bobber = Clobber my build

So most definitely not to everyone's tastes as there are alot of shiney prestige bikes here but when I brought mine it had a few battle scars so I decided back in 2011 that I'd bobber so that's what I did and was quite happy with the results. Used it for a while after that and then it just stayed in the shed. I did then decide to sell a couple of years ago and it sold on eBay but classic, sorry message I didn't know you were the other side of the country so fell through and sat in the shed again. Kinda fell out of love with it.
However I'd being looking on Pinterest as really liked the cafe racer builds people were doing with all sorts of base bikes so again thought I'd sell the vl800 and get something I could turn into a cafe racer.

Then I thought why don't I cafe racer the vl800?

Had a look for some inspiration where people had done this before with a vl800 and to be fair pickings where slim. The only one I found was on you tube. Nice bike and the tank had been changed for a slimmer tank. It's a cafe racer so it needed to be slim but I wanted to keep my tank even if it doesn't quite meet the full cafe racer style. And to be fair there seems to be alot of names banded about for different styles, you have of course got the bobber, the brat, the tracker, the chopper and the list goes on.

So don't know if it necessarily fits anywhere in the above so I've decided to create a new one to describe this.

It was a bobber. It's now leaning towards a cafe racer so.
Cafe racer + Bobber = Clobber

Anyway point of the post was to show where I was with it as a bobber and where it's currently at. Hoping to have it ridable for the summer.

And again I know there are alot of people with super clean bikes this it aint.

This is me in my shed usually working with the attitude of I'll just bodge this for now and get it going and on the road and I'll then do it properly. (I NEVER WILL)


Original Bobber style that I completed some years ago


https://youtu.be/4Aa2HCo5asI








This is where I'm currently at

Nice job on the seat!

I like it.   

Nice build! 
I like the the idea for for the seat support and the bare metal tank looks great. Where is the front mudguard from ? another model bike or a pattern make.

moonya wrote:

Nice build! 
I like the the idea for for the seat support and the bare metal tank looks great. Where is the front mudguard from ? another model bike or a pattern make.

Thanks. The mudguard is actually the original just cut down. It's only resting on the wheel and not bolted but might want to relocate where it bolts so tighter fit or source a metal one and stick with the bare metal look from front to back. Not sure if I'm going to get this through an MOT with the rear not having a mudguard but I'm going to give it a go.

My original front mudguard was wrecked so i made one from fiberglass using the front tyre as a mold to form it around, i reshaped  the bracket and adjusted the height, it does the job but not happy with the look of it. I didnt realise that when i fitted it 1/2 inch higher than the tyre, the arc or curve was not going to follow evenly. Like you i sometimes settle for, that will do the job, with the intention to go back and finish it at some time.
So now I am also looking to source a chrome or metal one that would fit a vl800 cafe style with or without stays. Ive seen some advertised for Bobbers in USA but at a cost, like a lot of us i am trying to do this on a budget.
Just wondering if you or any other members reading this could suggest a source?
Cheers

moonya wrote:

My original front mudguard was wrecked so i made one from fiberglass using the front tyre as a mold to form it around, i reshaped  the bracket and adjusted the height, it does the job but not happy with the look of it. I didnt realise that when i fitted it 1/2 inch higher than the tyre, the arc or curve was not going to follow evenly. Like you i sometimes settle for, that will do the job, with the intention to go back and finish it at some time.
So now I am also looking to source a chrome or metal one that would fit a vl800 cafe style with or without stays. Ive seen some advertised for Bobbers in USA but at a cost, like a lot of us i am trying to do this on a budget.
Just wondering if you or any other members reading this could suggest a source?
Cheers

I'm pretty much in the same boat don't want to spend loads but would still like a metal one. The back mudguard I originally did for the bobber style was a trailer wheel mudguard I just made the stay to then fit to the bike. Trouble is it wasn't very nice and wrinkled in places around the edge where it had been curved. It did the job but its finding something with the right curve. If I do find something i'll post back on here. Just trying to get the bike running and back on the road at the moment with an MOT. Waiting on parts from the US at the moment the choke plunger got stuck in the carb and I had to drill it out. That alone was over 30 quid for a silly little piece of brass.

This looks like it may fit price not to bad.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Motorcycle-Short-Front-Fender-for-Harley-Forty-Eight-48-XL1200X-2010-/302779455191?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

I just purchased the above for £17.56 I'll update when I get it. Coming from china so may be a while

Great thanks for that lead it looks good and for that money its a snip. 
The other style i was considering was the  chrome  70's style from a something like the Honda CB  or Suzuki model range chrome with stays. The problem will be in the VL wheel and tyre width being much wider and diameter smaller.
Weather is breaking i'm looking forward to giving it another go and getting back out there.
Good luck with MOT and getting it back on the road  and thanks for the help.

Mudguard turned up simple bracket to hold it in place

I like the tank badge.   
Have you a friendly MOT guy?   
Maybe you could knock up a rough rear mudguard to fit on and off, for one day a year?
It don't mention mudguards, so you may be ok.   Here be the 'rules'.
MOT CHECKS FOR BIKES

Badger wrote:

I like the tank badge.   
Have you a friendly MOT guy?   
Maybe you could knock up a rough rear mudguard to fit on and off, for one day a year?

MOT booked in for this Friday fingers are crossed its a place I haven't been to before as old place no longer does MOT's but it was suggested by the old place so hoping for the best. If it comes to it I can always put the old rear mudguard on when it was bobbered with a quick modification. I left the old bracket on the frame I had previously fabricated just in case

Just edited my post with a link.

Badger wrote:

Just edited my post with a link.

mm everything is ok apert from the exhaust. It is loud and I don't currently have a backup. This as far as i'm concerned is the only place it could fail. Thanks for the info

Mot passed today

Sweet.    I like the 'vintage' photo.