Cafe Racer

Suzuki GS750, a classic motorcycle converted to Cafe Racer

31 March, 2020 by caferacer Leave a Comment

The history of this Suzuki GS750 is peculiar, as it had to cross the entire Atlantic Ocean to end up in Lord Drake Kustoms’ Cafe Racer workshop. Its owner went through a real odyssey to bring her from Mexico to Madrid, where he is resident.

This is a very common classic motorcycle in American lands, however, it is more difficult to find it in Europe. So Fran Manen, owner of Lord Drake Kustoms, was delighted to be able to work with such an exclusive model.

When he received the call from its owner to convert this Suzuki GS750 into a Cafe Racer, Fran Manen did not hesitate for a moment and prepared to move this motorcycle from Madrid to its facilities in Malaga, through its motorcycle collection and shipping service.

The transformations to turn this Suzuki GS750 into a Cafe Racer

To obtain a Cafe Racer style, the first thing they worked on in the workshop was to lower the front suspension and change the standard handlebar for a mid-handlebars.

The original fuel tank was retained, as it was already Cafe Racer styled, but the upper seat post was modified. The entire rear seat was made of metal, incorporating the LEDs and seat.

Rear air shock absorbers managed to give it a more sporty shape; while the tires, which could be for a Scrambler bike, kept a classic motorcycle look.

Side metal covers with aluminum grilles served as a support to install the emblems of the Suzuki GS750.

As for the colors, a pearl silver combined with a Candy red and separated by a black pinstriping, gave its final appearance.

In short, a Suzuki with Cafe Racer spirit but that maintains an air of classic motorcycle.

“Racing is Life” a Cafe Racer inspired by Le Mans and Steve McQueen.

20 November, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

"Racing is Life" a Cafe Racer tribute to Steve McQueen customized by Lord Drake Kustoms

If you have seen the great Steve McQueen movie “Le Mans” of 1971, surely you know the phrase: “Racing is life … anything that happens before or after is just waiting”. Hence the name of this Harley Sportster Cafe Racer customized by Lord Drake Kustoms.

Inspired and dedicated to this movie and its protagonist, this custom motorcycle reference to one of the great cars in the history of the competition, specifically the Porsche 917 “GULF”. Steve McQueen drove this car, with the number 20, in the aforementioned film “Le Mans”.

“Racing is life … anything that happens before or after is just waiting”
Steve McQueen

In this way Fran Manen (owner of LDK) shows us that he is passionate about Steve Mcqueen, the colors “GULF” and the mythical Porsche. So it was clear when creating what has been the first unit of a limited series of Cafe Racer inspired by cars and mythical motorcycles in the world of competition … This first motorcycle is called “Racing is Life”.

The manufacturing process of this Cafe Racer.

“It should be noted that the rear of this motorcycle is made of metal by hand from an iron plate, including the two curves of the top of the tail.” As Fran Manen tells us and continues to tell us; “The original deposit of a Sportster Custom, the 4.5-gallon, has also been cut on the sides and the walls have been inverted to create the interior tears of the entire tear.”

This is a very effective solution to recreate the space that, in vintage sports, was left with the intention of the pilot supporting the knees, looking for the most integrated position possible in order to improve aerodynamics.

And all this has a lot to do with the inspiration that leads Fran Manen to paint it with these colors, so characteristic of the competition, but that, upon receiving demand from equal models, has decided to paint them differently, always with a common denominator, the competition.

Le Mans 66

Finally, we wanted to recommend a movie currently in theaters that is also a tribute in some way to this classic Steve McQueen movie. This is “Le Mans 66”, based on a true story and starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale. This time you can enjoy the races and disputes between Ford and Ferrari.

Technical data

Name: Racing is Life
Unit: 1/5 (limited edition of 5 units)
Style: Cafe Racer
Brand: Harley-Davidson
Model: Sportster 883
Engine: 883 cc
Transmission: converted to chain by LDK
Foot Controls: advanced, modified by LDK
Brakes: DNA brake discs.
Front Wheel: 19 ” custom-made tires “Fat Daddy”
Rear Wheel: 18″ custom-made tires “Fat Daddy”
Fuel tank: manufactured by LDK
Front suspension: modified by LDK
Rear suspension: rise +3″ Air cushions
Front mudguard: manufactured by LDK
Colín: manufactured by LDK in metal
Seat: manufactured by LDK
Exhaust: 2: 1 Vance & Hines
Air filter: S&S
Mileage: digital with RSD supportholder
License plate: manufactured by LDK
Lighting: front light (HD dome), rear light incorporated into fenders, front and rear LED indicators on seatposts and dampers
Other modifications: semi-handlebars, cuffs, levers, gas cap, footrest, spark plug wires, spark plug covers, mirrors …

A BMW R100 Cafe Racer and much more

14 November, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Text: Cafe Racer World, Photos: Álvaro Manén

No one can deny that we are facing a fashion in terms of custom bikes based on BMW models. A motorcycle that the German firm developed in the 80s designed to carry out long trips. On this occasion we started with a BMW R100 DM from 1981.

What Lord Drake Kustoms has achieved with this motorcycle is surprising, since he has managed to combine several styles into one. That is why we can quickly see strokes of Cafe Racer in its structure and Bobber or we could say a vintage touch. But even if we look at their used tires we could talk about a whole Scrambler.

Many are the details that make this custom motorcycle an object of desire. And it was precisely a desire like this that led a client and follower of Lord Drake Kustoms to visit his facilities to order the motorcycle of his dreams.

The meeting was very fast and Fran Manen and his team of Lord Drake Kustoms were soon ready to begin the work of customization.

Fran tells us “The client was very clear what motorcycle he wanted and we were also surprised that he was looking for this type of Cafe Racer or Scrambler motorcycle in Malaga, because it is not very normal to see them even here.”

The customization process.

The LDK team began by disassembling the original BMW R100 and pushing away everything unnecessary. Then they went on to modify the front suspension in order to achieve the necessary height. Once the rear shock absorbers and the handlebar were placed, they managed to see the final shape and height of the motorcycle. It was important that it be as low as possible.

From there, they began to manufacture by hand all the elements that they were going to include, such as the seat and its support, the front and rear fenders, the license plate holder, the headlamp support, the battery box and many other pieces.

All the original paint was removed from the tank until it reached the metal. After polishing it well, a matt lacquer was applied for the final finish. As for the rest of the pieces, it was the company Metal Colors who applied the powder coating (electrostatic paint) with a combination of matte black and textured black.

Technical Data Sheet

Motorcycle: BMW R100
Year: 1981
Displacement: 1,000 cc.
Exhaust: Original modified with custom tails.
Shock absorbers: LDK air suspension.
Fork: Original modified.
Odometer: Digital Motogadget.
Hand controls: Handlebars, grips, controls and pinions of lights, levers and front brake pump, etc.
Foot controls: modified LDK.
Rims: Originals with powdercoating.
Tires Continental.
Fuel Tank: Original.
Seat: support and craft seat LDK.
Front mudguard: artisan LDK.
Mudguard: artisan LDK.
Number plate: artisan LDK.
Lighting: spotlight, intermittent Front LEDs on cuffs, pilot and rear turn signals LEDs under saddle.
Paint and finishes: Deposit in matt lacquered steel and a combination of matte black and textured black with powdercoating on the rest of the motorcycle.

Triumph Bonneville Brat, Black is Black

31 October, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Triumph Bonneville Brat by Lord Drake Kustoms

It is the color of elegance and good taste. As we all know, black indicates respect and simplicity. This is a clear example of how in Lord Drake Kustoms with very few changes we are able to convert an old Triumph Bonneville Brat, which was doomed to oblivion, to stand out above their expectations.

“This time it has been more a case of restoration than customization, since the bike was the year 2002 and only had rolled about 6,000 km and all in the first year. The rest of the time, almost 13 years, was abandoned and in terrible conditions, to the point that when he came to LDK they wanted to send it to the scrap dealer. ” We were told in Lord Drake Kustoms.

So according to the owner decided to disassemble it completely, restore everything that was needed and reassemble it but giving it a personal touch that will improve its aesthetics. I did not intend an extreme modification, simply to get an elegant motorcycle, discreet but with a more aggressive air.

All the pieces were pickled and dripped: chassis, engine, tires, absolutely everything and then everything was painted, even the smallest screw in black with some touches of gold.

Perhaps the highlight of this bike is the change of rear tire to an 18 “, the seat entirely handmade with black leather and stitching in gold and the backlight embedded. They are small details that add to the game that offers the combination of pearl black, textured black powder and traces of gold, which result in a new, elegant and aggressive Triumph Bonneville…

And the fact is that black is always black.

DATA SHEET

MOTORCYCLE: Triumph Bonneville 800 year 2002
ENGINE: 800 cc of carburetion
CHASSIS: modified on the back
TANK: modified (raised on the sides)
ESCAPES: aftermarket tails and original collectors finished in ceramic layer
HANDLEBAR: low 1 “
REAR / SEAT: handmade seat with metal base, leather upholstery and backlight embedded in the back
LATERAL COVERS: modified
FRONT SUSPENSION: replacement of front springs
REAR SUSPENSION: air cushions of 3 inches more
RIMS: 18 “rear rim and original front rim
TIRES: Firestone Deluxe.
TRANSMISSION: covers pinion and golden chain
PAINT: pearl black and gold on the body. Textured black powder paint and gloss on other components
OTHERS: license plate holder, relocation of ignition key, odometer, front headlight with yellow optics, grips, footrests, turn signals, etc.

“Sixty-Nine” the sexy bobber

24 October, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

The “69”, the truth is that I do not know if this name has it for the year of manufacture or because it refers to the acrobatic amatoria posture… perhaps for both reasons.

"Sixty-Nine" a bobber by Lord Drake Kustoms

I opt for the second option because it is a bobber motorcycle that as I was working on it seemed more daring, sexier and maybe even something rampant and radical. Yes, but with elegance!

The year also counts because it is still a reference to the old school of that time but adapted to the moment and tastes of the market now.

What I was sure was that I wanted something striking and at the same time simple and elegant. That is why I combined the luminosity of white with the classicism of black, with a golden touch aged between the two, but without abusing because I did not want to fall into making a vulgar motorcycle or “chavs”.

“It’s simply the” 69. ” Sometimes it relaxes you, and sometimes it puts you a hundred. ”
Fran Manen

With a very casual style and for all audiences (for bikers and non-bikers, for young and less young people), something to roll on any promenade in the purest Californian style, and that people look at you when you pass, with a powerful sound and lively. Of course, the somewhat radical stance that encourages you to give your fist to the entrance of a highway! It is simply the “69”. Sometimes it relaxes you, and other times it puts you a hundred.

Modifications of the original

Regarding the changes, the belt has been replaced by a chain kit designed by LDK, something more appropriate to the new style. The height of the rear suspension has also been reduced by two inches and the front one modified.

The escape is also a work of Lord Drake Kustoms, as well as both fenders and the mandatory license plate holder, also replacing numerous parts such as handlebars, turn signals, cams, fists, footrests, spark plug wires, mirrors …

This motorcycle has been in second position in the “Sportster” category of the European Harley-Davidson Bike Show “Eurofestival” held in May 2014 in Saint Tropez (France).

Technical data of “Sixty-Nine” bobber

Name: “Sixty Nine”
Style: Old School / Bobber / Cafe Racer
Brand: Harley-Davidson
Model: Sportster 1200 C
Engine: 1200 cc
Transmission: Chain kit by LDK
Controls: Forward controls
Brakes: DNA discs
Front wheel: 21 ”Rims Fat Daddy
Rear wheel: 16 ”Rims Fat Daddy
Fuel tank: Peanut 3.3 gallons
Front Suspension: Modified LDK
Rear suspension: -2 ”lowered
Front fender: LDK
Rear fender: LDK
Seat: H-D
Escape: from LDK
Air filter: Drag
Speedometer: Joker Machine
License plate holder: LDK
Lights: Headlight, pilot, turn signals …
Others: Handlebars, grips, cams, gas control, footrests, spark plug wires, mirrors …