2004? Harley Davidson Sportster – Full Cafe!!!

I’m contacting the seller about this bike to try to get more details and more photos. If this is, in fact, a 2004 Sportster, then it is the first full conversion (including tank but minus some cool 18″ wheels) that I’ve seen. A tank like that is exactly what I want to do to my bike. I’ll post updates as I get them.

BTW, the reason I’m not sure about the year is the oil tank. I can’t tell from the photos, but it is either a 2003 tank (non-flush oil filler cap) or it is a 2004 tank with the side cover removed. If anyone has an opinion, please let me know…

2004 Triumph Bonneville T100 Cafe Racer

I know that I just posted another T100 that has gone through a cafe conversion, but I found this one and I really, really like it. While the lack of clubman bars or clip-ons is somewhat disconcerting, I buy the seller/builder’s explanation that these Norman Hyde M-bars are just plain more comfortable. And given the decent spec of the rest of the kit on the bike, I think we can forgive him that. And the overall look of the bike is just smokin’!

Some of the cool stuff on the bike includes the upgraded front and rear suspension, the horsepower upgrades (carbs and pipes specifically), and the overall low key cosmetic changes (seat, bars, and rear-sets). You can check out the listing for more details.

Currently, the auction is around $3,500 with just under 6 days left. This is an extremely well built bike with some top quality kit that will make the winner of the auction very happy. I think I will have to post a follow up after the close of the auction to see where it ends up…

2004 Triumph Thruxton 900 (Project bike hell…)

Sometimes when I’m surfing the web, a bike catches my eye at first glance, and I get really excited. Then I look closer, and that original excitement diminishes as I see the small problems, and then the larger problems, and then wonder why I wasted the time on the bike.

This eBay listing suckered me with the thought of a bike I love at a pretty great price. $2,900 and no bids yet! And I even read the first two lines of the copy:
“Up for sale is a 2004 Triumph Thruxton 900 with only 7593 miles.
Runs, and drives mint! Perfectly straight. One owner bike.”

Then I got to the pictures…

If you decide to buy this bike, please be aware that it has been crashed. Crashed such that it is no easy project to repair. A bent subframe, broken controls, trashed instruments, and broken fenders (plus miscellaneous other problems) are all going to contribute to a migraine the size of the factory in Hinckley while it was on fire.

I’d love to see if someone could make this a nice build for a minimum of dollars, but I suspect there is even more here than meets the eye. If interested, please look at EVERY photo and talk to the seller. And be very afraid…

Almost passes the 20 foot test...

Except for that rear fender/seat, it almost looks better from this side...

Uh oh. Now we see the problem up close...

Maybe a torch and some straightening before trying to put a cafe racer seat on here...

Only 7,593.5 miles on the clock!!! /:-\