Z50A Hardtail Cafe Racer Build.

[Brodie]

After a bit of though I have put a hold on my Z50A restoration until I build a road bike that I can ride to work on. With fuel prices in Australia heading to $1.70 Per Litre ($6.46 a Gallon) it will be a cheaper option for me to ride than drive.
I have been looking through build threads and have seen a lot of nice bikes but the mini motard look just doesn't strike my fancy for a build. I came across Jeep351c's Z50A Cafe Racer build and fell in love with the bike. So now I plan to create my own.

At the moment the build is only in planning stage but I though I would create a thread to keep track of the bikes evolution. My plan is to have a new Hardtail frame with stock replica forks and disk brakes all round. It will be powered by a YX140 that I am planning to get from Trailbuddy as I want to keep this bike brand free. I am unsure on what colour I want the bike yet but I will be getting it powder coated to make it more resistant than painted. I am thinking either Red or Black. I still have not decided on a tank but I was wondering if anyone knew if a Honda Ape tank would fit.

Anyway here is a rough guess of what the build is going to cost me.

Frame $129
Forks with disk brake $158
Rear hub with disk brake $179
Rims stock style x2 $118
Cafe racer style seat $79
Matching lock set $39
Tyres classic style x2 $70
YX140 motor $340
Exhaust pipe $99
Cafe Style Bars $48
Foot Pegs $49
Misc parts $250-$400


So I am looking at about $1500+postage to put a bike together. No doubt this will go up as I start looking at more parts I need. Then there is postage on top of that.
Let me know what you think. This will be a slow build as I want to order everything once from the company I buy from to save on postage.

[PlanetMinis.com]

[bronco bobby]

Sounds like a fun build. I love the ape tanks. I have seen a few builds that used them (not sure what frame they were using). From what I remember, the tanks fit right on, it was the seat that was a problem. Too close and to the tank and the wrong angle where it meets the tank. One guy modified the seat bracket (he took the front bracket off and turned it 360 degrees). Can't wait to see the progress.

[69z50]

Sounds like fun... I was considering doing this with my 69. No foot brake, so I doubt I'll do a manual.

Just as an FYI, that's about what I spent on my last build... I spent a little more, but that's including shipping on parts and powder coat.

Hurry up, we need pics!

[57HotrodVW]

If you haven't seen it already, DaveMo has a sweet custom/cafe style Z50 with a lot of custom touches. There are a couple pics below, as well as more info and pics at Classic Mini Of The Month For January / February 2012

[Brodie]

Sounds like a fun build. I love the ape tanks. I have seen a few builds that used them ( not sure what frame theybwere using). From what I remember, the tanks fit right on, it was the seat that was a problem. Too close and to the tank and the wrong angle where it meets the tank. One guy modified the seat bracket (he took the front bracket off and turned it 360 degrees). Can't wait to see the digress.

I thought the seat might be a problem. Still don't know if I will use the Ape tank. I can only find a chrome version for $170 and can't justify spending that much if I am getting the whole bike poweder coated. That and my badges for the Z50A resto I am doing arrived today and look bloody awesome. Still all in planning so see what happens.

Sounds like fun... I was considering doing this with my 69. No foot brake, so I doubt I'll do a manual.

Just as an FYI, that's about what I spent on my last build... I spent a little more, but that's including shipping on parts and powder coat.

Hurry up, we need pics!

Yeah I have the same thing with my 69. But I don't mind, it was always a bike to restore for my childhoods sake not for show.
Depending on how I go for shifts at work (I work in a milk factory) will depend on the speed of the build. Cash is the hold up haha.
I can put some pictures of the parts up if you want but it will just be straight off the webstores

If you haven't seen it already, DaveMo has a sweet custom/cafe style Z50 with a lot of custom touches. There are a couple pics below, as well as more info and pics at Classic Mini Of The Month For January / February 2012

I saw that build. It is awesome to say the least. I love the custom bar set up. The list of things he has done nearly all starts with custom haha.
If I had the cash I would think about doing something that great but then I know I wouldn't use it as a daily ride, which is one of the purposes of this build. I will just see how much it scares me first!


Should be a week or two until I order the main parts of the bike. After that it is a matter of getting what I can from the US and waiting. I still have not decided what light I want to use, if I want a replica Z50A style or a CT70 or just hidden well like Jeep351c's bike.

[bronco bobby]

Can't wait to see it.

[tblumer]

its a shame monkeygarage is no longer up. there was a thread on there where a guy made a rear brake pedal mount that bolted thru the lower engine cradle. looked like a fairly simple way to add a pedal to a k0


also w00t! 1000th post

[Brodie]

its a shame monkeygarage is no longer up. there was a thread on there where a guy made a rear brake pedal mount that bolted thru the lower engine cradle. looked like a fairly simple way to add a pedal to a k0

also w00t! 1000th post

Haha congratulations. I don't know if anyone else saw it but Jeeps bike has a rear brake and it is a K1 frame. I just have a thing about not fabricating things that make me stop.


This is the frame I will be using so I will be right for the rear brake. (I have not placed any orders yet though.)

[Brodie]

I was given an "Orion" 125 motor yesterday, I think its a Lifan, sure looks like one. Anyway it had not been run for 2 years and before that would be hard to start until warm. Now that got me thinking it might be the valves not sealing but my mate who gave it to me said he thought it was the piston rings.
I got to pulling it down last night and found that the chamber had a wasp nest in it. I took everything apart and had a look at the piston, It was a bit chard on top but other than that was all good. So I took the head apart to look at the valves which is a pain in the arse without a valve removal tool. I am fairly certain it would be the problem after seeing the intake valve. After cleaning both valves and the head I went to installing the valves, the intake valve was no problem to get back in and the retainers grabbed first go. That made me think the exhaust valve would be easy as well but after 2 hours of trying I gave up and went to bed.
Straight out of bed this morning and at it again, had 3 attempts and on the third one of the retainer clips decided to go AWOL on me. I spent a good 20 minutes looking and can't find the bloody thing. Anyway here is the progress on that motor so far. I don't think I will use it in the bike but its always a backup until I get the YX140 posted.

[Brodie]

I have been given massive hours at work this week and since I am starting at 3am I get an extra 15%. So I will be placing the order for this bike on Wednesday the 25th as soon as my pay comes in. I have made a parts list with pictures for my first order and figured I would share it to give people an idea of what the cost for the Roller is. Cannot wait to get this bike together. Hopefully I will get another week like this and I can have the rest of the parts on order quickly as well. Tell me what you think. I still need to get all the bolts and such. I also ordered the tyres today off the local Honda dealer which were $49.90 each.

[tblumer]

I think those parts will come together nicely.

[david096]

I have been given massive hours at work this week and since I am starting at 3am I get an extra 15%. So I will be placing the order for this bike on Wednesday the 25th as soon as my pay comes in. I have made a parts list with pictures for my first order and figured I would share it to give people an idea of what the cost for the Roller is. Cannot wait to get this bike together. Hopefully I will get another week like this and I can have the rest of the parts on order quickly as well. Tell me what you think. I still need to get all the bolts and such. I also ordered the tyres today off the local Honda dealer which were $49.90 each.

Don't buy off kdf
Get it from minimoto on webike
there the same thing only cheaper

[davmo]

I have been given massive hours at work this week and since I am starting at 3am I get an extra 15%. So I will be placing the order for this bike on Wednesday the 25th as soon as my pay comes in. I have made a parts list with pictures for my first order and figured I would share it to give people an idea of what the cost for the Roller is. Cannot wait to get this bike together. Hopefully I will get another week like this and I can have the rest of the parts on order quickly as well. Tell me what you think. I still need to get all the bolts and such. I also ordered the tyres today off the local Honda dealer which were $49.90 each.

Looking good. At last, a real assessment of what it takes to get the parts together. You are a braver man than I am.

[Brodie]

Don't buy off kdf
Get it from minimoto on webike
there the same thing only cheaper

I have been getting all my stuff from KDF for my restoration rebuild and with 2-3 day postage times I am very happy. Since they are in Sydney and I am on the Gold Coast (1 Hour south of Brisbane.)
From the parts I have been looking at they seem to be the cheapest all up. Including postage that is.

Looking good. At last, a real assessment of what it takes to get the parts together. You are a braver man than I am.

Thanks Davmo. With your builds I don't think I would keep track of the cost either haha. Keep up the good work.
I figured if I could build this for under $2500 I would be happy. But I think it is going to be closer to $3000 once everything is sorted out.I am thinking the tyres should be in by Friday if not early next week leaving the build to happen at the end of next week. I will be putting a bit of time in to this.
Once these parts arrive the frane will go in to the sandblasters and then to the powercoaters. Still have not decided on the colour I am thinking a gun metal gray or very dark red. The cost for sand blasting is $60 and powdercoating is $100. So not to bad all up.

[Brodie]

The more I look at engines the more confused I get over which one I want. While Trailbuddy has them for $345 the postage is the $311 taking the price to $656. I am still waiting to hear from Tbolt on postage but I am guessing it would be about the same price. Which leaves me looking at engine that I can source from Aus. So its off to the local "Pit bike" shops tomorrow to get prices. Looking at DHZ Minimoto I can get a Pitster Pro Z160 for $600 (free postage) which I am thinking might be the go considering how much postage is from the US. Which leaves me with a revised order list from KDF dropping the price since I will have to source a different exhaust. I was waiting for the complications in the planning of this build. Ohh and I found a Daytona T-Rex for $1000 which might be interesting...

[Brodie]

Alright I think I have worked out what motor I would like to use. I really wanted a CDI motor for this bike but since the price for the YX140 is going to work out to be the same as the Z160 I think I will go with it. I don't mind the look of the Pitster Pro Z160 as it is branded but does not have large writing across the covers and it is a CDI engine which is a plus. I am thinking of getting an OKO 28mm Flatslide for the bike since no carby is provided with the Pitster Pro YX160. Hmm I think that should get her up and moving enough to make me need a change once I get home. The honda50 ratio calc works out a top speed of 80mph at 9500rpm with 15/29 gearing. Now if I do some work I wonder if I could push 'The Ton' (100mph)

So I am looking at $720 for the lot. The build budget just got blown out of the water. Looking at $2500 once I order everything. I'm sure I will forget a few things that will drive it up to $3000. At least I have another big week at work next week. So my KDF order will be going down to 1033.9 as I can't use that exhaust with the Z160. I have a good exhaust shop that did a bloody awesome job on my ute which I am sure will do a great job on the bike.

[bronco bobby]

So the shipping is nearly as much as the item. Are most consumer items that high, or just specialty items that aren't carried over there? You mentioned that gasoline is over 6 dollars, where here in California it is around 4 dollars. That shipping really blows the budget, bummer. I shop around to try to get shipping down around 10 to 20 dollars, very different.

[Brodie]

So the shipping is nearly as much as the item. Are most consumer items that high, or just specialty items that aren't carried over there? You mentioned that gasoline is over 6 dollars, where here in California it is around 4 dollars. That shipping really blows the budget, bummer. I shop around to try to get shipping down around 10 to 20 dollars, very different.

I think the shipping is so high because of the weight and size of the item. That is including the bars I will be ordering but even with out the postage is $299. Most of the engine available over here are Lifans and while I have heard good things about them I have heard bad as well. I just got home from work and I am about to head down to the local bike shops to look for a few parts and get pricing on things. Petrol (Gasoline) is 6 Dollars a gallon over here or $1.60 a Litre. I have seen it up to $1.72 for 98 Octane.Diesel on the other hand is fairly steady at $1.50 a litre (5.67 a gallon) Makes me glad I drive Diesel 4x4 Ute, If anyone is interested it is a '98 Nissan Navara (Frontier in US) 3.2L 4 Cylinder that I stuck a Garret T25 on.

[Brodie]

Ok so it looks like I will have to go with DHZ Mini Moto for my engine, Thanks for putting me on to them David096, I don't know if that's the Mini Moto you meant but all's well that ends well.
The reason I'm going to order from DHZ is that all the local "Pit Bike" shops are gone. I spoke to a bloke who is starting a Polaris shop in the store that used to be the place to go for parts and he said that they have moved to a store half an hour drive north and don't really stock much other than for ATV's. On the up side I found a local Vintage bike shop and some wicked XR75s. But he wanted $2500 for a washed but still average looking bike and $4500 for a restored one. Seems ok if I didn't want to do all the work. Anyway here is a picture of the order from DHZ and what the total cost will be for both orders.

[bronco bobby]

So you can buy 98 octane from the pumps? Our supreme (high octane) is 92. Big difference. Bet that 160 will scream on 98.