Machinery Honda CB650 Cafe' Racer

Cuthbert · 09-08-2014, 04:46 AM

For this pic I used Kodak BW400CN, but I noticed that the lab (Boots) cropped the pics, the negative shows the entire motorbike, while in the scan one slice of the rear tyre is cut off and it looks like a framing error. They used the Fuji Frontier to develop it and they say it's normal, but I doubt that.

Anyway, any critique would be appreciated, sometimes I am very unsatisfied of my pics but I'm starting to think the problem is not me, or the camera or the lens or the film.

**Miguel** · 09-08-2014, 09:43 AM

I like the B&W rendering of the bike. Often auto-scans will clip one or both of the longest sides, so it may behoove you to frame shots accordingly if going that processing route.

Aesthetically, the shot seems far too static for me. As one who commutes on two wheels daily, I think there is more energy and excitement to be captured than what I see here. I like the idea of the reflected building, but it gets lost, especially with the not contrasty background you have chosen.

M

**Ex Finn.** · 09-13-2014, 07:46 PM

Nice, like a skeleton(minimalistic) bike almost.

Cuthbert · 09-15-2014, 08:07 AM

It appears that I failed my goal which was to portray the metarmorphosis of an ugly ducking like the stock Honda CB650 (see here: http://www.motorbikespecs.net/images/Honda/CB_650_B_81/CB_650_B_81_2.jpg) in a beautiful (for me) swan, this cafe' racer conversion is one of the best I've ever seen (perhaps most users of this board aren't familiar with the concept of "cafe' racer"), I met it casually one Sunday and the proud owner was very happy to make me take few shots of it. It was metallic black with white stripes, the single real leather seat handsewn, the engine had been completely remade, sandcasted and the block and carburetors painted black. The result was IMO stunning and I tried to enhance the elegance of the forms through the B&W (which was a case too, but I think it was well suited to the bike). Here there are other shots.

Canis · 09-15-2014, 08:29 AM

I am familiar with the CB650. Fun to ride but would not consider it "fast". This modification is really nice and I think your photos and choice of B&W enhances the beauty. The reflection in the "dimpled" fuel tank, for example.

reeftool · 09-29-2014, 05:09 PM

Nice bike. I owned a CB550F for years. The B&W goes well with a vintage bike such as this one. Mine had the 4 into 1 exhaust which made an awesome sound at high RPM. I gave it away last year to a local kid who wanted a project bike. They were both very quick bikes back in the day (mine was a 77) but compared to modern bikes in that size range, not so fast. Those old Honda's copied the designs of the classic British bikes and they're a blast to ride. This is a beautiful custom job! Cafe racers are a forgotten breed of bike and you don't see them much anymore.

Cuthbert · 09-30-2014, 03:11 AM

Originally posted by reeftool

Nice bike. I owned a CB550F for years. The B&W goes well with a vintage bike such as this one. Mine had the 4 into 1 exhaust which made an awesome sound at high RPM. I gave it away last year to a local kid who wanted a project bike. They were both very quick bikes back in the day (mine was a 77) but compared to modern bikes in that size range, not so fast. Those old Honda's copied the designs of the classic British bikes and they're a blast to ride. This is a beautiful custom job! Cafe racers are a forgotten breed of bike and you don't see them much anymore.

Here in Europe cafe' racers are becoming popular again, the constructors are making new models that are pretty sought after like the Triumph Bonneville and Truxton, the new Norton Commando, the Guzzi V7, the Ducati Sportclassic and a lot of people converts "standard" 70s retro' bikes like the CB1100 and W800 in cafe' racers, unfortunately most of these bikes have lower performance than the originals from the 70s!

Here there are other two shots of a famous pinup of the 70s:

gmans · 09-30-2014, 04:56 AM

riing-a-ding-ding. They were quick in there day.

reeftool · 09-30-2014, 10:13 AM

You do see some cafe racer bikes here but they aren't common. The Harley style cruiser and full dress touring bikes rule the road. As for speed, I saw a mostly stock 600 Kawasaki do a 10.4 quarter mile after a bad start ( he did half the run on one wheel ) and a top speed of 140 mph as he passed the finish line. If my CB550 was running and tuned perfectly, it would top out at around 115. The new Triumphs are getting popular around here now that there is a dealer in the area. The retro style is popular everywhere and I'm not surprised the cafe racer is again popular in Europe as that is their heritage.

09-08-2014, 04:46 AM	#1
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740	Honda CB650 Cafe' Racer Lens: Pentax K-55mmm f2.0 Camera: Old trusted & battered '76 K1000 Photo Location: Leamington spa ISO: 400 Shutter Speed: 1/500s Aperture: F8 For this pic I used Kodak BW400CN, but I noticed that the lab (Boots) cropped the pics, the negative shows the entire motorbike, while in the scan one slice of the rear tyre is cut off and it looks like a framing error. They used the Fuji Frontier to develop it and they say it's normal, but I doubt that. Anyway, any critique would be appreciated, sometimes I am very unsatisfied of my pics but I'm starting to think the problem is not me, or the camera or the lens or the film.

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09-08-2014, 09:43 AM	#2
Miguel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	I like the B&W rendering of the bike. Often auto-scans will clip one or both of the longest sides, so it may behoove you to frame shots accordingly if going that processing route. Aesthetically, the shot seems far too static for me. As one who commutes on two wheels daily, I think there is more energy and excitement to be captured than what I see here. I like the idea of the reflected building, but it gets lost, especially with the not contrasty background you have chosen. M

09-13-2014, 07:46 PM	#3
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Nice, like a skeleton(minimalistic) bike almost.

09-15-2014, 08:07 AM	#4
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740 Original Poster	It appears that I failed my goal which was to portray the metarmorphosis of an ugly ducking like the stock Honda CB650 (see here: http://www.motorbikespecs.net/images/Honda/CB_650_B_81/CB_650_B_81_2.jpg) in a beautiful (for me) swan, this cafe' racer conversion is one of the best I've ever seen (perhaps most users of this board aren't familiar with the concept of "cafe' racer"), I met it casually one Sunday and the proud owner was very happy to make me take few shots of it. It was metallic black with white stripes, the single real leather seat handsewn, the engine had been completely remade, sandcasted and the block and carburetors painted black. The result was IMO stunning and I tried to enhance the elegance of the forms through the B&W (which was a case too, but I think it was well suited to the bike). Here there are other shots.

09-15-2014, 08:29 AM	#5
Canis Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Columbia, Maryland Posts: 432	I am familiar with the CB650. Fun to ride but would not consider it "fast". This modification is really nice and I think your photos and choice of B&W enhances the beauty. The reflection in the "dimpled" fuel tank, for example.

09-29-2014, 05:09 PM	#6
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	Nice bike. I owned a CB550F for years. The B&W goes well with a vintage bike such as this one. Mine had the 4 into 1 exhaust which made an awesome sound at high RPM. I gave it away last year to a local kid who wanted a project bike. They were both very quick bikes back in the day (mine was a 77) but compared to modern bikes in that size range, not so fast. Those old Honda's copied the designs of the classic British bikes and they're a blast to ride. This is a beautiful custom job! Cafe racers are a forgotten breed of bike and you don't see them much anymore.

09-30-2014, 03:11 AM	#7
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740 Original Poster	Originally posted by reeftool Nice bike. I owned a CB550F for years. The B&W goes well with a vintage bike such as this one. Mine had the 4 into 1 exhaust which made an awesome sound at high RPM. I gave it away last year to a local kid who wanted a project bike. They were both very quick bikes back in the day (mine was a 77) but compared to modern bikes in that size range, not so fast. Those old Honda's copied the designs of the classic British bikes and they're a blast to ride. This is a beautiful custom job! Cafe racers are a forgotten breed of bike and you don't see them much anymore. Here in Europe cafe' racers are becoming popular again, the constructors are making new models that are pretty sought after like the Triumph Bonneville and Truxton, the new Norton Commando, the Guzzi V7, the Ducati Sportclassic and a lot of people converts "standard" 70s retro' bikes like the CB1100 and W800 in cafe' racers, unfortunately most of these bikes have lower performance than the originals from the 70s! Here there are other two shots of a famous pinup of the 70s:

09-30-2014, 04:56 AM	#8
gmans Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Hunter Valley,NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,466	riing-a-ding-ding. They were quick in there day.

09-30-2014, 10:13 AM	#9
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	You do see some cafe racer bikes here but they aren't common. The Harley style cruiser and full dress touring bikes rule the road. As for speed, I saw a mostly stock 600 Kawasaki do a 10.4 quarter mile after a bad start ( he did half the run on one wheel ) and a top speed of 140 mph as he passed the finish line. If my CB550 was running and tuned perfectly, it would top out at around 115. The new Triumphs are getting popular around here now that there is a dealer in the area. The retro style is popular everywhere and I'm not surprised the cafe racer is again popular in Europe as that is their heritage.