Classic Cafe Racer Build - NorBSA - Norton Frame / BSA Engine | The Classic Motorcycle Channel

In this CLASSIC CAFE RACER BUILD profile we meet Phil Waters who owns this lovely NORBSA cafe racer which is based on a Norton frame and a BSA engine.

Phil gives us the summary of the build and then passes us over to Dave (who put the build together) to explain some of the finer details. This video is over 17 minutes long so feel free to use the chapters below to skip to the part of the video that interests you most.

0:00 Introduction and build summary with Phil
1:46 The ride
2:49 Owning a classic cafe racer
3:58 How it looked when Phil got it
4:29 Dave on the build detail
8:58 Starting the motorcycle with Phil
10:18 Back to build detail with Dave
11:40 Brief story on the Norton Featherbed frame
12:45 Engines fitted to the Norton Featherbed frame
13:37 How to mount an engine in a classic cafe racer frame

// Here's some of our other videos from our MAIN YouTube CHANNEL we think you might like:
- GODET-EGLI-VINCENT MOTORCYCLE - A Modern Vintage Classic Motorcycle
- RETRO CAFE RACER MOTORCYCLE - 1975 Moto Morini 3 1/2 Sport

// If you enjoy our videos please LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to us where ever you like to watch videos. Link to SUBSCRIBE to our MAIN YouTube CHANNEL is here:

// The tank on the NORBSA was made by Tab II Classics
Phone: [phone]

// A BIG THANK YOU TO
- Phil Waters for taking the time out of his day to come and film with us.
- Dave Mitchell for his time filming on the day. Dave runs Mitchell's Classics which is a classic motorcycle servicing and restoration business based in South East England.
Mobile: [phone]

// Dave is a huge fan of Goldtop clothing (he is not sponsored by them) and wears a Goldtop shirt in the video.

// ABOUT THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE CHANNEL
The Classic Motorcycle Channel is for people who love classic, vintage and antique motorcycles. We are passionate about classic motorcycles and produce high quality motorcycle profile videos, restoration videos, restorer profile videos and also anything that takes our interest.

This video was produced by The Classic Motorcycle Channel and Talk To Camera.

Visit Talk To Camera's website here:

[RodWebb]

Shame about the slightly negative comment on this one about not being able to start it🤔 couldn't see anything wrong with it myself, great video really enjoyed it 👍😁

[philmuskett]

Gobsmackingly desirable. Fantastic machine. Green as grass with envy.

[xtremluck]

Dave, your explanation and advise is priceless. So glad this channel has guys like you that share your knowledge with us noobs on these old classic's.

[mikecartlidge]

A lovely looking bike and very well put together too, the Manx style cafe racer takes some beating for looks. Specials are not so common these days which is a shame. I have started putting together a baby Tribsa, that is a Triumph 5TA motor in a BSA Starfire Rolling chassis which is going cafe race style, the only problem being most race tanks and seats are made for larger machines so to keep in scale I am fitting a steel race tank off a 535 Royal Enfield Continental and the hump seat is for a Honda CB 350 K4 race bike. Hopefully a Mikuni carb and bell mouth and twin T100C type hi level pipes with meggas. Once again another old geeza reliving his youth.

[paulevans]

One of the best videos on YouTube‼️ everything about the bike it’s just beautiful I can’t ride one anymore but if I could buy it I would have it in my living room instead of a Blumin television I would just look at it all day, Thank you so much for posting this🇬🇧🇬🇧

[allsearpw]

Nice work, a credit to all involved, glad to see people still love the older bikes, in a shed, with a few tools .

[simonbertioli]

Not able to use many words..
Just nice....brilliant...memory comes back....wonderful 👍👍😎😎

[jochenwagner]

Phantastic!
Good Dude.!
Interesting is the exhaust- top.
I had the Commando Motor 2 in 1 exhaust in front of the frame. That looked really sexy.
Best regards🍀

[grumpystruckshop]

Absolutely lovely video, i am 67 and have a 750 commando and a 900ss duke, both cafe racers, cant get off them after about half an hour, but i still

[paulbiegun]

Thank you for a terrific analysis on this beautiful build. Love the portion on the importance of alignments of engine mounting. The metalwork on the fuel tank is superb, only outdone by the actual thrilling "road test" on those narrow two lanes. Well done! Cheers, Paul.

[rrrripbing]

What a beautiful bike, sounds fantastic too. Love it.

[morrisowen]

Beautiful bike Rod, back in the day I had a dominator 99ss, it came with an Avon GP rear tyre and speedmaster mk 2 on the front. With those I never hit the deck. When the rear tyre wore out I couldn't quite afford a new Avon so settled for a Dunlop K70....what a mistake, the slightest hint of damp on the road and the bike would try and throw me off which it did several times, twice when it snaked under hard acceleration and twice when it snaked when braking and once when banking over on a bend that I knew well and had gone much faster and lower with the Avon GP on the rear! Good tyres are so important!!!!

[ralfrainfurth]

A beautiful classic sports bike. Nice details, I love the tank👍

[chrismacleod]

Dave You Know Your Stuff Good Explanation on how to do things

[mySelf-yxhw]

great video
a mini master class on building a cafe racer and doing an engine swap, keeping it as simple as you can :-)

[snake_eyes_garage]

I'm just jealous of Phil's hair! Good genes right there. Ha. Good idea on the rear shock brace.

[lesterhall]

Fantastic, I know exactly what you mean, i wish i had your commitment. I have to put up with a collection of modern Royal Enfield's, but they look great and i can dream about a days gone by. Lester in Australia ex pom

[ger]

Very nice cafe racer. Great work. Love it.

[mikeymike]

Hi Dave, this is one amazing video man, throughly enjoyed it, thanks for posting.

[kubelwagen]

Got to get those featherbed frame some day.