Jamesville Atypical Shovelhead Cafe Racer

1Jamesville2Jamesville5Jamesville6JamesvilleAll custom builders may get a little bit tired of working on the same type of motorcycles. In the case of James Roger-Caldbeck, he needed a refresh after working exclusively on Bobbers & Choppers. The opportunity came up when he was proposed to build a Cafe Racer. And since James loves the late 70’s XL’s it became the inspiration for the bike featured here. But no 70’s Sportster being found, James used as a donor bike a late 80’s FX Super Glide in stock dress, but with the Harley motor swapped for an S&S 80” Shovelhead powerlant.

3JamesvilleFirst task was to give the well-handling FX frame 2 of the main attributes of any Cafe Racer, a new seat pan and cowl. But James 7Jamesville8Jamesvilledecided that this cowl should be fabricated to run longer and higher, more in the sport bike style. It is fitted with a touch of England, a Triumph taillight. For the road race fairing, James was ready to modify an existing one made in China that he found and ordered on eBay for a very modest price. Surprise, it was of good quality and worked perfectly on the stock headlight…

4JamesvilleTo achieve a more agressive stance, James raised the rear of the bike with Progressive Shocks and slightly lowered the front end with a “drop in” lowering fork kit also from Progressive. Surprisingly, the gas tank is not a fabricated one-off but the original FX reservoir with very slight modification. And it actually works well on this type of bike. Mid-set controls are fabricated from scratch, hand controls remaining almost stock. Exhaust system is a one-off created to mimic those of Ducati sport bikes. Sounding awesome and not burning your ass, swears James.

10Jamesville9JamesvilleWhen you inherit an S&S 80” motor already equipped with a Super Stock ignition system pumping 40% more hp than the stock Shovelhead, there is no reason to touch it, but it implied getting much better brakes than the factory offering. So, James went for dual front discs with Performance calipers in front & rear. With a discreet 80’s paint job, result is an elegant and mean but atypical Cafe Racer. Jamesville Motorcycles (Photos @ Mark Dexter, The LAB Copenhagen)

21 Responses to “Jamesville Atypical Shovelhead Cafe Racer”


  1. 1 Chris Mallard May 23rd, 2016 at 7:58 am

    Crossover between Cafe Racer and sportbike. Different and I like it.

  2. 2 Jeff Duval May 23rd, 2016 at 8:01 am

    At last, a motorcycle that looks like one and probably rides like one too 🙂 !

  3. 3 domino May 23rd, 2016 at 8:06 am

    Just right James … and with an S&S 80 … does it do wheelies, or does the back tire just go up in smoke?!
    ……………………………………. Domino Dave …………………………………………..

  4. 4 Greeko May 23rd, 2016 at 8:08 am

    Nice.

  5. 5 maxfrisson May 23rd, 2016 at 8:40 am

    No one built that bike to ride it, look at those tyres, they look like something for a farm tractor. Add some 21st century rubber.

  6. 6 Woody's May 23rd, 2016 at 8:51 am

    Interesting build, very nice lines.

  7. 7 Brett Garner May 23rd, 2016 at 9:20 am

    Good looking sled. I would ride it.

  8. 8 Terence Bohler May 23rd, 2016 at 9:29 am

    Like the tail section. Well done.

  9. 9 Stony Crane May 23rd, 2016 at 11:04 am

    Nice build. It reminds me that there is a place of a big V-twin on the cafe scene that isn’t a Ducati. It’s a little reminiscent of Keanu’s Arch motorcycle, which is good. I saw it at the Quail and it looks way better in person than in photos.

  10. 10 Mack May 23rd, 2016 at 12:10 pm

    Thats one of the best I’ve seen in along time … DIFFERENT…man I really like it
    !!

  11. 11 nicker May 23rd, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    what’s not to like (except for the pipe)….???

    -nicker-

  12. 12 BadMonkeyMW May 23rd, 2016 at 6:49 pm

    Excellent.

  13. 13 Dave Blevins May 23rd, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    A nice bike. Very nice.

  14. 14 Jim Tom May 24th, 2016 at 6:20 am

    I like the look.

  15. 15 JohnnySpeed May 24th, 2016 at 7:06 am

    I’m completely n love with this bike.

  16. 16 Tom May 24th, 2016 at 8:07 am

    A + here

  17. 17 burnout May 24th, 2016 at 9:06 am

    I like this. peace

  18. 18 Martin Twofeather May 24th, 2016 at 12:06 pm

    Perfect beauty…………..

  19. 19 Blackmax May 24th, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    Didn’t they used to call this “gunfighter” style in the 80’s
    Big in the Northwest ???
    Anyway, this is a Very Cool bike !!!!

  20. 20 Septic the Sceptic May 25th, 2016 at 5:02 pm

    A simple Supertrapp exhaust is what this needs.

  21. 21 nicker May 25th, 2016 at 9:41 pm

    RE:
    “…Supertrapp exhaust is what this needs…”

    Spot On…!!!

    -nicker-

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Cyril Huze