Making Your Sportster Look Like a Café Racer

As the weather cools, it’s time to pull the ole sporty into the garage and do the must needed upgrades you been dying to do. The list below is not for major upgrades such as big bore kits, or custom builds. For that see your service department or certified mechanic. Instead this list is for the mechanically challenge looking for a few cosmetic upgrades, and simple performance upgrades.

Let’s get started.

Seat:

Everybody knows the sporty seats are not that great after a few hours in the saddle, nor are they going to win any contest. First thing is deciding the end goal of what your sporty is going to look like. Café racer and scrambler seats are vastly different from comfort saddles meant for longer rides or commuting. If you’re looking for café seat, there numerous options, most popular is custom. However, a couple of bolt-on options are Roland Sand Design Café Sportster Seat at $369.99 and RYCA Café Racer Seat at $499. 

Both require removing the one bolt holding the seat down. Where they differ is, Roland Sand Design’s seat is meant to emulate the high butt rest of a café seat, while using the stock fender. Remove the seat, and put new seat on, and you’re done. RYCA’s seat replaces the seat and rear fender to give it more authentic café look, while supporting OEM lighting (Brakes). Your mechanic can simply unplug and unbolt seat and wiring, place new on, plug in and bolt-on. Simple and done.  

If trends are not your thing, there are numerous saddles to choose from. My favorite comes from Biltwell, the Sporty 8, which comes in different patterns such as diamond quilted giving it that retro inspired feel for about $175 or you can go more retro with their banana seat for about the same price.

Exhaust:

Ok, there is too many to list here, some are going to want style, others want performance, and then there is those who want bone shaking, alarm triggering pipes. But there are a few things to consider. If you’re looking for café style, traditionally you want a 4 into 1 or 2 into 1 full exhaust for better performance. Also, look for low slung, lightweight exhaust. Tuners, Screaming Eagle Pro Tuner, $299, Dyno Jet Commander 399, Vance and Hines $299.

Finally, there are a few other things to note, but all require help of a certified technician. Whenever you change out exhaust or add accessories your bike, you need to have it re-tuned. You can do yourself with a tuner. Vanes and Hines sells one for $299, that allows you dial it in from your phone app. If you are unfamiliar, take it by a RideNow service department, and they will take care of it.

Also, traditionally the tank has knee cut outs on the side, but this requires cutting and welding to modify to peanut tank. You can leave as is, or shop around for a new tank. If you get a new tank, it most likely won’t be a plug and play set up. You will want to have your mechanic relocate the tank mounting brackets for it to fit. Personally, for the sake of keeping in “Sporty”, I would leave as is

Remember, that this is not a true café racer, but it is a starting point.

No matter your skill level or goal, always swing by your RideNow dealership for help. 

As always; Ride Safe, Ride Hard, RideNow.