Early veteran cafe racer

A rather amazing photo of a modified early veteran. A cafe racer of its day, it dates from around 1905. The engine is certainly a NSU (though I would have expected to see a magneto in front of the motor) and the frame parts generally match that id - there is a NSU in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu that is very similar and is dated as 1906.

Most striking though is how far the bike has been modified, the front brake (contracting band) seems to have been removed, the petrol tank has been changed to a torpedo style one in plain brass, pedal gear has been swapped for footrests and the rear stand is abbreviated. The saddle has been lowered and positioned further back and the handlebars lengthened to match.

Veteran NSU, early custom bike!