Here we go, just what IS a Cafe Racer? [ probably been discussed before - if so accept my apologies ].
Here's my take on the subject. My credentials............... I was a Cafe Racer / Coffee Bar Cowboy / Ton Up kid back in the day as I started riding legally in 1960. I built literally hundreds of "specials" which later became known as Cafe Racers, so I have a pretty defined idea of what a Cafe Racer WAS - but I'm equally open minded to what a Cafe Racer has become and all it's evolutions over the decades.
so -
1. Original 1960's Cafe Racer - factory modified bike modified privately in the style of a circuit racing bike - these would be Manx Norton, AJS 7R, Matchless G50, etc. ALL out of reach financially of your average motorcycle enthusiast.
Essentially these would have Clip-Ons, rear set rests, a large alloy / GRP tank and a SINGLE race style seat and a reverse cone megga exhaust or a Goldie silencer. Most would have lights, but not all and alloy rims on the wire spoked wheels would be the [ expensive ] icing on the cake.
Sidecar outfits also came in for the same treatment and were very popular in the mid 60's as fitting a chair got you 50% discount on your insurance!
Engine tuning was largely a home grown affair - or at least you "knew a mate who could".
The 60's spawned a rash of Hybrids - the most popular being Tritons and Tribsas - although Tricatis, Trifields and others were popular. It was an era of cheap gas, and no speed limits on the open roads.
2. The '70's saw the first of the Japanese bikes to get the Cafe Racer treatment, but most were similar to the 60's bikes but with the addition of lifesaving disc brakes [ front at least ] The late 60's and early 70's also saw the dawn of the specialist suppliers - like Dresda, Unity and others. Bikes could then be put together much more simply by mail ordering your parts, rather than make them yourself. The beginning of the "let's all be different together" Cafe Racer.
3. The '80's saw the emergence of the newer Japanese Factory Race replicas, and bikes suddenly sported twin disc front and maybe disc rear as well as almost universally - alloy cast wheels. Brit Bikes were getting very thin on the ground AND expensive, so older Cafe Racers turned to the Italian bikes - where the touring versions could be bought very cheaply AND offered a bit of "class" against the Japanese Imports.
4. The 90's and up - yes, here we have the modern Cafe Racer - The Race Replica.
So here we are all together on this site, but creating vastly differing "Cafe Racers" - and some are an amalgam [ sometimes NOT very harmonious ] of eras and styles.
Point in case - the cover Bonnie on the Cafe Racer Magazine - there's so much wrong with the mixed styles, it's difficult to know where to start - so I won't.
Personally I don't care what pigeon hole you want to put a bike into - as far as I'm concerned once someone puts their stamp on a machine - admire or loathe it for what it is, not the effort to create it.
To me a Cafe Racer will always fall under the heading of #1 - oh yes, I WILL accept a disc front brake...............................
Here's my take on the subject. My credentials............... I was a Cafe Racer / Coffee Bar Cowboy / Ton Up kid back in the day as I started riding legally in 1960. I built literally hundreds of "specials" which later became known as Cafe Racers, so I have a pretty defined idea of what a Cafe Racer WAS - but I'm equally open minded to what a Cafe Racer has become and all it's evolutions over the decades.
so -
1. Original 1960's Cafe Racer - factory modified bike modified privately in the style of a circuit racing bike - these would be Manx Norton, AJS 7R, Matchless G50, etc. ALL out of reach financially of your average motorcycle enthusiast.
Essentially these would have Clip-Ons, rear set rests, a large alloy / GRP tank and a SINGLE race style seat and a reverse cone megga exhaust or a Goldie silencer. Most would have lights, but not all and alloy rims on the wire spoked wheels would be the [ expensive ] icing on the cake.
Sidecar outfits also came in for the same treatment and were very popular in the mid 60's as fitting a chair got you 50% discount on your insurance!
Engine tuning was largely a home grown affair - or at least you "knew a mate who could".
The 60's spawned a rash of Hybrids - the most popular being Tritons and Tribsas - although Tricatis, Trifields and others were popular. It was an era of cheap gas, and no speed limits on the open roads.
2. The '70's saw the first of the Japanese bikes to get the Cafe Racer treatment, but most were similar to the 60's bikes but with the addition of lifesaving disc brakes [ front at least ] The late 60's and early 70's also saw the dawn of the specialist suppliers - like Dresda, Unity and others. Bikes could then be put together much more simply by mail ordering your parts, rather than make them yourself. The beginning of the "let's all be different together" Cafe Racer.
3. The '80's saw the emergence of the newer Japanese Factory Race replicas, and bikes suddenly sported twin disc front and maybe disc rear as well as almost universally - alloy cast wheels. Brit Bikes were getting very thin on the ground AND expensive, so older Cafe Racers turned to the Italian bikes - where the touring versions could be bought very cheaply AND offered a bit of "class" against the Japanese Imports.
4. The 90's and up - yes, here we have the modern Cafe Racer - The Race Replica.
So here we are all together on this site, but creating vastly differing "Cafe Racers" - and some are an amalgam [ sometimes NOT very harmonious ] of eras and styles.
Point in case - the cover Bonnie on the Cafe Racer Magazine - there's so much wrong with the mixed styles, it's difficult to know where to start - so I won't.
Personally I don't care what pigeon hole you want to put a bike into - as far as I'm concerned once someone puts their stamp on a machine - admire or loathe it for what it is, not the effort to create it.
To me a Cafe Racer will always fall under the heading of #1 - oh yes, I WILL accept a disc front brake...............................
)
