"Cafe Racer" such a loose term! Craigslist "Gem" of the week!

Totally understand what you're saying teazer. The point I was making was how the term went fom the headlines to a particular motorcycle style. That's where I suspect an ad man.
 
Swapmeet Louie said:
It's interesting to see how this thread peeter's out, once "intelligence" is introduced.... hmmmmmm.?
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Eh I just feel hypocritical commenting on some of these ads as I just told my roommate to throw "cafe" in the add when he goes to sell his kz400 to try to sell it faster. Figure might as well have his add pop up when some high school kid types in cafe into CL.
 
Shermanator86 said:
Eh I just feel hypocritical commenting on some of these ads as I just told my roommate to throw "cafe" in the add when he goes to sell his kz400 to try to sell it faster. Figure might as well have his add pop up when some high school kid types in cafe into CL.
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What? a sign of humility? Thats probably the most un "Rocker" you could be...lol
 
Lol, I wouldn't even know where to start being "rocker" I grew up on a farm and just happen to like motorcycles haha
 
I suppose it all comes down to how you define a cafe. Wikipedia ( I know I know, but lets face it, there aren't many sources): The cafe racer is a motorcycle that has been modified for speed and handling rather than comfort.

and

The bikes had a raw, utilitarian and stripped-down appearance while the engines were tuned for maximum speed.

By these lines there are a ton of cafe's out there. So where is the demarcation point?

The dude that's trying to sell his cafe inspired shitty moped probably doesn't know anything and is throwing it in for popularity. The average member here at DTT probably has a good shot (even us less talented ones), of making a nice Cafe inspired bike.

Let's face it. We're (none of us) Rockers, or Ton up Boys. We're blokes who like to take shit apart and put it back together. We just happen to like a different style the than the ape hangers and the garbage people see on Chopper's Deadliest Build-off Goes Wild.

I gravitated towards Cafe because I got tired of seeing all these bikes that look like OCC threw up on them. I like the lines, history, and GREASE on these old bikes. For me, worst case I've always got the option to go back to stock and still have a pretty cool (semi) classic bike.

We can judge or debate, or disagree, or even argue, but when it comes down to it, it's a hobby for 99% of us, we should treat it as such.
 
+1. Cafe racers were thrown together with whatever was handy in the 'old days'. If you look at the vintage pics there was nothing crazy going on there. A cafe racer is like pornography. You'll know it when you see it. I don't see the point of getting terribly snobby about what is a cafe and what isn't. I could personally care less. And as far as the thread dying out, it's because it got redirected. This a fun thread. Maybe snarky. But we're all having a laugh about one thing or the other. And if the bikes that the fun is poked at resemble bikes here, then the reason that they haven't been called out on it is etiquette. We all started somewhere after all. And I don't care what you call it, if I like it that's all that matters.
 
well,I graduated high school in 1957 and had a few of those classic bikes.Looked pretty good,handled iffy,leaked oil,iffy electrics and didnt stop worth a poop. the upgrades most of us do to the bikes we "build" (please dont start THAT thread over) usually result in better brakes and better handling which is mucho fine with me. There will never (IMO) be a better looking bike than a vintage Triumph Bonneville or Beezer Gold Star. But for performance and reliability, I think I will stick with the type of bikes we are assembling here -- call them cafe or whatever u wish.Most UJMs will break the ton with ease box stock so I consider myself a "tonner" by default and a "rocker" cause thats the music I grew up with.That is all--carry on.bj
 
I understand what your saying Alex, but, do you look at a hondas with a wing and pursue to call it a plane? because your a snob...? no, because you know it's not.... Thats all. Call what ever you want. It's yours! But we all know there are a few Goldwings under the Cafe umbrella, we know there not cafe's, right. So why not call it what it is..? a custom, or special? instead some ones gotta bring the actual cafe down to their level...and why? if you had a norton, would you group it with goldwings? And compare similarities? I dont see why anytime somebody points out a distinction, some one gets offended. If you or any body else cant see a more than aesthetic difference, I feel for you (and I have nothing but love brotha...). The last 3 pages are all about, they know there bike isnt a cafe, but they still call it one. haha This discussion intrigues me. I wish you could see the smile on my face. This is a txt version of people watching... And thrown together...? come on... there was no ching-chang shit on those rides...! They were modified "new" bikes...
 
hocbj23 said:
well,I graduated high school in 1957 and had a few of those classic bikes.Looked pretty good,handled iffy,leaked oil,iffy electrics and didnt stop worth a poop. the upgrades most of us do to the bikes we "build" (please dont start THAT thread over) usually result in better brakes and better handling which is mucho fine with me. There will never (IMO) be a better looking bike than a vintage Triumph Bonneville or Beezer Gold Star. But for performance and reliability, I think I will stick with the type of bikes we are assembling here -- call them cafe or whatever u wish.Most UJMs will break the ton with ease box stock so I consider myself a "tonner" by default and a "rocker" cause thats the music I grew up with.That is all--carry on.bj
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So the real thing was sketchy! Why isnt a cafe, a put down? seriously, I love bikes. I build, like I dress. Myself! I dont dress like G.G. Alan... because I think he ROCKS! Because he was shit...w/ good tunes.
 
If I had a Goldwing done up with a bum stop seat rear sets clip ons suspension upgrades and all of the weight loss that goes with losing that huge fairing, I would consider it a cafe racer. Maybe it's an extremely large cafe racer. Or a barge of a cafe racer. And if I had a Honda done up to look like an airplane I would expect to find a link to it in this thread followed by a few funny comments.
And yeah I know the hardcore bikes and appreciate them. And I love the people watching aspect of this, both sides. Also I'm not meaning to sound confrontative. You know we got love dude!
 
that moped is like brand x pos with a broken throttle cable and dirty carbs no title. Isn't that the pre requisite for a cafe bike.
 
look man... I build, kinda like I draw. If I try a horse, somebody will find something wrong w/ it. But if I just draw what ever flow's, I end up with what I consider rad. Todays rendition is the cafe is the horse. IMO
 
Ha! Did it say 'just a little carb cleaning and a fresh battery and it'll run'? Because that might automatically qualify it for cafe status.
 
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