Over the past decade, the world has become increasingly infatuated with all things nostalgia, resulting in everything from watchmakers to shoe companies to shipbuilders churning out vintage-inspired offerings and re-releases. full of models of yesteryear. Unsurprisingly, this same phenomenon is no less prevalent in today’s motorcycle industry, where retro-themed production models have been and continue to be introduced at an unprecedented rate. And while old-school, factory-built bobbers and scramblers have also seen steady growth in recent years, their influx in popularity is no match for the rise of modern café racers.
Spurred by the simultaneous rise of the modern “new wave” custom motorcycle scene, the immense success of these no-frills street bikes has given way to turnkey café racer models now offered by over 20 of the manufacturers. As a result, the café racer market has developed into a very diverse range of bikes, encompassing everything from entry-level, small-displacement economy bikes to high-performance café superbikes, not to mention the ones that are constantly emerging. fully electric cafe racer segment. and while this allows for a buyer’s market teeming with options, the sheer abundance of production café racers available can make it difficult to zero in on the model that’s best for you, let alone fully discover all of the available options, so with this With that in mind, we’ve compiled this ultimate guide to the best cafe racers you can buy from the lot.
Reading: Cafe racer look
Cafe racers date back to post-WWII England. Many young people were returning home from global conflict with cash in their pockets, and as a result, the UK saw a surge in the popularity of motorcycles. however, cyclists weren’t just buying bikes, they were taking them apart, getting rid of any and all superfluous parts, and making performance upgrades. Around the same time, the main social centers for the UK’s youth were the local cafés.
These cafes increasingly became de facto meeting places for cyclists looking to see other bikes and rub shoulders with like-minded cyclists. And while there are several other places of note, the two places that became by far the most famous for their connection to motorcycles were the Ace Café in London and the busy Bee Café in Watford, on the northeastern outskirts of London. the capital. and it is this connection to these establishments that ultimately resulted in the term: “café racer”.
By their very nature, café racers were modified and customized versions of production offerings, usually built in garages and backyard sheds. because race and track-only models weren’t available to non-pros, most riders’ only real option (if they wanted a more competitive bike) was to build one themselves. In an attempt to unleash the full potential of a motorcycle, early café racer enthusiasts were known to combine different elements from different models, the most famous example being the use of Norton’s legendary feather frame to build “Tritons” or Vincent. -power with triumph engine. motorized “norvils”. Today, café racer’s connection to unique machines remains as strong as it was in the subgenre’s infancy.
The post-war era also saw the UK experience the beginning of a golden age in Grand Prix racing, with a host of Britons including Fergus Anderson, Freddie Frith, Bob Foster, Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Phil read, and mike “the bike” hailwood dominating high-level racing in the 1950s and 1960s. this undoubtedly played a major role in influencing coffeehouse culture, as enthusiasts borrowed and adapted parts racing bikes for use on their road bikes. this is also why cafe racers bear such a striking resemblance to racing machines from half a century ago, as well as why these race-derived bikes traditionally sport a headlight.
It’s difficult, if not impossible, to pin down which bike was the first real production café racer, as the genre evolved slowly over time. Complicating matters further is the fact that production café models are by no means a new phenomenon, with every decade since the 1950s offering turnkey models that we would today classify as café racers. In the late 1950s and 1960s, AJS had their 7R “boy racers” while Norton produced his famous Manx model. The 1970s saw even more cafe bikes, including a rise in models from Italy like Moto Guzzi’s Le Mans and Laverda’s Jota and SFC. In the 1980s, Honda released its GB500 TT, which today we would see as a kind of archetypal café racer.
The modern café racer craze that persists today arguably began at the 2003 tokyo auto show, when ducati pulled the lid off its classic revolutionary sports car: a modern l-twin dressed in an aesthetic unmistakably vintage. A few years later, and not only had Ducati released its Modern-Retro penned by Pierre Terblanche, but Triumph also did the same with its Thruxton model. With the success of the Thruxton, it didn’t take long for other major manufacturers to realize what was happening and throw their hats into the proverbial coffee shop circle. Fast forward to today and café racers have gone from a niche style to a widely recognized production model genre.
The tremendous growth in the production cafe segment (and the global custom motorcycle scene) has also resulted in a growing number of factories in China, which have set sharp limits on build quality and reliability in recent years. years, designing and producing budget-friendly models that legitimately resemble one-of-a-kind cafe builds and are generally powered by crate engines. Almost always of the small displacement variety, these motorcycles are usually rebadged and sold under the banner of small motorcycle brands (which is why you’ll find essentially identical models sometimes offered by more than one of these start-up companies).
Taking influence from the grand prix racing bikes of the time, cafe racers are primarily modified to be more aggressive and performance-focused bikes, and are typically equipped with numerous bike upgrades. as such the stock handlebars and footpegs are almost always replaced with a set of low mount clips (or inverted clubman bars) and a pair of rear sets ultimately giving the rider a much more hunched over and aggressive style. driving position the headlights are also often lowered to compensate for the low cab.
The stock bench seats that come on most standard bikes are also often swapped out for “monoposto” (single seat) rear sections topped with either a humpback café seat or a hard back cover, giving you It gives the machine a sportier look while slightly reinforced aerodynamics. Partial fairings and windshields are occasionally used on cafe racers for the same reason. factory gas tanks were also frequently scrapped in favor of lighter cells, often longer, lower-profile items with dents at the knees for a more spirited ride. backward sloping headers and cone (or reverse cone) mufflers are another ingredient rarely left out of the café racer recipe.
Price: The truth is that some models offer much more for your money than others. You should carefully consider what features and performance aspects you need, and which you can live without, as this should help you determine a price. It’s also worth mentioning that if you’re a new rider, you’ll want to factor in/set aside money for other necessary expenses like riding gear, luggage, parts. etc
Operating Costs: Once you have purchased a motorcycle, you will continue to have regular expenses associated with keeping it running. there are taxes and registration fees (plus distribution, shipping, and box fees), the cost of insurance, maintenance, tires, brake pads, and chain lube, to name a few. Obviously, a new $25,000 Italian bike will cost a lot more to insure and operate than a simple cheap Chinese-made one. Bottom line: remember to calculate the total cost of ownership. there are even online tools to help calculate these numbers.
Engine Size: Although there are other elements involved, the displacement, number of cylinders, and engine configuration essentially determine the horsepower and torque of an engine. It’s extremely important to select a bike with the right engine size, as learning to ride an incredibly powerful bike is an incredibly bad idea. You wouldn’t want to learn to drive behind the wheel of a Lamborghini, and motorcycles are no different, aside from the fact that they lack seat belts, crumple zones, and airbags. As a general rule of thumb, new riders shouldn’t start with anything beyond half a liter (500cc).
riding equipment: A motorcycle’s chassis and engine are very important, although there are other aspects that determine a motorcycle’s performance (and therefore its overall quality), and one of the most important is the running gear (or hardware or components). this includes the type of brakes, the wheels and the type of suspension (double shock or single shock, conventional or conventional fork, etc.).
Riding Position: While cafe racers often sport the clips and rear assemblies that allow for a tight, hunched-forward rider triangle, the truth is that while this setup looks great and allows for more riding spirit, just not very practical for commuting or everyday riding (assuming you don’t spend 90% of your time in the saddle in the canyons). consider its intended use and whether the riding position of a bicycle is conducive to it. It’s also worth noting that you can always change the handlebars or foot controls on any model with relative ease.
Styling: With the modern café racer segment having been around for some time, the sector has gone from being exclusively made up of retro models to now include an increasingly diverse range of contemporary versions. of the genre, such as the vitpilen 401 and 701 from husqvarna and the hps 125 from fb mondial. There’s more than one type of café racer, and it’s worth exploring all the different aesthetic options before deciding on a purchase.
Availability: This isn’t really an issue when buying most models from the major manufacturers, however a downside to buying from smaller brands is relatively limited access to replacement parts . It can also be harder to find shops to repair certain types of bikes (although this obviously doesn’t apply to individual air-cooled ones made in China). special and limited edition models also tend to have much more limited availability in terms of parts and replacements.
Passenger-Friendly: Because they’re inspired by racing bikes, café racers tend to be single-seat machines that don’t allow you to take a passenger along for the ride. however, there are cafe models that are passenger compatible, as well as models that have removable rear covers that hide the passenger seat. if you plan on doing a lot of trips as a couple, then you might as well go for a more powerful bike, especially if you intend to cover highway miles. new riders should still stick to smaller, less powerful machines anyway.
csc san gabriel 250
as the company’s nickname suggests, the california scooter company (or csc) is a west coast outfit that started out selling chinese scooters under the new name, though since its inception the small business line has grown to include adventure models, electric motorcycles, and the little retro-themed San Gabriel 250 (or SG250). Available in a variety of liveries, the SG250 is powered by a quarter-liter kicker that enables speeds of nearly 70 mph. And despite its bargain MSRP, the SG250 includes a host of not-so-cheap features like a gear position indicator, aluminum wheels, inverted fork, and LED lighting throughout.
purchase: $2295
bullit spirit 125
bullit’s spirit 125 is an entry level model that meets all the essential requirements of a cafe. It has a low-profile tank and matching rear hood, monoposto seat, clips, sport suspension, spoked wheels and a beautiful megaphone tube. Backed by a two-year manufacturer’s warranty, the Spirit 125 is a nimble and mobile little machine, though its relatively diminutive displacement – which comes from a fuel-injected Chinese-made clone of the bulge in Suzuki’s GN125 – means it doesn’t it’s enough for way too much beyond short-distance driving in the city. The Belgium-based company also offers the Spirit in several color options, including the limited-edition Gulf version (seen above).
purchase: $2950
cleveland cycle works misfit 2
While most of today’s rebadged Chinese café racers tend to emulate the look of bikes from half a century ago, American boutique brand, Cleveland Cyclewerks’ Misfit II is more modeled after café racers. garage built custom racers. of the modern new wave customs scene. What further separates the Misfit from other sub-quarter-liter models is its surprisingly top-notch fit and finish, as well as its 85+ mph top speed. Other details you might not expect on a bike at this price include a gold-anodized inverted front end, an electric starter, and subtle yet beautifully detailed livery decorated with professional stripes.
purchase: $3200+
ajs cadwell clubman 125
ajs is a historically significant british brand founded in 1909. as well as producing numerous iconic models during its century-plus existence, such as the aforementioned 7r, the wolverhampton firm also makes modern versions of classic models. vintage-inspired models. for the bike seen here, the company took its standard clubman model and gave it a variety of quintessential cafe parts and modern component parts including clip-on bars, reservoir alloy rear shocks, an inverted front end, dashes of side numbers, and a traditional humpback coffee seat with a ribbed saddle and white piping. this little 125 can also reach speeds of up to 60 mph.
See also: Mẫu đồng phục Highlands Coffee đẹp, trẻ trung & năng động
purchase: $3325
mash tt40 400cc engines
A true café racer with a bit more of a grand prix bike influence, the mash motors tt40 is a competent small displacement model with a bit of extra oomph due to its 400cc engine, which also features electronics. delphi. fuel injected, unlike most budget models which tend to be carbureted. The TT40 also has a dual disc brake setup with a four-piston caliper up front and switchable ABS front and rear. And while these aforementioned items help sweeten the deal, this model’s main selling point is its gorgeous aesthetic design, including a faired mid-tank with knee dents, side covers, and a hump-covered café rear. through the hood.
purchase: $3370
fb global hps 125
fb mondial is a legendary Italian manufacturer with a history of racing wins, and although the company closed many years ago, it was recently revived to produce new models such as the hps 125 (or “hipster 125”). Easily one of the most exclusive versions in the segment, as well as one of the most exclusive releases of the last decade, period, this eight-liter racer packs a bevy of surprisingly premium items, like liquid cooling and fuel. injection, led lighting, and modern suspension and adjustable brakes. also sold in a larger 300cc version, what really makes this bike special is its eye-catching twin exhausts and extraordinarily sleek bodywork consisting of a mojave-style tank, a streamlined version of a cafe tail and a modern-looking belly. -bread.
purchase: $4060
honda cb300r
The smallest member of Honda’s recently launched “neo-sports café” range, the CB300R is Honda’s version of a modern café racer. Powered by the same bulletproof counterbalanced mill that’s also used in Big Red’s entry-level CBR300R superbike model, the CB300R attempts to offer the looks of its larger displacement siblings in an entry-level friendly package. Equipped with ABS as standard, the little CB’s stopping power comes from radial-mounted Nissin calipers that bite into large 296mm floating discs, while bumps are soaked up by a monoshock and 41mm USD fork. The Honda also includes a variety of small quality additions, such as its LED light cluster, a deep gloss finish, and a variety of blacked-out hardware throughout.
purchase: $4949
royal enfield continental gt 650
Drawing extensive inspiration from the brand’s (then British-owned) Continental GT 250 model of the 1950s and ’60s, Royal Enfield’s contemporary GT 650 perfectly epitomizes the classic café racer. virtually all the qualities we associate with café racers today can be seen on this very bike. Sporting a classic cafe look, the Continental GT 650 is a reasonably priced model that’s good for everything from city commuting to long-distance travel. Bottom line: If you want a supremely original and authentic café racer that won’t break the bank, this may be the bike for you.
purchase: $5999
husqvarna vitpilen 401
Based on the same chassis and power plant found on KTM’s 390 Duke (and RC390), Husqvarna’s Vitpilen 401 was one of the most anticipated models in recent history, largely due to its incredibly unique appearance and its futuristic take on the café racer genre. But there’s more to this city-focused bike than just looks, with the model boasting a grip of genuinely premium features like premium wp seatstays, bybre four-piston brakes linked with bosche abs, a robot-welded, and hydro-frame from formed chrome molybdenum steel, gold anodized rims and a pasc slipper clutch with bi-directional quick shifting.
purchase: $6299
yamaha xsr700
Based heavily on the tuning fork company’s xs650 model from half a century ago, yamaha’s xsr700 is a heritage-themed offering that builds on the japanese motorcycle maker’s existing bare fz-07 platform. . this basically allows for a “best of both worlds” situation, with a bike that offers old-school looks and modern performance (and safety, reliability, fuel economy, etc.). And, like BMW’s R Ninet, the XSR was specifically designed to lend itself to easy customisation, an area that has been helped by the existence of bolt-on body kits for the modern twin-cylinder retro. Yamaha also sells the 900cc xsr900 with inline-triple, visually similar but more powerful, in case you’re looking for a little more oomph.
purchase: $8499
twin street win
priced under $10,000, the triumph street twin is the most affordably priced model in hinckley’s bonneville line. Although it is missing some key café traits, the model is only a few tweaks away from objectively becoming a true café racer. And while the bike is admittedly quite basic in nature, Trump offers over 140 parts and accessories to help you make it your own. plus, the street twin is a fantastic base for a complete custom project, with classic bonnie styling backed by modern technology, undercarriage, and mechanics.
purchase: $9,300
husqvarna vitpilen 701
although this may look like a larger version of husky’s vit 401, we’d argue that the extra 320cc allows for a completely different machine. while 75 hp might not seem like a crazy amount, when combined with this model’s sub-350 lb (dry) weight, the vitpilen 701 makes for one of the most smile-inducing (and arguably putting on) hooligan machines. license jeopardy) currently on the market, proving the top speed of a motorcycle does not necessarily relate to the performance or fun factor of a bike. Of course, its exhilarating performance, aided by the 701’s top-of-the-line components, is just one of this bike’s strengths, and its other strength obviously is its incredibly sleek and futuristic looks. A solid counterbalance system also allows this large single-cylinder engine to be free from the intense vibrations typically associated with big kickers.
purchase: $9499
kawasaki w800 cafeteria
Kawasaki’s W800 (and W650) models are modern clones of classic British parallel twins like the Triumph Bonneville and BSA A7. this model has a super classic look that belies modern reliability, fuel efficiency and service intervals. the w800’s brown spec gains a windshield and a humpbacked saddle that gives the impression of a single-post unit, while the black section of the saddle is actually a padded leather seat. Kawasaki also made sure to include many totally authentic vintage elements, such as the bike’s exhaust pipes, rubber tank pads, fork covers, and tires, which are a pair of vintage faux dunlops with a tread pattern. retro tread and a modern compound.
purchase: $9,799
moto guzzi v7 iii racer le
Although café racers have distinctly British roots, it didn’t take long for the popularity of the minimalist genre to find its way abroad, and one region that took the style and made it its own was Italy. So instead of emulating old-school British bikes, the Moto Guzzi V7 III Racer pays homage to classic Italian café racers with the rugged-style tank, magni-style blacked-out pipes and integrated number boards. the rear hood. the fact that this limited edition guzzi is shaft driven and powered by a transversely mounted v-twin engine also adds to its distinctive appearance
purchase: $9990
See also: Catgirl Price (CATGIRL)
kawasaki z900rs cafeteria
After its launch, the original Kawasaki Z’s were classic models that represented a huge step forward in terms of performance and power, and while the frame and running gear had yet to catch up with the highly advanced engine, z bikes became instant classics. . As a modern tribute to the original Zs, Kawasaki chose to redress its aggressive Z900 Streetfighter as a classic Z, leading to the visual amalgamation of old and new that you see before you. Along with the regular Z900rs, Kawasaki also released this cafe-spec, which adds a few extra items (like the windshield) to help push the cafe model’s territory.
purchase: $11,799
ducati scrambler cafe racer
although it certainly has a rather contradictory nickname, the ducati cafe racer scrambler is one of the best executions of a modern version of a cafe racer. For the latest iteration of this model, its unmistakably brown bodywork is now adorned in a multi-tone silver and blue livery that was inspired by Ducati’s 125 GP Desmo from the 1950s. The bike’s hardtail rear hood can also be removed. to make room for a passenger. And in addition to Ducati’s usual top-notch industrial designs, the Cafe Racer Scrambler also features a host of standard safety equipment, including Bosch’s curvy abs.
purchase: $11,995
honda cb1000r
as a core member of honda’s nsc lineup, the cb1000r was designed to compete with other flagship liter models, including high-end european bikes. As a result, the Japanese motorcycle brand has loaded the CB1KR with a generous helping of top-tier parts including a slipper clutch, single-sided swingarm, multiple fuel maps and electronic throttle, dual four-piston radial mount, shows a separate function front fork (sff-bp) large piston unit at the front end and powerful led lighting at the front and rear. the model’s visuals are no less impressive, with the big gearbox sporting polished aluminum radiator guards, airbox cover, engine cases, cylinder head and sprocket hub.
purchase: $12,999
bmw r ninet racer
penned by swedish designer ola stenegärd, the r ninet racer is another gorgeous take on a modernized cafe’d model, with a single-sided swingarm and a perfectly shaped half fairing. Unlike many production café racers, the German brand’s take on the genre boasts a legitimately aggressive riding position that’s great in the canyons but can get old pretty quickly around town. Unfortunately, it’s worth noting that the R9T Racer is based on the less expensive pure-spec R Ninet, and gets the same disappointing conventional fork and cheaper forged wheels as a result.
purchase: $14,150+
spitfire fog edition ccm
clews competition machines spitfire range consists of limited edition handcrafted motorcycles built in batches of 300. powered by liquid cooled, fuel injected, 600cc single cylinders developed by bmw, all bikes feature the best of the best . line components and an overall aesthetic that is heavily influenced by the modern custom motorcycle scene. This particular version of the Spitfire was designed in collaboration with four-time World Superbike Champion Carl “Foggy” Fogarty and features a special headlight cover, red saddle stitching, 19” black machined alloy wheels, flat-wheel rims, track handlebars, a tracker-meet-café rear end containing an under-seat exhaust, a rosso corsa livery, and numerous carbon-fiber bits scattered throughout. ccm also sells an even more luxurious spitfire s-spec foggy edition.
purchase: $14,760+
triumph thruxton rs
just like royal enfield’s continental gt 650, the triumph thruxton is another archetypal café racer that has all the hallmarks of the genre. What sets the Thruxton apart, however, is its decidedly premium nature, with Ohlins shocks, upside-down Showa forks and Brembo plugs. And while the Thruxton is offered in a number of different specs, the standout variant (not including the TFC Ultra-Limited Edition) is the Thruxton RS, which features new higher compression pistons, adjusted cam profiles and ports, and a host of other Lightened internal components allow the RS to gain an additional eight horsepower over the base model.
purchase: $16,200
energic eva esseesse9
Located in the motoring mecca of Modena, Energica is an Italian high-end electric motorcycle brand that was founded in 2010. The company originally introduced its iconic Ego electric superbike alongside the stripped-down version, the Eva. More recently, Energica launched the coffee-inspired Eva-based Esseesse9. Good for speeds up to 125 mph, the standard esseesse9 makes a whopping 133 pound-feet of torque, while the even more elite esseesse9+ makes an even more incredible 148 pound-feet. Offering 250 miles of range on a single charge and supporting fast charging, the esseesse9 is equipped with the usual array of high-end components found on European elite models.
purchase: $22,400+
mv agusta superveloce 800
Full faired motorcycles tend to fall into the sportbike rather than café racer category, although in the case of the mv agusta superveloce 800, there’s no denying the model’s café classification. To design the bike, the mv design team was inspired by the race machines from the golden era of the italian brand’s grand prix competition (in which mv claimed a record 17 consecutive world titles), while at the same time delivered a futuristic version of the complete bodywork of the brand. ornate corridors. Beneath its fairing, the Superveloce is very much a contemporary bike, sharing the same extremely powerful three-cylinder frame and platform as MV’s F3 800 and Brutale 800.
purchase: $23,400+
tarform luna racer
the moon is a newly released all-electric café racer model adorned with a biodegradable bodywork made from a flaxseed fabric-reinforced composite combined with a recycled aluminum material. performance-wise, the bike is good for 0-60 mph times of under four seconds, a top speed of 95 mph, and a range of 120 miles on its 10 kwh lithium-ion battery, which can recharge the 80 % in just 50 minutes the luna is also equipped with a host of modern technology, including keyless proximity ignition, a 3.4″ smart display, automatic blind spot detection with haptic feedback and 180° rearview cameras. °.
purchase: $24,000+
norton dominator
As you’ve probably already realized, the Norton name is synonymous with the origin of café racers, so it’s only fitting that the last bike on our list is from this elite British brand. Norton’s Dominator is a modern reimagining of an existing vintage model, with blatant inspiration from the modern custom motorcycle movement, combining the classic SOHC parallel-twin with some of the best running gear money can buy. Like the Foggy Edition Spitfire, this is a genuinely hand-built machine that boasts quality that can be seen visually. And while its look is decidedly retro, the Dominator’s performance is 21st century through and through. the company recently went under (again), though models can still be found at dealerships.
purchase: $28,995
See also: Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more – Mayo Clinic
