Café Racers are undeniably cool and are a much welcomed blast from the past. Typically, a café racer is a motorcycle that has been modified to enhance speed and handling as opposed to comfort. They have a cult following around the world with good reason. A café racer is the ultimate signifier of freedom. Check out these very cool café racers.
Custom Ducati 1098
The Ducati 1098 has been a highly favoured bike for years, mainly because of its excellent power, handling and racy style. This particular custom 1098’s owner Alonzo Bodden gave his Italian stallion an energized facelift. He upgraded it with some powerful components and a unique style. He clearly spared no expense and included a Double Dog Moto exhaust system and carbon fiber monocoque subframe, a clear-coated Ducati Performance aluminum fuel tank, and a Yamaha MT-03-style headlight. The majority of the brake system has been fitted with Beringer components. Bodden’s custom 1098 is further proof why café racers are an extension of an individual that cannot be substituted by a mass-made machine.
Flyrite Double Trouble Norton
A long back with an aggressive front – yup this Flyrite Double Trouble Norton is a mechanical beast that is begging to be unleashed for some grease spitting, tar shredding, rubber burning action. Flyrite Choppers owner Jason Kidd fitted two 1960s Norton Atlas engines. Kidd said, “At Flyrite Choppers we build bikes the way they used to be: basic, bare bones, wrench-on-it-yourself for the real motorcycle rider.” True to his comment, his Double Trouble Norton exudes all those traits. This bike is larger than life with super-sound engineering. Kidd had a vision for this masterpiece and he executed that vision excellently. Its style also suggests that it pays homage to the sixties quarter mile fanatics.
Moto Guzzi V7 Racer
This retro cool gem was crafted to pay tribute to the racing career of the V7 sport. Performance on the V7 is nothing to be sneezed at. Featuring a new and more powerful, 750cc, 90-degree V-Twin motor and new lightweight, six split spoke aluminum wheels, the V7 Racer brings together classic style and expert craftsmanship. This bad boy is an attention grabber – you certainly can’t contest that. It has a chrome tank, accompanied by a studded leather strap as well as a single-saddle suede seat – unquestionable style and performance.
Honda CRF250R Cafe Racer
This amazing café racer is the product of motorcycle enthusiast Darrel Schneider’s labour. His Honda CRF250R deviates from the stereotype that modern café racers feature style over substance. The motor has been rebuilt by making use of more recent Honda parts and its carburetor has been upgraded by Tokyo Mods. Wider rims have been used as a result of the increased spacing between the forks. A Honda CBR600RR front brake caliper has been fitted. Schneider is renowned in the classic car community for his dabbling in fiberglass so it isn’t a shocker that this bike has a fiberglass body. The Arrow titanium double exhaust pipe is a very nice finishing top.
Ducati Sport Classic 1000 – The Flying Hermans MC
This mean machine was previously written off and rebuilt in the same year. The Ducati Sport Classic 1000 has risen from the ashes and has been restored to a most glorious form. A frame (was painted black) was taken from the Paul Smart 1000 Limited Edition and fitted into this bike. The home-fashioned ducktail is proof that a lot of time and effort was put into this Ducati Sport Classic 1000. The seat was upholstered by Motokouture and clip-ons from Speedymoto have been added. You can actually see the inner workings of the desmondromic powerplant because of the open clutch cover and transparent belt cover. It is able to stop on a dime because of its boosted stopping power – courtesy of Brembo four piston calipers. 70s styling cues prompt a most pleasing end-result.
