Café Racers started as British production bikes that were rebuilt by their owners in the 1960s to go faster than they did when new. They got the name from young riders, commonly referred to as "Rockers" riding from café to café or pub to pub in London or other large cities.
The trend and look became quite popular because the bikes looked similar to competition bikes from that era. Eventually, the "hangouts" such as The Ace Café and other areas in London actually spawned an organic fan base and riding clubs spread all over Europe outward from London from this. These bikes are built in tribute to that style, whether they're custom-built or factory bikes.
10 Custom Yamaha TR-1 Café Racer
What a great redo of a middling 1000cc standard engine. Is this not one of the best conversions from a boring 2-valve 75 H.P. standard into a full-blown custom? Look at how great those period bias-ply tires look on this motorcycle? The exhaust contrasts beautifully with the black finish on most of the metal. We love the wire wheels mated to Chopper-Spec brake hardware. The clip-ons and bubble faring really set this apart.
9 Custom 1975 Honda CB750 Café Racer
CB750 Café Racers are among the most common conversions because they were quick, cheap, and weren't far off from a café racer before the conversions. Honda even built a factory model based on the smaller CB400F, but this is one of the best homemade conversions that just screams "ride me!" The frame has been chopped and contoured to look like a Norton Featherbed frame and it looks the part especially with those Akront styled rims!
8 Custom Ducati Scrambler 1100 Café Racer
This is a cute mild custom, made from the brand-new Scrambler series, but with different wheels and bars. It no longer looks like a combination rig as it did when it left Ducati, but now it's ready to road race and tear up the track.
The bar end mirrors really set off the looks and as long as you don't mind the rearview being fuzzy they work quite well. The custom leather monoposto seat conversion is a really great addition to add authenticity to the loo.
7 Custom Harley Sportster Café Racer
This really is turning a sow's ear into a silk purse. Anyone who's ever ridden an older Sportster finds themselves asking where's the beef?! Well, this shop found it by changing the bodywork and wheels. If you look closely that is a stock frame, but you really have to pay attention because the conversion was so well done.
Even the dodgy Supertrapp Exhaust looks dynamite on this bike. Little details such as moving the tachometer up high and to the center really make this bike look sweat. Then there is that hand formed tank!
6 Custom MotoGuzzi V7 Café Racer
This is an interesting mild conversion on a bike that already has 1 version as a café racer. The builder specced a flyscreen instead of the original quarter faring. The bike has a custom leather seat and a modified tank. The wheels have been blacked out on this model. The exhaust system has been reconfigured as well.
Look at those tig welds just outside of the ports. This bike does use the newer 4 valve heads and makes around 90 H.P. so it's not slow like older Guzzis.
5 Factory Racer: Norton Commando 961 Café Racer
What can we say, we are as surprised as you! Someone in finance quietly reopened Norton, who knew? This Commando uses a rattle can engine with even more stroke than the older 850 series from the 1970s.
The suspension components are all new and of top quality which is good because the owners of these bikes will be tightening lots of parts that vibrate off the bike as Norton twins use a 360° crank which will shake the hands off your watch when riding. The suspension will stay together while you are working on the engine.
4 Factory Racer: Kawasaki Z900RS Eddie Lawson Replica Café Racer
This a production bike that is a sequel to the 1990s Eddie Lawson Replica which itself was a replica of a 1980s race bike. This one emulates what a 1970s modified Z900 would have looked like if painted in Eddie Lawson colors.
It's a fully modern bike with over 125 H.P. a premium suspension and a modern frame and suspension. It's low maintenance bike that will fly in the quarter-mile and through the corners, The factory exhaust even looks like an aftermarket pipe from the early 1980s. This bike is awesome.
3 Factory Racer: Triumph Thruxton TFC Café Racer
This is a modern 4 valve parallel twin with a 270° crank so it will feel like a V-Twin. The chugga-chugga sound coming from a twin will be a little unusual. Surprisingly it makes 105 H.P. which is awesome for a retro bike. If you want a low maintenance fast Brit-bike this will fill that niche' perfectly. Look at those wonderful wire wheels. The gold caliper Brembo brakes contrast perfectly with the black spokes.
With a 6 speed transmission, you can shift into overdrive and cruise all day. With double the power of the 50-year-old bikes, it emulates you will be ahead of the pack.
2 Factory Racer: BMW R Nine T Racer
Make no mistake, this is a fast bike that is retro in style only. It makes a conservatively rated 110 H.P. it runs on premium gas because of its fuel injection and high compression ratio. The suspension components are among the best available.
At 485 LBS. it's relatively light for a steel-framed bike and it's got a single-sided swingarm. Surprisingly it has conventional forks, but BMW never really liked inverted forks and went with various other designs on most of their bikes.
1 Factory Racer: 2007 Ducati Limited Edition Paul Smart 1000 Super Sport
This was a short run for two years of a retro version of the 1000 Super Sport bikes with a different body and retro aluminum wheels with spokes instead of aluminum castings. This particular model has an aftermarket exhaust that looks great and compliments the alternate bodywork.
It's very lightweight and the 80 H.P. doesn't feel slow because the bike weighs under 500 LBS. That is the factor monoposto seat, Ducati felt the guy who bought this one, wouldn't care if a passenger couldn't ride.