The shocking truth about Cafe Racers

I am a Japanese in my 40s who longed for Rockers. I ride a Kawasaki motorcycle. One of my definitions of a cafe racer is that it's based on a British bike. Modified Italian or German bikes are not cafe racers to me. I think the Brat Style and the German Cafe Fighter are different genres. I think of a cafe racer as a single cylinder or vertical twin bike with clip-on handlebars. I ride a Kawasaki W650 with a clip-on handlebar. I think it's the coolest thing in the world.

I live in Jacksonville, Fl, and years ago there was a shop called The Ton Up. It was all about the Cafe` lifestyle and bikes. At the time, I had a '75 Kawasaki Z1 900 Cafe` racer. There were a couple of older British gentlemen who frequented The Ton Up, and I learned more about the Cafe` racers of the 60's from them than ever was written in any book or magazine. Sadly, The Ton Up didn't last due to lack of a Cafe` scene at the time. Post millenium "Hipsters" were bying up vintage Cafe` bikes like crazy, knowing nothing of the history. Riding around in packs of 2 or 3, wearing street clothes and golfing hats, not a leather jacket between them. Sad, as Jacksonville is a large city and could have had a great Cafe` scene. Nowadays people just want to adapt everything to what is "happening", and not caring about the history of it...

As somebody who has questioned on this topic recently (re Scooters) and I have had discussions on various FB groups about this, I am thrilled to see this video. You go back to the roots and show what was happening (without the use of Rose tinted glasses!) and come up with a brilliant video, debunking "myths and legends" of the time and era in some parts, but showing beautiful bikes. Where we've been and where we're going. I do like a lot of the new / old bikes you show that are exotica personified, but my heart belongs to a Triton and always will! L&R From Down Under.

The correct sequence for modifications was clip-ons, rear-set footrests, swept-back exhaust pipes with Dunstall megaphones or Gold Star silencers then Alloy tanks and engine mods as funds allowed. I was there.

Hi I live in el salvador and i apreciate that You return about this kind of video...i remember year ago You do it videos not just about café races almost about other ítems...i still waiting the second video about thecnical photografies....regrads for all café racer enthusiast...Nice video ..just in the beginning...

Man ,I think your channel is one of the most elegant, interesting, caring and technically updated of the whole Youtube , so keep up and thank you so much for all the videos and informations you bring to a vast majority of followers 👍👍👍...by the way I was a kid when I visited London for the first time and I saw Rockers and Mods ... back then they said "caff racer" , but you know as an Italian I'm not enabled to talk about English prononciation 😁

What is a cafe racer? A dream turned into hours and more hours of passion towards a point where the departure is also an arrival. For me it was the first Tiumph Bonneville that I saw as a child from my mother's hand and suddenly the metal of the motorcycle seemed to me something that was more than metal. I didn't know it then, but when I got on my first motorcycle as a teenager. I keep recreating those two moments every time I see my bike in the garage and turn it on for the road.

The only constant in a Universe is a "CHANGE". So everything evolves, changes, get different more or less and it's all ok. Until a bike is beautiful and makes you butterflies in a stomach, is just that, beautiful. Remember how many bikes from your videos have technology in 60-ties people couldn't even imagine, but today is today and Cafe Racer is now as it should be. With all it's variations. Just my thought. Thank you very much Victor.

Growing up in the sixties and seventies, even my motorcycle friends didn't know what a Cafe' Racer was. Perhaps today I have only two friends that ride motorcycles, and they actually know what it is, when I talk about Cafe' Racers. I used to call them Caff Racers, with no emphasis on the "E". So today I am a proud owner of a Cafe'-Racer inspired Royal Enfield Continental-G.T. I love this bike. I also love RACER TV, my favorite Cafe'-racer inspired channel "Barr none".:hand-purple-blue-peace:🏁🏁

I am a American but i have loved Triumph since I was 13 yrs. Old. I am almost 62 now. I have over a half a dozen Triumphs . I have always had a Bike except for the last few years when i had to take care of my invalid Mother who passed away 6 months ago so i am looking for a Bike once again. I don't want a Harley but something older . Your video made me excited to get back on the road. Thanks very much for the video.

What is a cafe racer? You will recognize it when you see it.

I really like the conversational and balanced approach. Thank you for your content.

As much as I very Like your cafe racer content and your YouTube show RACER TV, also my love for cafe racers was born from your videos about the theme, and I have learned much from you. I was wondering if you are by the name of Greg White, or is someone else behind this videos. You are very professional in your work and the narrator is very familiar on other YouTube videos. Just for a curiosity...I have been following you six years and I just can't get enough of you work, it would be noble to say that you are the best in your work. Best of Luck, stay in good health and keep on the videos coming, Greetings from Macedonia.

You can ask the same what is a " Hot Rod "...... it's a matter of individual interpretation.... ... A " Triton " is the benchmark for a Cafe' Racer to which all others are judged... A Cafe' Racer can be a " Bobber " I built a old school Triton... a 3-year project... feather bed frame with a 73' Triumph 750 stuffed in it. Award winner regionally and the west coast.... practical bike... No... any distance over an hour... No... going to the local coffee spot.... Yes....

Hello mate. First, congratulations again for this video, I loved it. A few months ago I had a conversation with you about my personal way of understanding what a cafe racer is. You told me that in England there were no Japanese motorcycles, and it is true But my comment was, due to the current mechanical parts that are usually mounted in CAFE RACER transformations. For me, regardless of whether the bike is Japanese, Italian or German... it's the mechanical parts that make a difference. Personally, I think that the inverted suspensions...led lights...or digital odometers...I would not mount them on my Moto Guzzi V50...since I think that against more analog...or traditional parts that are mounted on the Cafe racer projects ... more authentic it will be. But I understand that modern parts improve the behavior of the motorcycle. Thank you very much and sorry for my English from the Google translator.

Excellent video! But I my conclusion is the same thing as say a friend: "less speak, more ride". History is important, but more important is enjoy our bikes and don't lose time discussing about the how pure are it.

Great work Victor, very nicely put together!!, brilliantly explained as usual and beautiful images!!, have a great vacation my friend!!

Thanks for your videos man! I started riding 3 years ago because of that itch. My heart has always been in the cafe design. My goal is finally coming true in purchasing a 1981 Honda CB750 which I will be doing a build on. Keep the dream alive man and thanks for your effort in producing these videos.

Cafe Racer: clip on's rear sets, bump seat, 5 gallon tank reverse cone megas featherbed frame Norton road holder forks. Bonneville 650 engine or Vincent 1000.

Damn racer TV you're close to half a million subs. I started watching when you were sub-100k. Congratulations!