A Cafe racer, originally pronounced "caff" (as in Kaff) racer, is a type of
motorcycle as well as a type of motorcyclist. Both meanings have their roots
in the 1960s British counterculture group the Rockers or the Ton Up Club.
Rockers were a young and rebellious Rock and Roll counterculture that
wanted a fast, personalized and distinctive bike to travel between transport
cafes. The goal of many was to be able to reach 100 miles per hour (called
simply "the ton") along such a route where the rider would leave from a cafe,
race to a predetermined point and back to the cafe before a single song
could play on the jukebox.
The bikes had a raw, utilitarian and stripped-down appearance while the
engines were tuned for maximum speed. Because speed was valued more
than comfort, bikes were fitted with single seats and low handle bars, such as
ace bars, or even one-sided clip-ons mounted directly onto the front forks for
more precise control and to escape the wind. Distinctive half or sometimes
full race fairings, and large, hand-made, aluminum racing petrol/gas tanks
were frequently left unpainted. Swept-back exhausts and rearset footpegs
were used to give better clearance whilst leaning through corners at speed.
These motorcycles were lean, light and handled road surfaces well.
motorcycle as well as a type of motorcyclist. Both meanings have their roots
in the 1960s British counterculture group the Rockers or the Ton Up Club.
Rockers were a young and rebellious Rock and Roll counterculture that
wanted a fast, personalized and distinctive bike to travel between transport
cafes. The goal of many was to be able to reach 100 miles per hour (called
simply "the ton") along such a route where the rider would leave from a cafe,
race to a predetermined point and back to the cafe before a single song
could play on the jukebox.
The bikes had a raw, utilitarian and stripped-down appearance while the
engines were tuned for maximum speed. Because speed was valued more
than comfort, bikes were fitted with single seats and low handle bars, such as
ace bars, or even one-sided clip-ons mounted directly onto the front forks for
more precise control and to escape the wind. Distinctive half or sometimes
full race fairings, and large, hand-made, aluminum racing petrol/gas tanks
were frequently left unpainted. Swept-back exhausts and rearset footpegs
were used to give better clearance whilst leaning through corners at speed.
These motorcycles were lean, light and handled road surfaces well.
| Cafe Racer History |