If you read up on the history of the "brat style" it kind of makes sense for me there are 3 main categories of bikes Stock User modified art/show bikes..... or lamlams (look at me look at me) all the other titles are just lifestyle identity tags
I actually posted this link in another thread but it is probably more relevant here. This is a 4 part BBC Doco on The Glory Days of British Motorbikes and covers the "Cafe Racer" phenomenon.. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6f9PDd78CvFPJ8amNERcD58FCzopH_z9 Realistically.. the British boys were doing a very similar thing to what the Americans were doing to their homegrown bikes (Harleys)... Early Post War bikes (AJS, BSA, Norton) were originally military machines with plenty of weight so they were stripped down to allow them to road race.. they all wanted to be "Ton up" boys and weight was always a limiting factor so anything that didnt make it go faster.. had to go... Manufacturers soon got on board and the likes of Norton, Triumph and BSA were producing powerful (for the day) machines with increasing capacity and much better handling with styling similar to the early Cafe Racers or even race machines barely legal for the road once optioned up. Americans were doing the same sort of thing with Harleys and they were "chopping" them up initially to go faster but then they were being stylised with extended forks, sissy bars etc as this was more suited to the American roads.. they didnt need to go round too many corners. Then along comes the Japanese Bike industry.. The bike that really broke the British Bike industry and hit the US hard as well was the original Honda 750 4. The rise of the sport bike started there and has gone on in leaps and bounds. Cafe Racers have gone very much along the line of Choppers... many these days are so far removed from the original concept that they bare very little resemblance to what we would call a "classic" Cafe Racer or Chopper. In the end it doesnt matter what you call your modified bike... if it suits your purpose then that is all that matters.. my tastes are different to yours etc.. in the end.. we all just love Bikes Some other reading material... http://caferacertv.com/the-history-of-cafe-racers/
"Cafe Racer" phenomenon has to be better than some of the trends of late... A "Bagger" appears to be a bike with a huge front wheel and saddle bags!
Geez, I only know of 1, 2 or 3 baggers. Nothing at all to with motorbikes, more like Town Bikes Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Im going to refer to them as stupid , ugly , gross and a total waste of time and money ..... and I bet they corner well too A bag of shite
I'm not sure. I know HD and Indian folks talk about "baggers" when they refer to touring bikes or anything with saddle bags. More importantly, I'm with the Chief on my opinion of them...yuk. They remind me of a tricycle I used to ride as a 2-year old.
It is certainly the case.. .the term was originally used as an insult but they are becoming a bit of a cult thing in the US now for some unknown reason.. oh wait.. their taste is in their a$$... that would be it.
Not a hard one to work out really is it ....... THIS ....is a Cafe Racer THIS ... is a Cafe Racer THIS ....is just WRONG on SO MANY levels
Exhaust wrap - check Brown seat - check Illegal / lacking mudguard - check Exhaust wrap - check Pod filter - check Case closed
So ..Just to check-check I take it you're agreeing the little Honda 'isn't, what some deem to be a 'cafe racer-check? Coz 'if that's the case ... I'm in complete agreement-check
Yep, a 'cafe racer' built for looks and flogged for sale by the likes of certain trendy inner city 'motorcycle garages' to hipsters... $10,000 for a GSX250 hacked to bits... bargain!
You inspired me @Linkin, problem solved. The new name for those things is 'Latte Racer', or we could go for Starbucks Racer.