Discussion What is the definition of a cafe racer ?

Maelstrom Do NOT get me started on Chinese bikes they'd make a great boat anchor but that's where it ends I'd like to drag em all out of their containers at the docks and drive tanks over em and THEN sit there doin this just for the hell of it

 

Remember that "made in Japan" meant cheap rubbish once, too. Now look at them! The Chinese are just starting with vehicles, actually, a number of Japanese and European brands have vehicles made in China already. So don't write them off forever.

 

Totally agree with ShaneP, we have been selling Chinese engines etc for going on 10 years or so, nothing wrong with the engines, but unfortunately the problems come when the lesser known bike brands put these engines into very dubious frames & suspension systems, & shocking electrical setups.
But that is not to say they are all like that at all, in fact a lot of very reputable motor cycle Companies, Japanese, European & American manufactures are getting their product made in China.

 

To me Cafe Racer generally says one thing; AVOID

Now, I appreciate there's probably a lot of highly skilled entirely competent engineers out there who's blood pressure suddenly spiked, but bear with me out ...

As previous posts have pointed out a "true" racer was a (barely) street-legal road bike, small to medium capacity by current standards, and usually as single or twin - this was inevitably modded by the owner, and that always been the problem.

Sometimes they get it spot-on, but usually it involves taking a lot of perfectly reasonable stuff off, and replacing it with "steam punk" nonsense, not content with that, frames get chopped, seats upholstered, tyres swapped, exhausts bound with tape.

Now I'm not actually *against* that sort of stuff in principle, I just I don't like it seen done to half-reasonable bikes.

If it's a complete minger, and what you're working on is of very little historical relvance, then go ahead. otherwise, give itto someone who'll care about it!

Now it won't escape most of you that I sport a non-standard fairing on my bike, it's entirely un-doable and is held in place with three brackets NO BIKES WERE HARMED IN THIS BIT OF NONSENSE!

 

It appears that there are two simultaneous conversations going on here: One - defining a cafe racer
And Two - What makes bikes look ****... now that second one is really not worth looking into at all as well.... there are as many definitions as forum members..

The former topic of conversation however can be made sense of in light of history. My grandfather was a "cafe racer" and a "rocker" for the larger portion of his life until the arthritis took over; his theory had always been "a cafe racer is whatever makes me faster than old mate". They used to remove every scrap of fairing, oil tanks, drilling holes, removing spokes, seats and anything worth a damn in safety. the theory seemed to be function well before form... if form was ever even considered.

My ultra-modern idea of a cafe racer would be a gp bike with everything non-essential removed, now this would not please the aesthetic muscles of many people- but that was never the point...

But what do I know