Modern Vespa

I've been looking at cafe racer style motor cycles for the better part of a year. I was thinking if I ever decided to move up from scooters I'd probably go cafe bike.

Now i realize these may well have a bit of stigma to them as i belive there is a long and textured history between racers and mods or what ever (motorcycles vs scooters) but who else here likes these kinds of bikes?

Post pics of the kind you like too.

here's a few i liked:

I think the majority of the people here who are serious about their scooter's heritage can appreciate a good cafe racer when they see one...

I like 'em to look at, but I don't know how much I'd enjoy riding one...

There seems to be this notion that MVers are anti-motorcycle—I don't find that true at all. A lot of us have espoused our love for BMWs (vintage and new), '60s and '70s Japanese bikes, the Aprilia Mana, various European bikes and so on. It seems that despite whatever history's there (and in the US, there's not much), many of us just appreciate the aesthetics and engineering of a lot of 2-wheelers. Just so happens we express this via scooters (though ere are a lot of people who own both scooters and motorcycles). If anything, there may some animosity between MVers and certain types of motorcyclists, but that's as much about who they are (squids, Harley posers, whatever) as what they ride I think the cafe racers fall into this and that you'll find a lot of fans of them here.

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I think scooters vs. motorbikes is as silly as modern vs. vintage.

I saw a Ducati cafe racer a few months ago that gave me a total wide on.

I wanted it so badly.

I still dream about it.

I don't know what model it was. That's not a good start. But maybe one day it will be mine...


edit: 750SS looks about right.

Last edited by Scooterrific on Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:45 pm; edited 1 time in total

Enemy? For real?

Just ride what you like. You don't need anyone's permission here. That mods vs. rockers thing is as fresh and relevant today as rotary telephones and Buicks.

It's the 21st century and British kids haves other reasons to kick each other's asses these days beyond whether or not one likes Gene Vincent or The Kinks.

Absolute CLASSIC

Cheers

Never really liked motorcycles, but for the better part of a year, I've started to get into cafe racers. Absolutely love them now.

from were the name 'cafe racer' came?? doh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_racer

the term "cafe" is thrown about pretty loosely down here in the socal area.

to me it conjures up a certain asethetic....

something like this:



this makes me tight in the pants.

however, an H2 done up in the same fashion would pretty much make me swear in church.

as for "cafe"... there was only one person i knew that when he said that word, i KNEW for a FACT that it would be something that i'd be impressed by.

Doug @ Moto Carrera

dammn, i miss that guy.

best,
-greasy

total wide on?
tight in the pants?
swear in church?

What the f? I'm all in.

What great looking machines, takes me back to the Mods n Rockers when I was riding my Vespa in the 60s.

No matter how blinkered you are as a scooterist you've got to appreciate the engineering work in these fantastic bikes........Paul

We can tell that from your avatar. Quick inspection before you hit the track!

Loose nuts kill.

Here is Mrs. Badpenguin's cafe...

Nice Enfield!

If you folks are into cafe racer style, this is *the* book for you. Flip through this book and you'll never be the same. Just wait until you see the pic of the rocker jacket that says, "WOT, NO BIKE?" Click the pic below to go to Amazon and enjoy. Trust me on this. WOT, NO BIKE???

This roundfin Guzzi is FREAKIN BEAUTIFUL. Looks like a small block too. Thats one of my favorite things about the cafes, there is not so much emphasis on displacement. I like this pic
which I lifted out of this thread on cafe racers.

I love these bikes. after searching 3 years for one I finally got one in april - 3200 miles on it!
If anyone is interested - this one just posted up for sale in CA.
http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63474

If I was to do a motorcycle again it would be a cafe racer style for sure.

I love the looks of cafe racers but I found the Thruxton to be a little uncomfortable for me on an extended ride compared to a T100. I love the even more vintage look like this new Enfield (not a cafe racer) and find myself leaning towards Bobbers these days.

I wish Enfields were sold in California.

"modified for speed and good handling, rather than comfort"

No, thanks.

They do look appealing, though.

I WANT ONE!!!!!

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Wow, that's low mileage...great find! If you don't mind me asking, how much did you get it for?

There is a guy in San Diego that wants $3500 for a bike with 24k on it.

These are a blast to ride...definately not for long distances...but great around town!

Unfortunately this project has failed...they were pricey too.

Also, just as unfortunate...some guys here in San Diego almost brought back the Vincent HRD...

I saw in a scooter documentary, that the rockers would time themselves from getting from point a to point b (one cafe to another) hence the term. And of course the cafe's would be miles apart on the other side of the T. River, so they had to get their in record time.

Sounds cool to me!

It was also supposed to come in Carbon Fiber...

that's real pretty

Have to agree with you on this one, Kingnor - when I do move-up to a true motorcycle, I'd be more inclined to get a CR-styled bike than I would a cruiser or sport bike. A little more style and pinash to it than anything else. Gotta keep it Mods 'n' Rockers, y'know?

The only exception would be to get a tourer, just for the sake of dragging the g/f around.

true, and if you were to try and "tour" on a Cafe bike, i think you'd be hateing life. and your GF would have fallen off hours before.

My first bike was a 1964 Royal Enfield Continental 250 with the chrome jellymould tank. When I went to look it was in boxes and buckets and cost me sixty-five dollars. I was delighted that I could afford it.

some little drop bars and a sport seat and you'd've been all set.

(you'd've!!)

Truth be told : it was an underpowered pig. I still like the way they look though.

cheers

well from what i understand, the original cafe bikes of the 60's wern't all that fast in of themselves. sorta like the old 4banger hot rods.

they were only fast becasue they were stripped of all non-essentials, and the rider tucked in as much as he could. breaking 100mph was a pretty lofty brag i think.


now a days motorcycles are insane with their power:weight ratio.

Love em cafes...especially the XS Yamahas...then I think about that last 135mph getoff in turn 3...Naaah!

Don't try to make your addiction part of Mrs. Badpenguin!

Lots of truth in that. And suspension has come a long way , too.

She owns it...I ride it...no addiction!

mrs badpenguin's bike is super sweet, and i'd buy moike's also. but i've been looking at moped cafe racers too.. they look like tons of fun, and would fit into my garage a lot better than a full size motorcycle now