I think it is very true that the notion of cafe racer is more to do with paying homage to the spirit of individual design and engineering expression these days rather than seeking augmented performance. Those days are long gone and as you say there are are plenty of sports bikes to choose from if speed is your god. However, I would argue that individualization is what cafe racing has always been about more over than pure performance chasing and that sprint between burger joints that coined the phrase "cafe racer" is a label that describes the rider more over than the machine.
una Cafe Racer debe cumplir con 3 objetivos según mi criterio 1) tener una posturo "deportiva" o "competitiva" porque es de carrera el origen, no de paseo 2) llegar a las 100 millas por hora, que era el objetivo en su momento 3) tener un diseño "retro" y "minimalista" esto es para que cumpla las 3 normas de cada objeto en la vida FORMA,FUERZA y FUNCIÓN excelente canal, espero el proximo video saludos desde Chile, otro apasionado por las Cafe Racer =)
Diego H Rincón Yes and no. :) As Portuguese, i understand very well the spanish language, and I also speak more or less well. The problem is writing in spanish. Only a few words. :) Saludos.
Cafe racer is the art of love to motorbikes. Bikes you present and the way how you do it is also art. I am very grateful to find this channel. Mujto obrigado.
We build them for ourselves and hope others will also appreciate them. Mine is a 77 Yamaha XS500. Not fast or light but I love the style and feel of the bike.
Totally agree with your theory. I have always designed and built my projects to represent what I want to them to look, feel and sound like. If that is achieved I'm happy, if someone else likes it I'm happier, if people love it, then I'm overwhelmed. 🏍
Caro amigo, Eu diria, com um dito popular bem carioca, que o importante é ser feliz. Uma moto personalizada é a materialização de um gosto pessoal ou mesmo de um sonho. Se o dono abre um belo sorriso a cada dia que se apresenta para um passeio com a sua café racer, então a moto cumpriu seu objetivo. Até a proxima semana!
Great observations. In the 50´s and 60´s, everything was more black and white, even on the definition of a motorcycle and a cafe racer. But as we go forward, we find ourselves looking back in time. But because no one aspect of life is independent from another, it would be impossible for the objectives of a cafe racer or anything in life, especially in term of technology to have the same consistency. Therefore the definition or reason behind having a cafe racer is and will always be in constant evolution.
Hello my friend, I'm looking through all of your posts that I haven't yet seen, once again you have presented it beautifully. I was talking to a "Purest" just a few days ago, and he was telling me that the "Cafè" bikes I have built are "really, really very good" but "they arn't really Cafè Racer's", obviously I was taken aback by this, but to the fact I'm a second generation builder/rider/hobbiest, and the people I leant from were there when it all started. Apparently it's not so much the design, but more importantly the base bikes I choose, please bere in mind that this guy was a good 20yrs younger than me. The point he was trying to make was a modern motorcycle cannot be used to build a true Cafè bike, this guy has not only bought every single bike, car and everything else he's ever had with his daddy's money, but he has never so much as turned a spanner on any of them. Please don't get me wrong, you don't have to build it yourself to make it lagit, if that was the case then their would hardly be any out there. This guy is just a "Poseres" he has bought into the lifestyle, the right jeans with just the right amount of wear, the right boots with the right amount of scuffing on the right boot to show he only rides British the era correct helmet and of course the jacket to round it all off, all this done by someone else. Anyway back to the plot, he tells me that a "real Cafè Racer" can only be British, from the 50's 60's and from the biggest engined bikes of the day and the parts that were stripped can only be replaced by OEM, in those 3 areas he shows that he knows absofuckinlutly nothing, even back then not all the bikes were British, and why should they have been, at the end of the war their were masses of bikes from all over the place that ended up staying here. The biggest engine's from manufacturers, if they were the biggest and fastest why would you need to make them go faster, they would probably be the fastest out there, but the biggest reason for this being shite was the guys back then couldn't afford to buy the best, the greater majority of them would buy what they could afford, others inherited some, and in some cases I know of were given a frame and a load of parts from different bikes that they built themselves, money was tight, and this was a huge factor in the creation of "Café Racer's". As for replacement of parts with OEM that speaks for itself, why take off a part and replace it with the identical part, some of these guys would run their bikes with very little full just to save weight. I find it difficult to talk to people like him, partly because they think they know what their talking about, but mainly because they need a smack. From the first handers that I've known they tell me that it didn't matter what bike you had,it mattered that you had it, as for the biggest engine, well you only have to look at the originals that are about today, as for replacement parts, some just didn't get replaced. It's about the journey, camaraderie, and the being out there, just like it is today. It really doesn't matter what bike you choose, or whether you build it using your own hands, it's the journey you go on together, I don't really care what others think of what I've built, as long as I true to what I believe, and how it makes me feel, but then again I have always built my own, this was due to the fact I had fuck all as a kid, and i bought plenty of motorcycles in Tea chests and figured them out myself, fuck I even charged others for building their bikes for them, even one of my teachers at senior school. What I'm really trying to say is, don't look down on anyone just because their not like you, if it weren't for them there wouldn't be any "Café Racer's" , "the "Poseres " that buy their bikes have shuved up the prices of anything and everything that came from that time period, to unbelievable prices, way outside the reach of the working class, so now we do what the originals did, we take what we have, and make it the way we want it, regardless of where it comes from, sometimes regardless of how it looks, and even regardless of its performance, sometimes it's just for the fun of doing it.
Hi. I am glad to see you here again. Yes, i understand everything you said. And i agree with most of it, including what your friend said about the true original cafe racers. But nowadays, the original purpose of the old cafe racer motorcycles, does not make sense anymore. Like i said in this video, if we follow a pure perspective of a cafe racer, we would end with something similar to a modern Yamaha R1. And this means that this rebirth of the cafe racer scene, must have a different approach. :) Thank you my friend for sharing your perspective. :) Cheers.
To me it's the rakish looks, the simplification of appearance, but also very much how it feels the position as a rider that you tailor to yourself plus how you make all the controls feel,trying to get a good balance weight to everything plus a mechanical feel,which is why I like drum brakes.its got to look like an artist penned it,basically it's just wonderful to see all these creations and manufacturers trying to revisit the past there past perhaps.
caro Vitor essa é a essência de um apaixonado por duas rodas, não importa cilindrada , stilo, ou marca, amamos motocicletas!!!!! forte abraço a todos do canal e mais uma vez um belo vídeo
Well said my friend, it's all about freedom of choice, democracy, respect and the seek of beauty. In his autobiography Sonny Barger wrote that choppers were built for looks, speed and ultimate discomfort. So it seems that it doesn't matter if the approach is more psychedelic flamboyant in the case of americans or racer oriented in the case of europeans, all those who buid and ride custom machines want something much more personal on which, cold technical aspects are secundary. Regards from Brazil. And a ride new year ; )
Great video. Very interesting topic. For me, real cafe racers are bikes that were built to be ridden. Any styling the designer prefers is fine, until it becomes an exercise in styling that can't be ridden for any practical distance. There has to be some engineering behind the art, because when an artist designs a motorcycle, the look is contrived and artificial, no matter how well proportioned and fluid the look of the bike is. When an engineer designs it, it looks like a new sportbike. Cafe racers are so cool because successful designers are doing a balancing act between art and engineering. And exactly how that balance is achieved gives room for personal expression - that enables the designs to be diverse, beautiful, and work on the road.
Muito bem mencionado Vitor, concordo com suas palavras, eu mesmo conclui meu projeto e mesmo com algumas criticas não fico decepcionado, pois realizei meu sonho e com minhas características e minha personalidade, e fiquei muito feliz e realizado.
I have a Suzuki GN125cc. ( @ 170cc) Moto from which I increased its power and improved its dynamics relieving weight. I did this because I like the coferacer style and why I wanted a small and fast motorcycle for everyday use.
Every Motorcycle is simply what That Individual chooses to ride... Whether it is 'custom paint' or a cluster of options, or a full-on Start from Scratch Custom...and the style and configuration is up to the owner to decide. I see MANY bikes that I personally would not choose to ride...yet I can respect and appreciate what that owner/rider has chosen! The same is true for All Vehicles. Many owners just 'take what the factory offers'...while many others choose to make it an individual vehicle of their own design and purpose.
Hello Im watching your videos for months... or years... They are all fantastic! Im also building Cafe Racers in my garage but in the end I have always problems to find the right tire... I know, that the firestone champion might be the best tire for every cafe racer project, but actually they are not allowed in my country (Switzerland)... Because of the speed index. Im looking forward for watching a video about tires... which are allowed and look perfect! 😊😊😊 Best regards, David
my approach for building my cafe racer started with a desired "look" then started with a "basket case" superbike from my youth that came to me completely torn apart. It started with a desired "look" then transformed into a desired "ride" as well.....
Ver unas buenas motocicletas cafe racer provoca un placer similar a contemplar en total paz un hermoso paisaje, por lo menos para mí, y aún teniendo en cuenta que soy un fanático de los automóviles. Grandioso video.
Modern life is so good and comfortable that a major driver of how we choose to live is based on whether we have an audience or not. I'm sure choppers and cafe racers fill a hole for a lot of people.
Pois é, trata-se de materializar e reviver um conceito e um estilo motociclístico de ver, sentir e ser. Época em que o objetivo não era ser feliz, pois quem buscava uma Café Racer já era (é) feliz. O objetivo é o prazer na pilotagem, em viver cada momento como único, na amizade envolvida, no desafio construtivo tecnologicamente limitado, na relação duradoura homem-máquina e no apreciar a vida não apenas na eficiência pura, mas a partir do estilo de cada um. Obrigado, amigo.
Grande vídeo como sempre, concordo com vc! a motocicleta que despertou minha paixão pelas duas rodas foi uma 125cc, mesmo sem um grande motor e design moderno me fez gostar deste universo e não parar mais, parabéns pelo vídeo! Abraço.
well said. I have owned several sport bikes and even though the stance in principals are similar, the soul is not. bikes with soul as you pointed out in a video long ago is the main ingredient in a cafe bike
motorcycle passion starts from the first interaction\memory, regardless of age and stays with you stamped till you are the one on the seat riding a motorcycle for passion, racing, customizing ever evolving art of two wheels.
Perfeito, o seu texto ! Da uma idéia de uma coisa que (nós os amantes das cafés) nunca iremos querer. Seguir o "lugar comum". Queremos sonhar e criar as condições para tornar esses sonhos em realidades, baseadas nos projetos que idealizamos. Nunca seremos "comuns"!
O que conta é A paixão, o estilo, a personalização, o detalhe que o padrão não traz cada Café racer tem sua identidade, sua característica do próprio dono isso é simplesmente único, Belo e transformador mostra-nos que somos humanos sobre as máquinas e não o contrario
Hi. Im from Philippines and I like to watch all of about to have a cafe racer. I build in my own cafe racer which is mya Kawasaki Barako 175. And Im inspired to your video that I always watched 👌👏
Very well said my friend. This begs the question, can one turn a modern sport bike into a cafe racer? By the way, the red Honda CX500 in your story looks great. Thanks again for the video. Please keep up the good work!
Yes, it is. I won't say that is possible with any modern bike, but there are some models from which is perfectly possible. Thanks for your comment. Cheers.
At first, I thought I disagreed with your opening statement; then, quickly found that I basically agree. These days, you can buy a "sport bike" that will go nearly 200 miles per hour (though where you'd actually ride that fast, outside of a race track, I've no idea.) I've always considered "sport bikes" ugly, uncomfortable, and impractical. So style DOES play an important part in what constitutes a cafe racer; and it is, indeed, much more of a styling exercise than it originally was. Consequently, I find that I like small cafe racers, even if they won't "do the ton;" they're still cool. And you can customize anything you want.
What a gorgeous collection of machinery. I have no riding experience but have been thinking of getting into it. I can imagine nothing more wonderful than choosing the cafe racer genre. The riding position makes me wonder though -- are they comfortable for more than short rides or can one spend a couple of hours riding with no issues? Thank you for any input!
Cafe racer isn't bike right now it's art Cafe racer is art but some people think it still stuck from part but in fact it's art and it can goin with you anywhere
Excelente vídeo concordo plenamente. Certa vez falei com um "purista" sobre o que ia fazer e ia alterar , e ele começou a rir e criticar. Excelente FINAL PS: quando fazem um passeio aqui no algarve?
Obrigado amigo por partilhar a sua pequena história. Entendo-o perfeitamente. é precisamente essa falta de tolerância que não gosto de ver nos mais "Puristas". Infelizmente o Algarve ainda é muito longe de onde vivo. Só se for mesmo de férias. :) Um abraço.
Exelentes interface entre uma moto e outra. Ficou muito legal este video. A criatividade em escolher as motos pra fazer as trocas deve ter sido detalhada parabens Vitor pelo trabalho. Abs ate a next week.
Muito obrigado amigo. Eu já imaginava que os seguidores iriam gostar da transição entre as 2 motos. Dá algum trabalho, mas acho que vale a pena. A partir de hoje, irei tentar fazer o mesmo em quase todos os videos. :) Um abraço.
One of the best narrator on YT i really, really! Love it more power to your channel sir :) you inspire me to build my cafe racer to a better path thank you :)
o que importa é o vento passando!!a gasolina queimando!!as retas sumindo!!as curvas!!descidas e subidas!!sou amante das antigas,mas não tenho problemas com quem gosta das modernas!!abçs
Thought provoking video....for me it's about customising your bike to go ,stop & handle better than stock while looking like a racer from the 1950's because they looked like "proper" bikes,& the performance of modern cafe racer's (sports bikes) is pretty unusable on the roads of today (unfortunately). Thanks! 👍
Yes, i wanted to provoke a little bit, but without offend anyone. My intention was to bring some tolerance about this issue. thank you my friend for your comment. :) Cheers.
Let me describe my vision of the café: Air-cooled 2 cylinders engine: twin, v-twin, boxer, don't mater; Spoke wheels, Clip-on handle bar, Solo seat with a café style tail; Riders footpegs are moved back to get a sporty rider position; No fairing, or a very few fairing; Weight less then 200 kg or close; Abuility to get 160 km/h (a tonn)
Hi! Sorry I haven't commented on the videos in a while. Been busy and ugly canadian weather has distracted me from bikes as I prep for winter. "Some people criticize that most of the cafe racer projects are merely an exercise in style. And I have to ask, what is the problem with that?" Before I answer that, I want to also point out your line "What I don't like is to hear criticism that only light and powerful motorcycles are the real cafe racer". Which I too dislike. Just so I dont get initially taken out of context in what follows. I think most of the concerns and critics are from people like me who really want to appreciate the ride. It is as you said in the beginning. A cafe was about making the bike lighter and faster from a time where manufactured fast bikes were far too expensive for most people. So you buy the small bike, tune it up to do the ton. they were death machines with inferior brakes and suspensions, but they were fast. This is where my contradiction comes in. People put style so far ahead of function that the final product is often slower and poorer performing than the original product. Chopping up rear suspensions. Putting on balloon tires. Running open pipes. Pod filter on Keihin CV carbs. All detract from the ability to actually ride it from the original product. In my eyes, doing that isn't a cafe racer, but an insult to the origins of the cafe. Cafe is a style and you have shared many fantastic looking motorcycles that capture the essence of cafe while still being able to be used on the roads. Mid you, this opinion goes to all form of vehicular modification. I just find a dislike for any form of modification or build be it bike, car, truck or recreational vehicle that makes it perform worse with no gain other than style. This excludes show vehicles. Where the artistry in itself is the purpose. I have the utmost respect for those that put such fine detail and craftsmanship into their project. At which point it is approached as art instead of an attempt to be a "poser" The line though can be grey at times... Your bike that you have shared is one of my more favorite examples of cafe. A cafe does not need to be big, expensive and fast. They got their start with the bikes people could afford, and work done by their own hands. It is why I rate yours quite high on the shared cafe. Yours appears rideable and the changes done to give yourself a bit more of a sporty ergonomics and riding position. It is one to be proud of and one that would attract my eye at the show. I used a special word earlier. Essence. Why would somebody cafe an old bike to try and go faster when they can buy a new bike? Well there is that "feel" that an older bike offers. The way the throttle responds to finely tuned carburetors. The sound of everything mechanical driving the engine. And the sheer connection one gets when you know every nut, bolt and wire. Aside from the Nighthawk, I have two other old honda motorcycles. I take pride in knowing every nut and bolt on the bike. All the fine nuances of the sound! I just cannot bring myself to consider a non rideable bike to be a cafe. It is cafe style, but only in style. Like "Rice" in the car area (Race Inspired Cosmetic Enhancements) It has the style of a race car, but it is it's own class. I am really not sure what I would define a non-rideable cafe as...
As I see it, the rebirth of the Cafe Racer (Bobber, Brat, etc.)as to do with looks and roar above all, not speed. Already for several years the big brands keep evolving to nasty even creepy, disgusting designs, thinking that horsepower and electronics is what matters to sell. Well... the looks of a vintage customized or refurbished bike are Unbreakable. It just has a Huge soul into it and that no modernity can go above. Modern bikes are clearly done by machines, that´s their flaw. All the others this channel describes... are dreamed and done by hot blooded hands and minds, passionate for visual balance and clearing the throat of old engines, for their great Roar... even if they only produce a hand full of horsepower.
well i probably have a lot of work ahead of me. i have a 2003 ttr225 that i plan on turning in to a cafe racer instead of getting rid of but i hope it turns out good
A modern cafe racer built by one himself is about showing one's style. the lack of personality and feel in a modern bike are the reason for one to build such a machine.
I think my 1982 Suz Katana 1000 qualified as a cafe racer and sport bike. Back then I couldn't find an aftermarket exhaust for it with the right sound. Otherwise it was a very special bike.
thanks for inspiring me and to have the courage to buy my first motorcycle which will be a cb250t HONDA which I hope will restore and modify a cafe racer and Gracas to your videos I have and idea where to start thank you very much from El Salvador, CentroAmerica SaLudosa
Melhor video desse canal, como sempre um ótimo trabalho, mas esse tem um tom de verdade forte onde é um contraste enorme com a realidade de cafe racers no brasil, onde o preço do projeto é condicionado a ter um desempenho extremo para valer apena e os outros projetos que não são focados nisso sofrem um certo preconceito dos "puristas". No brasil já existe um preconceito com motos e carros modificados ( popularmente conhecido como xuning bahia por ter um povo preconceituoso) e aqueles que podem fazer um projeto com maior custo, discrimina outras pessoas que fazem o mesmo que ele com baixo custo, criando maior discriminação possível. Ainda assim terei com muito orgulho uma cafe racer, de preferencia de baixa cilindrada ❤
Obrigado amigo por partilhar a sua perspectiva. Eu compreendo que o poder de compra aí no Brasil seja menor do que em muitos outros Países. Mas em compensação, vocês têm uma vantagem que a maioria não tem. O valor da mão de obra é relativamente baixo. Nos países mais ricos passa-se exactamente o contrário, as peças são baratas, mas fica muito caro conseguir alguém que faça um assento personalizado, ou um chapeiro que molde uma rabeta em chapa. Nas próximas semanas, vou apresentar um projecto feito na Argentina que demonstra exactamente isso. :) Um abraço.
Hi, just wanted to ask you a question, What to you think to be the best bike to do a cafe racer/scrambler with a Steve Mcqueen 's style ? but with some cool performances ? thanks , good video again ;)
It has to be the "Triumph metisse desert racer". I already made a video about this bike. Unfortunately, performance do not makes part of this kind of motorcycle. Thanks for your comment. Cheers.
wow. men. I'd not say it better. how good to listen someone wise. :-D btw if you like ride on some bike and you "unfating" this bike than original is you will be faster. or you just thinking you are. but I think the café racers scramblers and other classic shapes have soul and something unique that rider can says: hell. I'm in heaven. and as always it was a pleasure to watch RacerTv. thx. and I hope to....
Motociclismo é paixão, a motocicleta, não é um mero meio de transporte, ela tem a ver com a alma de quem a possui. Independente de criticas, se vc esta feliz com sua moto, isso é o que vale. Sejamos Felizes, Bom final de semana a todos.
NOTA 10 ESSE CANAL. EXPRESSA COMO POUCOS O SENTIMENTO DE QUEM É APAIXONADO PELO MOTOCICLISMO. SE FOR POSSÍVEL AMIGO DIZ QUAL O NOME DA MÚSICA QUE TOCA AO FUNDO.
You nailed it mate. Every cafe racer motorcycle is the personification of its builder. Every builder is his own approach.
Thank you my friend for sharing your perspective. :) Cheers.
I think it is very true that the notion of cafe racer is more to do with paying homage to the spirit of individual design and engineering expression these days rather than seeking augmented performance. Those days are long gone and as you say there are are plenty of sports bikes to choose from if speed is your god. However, I would argue that individualization is what cafe racing has always been about more over than pure performance chasing and that sprint between burger joints that coined the phrase "cafe racer" is a label that describes the rider more over than the machine.
Thank you my friend for sharing your prespective. :) Cheers.
Já fazia um tempo que não passava por aqui. Estou de volta e vejo que a essência não foi perdida. Parabéns pelo vídeo.
Obrigado amigo. Fico contente por vê-lo novamente por aqui. Um abraço.
una Cafe Racer debe cumplir con 3 objetivos según mi criterio
1) tener una posturo "deportiva" o "competitiva" porque es de carrera el origen, no de paseo
2) llegar a las 100 millas por hora, que era el objetivo en su momento
3) tener un diseño "retro" y "minimalista"
esto es para que cumpla las 3 normas de cada objeto en la vida
FORMA,FUERZA y FUNCIÓN
excelente canal, espero el proximo video
saludos desde Chile, otro apasionado por las Cafe Racer =)
Gracias amigo. :) Saludos.
hablan español :v
Diego H Rincón
Yes and no. :) As Portuguese, i understand very well the spanish language, and I also speak more or less well. The problem is writing in spanish. Only a few words. :) Saludos.
RACER TV saludos :)
Luis Henriquez buena buena weon
Cafe racer is the art of love to motorbikes. Bikes you present and the way how you do it is also art. I am very grateful to find this channel. Mujto obrigado.
:) Thank you my friend for all your kind words. I appreciate your support. :) Cheers.
@@RACER_TV By what I see, I suspect (could be wrong) you are using Lumix camera, in a way how I feel colors. I like your style.
We build them for ourselves and hope others will also appreciate them. Mine is a 77 Yamaha XS500. Not fast or light but I love the style and feel of the bike.
I love the way you presented the facts of preference. Individual taste is what makes them unique. Thank you!
Totally agree with your theory. I have always designed and built my projects to represent what I want to them to look, feel and sound like. If that is achieved I'm happy, if someone else likes it I'm happier, if people love it, then I'm overwhelmed. 🏍
Thank you my friend for sharing your prespective. :) Cheers.
Caro amigo,
Eu diria, com um dito popular bem carioca, que o importante é ser feliz.
Uma moto personalizada é a materialização de um gosto pessoal ou mesmo de um sonho. Se o dono abre um belo sorriso a cada dia que se apresenta para um passeio com a sua café racer, então a moto cumpriu seu objetivo.
Até a proxima semana!
Exactamente amigo. Cada um com o seu próprio estilo e ao seu próprio gosto. :) Obrigado pelo comentário. Um abraço.
Great observations.
In the 50´s and 60´s, everything was more black and white,
even on the definition of a motorcycle and a cafe racer. But as we go forward,
we find ourselves looking back in time. But because no one aspect of life is independent
from another, it would be impossible for the objectives of a cafe racer or
anything in life, especially in term of technology to have the same
consistency. Therefore the definition or reason behind having a cafe racer is
and will always be in constant evolution.
Indeed. I agree with everything you said. Thanks for sharing your perspective. Cheers.
Hello my friend, I'm looking through all of your posts that I haven't yet seen, once again you have presented it beautifully. I was talking to a "Purest" just a few days ago, and he was telling me that the "Cafè" bikes I have built are "really, really very good" but "they arn't really Cafè Racer's", obviously I was taken aback by this, but to the fact I'm a second generation builder/rider/hobbiest, and the people I leant from were there when it all started. Apparently it's not so much the design, but more importantly the base bikes I choose, please bere in mind that this guy was a good 20yrs younger than me. The point he was trying to make was a modern motorcycle cannot be used to build a true Cafè bike, this guy has not only bought every single bike, car and everything else he's ever had with his daddy's money, but he has never so much as turned a spanner on any of them. Please don't get me wrong, you don't have to build it yourself to make it lagit, if that was the case then their would hardly be any out there. This guy is just a "Poseres" he has bought into the lifestyle, the right jeans with just the right amount of wear, the right boots with the right amount of scuffing on the right boot to show he only rides British the era correct helmet and of course the jacket to round it all off, all this done by someone else. Anyway back to the plot, he tells me that a "real Cafè Racer" can only be British, from the 50's 60's and from the biggest engined bikes of the day and the parts that were stripped can only be replaced by OEM, in those 3 areas he shows that he knows absofuckinlutly nothing, even back then not all the bikes were British, and why should they have been, at the end of the war their were masses of bikes from all over the place that ended up staying here. The biggest engine's from manufacturers, if they were the biggest and fastest why would you need to make them go faster, they would probably be the fastest out there, but the biggest reason for this being shite was the guys back then couldn't afford to buy the best, the greater majority of them would buy what they could afford, others inherited some, and in some cases I know of were given a frame and a load of parts from different bikes that they built themselves, money was tight, and this was a huge factor in the creation of "Café Racer's". As for replacement of parts with OEM that speaks for itself, why take off a part and replace it with the identical part, some of these guys would run their bikes with very little full just to save weight. I find it difficult to talk to people like him, partly because they think they know what their talking about, but mainly because they need a smack. From the first handers that I've known they tell me that it didn't matter what bike you had,it mattered that you had it, as for the biggest engine, well you only have to look at the originals that are about today, as for replacement parts, some just didn't get replaced. It's about the journey, camaraderie, and the being out there, just like it is today. It really doesn't matter what bike you choose, or whether you build it using your own hands, it's the journey you go on together, I don't really care what others think of what I've built, as long as I true to what I believe, and how it makes me feel, but then again I have always built my own, this was due to the fact I had fuck all as a kid, and i bought plenty of motorcycles in Tea chests and figured them out myself, fuck I even charged others for building their bikes for them, even one of my teachers at senior school. What I'm really trying to say is, don't look down on anyone just because their not like you, if it weren't for them there wouldn't be any "Café Racer's" , "the "Poseres " that buy their bikes have shuved up the prices of anything and everything that came from that time period, to unbelievable prices, way outside the reach of the working class, so now we do what the originals did, we take what we have, and make it the way we want it, regardless of where it comes from, sometimes regardless of how it looks, and even regardless of its performance, sometimes it's just for the fun of doing it.
Hi. I am glad to see you here again. Yes, i understand everything you said.
And i agree with most of it, including what your friend said about the true original cafe racers.
But nowadays, the original purpose of the old cafe racer motorcycles, does not make sense anymore.
Like i said in this video, if we follow a pure perspective of a cafe racer, we would end with something similar to a modern Yamaha R1.
And this means that this rebirth of the cafe racer scene, must have a different approach. :) Thank you my friend for sharing your perspective. :) Cheers.
To me it's the rakish looks, the simplification of appearance, but also very much how it feels the position as a rider that you tailor to yourself plus how you make all the controls feel,trying to get a good balance weight to everything plus a mechanical feel,which is why I like drum brakes.its got to look like an artist penned it,basically it's just wonderful to see all these creations and manufacturers trying to revisit the past there past perhaps.
i love your music here it really opens my subconcious mind SPIRITUALITY..
Thank you. I'm glad you liked my friend. :) Cheers.
caro Vitor essa é a essência de um apaixonado por duas rodas, não importa cilindrada , stilo, ou marca, amamos motocicletas!!!!! forte abraço a todos do canal e mais uma vez um belo vídeo
Obrigado amigo pelo comentário. :) Um abraço.
I like the way you explain Cafe Racer. It’s so passionate and sweet in the way I think about Cafe Racer.
Thank you my friend for your support. :) Cheers.
Quase chorei. Definiu tudo o que penso sobre customizar motos. É o puro e simples porque eu gosto e porque eu quero.
Obrigado amigo por ter gostado assim tanto. :) Um abraço.
Couldn't agree more; a cafe racer is just a medium of expression not different from a song, a painting or a picture.
You forgot the fourth goal: "Infinitely more BEAUTIFUL"!
The beauty of sadness is feeling the pain. Thank you my friend.
You are welcome my friend. My pleasure. Cheers.
I felt that...I'm subbing .
Todos querem algo a sua cara. Querer agradar a todos não existe. Você é um óptimo psiquiatra motociclista. E como sempre até semana que vem.
Fernando J Ferreira Jr, bem lembrado! Além do ótimo conteúdo, há a parte do apoio, de nos provocar e incentivar!
Muito obrigado amigo Fernando. Aqui o "Doutor" agradece pela simpatia. :) Um abraço.
I dont have a bike,but i love this channel as if i own one.
no meu ponto de vista a maior satisfação está em processo de construção seja em nossa pequena oficina em casa. Obrigado por mais um excelente vídeo.
Obrigado amigo pelo comentário. :) Um abraço.
Yet another grand video of our best made bikes for all to view once again you have out done your self
Thank you my friend for your kind comment. :) Cheers.
Well said my friend, it's all about freedom of choice, democracy, respect and the seek of beauty. In his autobiography Sonny Barger wrote that choppers were built for looks, speed and ultimate discomfort. So it seems that it doesn't matter if the approach is more psychedelic flamboyant in the case of americans or racer oriented in the case of europeans, all those who buid and ride custom machines want something much more personal on which, cold technical aspects are secundary. Regards from Brazil. And a ride new year ; )
Thank you my friend for sharing your perspective. :) Um abraço e um bom ano para Você também. :)
Café racer ethos explained perfectly in a superb vídeo. Congratulations.
Thank you. I'm glad you liked my friend. :) Saludos.
Great video. Very interesting topic. For me, real cafe racers are bikes that were built to be ridden. Any styling the designer prefers is fine, until it becomes an exercise in styling that can't be ridden for any practical distance. There has to be some engineering behind the art, because when an artist designs a motorcycle, the look is contrived and artificial, no matter how well proportioned and fluid the look of the bike is. When an engineer designs it, it looks like a new sportbike. Cafe racers are so cool because successful designers are doing a balancing act between art and engineering. And exactly how that balance is achieved gives room for personal expression - that enables the designs to be diverse, beautiful, and work on the road.
Thank you my friend for sharing your prespective. :) Cheers.
Muito bem mencionado Vitor, concordo com suas palavras, eu mesmo conclui meu projeto e mesmo com algumas criticas não fico decepcionado, pois realizei meu sonho e com minhas características e minha personalidade, e fiquei muito feliz e realizado.
Obrigado amigo por partilhar o seu comentário. :) Um abraço.
I have a Suzuki GN125cc. ( @ 170cc)
Moto from which I increased its power and improved its dynamics relieving weight.
I did this because I like the coferacer style and why I wanted a small and fast motorcycle for everyday use.
Every Motorcycle is simply what That Individual chooses to ride... Whether it is 'custom paint' or a cluster of options, or a full-on Start from Scratch Custom...and the style and configuration is up to the owner to decide.
I see MANY bikes that I personally would not choose to ride...yet I can respect and appreciate what that owner/rider has chosen!
The same is true for All Vehicles. Many owners just 'take what the factory offers'...while many others choose to make it an individual vehicle of their own design and purpose.
Darth vador of cafe racer. Welcome to racer TV ! My favorite voice.
Lol. Thank you my friend for your support. :) Cheers.
Hello
Im watching your videos for months... or years... They are all fantastic!
Im also building Cafe Racers in my garage but in the end I have always problems to find the right tire...
I know, that the firestone champion might be the best tire for every cafe racer project, but actually they are not allowed in my country (Switzerland)... Because of the speed index.
Im looking forward for watching a video about tires... which are allowed and look perfect! 😊😊😊
Best regards, David
Mate, thanks for having the guts to say it can be about design and beauty, not necessarily light and fast.
and as always: wonderful! Thank you for making racer TV, again and again....
Thank you my friend for your support. :) Cheers.
my approach for building my cafe racer started with a desired "look" then started with a "basket case" superbike from my youth that came to me completely torn apart. It started with a desired "look" then transformed into a desired "ride" as well.....
Ver unas buenas motocicletas cafe racer provoca un placer similar a contemplar en total paz un hermoso paisaje, por lo menos para mí, y aún teniendo en cuenta que soy un fanático de los automóviles. Grandioso video.
Gracias amigo. Saludos.
Couldn't agree more..............we are one community with a passion for motorcycles customer or otherwise.
What a great way to spend my Saturday. Watching this vid.
Thank you. I'm glad you liked my friend. :) Cheers.
Não conseguia pensar numa conclusão melhor! (PERFEITA)
Obrigado amigo pelo comentário. :) Um abraço.
Modern life is so good and comfortable that a major driver of how we choose to live is based on whether we have an audience or not. I'm sure choppers and cafe racers fill a hole for a lot of people.
Thank you my friend for sharing your perspective. :) Cheers.
The beauty at 3:15. Amazing. Please make an episode on that. Amazing Video.
Pois é, trata-se de materializar e reviver um conceito e um estilo motociclístico de ver, sentir e ser. Época em que o objetivo não era ser feliz, pois quem buscava uma Café Racer já era (é) feliz. O objetivo é o prazer na pilotagem, em viver cada momento como único, na amizade envolvida, no desafio construtivo tecnologicamente limitado, na relação duradoura homem-máquina e no apreciar a vida não apenas na eficiência pura, mas a partir do estilo de cada um. Obrigado, amigo.
Retiro o "apenas", pois a eficiência pura não conta como objetivo. ;-)
Obrigado amigo por partilhar a sua opinião. :) Um abraço.
well said. there is no norm or set standards. the norm is to deviate cause we all like different things .
cheers mr racer
Thank you. I'm glad you liked my friend. :) Cheers.
Grande vídeo como sempre, concordo com vc! a motocicleta que despertou minha paixão pelas duas rodas foi uma 125cc, mesmo sem um grande motor e design moderno me fez gostar deste universo e não parar mais, parabéns pelo vídeo! Abraço.
well said. I have owned several sport bikes and even though the stance in principals are similar, the soul is not. bikes with soul as you pointed out in a video long ago is the main ingredient in a cafe bike
Thank you my friend for sharing your prespective. :) Cheers.
Não canso de ver seus videos, cada vez mais entusiasmado a montar minha café. Parabéns!
motorcycle passion starts from the first interaction\memory, regardless of age and stays with you stamped till you are the one on the seat riding a motorcycle for passion, racing, customizing ever evolving art of two wheels.
Magnificent! Well arranged material. Well done on the delivery.
Thank you my friend for your support. :) Cheers.
As Café Racer são obras de artes, isso já diz tudo.
Perfeito, o seu texto ! Da uma idéia de uma coisa que (nós os amantes das cafés) nunca iremos querer. Seguir o "lugar comum".
Queremos sonhar e criar as condições para tornar esses sonhos em realidades, baseadas nos projetos que idealizamos.
Nunca seremos "comuns"!
You Are Inspiring Me To Build My Own Cafe Racer My Friend!. But With An Added Spice To It like teh BMW R90 By Sebastien But On A Honda.
4 years ago and then i was watching this video. Starting my own project.
Honestly, you are so right. Congrats for the approach. Love your channel!
Thank you my friend for your kind words. I appreciate your support. :) Cheers.
Very relaxing your video's ,love them!Thumbs up!Big fan!
Thank you my friend for your support. :) Cheers.
O que conta é A paixão, o estilo, a personalização, o detalhe que o padrão não traz cada Café racer tem sua identidade, sua característica do próprio dono isso é simplesmente único, Belo e transformador mostra-nos que somos humanos sobre as máquinas e não o contrario
Sem duvida. Obrigado amigo Juraci por partilhar a sua opinião. :) Um abraço.
Hi. Im from Philippines and I like to watch all of about to have a cafe racer. I build in my own cafe racer which is mya Kawasaki Barako 175. And Im inspired to your video that I always watched 👌👏
Very well said my friend. This begs the question, can one turn a modern sport bike into a cafe racer? By the way, the red Honda CX500 in your story looks great. Thanks again for the video. Please keep up the good work!
Yes, it is. I won't say that is possible with any modern bike, but there are some models from which is perfectly possible. Thanks for your comment. Cheers.
At first, I thought I disagreed with your opening statement; then, quickly found that I basically agree. These days, you can buy a "sport bike" that will go nearly 200 miles per hour (though where you'd actually ride that fast, outside of a race track, I've no idea.) I've always considered "sport bikes" ugly, uncomfortable, and impractical. So style DOES play an important part in what constitutes a cafe racer; and it is, indeed, much more of a styling exercise than it originally was. Consequently, I find that I like small cafe racers, even if they won't "do the ton;" they're still cool. And you can customize anything you want.
Seth Tyrssen I love all bikes. I don't know why people have to put down one genre of motorcycles to promote the other.
What a gorgeous collection of machinery. I have no riding experience but have been thinking of getting into it. I can imagine nothing more wonderful than choosing the cafe racer genre.
The riding position makes me wonder though -- are they comfortable for more than short rides or can one spend a couple of hours riding with no issues?
Thank you for any input!
Thank you. It depends on height of the handlebars. It will never be the most comfortable motorcycle in the world, but it isn't so bad either. Cheers.
Ah well, some just don't get it and never will. Thanks for another great vid. 😊
Thank you my friend for your kind comment. :) Cheers.
THANK YOU for doing what you do! Amazing quality and content! Kudos!
You are welcome my friend. My pleasure.Thank you for your comment. :) Cheers.
beautiful and inspiring video a usual. thanks for sharing! 👍
I loved the video and the collection shown in that ...... its awesome and cool of his kind
Thank you. I'm glad you liked my friend. :) Cheers.
I've missed your voice. Lol thanks glad to know your well.
Cafe racer isn't bike right now it's art
Cafe racer is art but some people think it still stuck from part but in fact it's art and it can goin with you anywhere
Thank you my friend for sharing your perspective. :) Cheers.
Excelente vídeo concordo plenamente.
Certa vez falei com um "purista" sobre o que ia fazer e ia alterar , e ele começou a rir e criticar.
Excelente FINAL
PS: quando fazem um passeio aqui no algarve?
Obrigado amigo por partilhar a sua pequena história. Entendo-o perfeitamente. é precisamente essa falta de tolerância que não gosto de ver nos mais "Puristas". Infelizmente o Algarve ainda é muito longe de onde vivo. Só se for mesmo de férias. :) Um abraço.
Cafe racers... its not the same as it use to be..... it evolves ...... and i love it.
Thanks Timo for sharing your opinion. :) Cheers.
Exelentes interface entre uma moto e outra. Ficou muito legal este video. A criatividade em escolher as motos pra fazer as trocas deve ter sido detalhada parabens Vitor pelo trabalho.
Abs ate a next week.
Muito obrigado amigo. Eu já imaginava que os seguidores iriam gostar da transição entre as 2 motos. Dá algum trabalho, mas acho que vale a pena. A partir de hoje, irei tentar fazer o mesmo em quase todos os videos. :) Um abraço.
One of the best narrator on YT i really, really! Love it more power to your channel sir :) you inspire me to build my cafe racer to a better path thank you :)
Thank you my friend for your kind comment. :) Cheers.
Your videos will be timeless!
I really hope so. :) Thank you my friend for your support. :) Cheers.
o que importa é o vento passando!!a gasolina queimando!!as retas sumindo!!as curvas!!descidas e subidas!!sou amante das antigas,mas não tenho problemas com quem gosta das modernas!!abçs
Obrigado amigo pelo comentário. :) Um abraço.
really good video, those gentlemen certainly know how to look uber cool on a motorcycle. 😀 👍 👍
esse vídeo é simplesmente incrível. lindas palavras. nos faz despertar aquele sentimento mais obscuro.
Obrigado amigo pelo comentário. :) Um abraço.
if' may i say, if it,s evolving it's still, a cafe racer, we all learn, and we adopt. we just ride....we don,t judge....we ride!!
Thought provoking video....for me it's about customising your bike to go ,stop & handle better than stock while looking like a racer from the 1950's because they looked like "proper" bikes,& the performance of modern cafe racer's (sports bikes) is pretty unusable on the roads of today (unfortunately). Thanks! 👍
Yes, i wanted to provoke a little bit, but without offend anyone.
My intention was to bring some tolerance about this issue. thank you my friend for your comment. :) Cheers.
Let me describe my vision of the café:
Air-cooled 2 cylinders engine: twin, v-twin, boxer, don't mater;
Spoke wheels,
Clip-on handle bar,
Solo seat with a café style tail;
Riders footpegs are moved back to get a sporty rider position;
No fairing, or a very few fairing;
Weight less then 200 kg or close;
Abuility to get 160 km/h (a tonn)
Yes, it seems you are describing my own Honda CX650 Cafe Racer. Lol. Thank you my friend for sharing your opinion. :) Cheers.
Excelente vídeo como sempre... parabéns
Obrigado amigo.:) Um abraço.
Hi! Sorry I haven't commented on the videos in a while. Been busy and ugly canadian weather has distracted me from bikes as I prep for winter.
"Some people criticize that most of the cafe racer projects are merely an exercise in style. And I have to ask, what is the problem with that?"
Before I answer that, I want to also point out your line "What I don't like is to hear criticism that only light and powerful motorcycles are the real cafe racer". Which I too dislike. Just so I dont get initially taken out of context in what follows.
I think most of the concerns and critics are from people like me who really want to appreciate the ride. It is as you said in the beginning. A cafe was about making the bike lighter and faster from a time where manufactured fast bikes were far too expensive for most people. So you buy the small bike, tune it up to do the ton. they were death machines with inferior brakes and suspensions, but they were fast.
This is where my contradiction comes in. People put style so far ahead of function that the final product is often slower and poorer performing than the original product. Chopping up rear suspensions. Putting on balloon tires. Running open pipes. Pod filter on Keihin CV carbs. All detract from the ability to actually ride it from the original product. In my eyes, doing that isn't a cafe racer, but an insult to the origins of the cafe. Cafe is a style and you have shared many fantastic looking motorcycles that capture the essence of cafe while still being able to be used on the roads. Mid you, this opinion goes to all form of vehicular modification. I just find a dislike for any form of modification or build be it bike, car, truck or recreational vehicle that makes it perform worse with no gain other than style.
This excludes show vehicles. Where the artistry in itself is the purpose. I have the utmost respect for those that put such fine detail and craftsmanship into their project. At which point it is approached as art instead of an attempt to be a "poser" The line though can be grey at times...
Your bike that you have shared is one of my more favorite examples of cafe. A cafe does not need to be big, expensive and fast. They got their start with the bikes people could afford, and work done by their own hands. It is why I rate yours quite high on the shared cafe. Yours appears rideable and the changes done to give yourself a bit more of a sporty ergonomics and riding position. It is one to be proud of and one that would attract my eye at the show.
I used a special word earlier. Essence. Why would somebody cafe an old bike to try and go faster when they can buy a new bike? Well there is that "feel" that an older bike offers. The way the throttle responds to finely tuned carburetors. The sound of everything mechanical driving the engine. And the sheer connection one gets when you know every nut, bolt and wire. Aside from the Nighthawk, I have two other old honda motorcycles. I take pride in knowing every nut and bolt on the bike. All the fine nuances of the sound! I just cannot bring myself to consider a non rideable bike to be a cafe. It is cafe style, but only in style. Like "Rice" in the car area (Race Inspired Cosmetic Enhancements) It has the style of a race car, but it is it's own class. I am really not sure what I would define a non-rideable cafe as...
As I see it, the rebirth of the Cafe Racer (Bobber, Brat, etc.)as to do with looks and roar above all, not speed. Already for several years the big brands keep evolving to nasty even creepy, disgusting designs, thinking that horsepower and electronics is what matters to sell. Well... the looks of a vintage customized or refurbished bike are Unbreakable. It just has a Huge soul into it and that no modernity can go above. Modern bikes are clearly done by machines, that´s their flaw. All the others this channel describes... are dreamed and done by hot blooded hands and minds, passionate for visual balance and clearing the throat of old engines, for their great Roar... even if they only produce a hand full of horsepower.
Thank you my friend for sharing your perspective about this matter. :) Um abraço.
well i probably have a lot of work ahead of me. i have a 2003 ttr225 that i plan on turning in to a cafe racer instead of getting rid of but i hope it turns out good
I love SuperSport bikes and since i know café racers, i love them too
Thank you my friend for sharing your perspective. :) Cheers.
Son muy inspiradores tus videos¡ saludos¡
Grande abordagem sobre uma paixão comum, gostei demais do argumento,,,,abraços
Fico contente que tenha concordado comigo. :) Um abraço.
Your voice is like honeybutter to my ears!
Thank you my friend for all your kind words. I appreciate your support. :) Cheers.
I'm a simple guy. I saw the thumbnail then i already click
A modern cafe racer built by one himself is about showing one's style. the lack of personality and feel in a modern bike are the reason for one to build such a machine.
Thank you my friend for sharing your perspective. :) Cheers.
I think my 1982 Suz Katana 1000 qualified as a cafe racer and sport bike. Back then I couldn't find an aftermarket exhaust for it with the right sound. Otherwise it was a very special bike.
nice video, pure elegance an beauty. i love these bikes..
Thank you. I'm glad you liked my friend. :) Cheers.
Im looking to build a "kz1000" for my first "cafe racer" build.
ON POINT! Love your videos mate!
Thank you my friend for your kind words. :) Cheers.
thanks for inspiring me and to have the courage to buy my first motorcycle which will be a cb250t HONDA which I hope will restore and modify a cafe racer and Gracas to your videos I have and idea where to start thank you very much from El Salvador, CentroAmerica SaLudosa
You are welcome my friend. My pleasure. Saludos.
Melhor video desse canal, como sempre um ótimo trabalho, mas esse tem um tom de verdade forte onde é um contraste enorme com a realidade de cafe racers no brasil, onde o preço do projeto é condicionado a ter um desempenho extremo para valer apena e os outros projetos que não são focados nisso sofrem um certo preconceito dos "puristas".
No brasil já existe um preconceito com motos e carros modificados ( popularmente conhecido como xuning bahia por ter um povo preconceituoso) e aqueles que podem fazer um projeto com maior custo, discrimina outras pessoas que fazem o mesmo que ele com baixo custo, criando maior discriminação possível. Ainda assim terei com muito orgulho uma cafe racer, de preferencia de baixa cilindrada ❤
Obrigado amigo por partilhar a sua perspectiva. Eu compreendo que o poder de compra aí no Brasil seja menor do que em muitos outros Países. Mas em compensação, vocês têm uma vantagem que a maioria não tem. O valor da mão de obra é relativamente baixo. Nos países mais ricos passa-se exactamente o contrário, as peças são baratas, mas fica muito caro conseguir alguém que faça um assento personalizado, ou um chapeiro que molde uma rabeta em chapa. Nas próximas semanas, vou apresentar um projecto feito na Argentina que demonstra exactamente isso. :) Um abraço.
Awesome video! Was wondering if you could tell me more about the bike at 4:16 with that beautiful blue tank
It is the BMW R nineT by Clutch Custom Motorcycles. Cheers.
Hi, just wanted to ask you a question, What to you think to be the best bike to do a cafe racer/scrambler with a Steve Mcqueen 's style ? but with some cool performances ? thanks , good video again ;)
It has to be the "Triumph metisse desert racer". I already made a video about this bike. Unfortunately, performance do not makes part of this kind of motorcycle. Thanks for your comment. Cheers.
wow. men. I'd not say it better. how good to listen someone wise. :-D btw if you like ride on some bike and you "unfating" this bike than original is you will be faster. or you just thinking you are. but I think the café racers scramblers and other classic shapes have soul and something unique that rider can says: hell. I'm in heaven.
and as always it was a pleasure to watch RacerTv. thx. and I hope to....
... see you next week. :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts my friend. Cheers.
Somos mais que uma comunidade....somos uma familia em se tratando de motos !!
Obrigado amigo pelo comentário. :) Um abraço.
Motociclismo é paixão, a motocicleta, não é um mero meio de transporte, ela tem a ver com a alma de quem a possui. Independente de criticas, se vc esta feliz com sua moto, isso é o que vale. Sejamos Felizes, Bom final de semana a todos.
Exactamente. Cada um à sua maneira, ou da maneira que for possivel. :) Obrigado amigo por partilhar o seu comentário. Um abraço.
NOTA 10 ESSE CANAL. EXPRESSA COMO POUCOS O SENTIMENTO DE QUEM É APAIXONADO PELO MOTOCICLISMO. SE FOR POSSÍVEL AMIGO DIZ QUAL O NOME DA MÚSICA QUE TOCA AO FUNDO.
Obrigado amigo pelas simpáticas palavras. A musica é baseada nesta versao de Karaoke: "Freedom by Anthony Hamilton and Elayna Boyton" . Um abraço.
We do it for the love and passion of the motorcycle
Disse tudo, café racer para todos!!!!
Simplify. U translate my feelings. 😍🙏
Thank you my friend for your kind words. I appreciate your support. :) Cheers.
Vai ser lindo, quando as inspeções forem obrigatórias...