I had a Norton Commando in yellow in 1971, a Triumph Tiger and Bonneville, a Honda CB 750, a Suzuki 500, and many more in between. Today, a 2023 Kawasaki Z H2 and a Yamaha FJR 1300. Riding for 60-plus years. Lately, the old man has been trying to crawl in, fighting hard, denying the sun of a b*tch. Keep riding, you all, and may the bike gods keep you safe.
Maybe i missed something in the video but the Kawa Z900RS cafe isn't discontinued, there was a 2023 and there's a 2024 version at least in north america
Tried the Royal Enfield’s continental GT and GOD it was perfect! Vintage cafe racer looks with the great indian reliability and cheap spares with decent power
As an owner of a W800 Cafe, I can say firsthand it is a wonderful machine. First bike, good size and weight and power to really take my time learning on and I don’t plan on getting rid of it anytime soon!
If ever there was a bike that made a mockery of spec sheets, these are it. They are just so well tuned for "real world" riding that it makes me wonder why every second person isn't riding one and why other manufacturers aren't copying the formula. It's easy to say "but the T 100 has more power", or, "The Royal Enfield is lighter". That may well be the case, but the W800 is a far better package, by far. No, a W800 wouldn't be my first choice to race on or to run at top speeds down an Autobahn. It's no substitute for a Gold Wing or a Harley Davidson, either. But for riders that actually use their bikes to get to work, pick up the mail or go for a Sunday pint run with your mates to a town an hour away on B roads, the W800 is a very tough act to follow. Good luck "upgrading" when you get to the end of your restrictions. Let us know how you go with that.
@@davidbrayshaw3529 Couldn’t agree more, I love how great it is at being a daily commuter. Only place where it “struggles” (in quotes because I feel like that’s a strong word to use and can’t think of a better one) is on highways - I do plan on taking some longer trips and would feel much more comfortable with a larger capacity engine under me on bigger highways where the speed limit is higher and thus everyone is zooming like crazy.
@@hassamamama2515 Unfortunately, in Australia, where I am, our speed limit on highways is 68mph (110kmh). It is heavily policed and enforced and as a consequence, much of the traffic goes even slower. The W800 is fine at those speeds. I haven't had mine over 80mph and that was only while overtaking. It seemed to be happy enough, though, but maybe a speed that you don't want to do all day.
The Moto Guzzi V7 is actually my favourite of the bunch. It is certainly not the fastest. But it does have that Italian soul and character at a price that is reasonable. It has a very unique engine. The sound it produces is beautiful
I was going to close my computer, and this video just appeared. You made my day 🙂 (thinking about changing my bike in 2024 and doing research these days)
😂 Noted for its visual minimalism, a 1960s café racer would typically be an English parallel twin motorcycle According to you nothing on this list is a "cafe racer"
About the Royal Enfield: Cafe racers aren't meant for touring. Riders comfort is not really a concern. As long as you look cool while riding it while having a set of clipons on a standard bike, its good enough to be called a cafe racer.
I’m working on a Cb 900 that was my uncle’s and he bought it brand new in 81,it was a custom but I’m keeping all the stuff incase I want to put it back on,my wife loves to ride on it with the air ride and smooth feeling,I’m torn but I race dirt bikes ard know how to ride and she gets with it,can’t wait
I can't comment on UK sales, but our dealership (east coast USA) can't keep the Kawasaki 400's in stock! Second place is dirt bikes (KX250-450). Our zx900-1000 line just sits there..
You're giving away your age, young fella. The chronology is Kawasaki 1999, then the Triumph retros in 2001. That said, I'm not knocking Royal Enfield's endeavours. You get a heck of a lot of motorcycle for your dollar and quite frankly, you're getting a bike that is near on impossible to beat for a daily rider with a bit of style and character.
I bought the Thruxton. Love it no regrets. Regarding the weight ive been shaving that with lithium, and different parts. Size wise not cramped at all. But Im only 5'10"
Look... I'm a big fan, ok? But I have seen this video one or two times in the channel. It doesn't bring really new information, specially when it includes discontinued models. Juat my 2 cents... Cheers
Having a 650SX Yamaha (the bst Bonneville that Triumph never made) in the early '70's, and Triumps and Nortons and BSA's -the ultimate bike was the Z1 Kawasaki, and owning a Z1000 Kawasaki now-the only bike that appeals to me is the Z900 with the 4into1 pipe. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
It’s obviously getting more difficult to make this video every year which is a shame for me as it’s my favourite category of motorcycle. Even more so than Sports bikes, Café Racers suffer from all generations of motorcyclists (not just older bikers) prioritising comfort. At 62 I have every intention of riding my R nineT Racer for as many years as possible 🇬🇧
Do I need to upshift that fast when I first start riding? or that comes with experience in the bike? stupid question but yeah I imagine it comes with experience
Must must remember that the old and slow segment likes the look but can’t Survive with clip on’s for more than 30 minutes Being old I can afford low HP since I don’t ride fast. But instead I just built a classic Norton Commando Cafe with high bars.
Not sure that I'd call the Speed Triple 1200 RR a Cafe racer, but then neither are a good chunk of the bikes on this list. Compared to plenty of the bikes you mentioned, I'd have the triple any day of the week.
A 125cc with high seat height is something I'll never understand. They are usually aimed for 16 year olds with A1 licence which aren't the tallest or experienced riders. 785mm would be a much better height for the XSR imo.
Agreed! Rock steady bike that's faster and sits much better and more comfortable. My 650 is the best bike I've ever owned, and easy to add "cafe" accessories!
I hadn't thought of that. I've heard sillier suggestions, that's for sure. I reckon those Speed 400's are going to sell like hot cakes. The top speed/power wars are run and done, in my opinion. Now it's time for more cost effective bikes that riders can afford to buy and own and are more suited to what 95% of riders actually use their bikes for.
I have a Crosstourer which has the same unit. I saw something on TH-cam where you loosen the fastening bolt and stick the adjuster in a small container of WD40 or similar overnight. It worked well for me. However I have wondered if you wind the adjuster fully in, then drill a small hole on the centre of adjuster knob to feed lube through and fit a rubber grommet in the hole afterwards. Do you think this would work???
I'm really disappointed for any of the Husqvarna Vitpilens not making on the list. They really some very good cafe racers available in the market right now.
When I think of a cafe racer I think a lean angle and low handlebars are a given. Do not see how the XSR is a cafe racer at 0 degrees lean angle and high handlebars. It is retro, I'll give you that. Also, a scrambler is not = a cafe racer.
If there aren’t clip-ons and a Monoposto rear cowl, it’s not a cafe racer. Basically only three bikes in this list are ACTUALLY cafe racers and are in production Thruxton RS Continental GT Commando 961 CR But that video would be too short, so let’s pump in a ton of bikes that have zero business being in the conversation
My SV650X is disappointed not to make your list but it understands that by your criteria most of those old bikes at the Ace Cafe wouldn't have qualified either.
Great selection of bikes, I myself ride the W800 Cafe but please could you deliver your voice over less like AI and more like the real human you actually are, pleeeeeeease?😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
You must get paid by manufacturers half of these bikes have nothing to do with a cafe racer.. especially the ducati scrambler!!!!!! It's in the name 😅😅🤗
The cafe down the road from me has scrambled eggs on the menu. Fortunately for me, it's a short walk away and I don't need an Italian copy of a 70's Yamaha dirt bike to get there.
Manufacturers destroyed cafe racer by themselves producing ugly unperforming bikes except triumph, that by the way had passed from Thruxton 900 to 1200 without even asking.. they could build a variation of the bonneville 900 just like the street scrambler or t100 but with a different tune and more cafe accessories and instead they made the most expensive of the retros a bike that was already in the niche market, while producing the speed twin 1200 at a much lower price with more comfort and same or better performances.. people especially triumph customers are not stupid riders doing blind buys.. cafe racers is mostly look over performance but at the same you can't sell me a W800 with the power of a real retro from the 70s come on..
I had a Norton Commando in yellow in 1971, a Triumph Tiger and Bonneville, a Honda CB 750, a Suzuki 500, and many more in between. Today, a 2023 Kawasaki Z H2 and a Yamaha FJR 1300. Riding for 60-plus years. Lately, the old man has been trying to crawl in, fighting hard, denying the sun of a b*tch. Keep riding, you all, and may the bike gods keep you safe.
Maybe i missed something in the video but the Kawa Z900RS cafe isn't discontinued, there was a 2023 and there's a 2024 version at least in north america
I own a Thruxton RS, absolutely love it, a really well balanced machine with loads of torque, one I’m going to keep.
Triumph, Royal Enfield, and Norton are the real deals in this segment....
Tried the Royal Enfield’s continental GT and GOD it was perfect! Vintage cafe racer looks with the great indian reliability and cheap spares with decent power
As an owner of a W800 Cafe, I can say firsthand it is a wonderful machine. First bike, good size and weight and power to really take my time learning on and I don’t plan on getting rid of it anytime soon!
If ever there was a bike that made a mockery of spec sheets, these are it. They are just so well tuned for "real world" riding that it makes me wonder why every second person isn't riding one and why other manufacturers aren't copying the formula. It's easy to say "but the T 100 has more power", or, "The Royal Enfield is lighter". That may well be the case, but the W800 is a far better package, by far. No, a W800 wouldn't be my first choice to race on or to run at top speeds down an Autobahn. It's no substitute for a Gold Wing or a Harley Davidson, either. But for riders that actually use their bikes to get to work, pick up the mail or go for a Sunday pint run with your mates to a town an hour away on B roads, the W800 is a very tough act to follow. Good luck "upgrading" when you get to the end of your restrictions. Let us know how you go with that.
@@davidbrayshaw3529 Couldn’t agree more, I love how great it is at being a daily commuter.
Only place where it “struggles” (in quotes because I feel like that’s a strong word to use and can’t think of a better one) is on highways - I do plan on taking some longer trips and would feel much more comfortable with a larger capacity engine under me on bigger highways where the speed limit is higher and thus everyone is zooming like crazy.
@@hassamamama2515 Unfortunately, in Australia, where I am, our speed limit on highways is 68mph (110kmh). It is heavily policed and enforced and as a consequence, much of the traffic goes even slower. The W800 is fine at those speeds.
I haven't had mine over 80mph and that was only while overtaking. It seemed to be happy enough, though, but maybe a speed that you don't want to do all day.
The Thruxton RS is not 230 kg, it is dry 197 kg + fluids and petrol around 18 kg, total 215 kg kerb, quite light for a 1200 motorcycle.
I love that Motto Guzzi.
Yeah, i have a RE and really like it BUT i love the style of the Moto G a lot! Thanks for sharing!
Completely agree . Moto Guzzi is where im going but Norton or Triumph are so so cool also
900RS cafe is my top pick for sure! It screams and rides amazing.
My son has the Z900 RS in that same livery. Absolutely draws a crowd everywhere he parks it. Awesome bike.
Thruxton, Moto Guzzi T7 Racer, W800 Cafe, Z900 R Cafe, Honda CB1100, and Yamaha Bolt C Spec. I personally own 2016 Harley Roadster Cafe’d.
The Moto Guzzi V7 is actually my favourite of the bunch. It is certainly not the fastest. But it does have that Italian soul and character at a price that is reasonable. It has a very unique engine. The sound it produces is beautiful
I was going to close my computer, and this video just appeared. You made my day 🙂
(thinking about changing my bike in 2024 and doing research these days)
It’s a shame the Yamaha XSR 900 GP is not coming to the USA….an incredible looking retro bike..
You are all over the road, track, and trails on what a café racer is!
Triumph Thruxton chrome edition ! Top notch!
Cafe racer means, clip on handlebars, rear set foot pegs, tall seat height and lightweight. Most of these motorcycle in this list aren’t
Lightweight is something you won't find these days because of emission standards.
Define lightweight?
😂😂😂😂 sasta maal chhod de
😂 Noted for its visual minimalism, a 1960s café racer would typically be an English parallel twin motorcycle
According to you nothing on this list is a "cafe racer"
Agreed. Also helps to still be in production
About the Royal Enfield: Cafe racers aren't meant for touring. Riders comfort is not really a concern. As long as you look cool while riding it while having a set of clipons on a standard bike, its good enough to be called a cafe racer.
Triumph Thruxton R is one of my dream bikes. Right up there with Ducati Monster 1200
The Yamaha GP is obscenely pretty and I want it so bad. I really home some come to Canada one of these days.
No CB1000R?!?! Best Bike I've ever had
I’m working on a Cb 900 that was my uncle’s and he bought it brand new in 81,it was a custom but I’m keeping all the stuff incase I want to put it back on,my wife loves to ride on it with the air ride and smooth feeling,I’m torn but I race dirt bikes ard know how to ride and she gets with it,can’t wait
There are two clippon options for thruxton R , ive got the higher ones and the comfort is fine.
They still sell the Z900rs Cafe in the US. I almost bought one.
I can't comment on UK sales, but our dealership (east coast USA) can't keep the Kawasaki 400's in stock! Second place is dirt bikes (KX250-450). Our zx900-1000 line just sits there..
The XSR900 GP is beautiful !!! Love the color too.
The BMW cafe racer is really a love and pain bike at the same time.
1 hour of riding and maybe 5 hours of admiring on a Sunday blast.
Also entirely fixed ergonomics in and hours time by slightly lowering the rearsets and taking them back (Sato rearsets transformed mine)
Agreed, a beautiful bike, however I’m sure it’s incredibly uncomfortable..
Believe it or not RE made this segment ok bikes worthy again❤
Yeah the triumph Thruxton and Bonneville that predates the RE bikes by almost two decades have nothing to do with it, let alone the W800.
You're giving away your age, young fella. The chronology is Kawasaki 1999, then the Triumph retros in 2001. That said, I'm not knocking Royal Enfield's endeavours. You get a heck of a lot of motorcycle for your dollar and quite frankly, you're getting a bike that is near on impossible to beat for a daily rider with a bit of style and character.
C'mon Bob... Thruxton RS is nowhere near 230kg. It's also not uncomfortable, unless you're comparing it to a bagger.
I think the Vitpilen 401 is worth a mention. Can pick one up for a couple of grand.
I've got a RE Continental GT and I'd love a Vitpilen 401 as well.
They look just right to me. 👍
I bought the Thruxton. Love it no regrets. Regarding the weight ive been shaving that with lithium, and different parts. Size wise not cramped at all. But Im only 5'10"
Look... I'm a big fan, ok?
But I have seen this video one or two times in the channel. It doesn't bring really new information, specially when it includes discontinued models.
Juat my 2 cents...
Cheers
Nice over view of bikes
1. Commando 961
(Authentic CAFE)
2. W800 Cafe
3. V7 Stone Corsa
4. XSR900GP
5. Thruxton Final Edition
6. R9T Racer
7. Z900RS Cafe
8. SV650 X
9. Scrambler Nightshift
My favorite one is the CFMOTO clx 700 sport its awesome
Love the look of
clip-ons.
With the average age of riders in mid fiftys , probably not a big market.
The Norton does look stunning.
👌👌👌👌next month im receiving my rs final edition....
Having a 650SX Yamaha (the bst Bonneville that Triumph never made) in the early '70's, and Triumps and Nortons and BSA's -the ultimate bike was the Z1 Kawasaki, and owning a Z1000 Kawasaki now-the only bike that appeals to me is the Z900 with the 4into1 pipe. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
It’s obviously getting more difficult to make this video every year which is a shame for me as it’s my favourite category of motorcycle. Even more so than Sports bikes, Café Racers suffer from all generations of motorcyclists (not just older bikers) prioritising comfort. At 62 I have every intention of riding my R nineT Racer for as many years as possible 🇬🇧
Do I need to upshift that fast when I first start riding? or that comes with experience in the bike? stupid question but yeah I imagine it comes with experience
How can I find motorcycle expo in UK? Where to see the dates and locations ?
Must must remember that the old and slow segment likes the look but can’t Survive with clip on’s for more than 30 minutes Being old I can afford low HP since I don’t ride fast. But instead I just built a classic Norton Commando Cafe with high bars.
My Dream. Guzzi V7 with V85 engine 80cv, improved brakes and Arrow pipes🙌🙌🙌🙌👍I ll BUY NO DOUBT
Not sure that I'd call the Speed Triple 1200 RR a Cafe racer, but then neither are a good chunk of the bikes on this list. Compared to plenty of the bikes you mentioned, I'd have the triple any day of the week.
If the Yamaha is here, why not to include the Superveloce from MV Agusta…
XSR for me please 😎
Z900RS just put a naked version and put a PUIG color matched windscreen or Samurai Rider Chic design painted to match fairing
A 125cc with high seat height is something I'll never understand. They are usually aimed for 16 year olds with A1 licence which aren't the tallest or experienced riders. 785mm would be a much better height for the XSR imo.
They're pretty light, so one footing it might not be a problem
No Honda?
I know, right ... Where's the cb1100 ?
Throw clip ons and a seat cowl on it, it's as much of cafe as any of these others.
Agreed! Rock steady bike that's faster and sits much better and more comfortable. My 650 is the best bike I've ever owned, and easy to add "cafe" accessories!
Yamaha really needs to make an XSR300. Considering the new offering by Triumph in the Speed 400, Yamaha dropped the ball in this segment.
I hadn't thought of that. I've heard sillier suggestions, that's for sure. I reckon those Speed 400's are going to sell like hot cakes. The top speed/power wars are run and done, in my opinion. Now it's time for more cost effective bikes that riders can afford to buy and own and are more suited to what 95% of riders actually use their bikes for.
you missed the best looking one, maybe not for everyone- mv agusta superveloce❤
I have a Crosstourer which has the same unit. I saw something on TH-cam where you loosen the fastening bolt and stick the adjuster in a small container of WD40 or similar overnight. It worked well for me.
However I have wondered if you wind the adjuster fully in, then drill a small hole on the centre of adjuster knob to feed lube through and fit a rubber grommet in the hole afterwards. Do you think this would work???
For me are Ducati Scrambler or Triumph Speed ❤❤❤
I'm really disappointed for any of the Husqvarna Vitpilens not making on the list. They really some very good cafe racers available in the market right now.
When I think of a cafe racer I think a lean angle and low handlebars are a given. Do not see how the XSR is a cafe racer at 0 degrees lean angle and high handlebars. It is retro, I'll give you that. Also, a scrambler is not = a cafe racer.
If there aren’t clip-ons and a Monoposto rear cowl, it’s not a cafe racer.
Basically only three bikes in this list are ACTUALLY cafe racers and are in production
Thruxton RS
Continental GT
Commando 961 CR
But that video would be too short, so let’s pump in a ton of bikes that have zero business being in the conversation
My SV650X is disappointed not to make your list but it understands that by your criteria most of those old bikes at the Ace Cafe wouldn't have qualified either.
Why not the XSR900?
Guzzi all day
What about TRIUMPH Speed 400
Vitpilen 901 with a little customization.
Continental GT❤❤❤
I need a bigger garage...
... and a bigger bank account as well.
Great selection of bikes, I myself ride the W800 Cafe but please could you deliver your voice over less like AI and more like the real human you actually are, pleeeeeeease?😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
No Moto Guzzi V7???
Gimme the GP!
Love the look of a café racer but the ergonomics are horrible.
If has high handlebars, it is not a cafe racer.
Sad that moto guzzi didnt have confidence and didnt go with clipons
Clipons are available as an accessory!
Unfortunately, our "cafés" turned into Shisha bars.....
Most of these are not cafe racers
You must get paid by manufacturers half of these bikes have nothing to do with a cafe racer.. especially the ducati scrambler!!!!!! It's in the name 😅😅🤗
The cafe down the road from me has scrambled eggs on the menu. Fortunately for me, it's a short walk away and I don't need an Italian copy of a 70's Yamaha dirt bike to get there.
0:35 bro I have 7hp 🙂
Not a single cafe racer in the video
U didn't do enough research lad
Manufacturers are removing Cafe Race bikes as the customer base for these are getting too old to ride.
For the majority of riders, isn’t this more like 11 reasons to avoid a café purchase?
Yeah they are kinda impractical. They can only be second bikes. I think that's the problem.
Don't forget that half of the name is RACER. A lot of the bikes on the list are too damned SLOW.
Gentlemen Thailand and also QJmotor srv 250😊❤. Cheap and quality. Good bye eropah. Free Palestine 😢
Yamaha gp nothing comes near.
Most of these don’t qualify as cafe racers
RS is a 2 up bike. - great. The other is useless
Royal Enfield is worst quality motorcycle What I ever driven Danger bike... Only engine is Okay..
Manufacturers destroyed cafe racer by themselves producing ugly unperforming bikes except triumph, that by the way had passed from Thruxton 900 to 1200 without even asking.. they could build a variation of the bonneville 900 just like the street scrambler or t100 but with a different tune and more cafe accessories and instead they made the most expensive of the retros a bike that was already in the niche market, while producing the speed twin 1200 at a much lower price with more comfort and same or better performances.. people especially triumph customers are not stupid riders doing blind buys.. cafe racers is mostly look over performance but at the same you can't sell me a W800 with the power of a real retro from the 70s come on..
Coming soon; the best blue bikes of 2024 😂
Xsr900gp would be my pick , I seen it at ICMA and what a beautiful machine it is.