Café racer

A Cafe Racer ( kæffi rāsər, also cafe racers, English spelling with initial lowercase letter ) in its pure form is a converted race machine for English production motorcycle of the 1960s; these machines were originally the focus of a subculture.

The name derives from the meeting was the Rockers of the 1960s in the cafes of the city suburbs, like the legendary Ace Cafe in London. From here, the rocker made ​​the streets around unsure what also symbolized rebellion against existing social norms for those youth.

The bike was the most important scene element and has been changed and transformed individually by all the rules of art. What emerged at the end of the conversion work was called Cafe Racer. Deep crouched machines with clip-on handlebars and open mufflers were up to speeds of over 100 mph ( the sound), corresponding to 160 km / h " doctored " and measured in street racing with each other. The classic route for the race led by Ace Cafe back the next roundabout and again. This distance was back down as far as possible, before a previously selected in the jukebox music was played to the end ( Race Record ).

Models for the reconstruction of the production bikes were the then current racing machines of the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, such as the Norton Manx. Genre - typical are accordingly particularly one-to three-cylinder motorcycles English fabricate ( BSA, Norton, Triumph, etc.), but later also numerous Japanese makes such as the SR400, which often serves as the basis for cost reasons (ed). Straightforward tanks ( polished ) light alloy handlebars, a large single headlights, serial alien individual benches and disassembled rearview mirror form concise style features.

Noteworthy were also designs from Triumph engines and the Norton frame, the so-called Tritons or Norvins in which Vincent engines were installed in Norton trolleys. From the mid- 1970s, and after the decline of the British motorcycle industry, the Cafe Racer style was picked up by international motorcycle manufacturers.

Numerous print and online magazines worldwide are involved in the topic Cafe Racer, because even today many still deal vehicle tuner ( customizer ) with the subject.

Modern interpretations of Cafe Racers are also now numerous. So BMW made ​​in 2013 by the American designer Roland Sands develop a cafe racer called Concept 90 and the German customizer was Thunderbike 2012 with his bike " PainTTless " World Champion in Custombikebau.

Today's Street Fighter can be seen as modern descendants of the Cafe Racer, but modern motorcycles are still individually rebuilt in the style of Cafe Racers. Major differences are that here are mostly large-displacement touring motorcycles for the last 20 years as a base, advanced components such as single sided swing arm, central spring strut or Upside Down forks are used and the lines rather broad fails.

Since the reopening of the Ace Cafe in 2001, the community meets once a year there to " Ace Day".