Coffee houses were popular before Starbucks. Wait, was there such a thing as a coffee house before Starbucks? Yes, and they were popular to hang out at and race motorcycles to and from, but in the 1950′s?

Cafe racers were born in London – a young generation of speed freaks customizing their bikes with the goal of hitting ‘the ton’, the 100 mile per hour mark, on the way from one cafe to another and back – all before the jukebox quit it’s song, dubbed record racing. Not an easy task with small motors, shoddy tires, and sometimes suspect brakes. Today, custom cafe racers are making a comeback, putting cafe racer parts back in high demand.

Defining the motorcycles of the 50′s and 60′s in the United Kingdom was a stripped down version of period bikes built to maximize speed and create a look unique to the rider. These bikers needed custom cafe racer parts, often machining them personally, for their projects.

Handlebars were replaced with an ‘ace’ version, sitting low and narrow so the racer can tuck his arms in to reduce drag. These handlebars were named after the Ace Cafe, the original cafe many racers frequented. The original tank, seat, shocks, carburetor inlets, and fenders were also replaced with cafe racer parts to complete the look.

The most popular motorcycles to customize included models from:

* Triumph

* Norton

* BSA

* Suzuki

* Kawasaki

* Honda

* Ducati

* Harley-Davidson

These (and other) manufacturers made quasi-cafe racers along with their normal production bikes, allowing riders to add cafe racer parts if they chose. Finding parts today is relatively simple compared to twenty years ago.

The internet has allowed consumers to connect directly with parts suppliers and manufacturers, reducing the need for custom cafe racer parts. A quick search will reveal more than a handful of cafes available at a small price, each one ready for your custom look.

Gas prices are on the rise with no ceiling in sight, and motorcycles are relatively inexpensive compared to cars or trucks, making a bike with two to four times the mileage very attractive. With all the options out there when choosing – be it a café racer, a street bike, dual sport, or cruiser – making a decision can be challenging.

Don’t rush out and buy a 1972 Norton to restore quite yet. Do a little research and ride a few if possible. Now that you know a bit about the history and what cafe racer parts are needed – custom or stock – are you ready to hit ‘the ton’?

Learn, Ride, Live