Which modern cafe racer would you ride?

"saltcityeuros" (saltcityeuros) 12/21/2014 at 20:57 • Filed to: two wheels bad, cafe racer, ducati, triumph, bmw, moto guzzi, thruxton, sc1000, sport classic, rninet, v7, short film, night cruise, modern classic, motorcycle, film, bike exif, pipeburn

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My friends and I rounded up four of the best modern classics we could find - a Ducati, a Triumph, a Moto Guzzi and a BMW - and hit the town.

I just finished up the edit, which you can see here. You may remember me from previous videos like the e30 Night Cruise or the BMW R100 Night Cruise - sooooo I think I need to start shooting in the day before I really typecast my work.

We shot from 8pm to 3am - which is my favorite time to shoot. There are less cars on the road, and luckily for us, Salt Lake City is relatively sober. We stuck to the back roads and encountered no stoned/wasted/tripping/eating-your-face-on-bath-salts drivers.

My all-around favorite bike was the Ducati Sport Classic 1000. Its exhaust was just incredible in person.

Though, the Moto Guzzi V7 got a 100% in the looks department, even if it's not the fastest bike out there.

You really couldn't go wrong with any of these bikes. Which would you pick for a cruise around town?

You can find me on Instagram @maxdaines

Runs without batteries > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:33

8

Yes, please cafe the newer bikes. Quit ruining cb550's, then call it a rat bike because you don't know what you're doing lol.

TommyRocker > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:37

7

saltcityeuros > Runs without batteries 12/21/2014 at 21:39

2

Hahaha seriously. Straight piped and running terrible cause of your pod filters, and carbs are just too hard. Then cut off the fenders and spray road junk all over your face.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:40

5

Not modern but still favourite.

TommyK154 > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:40

13

all of them. Like how can you pick just one?

saltcityeuros > TommyRocker 12/21/2014 at 21:42

0

Yours?

Barry Smith > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:43

1

Choice!

saltcityeuros > TommyK154 12/21/2014 at 21:43

1

I know, right? Some of us have budget constraints, ok??? haha

saltcityeuros > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 12/21/2014 at 21:43

0

Love it! ha what is that engine?

SWITAWI > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:45

9

The Goose will do. It looks the part and does the Ton. If you need more you don't want a cafe racer.

And it may not be a true fit to this group with its wide bars and long-looking stance, but I've never been able to shake my lust for Moto Guzzi's Griso...

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:46

1

It started as two engines. Dude spliced two Honda 400 inlines together.

http://beforeitsnews.com/motor-junkies/…

DamnTheNoise > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:49

1

Not mine, but for a modern cafe racer this is the one.

Driver > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:53

2

Looking at my bike, you'd be surprised that I'd pick the Guzzi. They have a low RPM sideways, rumbly, vibration that is cool. They sound good, too. Great cruisers. I've owned Monsters and that Guzzi looks cooler to ride.

BrianNutter > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:53

14

I like going Commando

Stevo777 > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:54

2

THIS http://chopfeed.com/new-york-cafe-…

saltcityeuros > Driver 12/21/2014 at 21:54

0

For sure dude. I was all set on getting a scrambler in the spring - but the V7 got me thinking differently....

saltcityeuros > SWITAWI 12/21/2014 at 21:55

1

Those Grisos are so sick!

saltcityeuros > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 12/21/2014 at 21:56

0

120 bhp @10000 RPM? mmmmmmmmmm

AcesNines > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:58

0

Mmmmm, dat Motoguzzi.

On the flip side, I love the video man. Only thing I might suggest is a cheap steadycam; it'd make the tripod shots you have match well with the chase shots.

F40LM > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:59

6

The DeusEx Customs "The American"

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:59

1

I'll take the Triumph without thinking twice. Always wanted one, but these bikes are very expensive luxury goods in Brazil, around 40 thousand reais for the cheaper models, IIRC.

'69 tego > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 21:59

9

isn't it time for the whole "café racer/bobber" trend to crawl back into whatever hole it crawled out of???

oh BTW, your hacked up bike isn't worth any more than $500 running.

Nobody is going to buy your chopped up bike for any more than that.

stop asking $3,000 plus for your shit

TommyRocker > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:00

1

Yes. I shamelessly post it whenever the opportunity presents itself.

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:04

7

TheKarMann > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:06

1

Thruxton.

Vin > '69 tego 12/21/2014 at 22:09

59

So edgy .

krock51 > '69 tego 12/21/2014 at 22:11

37

got $3500 for my '74 cb750 cafe that i originally bought for $150...don't be jealous

saltcityeuros > '69 tego 12/21/2014 at 22:12

1

Haha dude I feel ya. I looked for a long time for a project bike, but I gave up cause every craiglist bike was in pieces and hadn't run for three years and they were asking $1500. I think it's a lot like the fake wheels/ebay parts/bad coilovers crowd. Happens in every subculture

Aldairion > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:13

2

The Triumph Thruxton is probably my favorite motorcycle of all, especially if it's set up like the one pictured. The Moto Guzzi V7 Racer is quite a stunner too. I also want to show some love for the Norton Commando 961. They're sexy, but just unreasonably expensive.

Vagina High Priestess > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:14

3

Oh! Oh! I'm not a normal oppo commenter (Jezzie and GTer here, but I read jalopnik now and then), but I'm in love with my custom cafe racer, so I needed to share. :)

Detroit 9000 > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:16

2

The market for bikes is getting fun. I love my 1998 Honda Magna, but I'd love to get fuel injection since I get tired of the engine response from the carbs in the winter at start up and just before the secondaries open. I ride Detroit 365 days when possible. The Indian Scout was a great test ride and the Ducati Scrambler looks sweet...drop 120 pounds from my Magna and lose only 8hp. The BMWs are looking good too. Gonna have to check out the bikes in this post a little more...

superdave847 > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:17

2

My second bike was a Triumph Speed Four in all black. It was awesome. I cross shopped it with a Ducati Monster, but the maintenance costs ultimately dictated my decision. Both brands are my favorites though.

Orange mold > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:21

1

From the choices presented I'd go for the Duc. It looks the most polished and the best combo of new tech/power/brakes to old school style.

Nimi > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:21

3

Ducatk but I am biased. Here is mine

mountainbikingandtrackdays > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:26

1

Norton Commando 961 Cafe Racer. The one and only.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > '69 tego 12/21/2014 at 22:30

4

That's a hot take right there

Beju > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:31

0

I avoided that a few years back for looking at UJMs other than Hondas. Oh, and avoiding classic Triumph Bonnevilles.

Earnest Borgwarner > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:31

2

Mine! PS1000, looks good, sounds great and rides even better. I love it.

crankaholic > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:34

1

Love the video, beautifully shot. Would have loved to hear more exhaust though, although music choice was spot on. I'd go for the R9T, but I'm biased... as it's one of my babies. Out of the others, the Sport Classic interests me the most; beautiful bike that's an instant classic, if there was such a thing.

buckfiddious > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:39

0

They're all pretty, they're all cool, but why not include the Ducati Monster or any of the other actual modern cafe racers? Heck, what about the new BMW R9T?

So many of these bikes are style over substance. As much as I love the Triumph, it's held back by twee styling and hidebound by tradition. Ditto the Moto Guzzi.

Not saying every bike has to be a supersport that's only concerned with speed- the monster proved you could make a modern cafe racer that was amazingly fun to ride that wasn't all about top speed. But it also said, hey, we can make a cafe racer that isn't totally beholden to a short period of english history.

And don't even get me started on all the "scramblers" on bike exif...

It's a Kilt, not a skirt > Vagina High Priestess 12/21/2014 at 22:44

0

Fellow Savage owner here. I dig your RYCA. I am so tempted to do the same to my bike.

Drew8MR > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 22:48

1

I have a yellow mono Sport Classic and I'm not going to lie, it's a little bit of a piece of shit. First off, it was pretty much unrideable off the showroom floor. At a minimum (assuming you can live with the stock bars and mirrors, I couldn't) you need a clutch slave cylinder and the comfort seat. My front brakes were crap as well, so toss in a more progressive master and pads. Oh, let's not forget those fucking stock tires. Ass. And you'll want a front tube with a 90 degree valve so you can fill your fucking tire somewhere besides your garage. Oh,and the fuel tank that spreads apart until it wont sit in the mounts. Or the fuel pump that spits off it's intake hose because they used the wrong clamps.

Earnest Borgwarner > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger 12/21/2014 at 22:53

0

Wow

I'm near the end and I just ain't got the time > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:01

2

Earnest Borgwarner > Nimi 12/21/2014 at 23:02

0

That's pretty easy on the eyes....

The Compromiser > BrianNutter 12/21/2014 at 23:03

1

My dad had one of those. Not café style, just stock. Once I remembered that it was all upside down and backwards It was cool. He traded it for a sportster.

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:05

1

I had an old Suzuki GS500 cafe' racer. Very fun bike, great memories!

Noroxus > '69 tego 12/21/2014 at 23:08

0

Cafe Racers are still pretty obscure...I'd say almost no one knows what they are. Honestly, I'd say you probably don't either.

MadisonSuicide > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:11

1

Well, I've crossed 50K on my Thruxton...so I guess I made my choice.

I do love the V7, and it is fun to ride, for a little while, but it just can't live up to its looks. And the fun that it is, seems like the kind of fun that wears out after awhile of having to live daily with it.

Wagonboy > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:12

2

BMW R9T. The look of that nearly 100 year old boxer platform says classic old school better than any of them.

MadisonSuicide > BrianNutter 12/21/2014 at 23:14

2

Is that one of the new ones? Are they actually finally delivering? I haven't heard anything about Norton in quite sometime, so maybe they got their shit together finally in the last year or so.

I've got my sights set on a Commando next, but not a new one.

Jon Gerhards > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:14

1

I miss the cafes from before they were the in thing, now there just some pos that came off a scrap pile and by some miracle "runs and drive"

iwlar > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:24

1

the triumph

Maxxuman > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:27

1

Nice bikes, but are they really what the term "cafe racer" is used for? I'm not that well versed but used to think it applied to the smaller Japanese bikes with racing style farings and the like.

Tybera > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:33

1

Triumph Thruxton. It just seems like a nice cafe racer throwback but with all the modern bells and whistles.

Sucker For Project Car Hell-Now With Moped > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:35

0

Don't cafe shit.

For the most part. Lower bars are ok sometimes.

2 Wheels awesome! > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:36

1

used to be the duck but Maintanence and what not on the valves is just too much hassle... I chose bmw... Shaft driven and sexy

Johnny Utah > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:55

2

I think a stock SV650 fits the bill, but it doesn't yet have all the accoutrements of a custom cafe racer. It does a lot with a little, with a lot of room for improvement.

MERICAN.JALOP > TommyRocker 12/21/2014 at 23:57

3

WOW that lighting and angle jut makes ur finger look great!

teh_d3th_st4r > saltcityeuros 12/21/2014 at 23:57

1

I'd go with the Triumph... The Ducati is a close second.

VW Guy > The Compromiser 12/22/2014 at 00:08

2

That's no vintage Norton - a modern low production bike priced accordingly.

BiggsHoson > '69 tego 12/22/2014 at 00:18

0

Feel better?

Now I might be wrong because this whole video was shot in the dark, but it looked like these were fairly stock bikes.

ElHatton > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 00:25

7

Oh hellll yeah that Guzzi looks fine! The Sport Classic is in a league of its own though. Those are fantastic bikes.

Here's my 2012 Racer

theOppositeofSlow > Wagonboy 12/22/2014 at 00:27

1

I'm waiting until some show up on the used market to buy one. It may be a little while but worth the wait. I can't wait to take off the rear seat frame

TommyRocker > MERICAN.JALOP 12/22/2014 at 00:28

2

cell phone cameras were made to photograph body parts.

ElHatton > Maxxuman 12/22/2014 at 00:29

4

http://www.cafebiker.com/history.php

It is a little long but an interesting read nonetheless.

BiggsHoson > Maxxuman 12/22/2014 at 00:32

14

History lesson! "Cafe Racer" comes from Britain in the 60s. Original "cafe racers" were stripped down Triumphs and Nortons and BSAs and Vincents and etcetc. Nowadays the term gets thrown at any naked bike with an uncomfortable seat.

Maxxuman > BiggsHoson 12/22/2014 at 00:35

0

Quite the opposite of what I'd heard it used for then...

BiggsHoson > Maxxuman 12/22/2014 at 00:43

2

Definitions for terms get changed and reused as time passes...

Maxxuman > ElHatton 12/22/2014 at 00:48

0

OK, thanks.

Maxxuman > BiggsHoson 12/22/2014 at 00:50

1

Chances are the people I heard using it were clueless though, and I just assumed they knew what they were talking about.

Hyperspatial > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 01:18

3

I guess I would pick this as I just finished her a couple of days ago.

Driver > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 02:13

1

They depreciate a lot, get a low-miles used one.

True > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 02:33

1

I'm in the market for a bike and have looked at a few of these and ridden the Duck and Triumph.

Aesthetically, the trumpet works best for me, the Duck is IMO a more rewarding ride but too pricey for what would be a toy/commute sled. The Bimmer a bit too bland for my taste and the Goose, though a compelling oddball just doesn't thrill me.

I am rather interested in getting a ride on the new Duck scrambler. Though not "cafe" style, it does seem to tick a fair number of "looks old, rides new" boxes.

Before I make a final decision though, I am going to take a hard look at the Yamaha FZ07/09 and Aprilia Shiver. Though I like the idea of a retro looking bike, I don't like it enough to sacrifice too much in the name of aesthetics.

gtautista > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 02:37

2

The Ducati 1000 Sport Classic Biposto for sure!

ArtemisGoldfish, Unashamed PT Cruiser Owner > SWITAWI 12/22/2014 at 02:48

0

Test rode a Griso along with a Shiver and a Bonneville. The Griso certainly looks cool, but it's not particularly enjoyable to ride. The Shiver was probably the favorite of the three, only real downside was the super duper heavy clutch.

t_s > '69 tego 12/22/2014 at 03:24

1

You can't just say somethin like that! Café racers are so cool man! They're the flavour of the month! Superbikes are the antichrist!

t_s > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 03:29

1

I'd rather walk than own a Moto Guzzi, I've owned a Thruxton and thought it was crap (pretty though), same for my airhead BMW experience (crap and wayward, win/win!) so it would have to be Ducati for me. Out of all of the modern interpretations it's the only one which can also cut it when the pace hots up.

But the Thruxton sure was pretty (after I'd thrown a fair few euros at it, it looked crap standard).

AlexioFlexio > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 03:43

2

This one

Ja_Spurling > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 03:49

1

I'm rather partial to the Triumph 850. The one I saw in person was very reminiscent of a 850 Norton Commando, one of my all time favorites.

John Coctostan > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 04:29

4

Son.

ShillyDevane > Maxxuman 12/22/2014 at 04:32

0

They are used for coffee runs.

Leo > '69 tego 12/22/2014 at 04:40

0

agreed

Leo > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 04:41

1

none. I hate hipster harleys. Way to gay/pretentious/poser. Much rather ride a proper motorcycle, like a bmw.

Whitesmoke > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 05:14

1

Definitely the Moto Guzzi

J Bonington Jagworth > Maxxuman 12/22/2014 at 05:37

0

"Cafe Racers". They are British bikes, vertical twins, stripped, tuned and fitted with clip on handlebars, rear-set footrests, elongated fuel tank, bump seat and swept back pipes. Mostly Triumph, BSA or Norton, some were Tritons (Triumph engine in a Norton frame).

The term originated in the UK from bikers in the late 1950s/early 1960s congregating at transport cafes, and challenging each other to race from the cafe to a fixed point and back. The styling mimicked the racing bikes of the period. They were set up for speed and handling rather than comfort and endurance.

2cvhoonage > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 05:49

0

Your mom

OOOOOOOOOOOOH!!

Kerry > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 06:15

0

can someone explain to me the point of this video? It just seems like a bunch of guys (and one girl?) in bad gear trolling through a city at 20mph . At least most of the hipster vids like this shill a t-shirt or a belt at the end via a URL. I'm not saying art always has to have a point but this probably should have one since I don't really see the point, but then again I also don't see the point of trolling 20mph down the street on a duc sportclassic when you can bounce the thing off the rev limiter.

I own a ducat sport 1000, and while it is a fantastic bike out of the box it is under dampened and stuck with Ducati's cheapest suspension components. I've ridden the thruxton, and triumph ruined that bikes ergonomics going from the Clipons to a clubman bar. The V7 cafe (not the racer, but it's predecessor for one year) is probably the best of the bunch, but I say that not having ridden the r nine T BMW. The guzzi was torquey, smooth, and probably has the best suspension out of the bunch. Sure it is slow, but not moped slow and for city work it's way better than my sport 1000.

telkins > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 06:54

1

I really wanted the Thruxton, but it's just too much bike for me right now. So I'll stick with my 73 CB450. No cafe.

nerd_racing > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 07:19

1

I'd go with a Goldwing Cafe style. That's my plan for this winter. Even have one picked out to look at after the holidays.

Alex Ruthrauff > F40LM 12/22/2014 at 07:28

0

That looks like a super fun way to melt off your right leg.

UserNotFound > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 07:54

5

One cafe racer to rule them all:

Art > '69 tego 12/22/2014 at 08:00

0

everything gets shit expensive when you wanted it.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 08:07

1

Guzzi. My god, it's beautiful.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > '69 tego 12/22/2014 at 08:09

1

Nobody is going to buy your chopped up bike for any more than that. stop asking $3,000 plus for your shit

Unfortunately for me, people do buy chopped up shit for too much.

The Compromiser > VW Guy 12/22/2014 at 08:09

1

Soooo Too rich for my blood. I will stick with my Honda Davidson.

Vracktal > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 08:14

1

My vote goes to the BMW, but i'm biased because I daily ride an R1200r, which was the donor for most of the R90.

VintageRider > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 08:17

0

Mostly the term "café racer" has been bastardized by hipster doing little more then playing dress up. They "build" these stupid art projects that are barely functional motorcycles. Almost every mod decreases the performance, but they either don't know any better or just don't care. Then once they find a new bandwagon to jump onto they take some artsy pictures and place an add on the local CL that talks about the organic experience of man and machine they had, or how the build helped them grow as a human....again all BS.

Even the term modern café is odd to me.

In my eyes a café racer is taking an existing performance bike and then doing what ever you can to increase the performance and basically turn it into a race bike for the street. Pure function. Any look that these bikes did or do have just kinda happens. Its not about small bikes or big bikes, but actual performance. The appeal now comes from the slow bike fast idea mostly.

smalleyxb122 > MadisonSuicide 12/22/2014 at 08:24

1

Deliveries of US customer bikes started this year for about $20k+/-, depending on trim level (SF, Sport, Cafe). I've been waiting for this bike sine the Kenny Dreer prototypes bowed a decade ago. This will be my next bike. I don't know if they will ever depreciate, due to their low numbers and high demand, but I'll wait a year or two to see if the demand tapers off. I've seen a few trading for over MSRP, and I just can't jump in for that.

450X_FTW > saltcityeuros 12/22/2014 at 08:25

1

so much want