I’m a sucker for retro fairings. I’m obsessed with Honda’s legendary CR750 and the TT race bikes of the seventies...
Triumph Cafe Racer
The origins of this famous British motorcycle marque go back to 1884, well before the first actual Triumph motorcycle appeared in 1902. By the 1920’s Triumph was building 30,000 cars and motorcycles a year. During the 50s many cafe racers were powered by Triumph engines due to their ability to reach the revered ‘ton’ or 100 miles per hour. Triumph is arguably one of the most popular motorcycle brands in the world and is arguably the leader in the “everything old is new again” retro bike wave.
What better way to kick off a new year of cafe racers than with a classic? This Triton cafe racer...
I came across this eBay auction the other day and was amazed by how similar the T120R Bonneville looks to...
Nicola Martini, aka Mr Martini, aka the Mad Hatter, is an Italian custom bike builder, restauranteur and retailer. The self-proclaimed...
Here’s the latest custom motorcycle build from the new Deus ex Machina in Venice, USA. The modern Triumph Bonneville has...
Russia’s not just the home of borscht, vodka and Oscarworthy dashcam footage. In recent years there’s been some stellar motorcycle...
No it doesn’t have a headlight. No it doesn’t have indicators, a rearview mirror or a stop light. No it’s...
Here’s a 3 part video series showing the original build process at Triumph Motorcyces. Triumph started in 1902 and even...
Since 2011 Bologna, Italy has been home to Hook Motors, a “lifestyle store” aimed at those who appreciate passion, elegance...
It feels like only yesterday that Tamarit Motorcycles was celebrating its 50th build. Today the Spanish powerhouse workshop is about...
Michael Hammer’s workshop, Hammer Kraftrad, is located in the northern reaches of Bavaria. So it’s no surprise he loves his...
As featured on Cafe Racer TV, The Crampton Classic. A production dream that ended as a single concept bike being...
This Triumph motorcycle has undergone a cafe racer-style transformation, skillfully executed by Jeremy Cupp of LC Fabrications in Grottoes, Virginia....
Earlier this year I ran a story on the “Big Chill”, an ’08 Triumph Bonneville Cafe Racer built by custom workshop Mean...
In 1969 Triumph motorcycles took out first, second and third places in the Thruxton 500 mile endurance race. 35 years...
“The build started by changing the headlight to something that was more classically styled.” says Michael. “Then I removed the...
“We had a client from Perth in Australia contact us after he saw a picture of our Bronco Racer” recalls...
“The Street Twin is our most contemporary, fun and accessible new Bonneville” – Triumph Motorcycles The Street Twin is the...
Well, that wraps up yet another year of amazing cafe racer builds from custom workshops and backyard builders around the...
The world’s biggest Triumph motorcycle focused event ‘Tridays’ celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. Spanning 3 days the Austrian based...
Italian workshop Cafe Twin’s last Cafe Racer film “Passo a due” lead us on a serene lap of Rome, past...
The Tarantulas are a collection of motorcycle loving friends in Portland, USA. They are riders and builders of Cafe...
Hinckley have been producing Bonnevilles for 12 years so you can now find some well priced, secondhand examples out there....
Anyone wanting to build a custom motorcycle and living in a home with limited space understands how frustrating it can....
Some of the biggest news in the motorcycle industry this week was the unveiling of 2 all-new models in the...
If you saw my post recently about the Tidy Triumph Bobber I’m sure you’d like to see more about the...
There are plenty of custom motorcycles born of mixed parentage. Some should never have been conceived and yet others like...
…and rightly so. The Bonneville has an extensive list of modifications that cover every aspect of its construction. The 865cc...
Triumph Motorcycles have been adding a myriad of updates and special editions to their 2022 Modern Classic lineup. We’ve seen...
“I’m from Southern California and grew up surfing, skateboarding and dirt biking. I fell in love with Cafe Racers in...
Let’s face it – 2020 wasn’t the best year to be releasing a new motorcycle. Heck, it wasn’t a good...
Yuri Shif, builder of the 2010 AMD World Championship winning bike “The Machine” has been rolling beautiful custom motorcycles out...
In 2020, Triumph released the most powerful model in the history of the Modern Classic range. The Thruxton RS offers...
If you don’t already have Le Container in your bookmarks or on your Blog roll you soon will. This is...
For custom motorcycle builders making ends meet is a tough gig. Sometimes it takes more than just waiting for customers...
Another Cafe Racer fro Garage Company. This time it’s a no fuss Triumph conversion. I love a good rat bike...
The Japanese custom automotive scene is bursting with unbound creativity and world-class craftsmanship. So for a photographer whose passion lies...
You may remember this amazing Trident Cafe Racer from an old post I did on the site (or pretty much...
Another Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show has wrapped up and the web is starting to buzz with photos and videos...
Built by Moscow’s TCD (short for Timokhin Custom Design), this one-off Thruxton was commissioned by a client who works in aviation...
Spanish workshop Tamarit Motorcycles have over 100 custom Triumph Modern Classics under their belts. Along with building custom bikes for...
From eBay: “You are bidding on (You should have bid on) a ground up custom 1974 Triumph Bonneville dual sport. This bike,...
1972 Norton Commando 750 | Thanks Jim, Ananda and Nick. Sinar F 4×5 | Rodenstock 210mm | Tmax 400 I...
I hate to admit it but it’s been a while since I’ve posted a featherbed on the site! This...
I’m in London for the unveiling of the 2016 updated Triumph Classics range. Over the past few days we’ve been...
This week’s Sunday Screening was produced by French moto-apparel brand Age of Glory. ‘Escape the City Limits’ celebrates the companies...
Last month “The world’s greatest Triumph event!” Tridays, took place in Neukirchen, Austria. Over the course of 7 days thousands...
With over a million Instagram followers ‘Cafe Racers of Instagram’ (aka CROIG) have one of the world’s biggest social motorcycle...
My motorcycle is a 2011 Triumph Bonneville. The build is still ongoing on as I continue to make upgrades and...
Kyle and Tyler Malinky of Low Brow Customs could still be considered the new kids on the block at Bonneville...
‘Having the right tools for the job,’ is a fairly tired saying—but the basic idea behind it applies to a...
The Milan motorcycle show (EICMA) has grown to be one of the worlds premiere motorcycle events. With many manufacturers showcasing...
Triumph Motorcycles range of Modern Classics is arguably the best mix of modern technology and classic style money can (currently)...
One of the perks of running a custom motorcycle website like ‘Return of the Café Racers’ is being invited to...
Mellow Motorcycles first appeared on the European custom scene in 2016. They gained our attention due to their tendency to...
Had to share this video as it’s not often we get such a good insight in to the work that...
The Super Rat Trident Cafe Racer was recently shot by Chad De Rosa for Cafe Racer magazine. Have a drool...
It’s been a while since I’ve paid Japan a visit on the site, but this beauty of a Bobber from...
The Triumph Thruxton R pays homage to the iconic British motorcycles of the 1960s, embodying the café racer style with...
Cosmetic Specification: Handmade ‘Slippery Sam’ polished aluminium fuel tank. (Supplied by T A Baker Tanks, Wales.) Alloy Monza fuel cap....
When I’m not obsessing over motorcycles or writing features like this I like to watch people building things on Youtube....
Not only do the Iron & Resin crew know how to design some pretty cool threads they also build slick...
Last week I posted a Triton and had a moan about how long it had been since I featured a...
“Faster, faster, faster,until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death” Earlier this year the Lowbrow Customs crew made...
Want a one off Triton Cafe Racer but don’t have the time, parts or know how to put one together?...
Built by Mean Machines in Sydney this 2008 Triumph Bonneville Cafe Racer named “Big Chill” is currently for sale. With...
Bosozoku biker gangs once ruled the streets of Japan, these days though they are more of a nuisance than anything...
To kick off our “Readers Rides week” we’ve got a bit of bling in the form of a gold leafed...
Happy new year! Well, that wraps up yet another year of cafe racer content. Like the previous year, 2021 was...
“My main goal was performance and low-key style. Most of the modifications made decreased the Triumph’s weight and added to...
This bikes popping up all over the place. Anyone happen to know who made it? Is this the start of...
Built for professional surfer Chippa Wilson, the Beach Sled was designed to be a versatile motorcycle for both adventurous pursuits...
Being a cruiser-style bike the Triumph Adventurers has somewhat of a laid back stance. To even out the bikes stance...
Take the most powerful engine in the Triumph modern classic range and shoehorn it into one of the most revered...
Triumph has well and truly hit the nail on the head with their new Modern Classics range. The British manufacturer...
For years the de facto choice when building a cafe racer was the air-cooled, 865cc Triumph Bonneville. With very few...
What is it about the Japanese that allows them to keep producing such original looking custom bikes? The following 3...
Building a short series of custom motorcycles is a great way for a workshop to be financially viable. In most...
A while back I posted a preview of Pier 18, a video that was in production featuring Hammerhead Industries much...
Brady Young at Seaweed and Gravel in Encinitas, California, transformed a 1973 Triumph T140V Bonneville into a stripped-down cafe racer....
The 2008 EFI Triumph Bonneville “Soul Train” is the work of the crew at Ton Up Garage in Portugal, who...
Is it just me or are Heiwa the epitome of ‘can do no wrong’ custom motorcycle building. Out of their tiny workshop...
“So, Kevin Dunworth of LGC and I ran into each other for the first time at Thor Drake’s The One...
There are currently 4 models available in the Triumph classic range. The Boneville, Boneville T100, the Thruxton 900 and the...
On the back of the 2012 Speed Week here’s a great story about one of the salts superstars, the Gyronaut...
Before the “new wave” custom motorcycle scene and websites like this existed, custom builders like Nicola Martini (aka Mr Martini)...
After the release of the Norton 961 Commando in 2009 MCN decided to pull together some of the best “off the...
Triumph has released details of their 2009 Modern Classics range and there are a few surprising changes. Firstly they will...
Triumph knocked everyone’s socks off with the release of the new water-cooled Bonneville range back in 2016. But of all...
I love the look of this bike. That screen is really interesting. Would be great to see one made. I’m...
If there’s one thing I love about my job, it’s picking the brains of the diverse handful of people that...
The term sigma is used to describe a non-conformist individual. Someone who identifies as an outlier and does things their...
The 1200CC Triumph Speed Twin is the newest addition to Hinkley’s Modern Classic range. So far we’ve seen very few...
So you wanna buy a spanking new motorcycle to ride around town and make it without having to touch your...
“We are fetishists.
We worship speed. We adore motorcycles.” Kalup is a new brand/breed of motorcycle riding gear from the...