Closing date for April issue -> February 17
A (BMW) café racer. Is that allowed?
Isn't he much too young? Too modern? In issue 12 of AMK – get yourself a dirt cheap subscriptionWell, you don't have to go through the cold to the kiosk – there's a BMW café racer. And that BMW in question started life as a very serious R1100R. In 1999. 1999 feels like yesterday, damn it!
But the BMW we remembered as new and from the showroom? That thing is already a quarter of a century… young. And now far from original. Which, for many BMW enthusiasts, is a bit like swearing in church.
So, café racers. Or café racers? Café racers, maybe?
The name racer comes from the “Rockers"In old Britain, they rode their motorcycles from pub to pub as fast as they could. The truckers who were there jokingly called them cafe racers instead of real racers. This name comes from the “Rockers” and thus introduced a new concept into the world that is still used today.
What is a café racer?
A café racer is essentially a motorcycle stripped down as much as possible. These motorcycles have a sporty seat, clip-ons, and—if your knees can handle it—a rearset. This setup makes these types of motorcycles less suitable if you're over 23. Loud exhaust pipes are an option—not appreciated by everyone. However, there's no blueprint for the best café racer. The fun of a café racer project is the freedom to put your own spin on it and truly make the bike your own.
You can do that with any motorcycle. But the idea is that the basics should simply be technically sound and not too expensive.
The approach can be as extreme and expensive as you like. The components you mount on it can range from Ali to exorbitantly expensive. In practice, the build quality of the models for sale varies enormously, to the point of being life-threatening.
While hardcore BMW enthusiasts often get a kick out of drastically modified motorcycles, the breed itself is firmly entrenched in the market. No one will laugh at you or call you names if you say you own a Tribsa, a Norvin, or any other hybrid. And such a machine can command a considerable market value. Buying an Egli Vincent would be more like taking out an additional mortgage than a PL. Building a top-of-the-line café racer is an expensive proposition, no matter what.
You can of course have all sorts of opinions about it, but if you enjoyed building it and are proud of the result, then you did a good job.
Consider your starting point. Converting a nearly perfect, neat classic into a café racer can be considered a bit of a waste, even financially. A neat, original CB750, for example, is worth considerably more than the one pictured. But back then, that approach wasn't as relevant. The extra sporty CB750 cost less than 1.000 guilders.
Rockers then…
Rockers (also known as leather boys en ton-up boys) are members or followers of a rock 'n' roll and biker subculture that emerged in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s and remained popular throughout the 1960s, particularly among young people. Motorcycle-riding rockers were commonly known as ton-up boys, because they might or might not want to drive at speeds of 100 mph (miles per hour).
(There are more photos below.)
Of course, everyone has their own choice as to what they do, but personally I find a lot of modified motorcycles hideously ugly.
I have a soft spot for café racers, but only in the “old style” sense: preferably an older air-cooled engine.
I have built one several times based on an old Yamaha three-cylinder.
THE MISTAKE many make is not matching the intake and exhaust: if you modify the exhaust, you will have to do the same with the carburetion.
You don't buy a pod air filter from Ali, but from a quality brand.
More air means a leaner mixture, so adjust your needles and jets…unless you like melting pistons.
An open exhaust makes that "pull from the bottom" melt away like snow in the sun, and turns your torquey racehorse into a worn-out pony... that doesn't give a damn at low revs.
A drama with pull-ups and traffic light sprints, which you're going to lose to a spotty, snotty kid on a scootah.
There's a lot of finishing going on, and a lot of time and love has gone into it! Technically, I find the green Guzzi interesting because the exhaust pipes and carburetors are reversed compared to the original engine. How so? 😃
On the BMW R1150, I see a minimalist exhaust, just like on its café racer counterparts. Now, I'm genuinely worried about the impact of that minimalism on the mostly fairly optimal engine concepts from the factory? Are all the horses still stamping their heels in front of the carriage? Or have an unsuspected number of horses already been chased out of the stables by all that home-made work? 😬 Either way, the creations are a success. Whether they're all original or not.
Cafe racers originate from England, not Germany, except for the Munch. BMW has nothing to do with cafe racers; it's simply a car engine on two wheels. Back in the day, there were regular ads in the BigTwin magazine from BMW drivers looking for uniforms and leather enthusiasts.