When it debuted, the BMW K1 was Marmite for motorcyclists. They either loved it or hated it. The radical sports tourer roared onto the scene in 1988 with the subtlety of a kick to the groin. It was BMW’s embodiment of the future, right down to its bold livery, styling, and affinity for plastic. It was unlike anything anyone had expected from the Germans. Based on the innovative K100 inline four-cylinder engine, the K1 was as much a statement as […] The post Love It or Hate It: It Rocks! Bikes BMW K1 ‘Limbo’ appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers ..read more

Cafe racers are a distinctive style of motorcycles that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s in Britain. Born out of a desire for speed and style, these bikes were typically modified from standard production motorcycles, stripped down for lightweight, and fitted with low-mounted handlebars, elongated fuel tanks, and rear-set foot pegs for a more aggressive riding position. Courtesy: london.acecafe.com Today, cafe racer culture endures as a blend of vintage aesthetics and modern performance, with enthusiasts worldwide continuing to build and […] The post Common Misconceptions About Cafe Racers appear ..read more

Indian riding gear manufacturer Trip Machine Co. entered the scene a few years back with a modest range of stylish leather luggage. Since then they’ve expanded their offering tenfold to offer a wide range of leather-based products. Amongst them is the brand’s new range of riding boots. On a recent trip to India, I met the Trip Machine team and was impressed with what I saw. On the back of that encounter, I secured a pair of their Moc-Toe riding […] The post Riding Gear Review: Trip Machine Moc-Toe Boots appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers ..read more

We’ve been huge fans of Husqvarna’s naked street bikes, the Vitpilen and Svartpilen, since their release in 2018. The unapologetically futuristic-looking motorcycles were developed in conjunction with Austrian design firm Kiska and were a welcome change from the stagnant designs on offer from other manufacturers. Now, 6 years after their first appearance, Husqvarna has unveiled the biggest change to their naked series both in design and engineering. Although it shares the first half of its name with a previous model, […] The post Double the Fun: 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 appeared first on ..read more

Motorcyclists like to moan about everything.
And the quickest way to start some premium groaning is to sell us a naked bike that’s been detuned. Because it’s downright aggravating when a manufacturer decrees that because you don’t want a race replica bike, you don’t want race replica performance.

The CB900 Hornet? Castrated CBR. The FZR? An R1 midway through a course of HRT. For the first time in history, ‘naked’ means ‘less exciting’. Manufacturers find it cheaper to build naked bikes from […] The post Evolution of Devolution?: Kawasaki Z900RS VS Kawasaki Z900 appeared first on Return of the ..read more

Yamaha’s beloved SR400 may have ceased production back in 2021, but it remains a hot favorite amongst custom builders in Japan.  First released in 1978, the “easy to use” SR400 was an instant hit. Upon releasing the model Yamaha designer Atsushi Ishiyama credited the XS650 as a major influence on the design. That bike was influenced by British motorcycles of the sixties so the SR inherited timeless classic styling. The bike’s single-cylinder 400cc engine also complied with cheaper JDM small […] The post Sweet Single: Candy Motorcycle Laboratory SR400 appeared first on Return of the Cafe R ..read more

With wetter weather coming soon to the southern hemisphere, I’ve started my annual search for seasonally appropriate riding gear. Like many riders, I’ve already invested in a decent riding jacket so the idea of buying a second for a few rides in the wet feels excessive. This is when wet weather gear designed for layering comes in. Unfortunately, a large portion of rain gear looks ungainly and is far from fashionable. Recognising this issue Max Duff of Aussie riding gear outfit […] The post Riding Gear: Akin Moto x Gorm Taube Anorak appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers ..read more

There’s no denying that Norton Motorcycles has had a troubled past. From insolvencies to multiple ownership changes, and who can forget Stuart Garner’s recent appalling management of the brand? But thankfully, things are finally starting to look up for the iconic British marque. Norton is now nestled snuggly under the wing of Indian automotive giant TVS Motor Company and its future is finally looking bright. After acquiring the Norton brand TVS has dedicated itself to securing its future with a […] The post Celebrating Success: Norton Motorcycles V4CR 588 LE appeared first on Return of the Caf ..read more

By the early 2000s Honda had diluted its once iconic CB series so much that any connection to the original CB750 was all but gone. Following suit with just about every other brand, the Japanese manufacturer had jumped on the naked bike trend that Ducati spearheaded with the Monster in 1993. By 2004 though the CBs had become yet another staid-looking, run-of-the-mill sport naked. During the early thousands CBs had been subjected to a “little in the middle but got […] The post Katros Garage Honda CB400 appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers ..read more

New York based, fashion and beauty photographer Marian Sell loves a good side project. He cut his teeth with two-wheeled engineering growing up in Germany. Tinkering on the Vespas and Lambrettas he and his friends terrorized local streets on. Decades later he’s still tinkering on motorcycles in his spare time, but his latest project is his crowning glory. Building a Norton street racer has been a long-time desire of Marian’s and he’d even attempted one in the past, but this […] The post Crowning Glory: Marian’s street legal Norton MkII Commando Seeley appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racer ..read more