Want a Cafe Racer but worried about the riding position? Building your own Cafe Racer but afraid you’ll be in no shape to reach those clip-ons by the time it makes it out of the shed? Here, Jamie offers advice on how to make a Cafe Racer comfortable for those of us old enough to … Read more
As an old biker who recently returned to 2 wheels after a near 20 year lay off I thought I’d share the differences I found between owning and riding the motorcycles of the previous century and todays modern motorcycle. Are you an Old Biker? Old bikers are motorcyclists who stopped riding for a prolonged period. … Read more
The Cafe Racer v Sports Bike dilemma pops up in my inbox more than most. Usually they’re from someone who rides a Sports Bike but giving serious thought to purchasing a Cafe Racer. Cafe Racer v Sports Bike – What’s the main difference? The short answer is that a sports bike is a machine bred … Read more
As I sit here, a rather tired out 47-year-old that’s been involved with cars & bikes since a youngster, I’ve been totting up the different vehicles that I’ve owned, both in terms of numbers and approximate value, it’s actually quite scary when you work it all out. From memory, I’ve owned at least 17 bikes, … Read more
“Sorry mate, I didn’t see you” … a phrase so common that it even became an acronym – SMIDSY. When I was first learning to ride on the road (I’d been riding for around 5 years before that), my all-knowing Dad drilled one phrase into me; “Ride as though every single car driver hasn’t seen … Read more
With so many different genre of motorcycle it can be hard to keep up with them all. Retro’s, Naked’s, UJM’s, Vintage, Antique, Classic and modern Classic motorcycles to name a few. So, let’s take a look at one of these that is currently gaining prominence, the modern classic motorcycle. What is a … Read more
A motorcycle is considered a classic once it is over 30 years old. As the majority of retro motorcycles take their styling from the 1970’s and 80’s the following classic motorcycles are from around that era. What is the best classic motorcycle to buy? Here are five of the best classic motorcycles to purchase and … Read more
By their nature Cafe Racers don’t lend themselves well to big guys. They can can make you feel cramped at the best of times and if you’re over 6 ft then it can become uncomfortable very quickly. Here I look at the options for those bigger guys who have their heart set on a Cafe … Read more
A reader asked which of the retro motorcycles would make a good commuter as he’s fed up with paying the London congestion charges every day. As he didn’t tell me which of the retro genres he favours I have included one from each. So, here you go Jim from Camden Town…. What are the best … Read more
Ever wondered how much it would cost to build a Bobber? It makes sense to try and narrow the cost down as accurately as possible so you can budget accordingly. I’ve looked at various options and come up with some numbers for you. So how much does it cost to build a Bobber? To convert a … Read more
Thinking of building a Cafe Racer? Unless you have deep pockets you will have been trying to work out how much your project would actually cost, I know I have. So, I’ve spoken to a few cafe racer riders and done some research to try and nail down an actual price. How much does it … Read more