It is kinda RAT (but its no bobber) I consider it Cafe because of the seat, bars, and the fact that its pretty much stripped to the essentials (which is what they did back in those days) also, its a Triumph =) Honda's weren't the original Cafe bikes.. none the less, they kick arse.
My wife showed me this thread, just had to laugh. We gotta better place for ya Adam. Read on, don't let any nimrods here clown ya or subdue your motorcycle dreams.
Malibu Adam, You are quite CORRECT, sir. To your defense, this bike you had pictured as your "dream bike" is not a Bobber, it is an
original theme or style Cafe' Racer. Secondly, that is not really a "bolt on" hardtail on the bike like a bobber/chopper would have, as commented by somebody else here. It is a stock subframe with hard strut rods in place of shocks. It was the poor mans kit and I've seen many vintage recreations like this. Ideal, no. Something they did back then, yes. Rebelious, rough, and ready! These people were drinkers with motorcycle problems. Hahahaha. Back to the bike you so love, it has a rare original Trackmaster tank used on Trackers and some Cafe' racers. Some of these spindly looking little Brit bikes like you were looking at can fetch up to $15k on eBay if they have vintage original bits on them. Others below go for a LOT more than a typical ratted out Honda cafe bike, that's for sure. Fenton just won the custom Concours D' Elegance award at Half Moon Bay with one of these little creations. It was created for the actor on my name is Earl. Right now, collectors all over are snapping up these ratty little bikes for their collectable value and "cool factor". And, custom modified has become popular again just like Restomod cars, that fetch more than complete numbers match originals many times at auctions. Pretty amazing. Vintage Triumph is quite the rage right now in SoCal and in Japan. Movie stars are having them custom built and they are becoming very popular and in high demand. I've got one myself. That bike is suppose to look like that, (maybe not the exhaust) but most everything else representing a specific era and moment in time, with the ridden "patina" look. Before anyone starts cutting on Cafe' racers or a.k.a kneeslider bikes, they need to know a little history first and how these home built bikes came about and where they came from. The Jap stuff did not come until later on.
Take a look at the Ace Cafe in London, Brits, Triumphs, Black Leather jackets, where it all started... see the video. Speakers on, scroll down after the site opens to see the video.
Cult of the Cafe' Racer Video: http://www.ace-cafe-...com/Videos.aspxCafe Racer: A Cafe Racer is a style of bike popularized in London in the '50s where bikers wanted a fast, personalized and distinctive bike to travel from cafe to cafe. Many Cafe Racer bikes have distinctive small low-cut fairings.Malibu Adam, come over to where the real bikers and builders are at on Jockey Journal. Adam, don't let these guys clown ya here on Folsom forum about your dream. And, don't let that Dream get away. Lots more factual information over here on Jockey Journal to learn there. ... Shinya Kimura / Zero Engineering Cafe Racer built from ratty old Brit bits on Jockey Journal.
Cafe thread on Jockey Journal
On Jockey Journal
Uh yea...More Ratty old hardtails on Jockey Journal site.
On Jockey Journal
On Jockey Journal (benjies cafe racer)
On Jockey Journal
Look familiar Malibu Adam? Just like the bike you posted here on this thread, right. Another ratty old school style Cafe Racer. Bad a$$$, on Jockey Journal
