Cafe Racers – A motorcycle once synonymous with youth counterculture of the 1950s and 1960s, (namely ‘Rockers’) have seen a resurgence in the first two decades of the 21st century. With an assertive stance and a lean, though sometimes muscular, silhouette, this stripped-back street racer has attracted new riders and brought experienced riders back into the saddle. Amateur enthusiasts of the ’50s and ’60s once stripped back their street bikes and transformed them into cafe racers to emulate factory racers. Nowadays, factories look towards ‘New Wave’ custom culture, with which the custom-built cafe racer is now more commonly associated, for inspiration to design retro motorcycles.
The yard-built culture lives on and has transformed the motorcycle industry in recent years. Many of those bike builders have gone professional and are fabricating bikes with finishes that rival global motorcycle manufacturers. And, they create these bikes to your specification.
It’s easier than ever to commission your dream custom café racer. Here we’ve listed some of the finest custom motorcycle workshops and bike builders who specialise in custom café racers.
Old Empire Motorcycles operates out of a Norfolk workshop aptly named the House of Assembly. It’s a building in which uniquely refined motorcycles are built.For riders who want a machine that feels rooted in something real, Old Empire Motorcycles is one of the more compelling workshops operating in Britain today.
Auto Fabrica’s story begins in 2011, in a single-car garage in Southend-on-Sea, where brothers Bujar and Gazmend Muharremi set out to build the motorcycle they couldn’t buy.
Newmarket Motorcycle Co. (NMC) is a magnet for riders seeking exceptional custom motorcycle builds and expert service.
Founded by Spanish expat Alberto Benito in Providence, USA, Shed Motorcycles was born from passion and ingenuity.
Tamarit Motorcycles is a Triumph motorcycle transformation company with 100% Spanish DNA. In less than two years, Tamarit has become one of the market leaders of Triumph motorcycle customisation.
Founded by master wrencher Brice Hennebert, Workhorse Speed Shop is the manifestation of a lifetime of dedication to motorcycle and creative pursuits.
Death Machines of London DMOL is a joint custom, workshop venture between Ray Petty [Petty Meccnica], and British designer James Hilton. The duo builds remarkable two-wheel machines, which can be described as rideable art.
White Collar Bike is a boutique custom motorcycle workshop in Bandung, Indonesia. The shop’s founder and industrial designer, Ram Ram Januar, uses advanced techniques and expert craftsmanship to build world-renowned bikes
ROA Motorcycles is a Madrid-based custom shop founded in 2014 by architect and industrial designer Jaime Fenwick,
Retro Bikes Croatia (RBC) is a motorcycle workshop based in Zagreb, with a penchant for customising vintage or modern-classic
Laurent Amann was trained in France and has an extensive engineering-design background in the automotive industry. He is always extending his expertise
In the idyllic English countryside, on a farm just north of London, you’ll find an extraordinary custom workshop; Lions Den Motorcycles. Maybe it’s the unusual location or
