Café Racer

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.

Kevil's Speed Shop - BMW R100 Scrambler

Kevil’s Speed Shop

Kevil’s Speed Shop is a widely admired UK custom bike builder and a flagbearer of New Wave Customs. At the centre of it all is Kevin Hill, a lifelong custom builder in the truest sense.

Redmax Speedshop Triumph Scrambler

Redmax Speedshop

Redmax Speedshop has been a cornerstone of the British custom motorcycle scene for decades. Based in Devon, the ‘shop has grown into one of the UK’s most respected flat tracker and cafe racer specialists.

Revel Custom Motorcycles CLASSIC ROADSTER HONDA CBF125

Revel Custom Motorcycles

Based in Twickenham, London, Revel Custom Motorcycles emerged from the 2020 lockdown. While at first glance, that might seem like an unusual origin story. Retrospectively, it’s perfectly

Old Empire Motorcycles -Snipe Headlight

Old Empire Motorcycles

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 Type 23 Ducati Scrambler base

Auto Fabrica

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.

Fastec Racing Custom Honda

Newmarket Motorcycle Co.

Newmarket Motorcycle Co. (NMC) is a magnet for riders seeking exceptional custom motorcycle builds and expert service.

Shed Motorcycles Imperfecta front right profile

Shed Motorcycles

Founded by Spanish expat Alberto Benito in Providence, USA, Shed Motorcycles was born from passion and ingenuity.

Tamarit 84 SOBERBIA

Tamarit Motorcycles

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.

Workshorse Speed Shop Appaloosa V2 Baikal

Workhorse Speed Shop

Founded by master wrencher Brice Hennebert, Workhorse Speed Shop is the manifestation of a lifetime of dedication to motorcycle and creative pursuits.

1977 Honda Goldwing GL1000 Kenzo Death Machines of London side

Death Machines of London

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 Triumph Bonneville Custom

White Collar Bike

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 5

ROA Motorcycles

ROA Motorcycles is a Madrid-based custom shop founded in 2014 by architect and industrial designer Jaime Fenwick,

Scroll to Top