In this third and final instalment on Blacktrack Motors BT02 Triumph ‘Thruxman’, we learn about the final build stage. Sacha Lakic...
Triumph Cafe Racer
The origins of this famous British motorcycle marque go back to 1884, well before the first actual Triumph motorcycle appeared in 1902. By the 1920’s Triumph was building 30,000 cars and motorcycles a year. During the 50s many cafe racers were powered by Triumph engines due to their ability to reach the revered ‘ton’ or 100 miles per hour. Triumph is arguably one of the most popular motorcycle brands in the world and is arguably the leader in the “everything old is new again” retro bike wave.
I’m a sucker for retro fairings. I’m obsessed with Honda’s legendary CR750 and the TT race bikes of the seventies...
Another Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show has wrapped up and the web is starting to buzz with photos and videos...
Next week the Salt Flats of Bonneville, Utah will play host to the 2012 Bonneville Speed Week, “the world’s fastest speed...
As the world struggles to regain some form of normality after the pandemic – we’re beginning to see the return...
This is a a fully customized 2010 Triumph Bonneville street scrambler which features a bespoke paintwork and numerous creative modifications....
I just stumbled across these “exclusive” shots of one of Wrench Monkees latest builds on the Hook Motors blog. Starting life...
Jesse Bassett has been operating ‘The GasBox’ workshop in Cleveland, Ohio since early 2009. As a seasoned workshop mechanic of...
Beautiful Cafe Racer, motorcycle racing, classic bike and two wheel lifestyle shots from Zebra in a Box....
O, to be a motorcycle journalist in the 1970s. When men were hairy, and bikes were lairy. With their barely-there...
Anyone wanting to build a custom motorcycle and living in a home with limited space understands how frustrating it can....
Back in the early two thousands, Steampunk was all the rage. Popularised by films like Sky Captain and the World...
Back at work wishing you were still out on your motorbike? Here’s a little something to help you through your...
1972 Norton Commando 750 | Thanks Jim, Ananda and Nick. Sinar F 4×5 | Rodenstock 210mm | Tmax 400 I...
Triumph nailed the brief with the Scrambler 1200. The motorcycling press lauded the Brits’ ability to combine premium offroad functionality into...
Deus ex Machina came on the scene around about the same time I set up Return of the Cafe Racers...
Built for professional surfer Chippa Wilson, the Beach Sled was designed to be a versatile motorcycle for both adventurous pursuits...
Alongside Harley Davidson‘s Sportster the Triumph Bonneville is arguably the most customised motorcycle ever made. We’ve featured countless Bonneville cafe...
Two bikes in two days finished in beige and numbered 13…crazy! There’s two kinds of motorcycle entusiast who will never...
And here I was thinking the best thing to come out of Belgium was chocolates and Jean Claude Van Damme!...
Medusa Fabrication is a small 3 man workshop run by two fabricators/blacksmiths (Chad & Theo) and a mechanic (Tyler). Out...
In 1969 Triumph motorcycles took out first, second and third places in the Thruxton 500 mile endurance race. 35 years...
This great video featuring musician/songwriter/producer Butch Walker was pulled together by Mann-made Pictures for Cafe Racer TV. Butch talks about...
The Triumph Rocket 3 is a lot of things. A monstrous cruiser. A torque powerhouse. A modern classic. But it...
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when building your own Cafe Racer, or any style of custom motorcycle for...
Nothing grabs the headlines quite like an enormous selling price at auction. We’ve seen motorcycles sell for phenomenal money over...
Built by Moscow’s TCD (short for Timokhin Custom Design), this one-off Thruxton was commissioned by a client who works in aviation...
My motorcycle is a 2011 Triumph Bonneville. The build is still ongoing on as I continue to make upgrades and...
In the Tamarit Motorcycle catalog of more than 180 bolt on parts, you’ll find everything from fenders to seat cowls. Developing said...
A while back I posted a preview of Pier 18, a video that was in production featuring Hammerhead Industries much...
“We had a client from Perth in Australia contact us after he saw a picture of our Bronco Racer” recalls...
After the release of the Norton 961 Commando in 2009 MCN decided to pull together some of the best “off the...
The build started when a client came to Marcos looking for something “out of the norm” that could double as...
are holding their 3rd annual backyard build contest and Return of the Cafe Racers are on board to support the...
This week’s Sunday Screening was produced by French moto-apparel brand Age of Glory. ‘Escape the City Limits’ celebrates the companies...
I think the term ‘patina’ is often misused in the custom world. Nowadays it seems to be applied to any...
Mr Martini (Nicola Martini) is a custom motorcycle builder based in Verona, Italy. His eye for design gaurantees that everything...
Hinckley have been producing Bonnevilles for 12 years so you can now find some well priced, secondhand examples out there....
Tim Kills BSA A65 Bobber On November 3rd & 4th I co-hosted a custom motorcycle exhibition in Melbourne named Oil...
The Crane project was a chance for Ton-up Garage to once again build a bike with off-road influences, like the Gold...
Triumph has well and truly hit the nail on the head with their new Modern Classics range. The British manufacturer...
On the southern coast of Wales, stretching out for 7 miles along the edge of Carmarthen Bay, is a...
In life, the best advice you will get will comes from friends. After all, if you can’t trust your friends,...
This 2011 Triumph Street Triple 675 received modifications from Jett Design and Motorelic, resulting in a “lightweight race-inspired build” that...
From eBay: “You are bidding on (You should have bid on) a ground up custom 1974 Triumph Bonneville dual sport. This bike,...
The Brighton is the result of a collaboration between Streetmaster of California and Richard Pollock, owner of Mule Motorcycles. The classically styled ‘Brighton’...
In 2020, Triumph released the most powerful model in the history of the Modern Classic range. The Thruxton RS offers...
Revisiting an old piece of work can be a cathartic experience. Identifying past mistakes, comparing your old skills to your...
Jeff from Saint Motor Company has sent me through some new photos of his Triumph “Tesla” which he has been...
Italian workshop Cafe Twin’s last Cafe Racer film “Passo a due” lead us on a serene lap of Rome, past...
Cosmetic Specification: Handmade ‘Slippery Sam’ polished aluminium fuel tank. (Supplied by T A Baker Tanks, Wales.) Alloy Monza fuel cap....
“My main goal was performance and low-key style. Most of the modifications made decreased the Triumph’s weight and added to...
Well, that wraps up yet another year of amazing cafe racer builds from custom workshops and backyard builders around the...
Icon 1000 has just unveiled their newest range of riding gear and with it comes a new website and more...
One of the trademarks of Tamarit Motorcycles is that their only constant is change. With a portfolio fast approaching 100...
We have to say readers rides have quickly become our favourite addition to the site in years. we’ve been overwhelmed...
I love the look of this bike. That screen is really interesting. Would be great to see one made. I’m...
“Designed to appeal to a new generation of motorcyclists looking for a new interpretation on the classic, vintage cafe racer,...
In 2011 a self-confessed motorcycle nerd and his fashion model girlfriend took part in their first land speed trials event...
“They don’t make them like they used to!” When you hear those words uttered it is generally with disdain. A...
This Trident Cafe Racer has been doing the rounds on all the custom bike blogs and for obvious reasons. It’s...
I hate to admit it but it’s been a while since I’ve posted a featherbed on the site! This...
When you’re on to a good thing, stick to it. Tamarit Motorcycles have a soft spot for Triumphs. They kicked...
When John Bloor purchased the Triumph Motorcycles Meriden factory site in 1983 he purchased the land, buildings and all the...
Rickman Honda CR750 Brothers Derek and Don Rickman established Rickman motorcycles in 1960 from which they manufactured motorcycles up until...
If you saw my post recently about the Tidy Triumph Bobber I’m sure you’d like to see more about the...
Another Cafe Racer fro Garage Company. This time it’s a no fuss Triumph conversion. I love a good rat bike...
“Faster, faster, faster,until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death” Earlier this year the Lowbrow Customs crew made...
This week I headed back to my home town of Perth to celebrate my Gran’s (or should Super Gran’s) 100th...
Down & Out Motorcycles of Yorkshire, renowned for their bespoke Triumphs, have tastefully customized this Bobber Black. The distinguished builders,...
This customized 2008 Triumph Thruxton 900 ‘café’ bike was originally built for Dare Jennings, the founder of Deus Customs. The...
One of the perks of running a custom motorcycle website like ‘Return of the Café Racers’ is being invited to...
One place where form should never compromise function is in the world of motorcycle customisation. This is particularly relevant when...
It’s been a while since I’ve paid Japan a visit on the site, but this beauty of a Bobber from...
In 1953 Marlon Brando appeared on screen wearing black leathers and riding a 1950 Triumph Thunderbird 6T. The movie was...
There’s something very interesting happening over at Saint Motorbikes. Bozi’s latest custom motorcycle build is taking shape and it’s going...
It’s been a while since I read the story of the Ugly Duckling, but I’m pretty sure this conversion of...
The Glemseck 101 festival is on again this weekend in Germany and it’s geared up to be bigger than ever....
Mellow Motorcycles first appeared on the European custom scene in 2016. They gained our attention due to their tendency to...
Yuri Shif, builder of the 2010 AMD World Championship winning bike “The Machine” has been rolling beautiful custom motorcycles out...
Despite it’s torrid sales history the Trident was a magnificent motorcycle. Its engine performed incredibly, its frame provided track worthy...
“The SE is a clever tweaking to move the range into the ‘70’s’ at minimal cost, so I would not...
So you wanna buy a spanking new motorcycle to ride around town and make it without having to touch your...
With over a million Instagram followers ‘Cafe Racers of Instagram’ (aka CROIG) have one of the world’s biggest social motorcycle...
This year at the Bonneville Salt Flats the Low Brow Customs team turned up with a dual engine Triumph named...
Triumph knocked everyone’s socks off with the release of the new water-cooled Bonneville range back in 2016. But of all...
If you haven’t already seen Brit Town the following video containing the first 10 minutes of the documentary style film...
For years the de facto choice when building a cafe racer was the air-cooled, 865cc Triumph Bonneville. With very few...
Kyle and Tyler Malinky of Low Brow Customs could still be considered the new kids on the block at Bonneville...
Some nice footage of the new Norton Commando in action alongside the Triumph’s “modern classic” Bonneville with a quick review...
I came across this eBay auction the other day and was amazed by how similar the T120R Bonneville looks to...
Nicola Martini, aka Mr Martini, aka the Mad Hatter, is an Italian custom bike builder, restauranteur and retailer. The self-proclaimed...
Italian workshop Free Spirits are back again with another fantastic showcase of their work with modern Triumphs. This Bonneville ‘Evo’...
Aside from being the most iconic of all Cafe Racers, what really makes the Triton special is how it came...
Benjie’s Cafe Racers are continuing to expand on their outstanding product line with a series of Cafe Racer style parts...
If you’re a Triumph owner living in Europe and you want to modify your bike you’re spoilt for options. There’s...
It’s fair to say that a hell of a lot of work goes into the custom motorcycles I feature. So...
“Triumph has a glorious racing history” explained Matthias Becker of Hanse Qustom in Hamburg, Germany. “The ‘Shady Sam‘ is our...
