Intro & Ingredients

Once in a while, you strike gold! The motorcycle I’m writing about today made its first appearance in the wild at the Big Twin Show in Houten, the Netherlands, earlier this month. In our case, we got a bit (a lot) of a head’s up. I have been personally involved since a frame and a few crates of parts were inspected and, after a haggle and a handshake, collected. We have previously posted about a Blast from the Past, and about a Modern Interpretation of the famous concept. While often considered the first cafe racer and the heritage of custom builds, these bikes are now considered unicorns. They often find a home in a living room or a museum, rather than a garage. A few years ago, we were brave enough to call it “one of the most legendary machines out there”. What I am referring to is the ‘Triton’, a Triumph engine in a Norton frame. These bikes were built in the UK between 1950 and 1970, in various attempts to put the fastest engine into the best handling frame.

Here, I would like to present one built in the Netherlands, in 2022. The basic recipe for a classic Triton is relatively simple:

1. Norton (Wideline) Featherbed frame – 1pc.
2. Triumph Pre-Unit 650 twin engine – 1pc.
3. Roadholder fork – 1pc.

Trying to source these main components is one thing, trying to make them fit each other and look good is another… Let’s get into it!

It’s all in the details

Georges Martin, inspired by Egli, built this particular frame and swingarm based on the Norton wideline featherbed measurements. He ingeniously routed an oil line inside the frame for the crankcase breather.

Piet from Land’s End Motorcycles in Hengstdijk, the Netherlands overhauled the 650cc 360° parallel twin engine. He increased the capacity to 750cc, plugged in matching pistons, and topped it off with a T140 head to convert to a pushover exhaust. Furthermore, he installed a belt-driven Bob Newby racing clutch to transfer all 55 horses to the Norton AMC transmission. Yes, that is the same Bob Newby who won several TTs in the 1980’s. All this mounts into the frame with waterjet cut 7075-T6 aluminium brackets. Piet also serviced the Roadholder forks and mated these to the frame. He further modified the frame to also fit the polished aluminium oil tank behind the engine and underneath the seat.

Rolling along

In the front, Haan Wheels in Schijndel laced a Grimeca 4 (!!!) leading shoe hub with stainless steel spokes and a 19″ Morad high shoulder rim. The 18” rear around a weight-reduced conical hub. Both were drum-polished to achieve that top shine finish. Bridgestone Battlax BT45 rubber ensures optimal contact to the road surface.

A touch of modern

Not all on this bike is a collection of old and refurbished parts from the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, the UK, and the US.

If you look closely, the vintage Tommaselli Matador levers neighbour modern Motone CNC milled aluminium push button controls. This is one of the hints at what lies underneath the shine. When laying new wiring, one might as well go all the way and replace analog fuses and switches with a digital control unit. In this case, a MotoGadget mo.unit replaces all relays and fuses, and simultaneously simplifies the wiring. The pulse switches control the unit via a low current circuit, allowing for small diameter wires inside the clip-ons. The thicker wiring for 12 volt supply to the power draining components are thus no longer routed via the switches. Yes, I’m looking at you, H4 headlight!

The chrome headlight bucket also houses a digital voltmeter and LED indicator lights for the high beam, oil pressure, and the indicators. Bright as the sun, these tiny LED indicators are another hint at the high-tech core of the motorcycle. We concidered and accepted these modernisations, because the original manufacturer of Triumph and Norton lights, Lucas, is jokingly known as ‘the Prince of Darkness’.

When you are on the bike, you can clearly see the indicator lights and voltmeter when you peak between the original Smith’s tacho and speedo. Bob Carter in the US rebuilt these, since some things are best left to the experts.

Hand built

Behind these beautiful gauges sits la pièce de résistance, a handbuilt aluminium petrol tank. It subtly dips below the spine of the frame, yet perfectly aligns with knees where it narrows to meet the seat. Combined, the curvature of the tank and the seat play a large part in the aesthetic that stops people in their trot. They often utter something along the lines of “I have no idea what it is, but it’s beautiful”. The seat hump houses the lithium ion battery and control unit. Maarten, or Yellow Rider, Zevenaar, famous for converting Yamaha’s into vintage racers and board trackers, made it by hand, since the available humps did not follow this curvature. The broad silver band aligns with the metal strap that secures the tank. Seats are his specialty, and his craftsmanship shows!

One of the largest challenges with this build was to find parts that fit. And when you cannot find something, you fabricate it. There is a lot you can bolt on nowadays, almost all manufacturers offer parts to personalise your bike further. Aftermarket suppliers often go as far as offering various types of entire kits to convert your motorcycle. Just sometimes, your hand tools are not sufficient to fabricate the parts needed, and that’s when you call the cavalry.

Maarten also crafted the base plate and adapted the subframe hoop before it went to powder coating. RAL 6005 with a structured finish is a unique combination that is a tad lighter than the famous BRG. British Racing Green. It really makes the bike pop and sets it apart from that traditional black, chrome, red colour scheme. Finally, Maarten fabricated stainless steel actuator and anchor rods for the rear brake and gearbox, as well as the brackets for the Norton Peashooter exhausts.

Big (T)winner

At the show, we’re getting very curious about the sound. And with us, a few other people in the audience looked at the cafe racer category winner at the Big Twin Bike Show with great anticipation and hope. Luckily, after tickling the Amal 930 carbs, a firm kick draws in the air via  DNA filters, the Beck electronic ignition generates a spark, and the parallel twin roars. Just a tad louder than the crowd ;)

Um cassino on-line que oferece acesso a uma variedade de jogos de azar, incluindo caça-níqueis, roleta, pôquer e muito mais emhttps://betandreas.br.com/

Photo credit: Jan Eggink Photography

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This isn’t Sebastien’s first rodeo. He has built a stunning Yamaha XS650 before, completely in Jap-style. It was featured in many magazines back in 2020, and for good reason too. There is definitely no lack of imagination when it comes to his old build, but also this more recent creation.

We are a sucker for nose art. Especially those from around World War 2. The first nose art started at the beginning of the 20st century, during World War 1. When fighter planes where being used in close combat. Pilots would paint their planes with menacing texts or imagine instilling fear into their opponents. Nowadays we don’t see nose art anymore in the military, but it is still regarded as art among enthusiasts around the world.

To see nose art being used on a custom motorcycle makes our hearts beat a little bit faster. But there is more to this machine than just the nose art, which has a symbol of the rising sun on the left, and shark mouth on the right, a nod to both east and west. Sebastien has managed to source a racing fairing of Norton Commando and has modified it to fit the Kawasaki seamlessly. The combination of nose art and matt green paint has been done incredible well by Cedric B Ink.

The rear of the KZ650 has been chopped and lowered, using custom shock absorbers. There is something special to these shock absorbers. They are modified for air-ride, which allows the rear of the bike to be raised or lowered at the flick of a switch. At its highest point, the clearance between the exhaust and the ground is a mere 10 centimeters! A neat feature we see in the custom car scene, but not often on a motorcycle.

The rear cowl comes from a Kawasaki Z1000ST and has been modified to fit the KZ650. The custom seat has been made by Dérouillée Sellerie and looks astonishing on this bike. The Delkevic exhaust has been modified to fit this KZ perfectly. Combined with the DNA air filters, this Kawasaki definitely breaths better now.

The front of the Kawasaki has also been lowered to accommodate for the lower stance Sebastien was going for. The fuel tank has been heavily modified, and now incorporates a fuel level indicator on the side, and a pop-up gas-cap. The electrics of the Kawasaki have been replaced with a simplified wiring harness that accommodates for the micro switches. We love the minimalistic look, especially with the large tacho front center. The Kellerman LED lights and indicators further contribute to this look. The levers are now Brembo’s, which are adjustable.

When you look at the pictures closely, you will see that the kick-starter pedal looks custom. That’s because it is, courtesy of T4 Motorcycles. What’s also custom, is the Ruroc 2.0 helmet which Sebastien has made to match the look of the bike. Small detail, but with great results!

Sebastien admits that with the ground clearance, the Kawasaki is more suitable for slow strolls than racing. Still, with the way this KZ650SR has turned out, we wouldn’t be surprised if it commanded anyone to move to right as it appears in your rear-view mirror. And all of this with a budget of no more than €6000,-.

Photo Credits: SKM

Builder details:
Seb Kustom Motorcycles
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Secret fantasies
Those who know me a bit are familiar with my fondness for iconic British motorcycle brands.

In spite of being an avid Triumph rider for many years many friends will also recognize my catchphrase:
“I may be married to Triumph, but Norton is my mistress”.

Until now my life has been too straight in this sense, and I have never had the pleasure of actually owning a Norton. When the brand was resurrected a little more than a decade ago, the burning desire deep within me caught fire again.

I have had the pleasure of establishing a good relationship with those behind the brand at the time. Unfortunately for all parties involved, things spiralled South early 2020 and the company filed for bankruptcy amidst a tornado of media attention. As there are more than enough media channels reporting on that particular subject, I prefer to look ahead. And the future for the brand looks pretty bright at the time of writing. Norton Motorcycles is now part of TVS Motor Company and can rely on sufficient funds to really revive this icon once again.

In recent months there was only the odd little news bit that trickled out here and there, but it is now clear they have been working very hard in the eye of the storm.

A new dawn
This week Norton Motorcycles has announced the completion of its new global headquarters. The all-new facility houses state-of-the-art manufacturing capability and the company’s new global design and R&D hub. It forms a key part of Norton’s strategic growth plan on its journey to becoming the world-leader in luxury hand-crafted motorcycles.The new HQ is a clear display of significant commitment by TVS Motor Company in its prosperous partnership with Norton Motorcycles. Within just 18 months of acquiring the iconic British marque, TVS Motor has overseen the creation of its world-class facility in Solihull, West Midlands, UK paving the way to design and produce an exciting new generation of motorcycles built with world-leading manufacturing standards.

New Ownership
Says Sudarshan Venu, Joint Managing Director, TVS Motor Company “The opening of the new headquarters represents a significant step forward for Norton Motorcycles and is a proud moment for everyone. We are creating the foundations for a sustainable long-term future for the Norton marque.
“We are setting out to create a bold future for the company, our employees, our customers and our partners that lives up to the highest expectations, enabling Norton to once again become the real global force its legacy deserves.”

Robert Hentschel, CEO, Norton Motorcycles comments: “The new Norton Motorcycles headquarters is a true embodiment of this iconic British marque. The facility is home to design, engineering, purchasing, sales, marketing, and support departments, as well as the highly skilled production team overseeing the build of our new generation of motorcycles. It is the perfect platform to re-energise our business as we lead the Norton brand to onward success where it will play a key role in the future of mobility.

“This investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the motorcycles we build. We will not compromise on quality, and we continue to work alongside every supplier to ensure that our high standards are always met. With this new HQ opening, Norton is now fit for the future – creating an innovative and sustainable business model which will see us producing world-class motorcycles that are true to the unrivalled legacy of Norton.”

Scrutinizing the operation
The new Norton leadership, together with TVS Motor Company, has conducted a wide-ranging review of Norton Motorcycles operations, resulting in new appointments and processes, specifically in engineering, design and manufacturing to ensure that the highest quality standards are met. The headquarters is creating over a hundred of new high-skilled jobs (and more in upcoming years) and will be able to build around 8,000 motorcycles a year.

Design Guru
Even though there are many new appointments, the BikeBrewers team are very happy to see a very familiar face in the crowd! Simon Skinner, affectionately called ‘Skinner’, was a key figure in the team that set out to re-create the brand. He was instrumental in designing the Norton V4SV. An exciting bike the world is waiting for, but will unfortunately be affordable to only a few of us.

Says Skinner: “I joined Norton Motorcycles over twelve years ago in 2009 and was one of the employees carried over to be part of the new company under TVS ownership. My role as Head of Design is incredibly varied, from supporting engineering to helping marketing with historical or brand knowledge, I work closely with all departments of the business. However, I am fundamentally responsible for delivering the design element of new products that are true to the core brand principles of Norton. This means spending time on product definition, sketch work, 3D CAD and visualisation, and working to improve integration of design with concept engineering.
Over the last decade, I have been responsible for the design of all Norton motorcycles and their derivatives, including the Commando 961 Classic, the Superlight, and our new V4 motorcycle, plus a series of racing bikes. One of the best parts of my job though is seeing people grow and develop, such as when a graduate becomes a senior member of the team – it’s very satisfying to be a part of that.

My goal within Norton is simply to develop my team to create the best motorcycles in the world and return Norton to its former glory.

Top notch quality
According to Norton Motorcycles the new manufacturing process, every single component of every new Norton motorcycle will be evaluated in a new quality-testing laboratory to ensure the highest build quality. Within the laboratory are inspection rooms, testing areas including destruction testing and a rolling road. A customer reception and showroom, service workshop, and office are also housed at the new Headquarters.

Continuing, ‘the Norton manufacturing facility has been engineered to be highly sustainable and to minimise waste. The result is an intelligently engineered solution using flexible components that mean that Norton Motorcycles can expand and evolve, within the new space. The build used numerous sustainable and rapid build techniques on the project, the components of which are

At BikeBrewers we can’t wait to see all this exciting work in progress in real life with our own eyes

For those not yet familiar with the brand:
Norton Motorcycles was founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of fittings and parts to the two-wheel trade.
Norton Motorcycles went on to become one of the most iconic British motorcycle brands, manufacturing famous models such as the 650SS, Atlas, Commando, Dominator, Manx, Navigator and more – constantly innovating in motorcycle technology, with features advantageous for lightness and strength in motorcycle racing. Norton Motorcycles has an unrivalled history in motorsport and the brand name is synonymous with Isle of Man TT racing.

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Icon Motorcycles
You may have never heard of them, Icon Motorcycles. The Netherlands-based outfit has dedicated itself completely to building classic British café racers. At Icon they don’t just produce motorcycles; they go back deep into history. They let their hands do the work and put their soul in every model, with the greatest care for the smallest details for the sole purpose of creating the perfect harmony between man and machine. That’s the sales pitch at least.

Merger
They do that by combining the best of two motorcycles into one. First, there is the famous Norton featherbed frame, which bears an unparalleled reputation for both rigidity and comfort. It is a double cradle frame with a wasp’s waist. It has a “roadholder” fork and swing rear suspension, and was built by the Irish McCandless brothers. An absolute legend of the British motorcycle industry. At the time, the amazing features of this frame were applauded by many, especially those that loved to race because of the dramatically improved handling. It is this type of frame that is used by Icon Motorcycles. Mated to the famous Triumph Bonneville 360-degree parallel twin engine, which churns out a healthy 69hp and 69Nm of torque from its 900cc lung capacity, one could say that this would be the birth of the new Triton!

Classic Café Racer
Icon Motorcycles really goes all-in with their build. The longing for the good old days is so strong, that it can be felt in every part that passed the hands of these craftsmen. Their philosophy is that a café racer is more than just a machine. There is a human aspect to it as well, which is just as important as the machine. You see, the riders of café racers were young men and women, that had a need for speed. There were basically 2 ways to achieve that goal: lose weight and more power. This started out with very basic stuff like ditching fenders, and removing indicators. Later on, it started to get more serious, with the most well-known modification being a combination of a Triumph engine with a Norton frame. Hence the name Triton. With its spartan look and aggressive feel, the “Triton” is one of the most distinctive and respected motorcycles in the world. Some purists believe that without the emergence of the “Triton”, manufacturers might never had developed modern sports motorcycle.

Tuned for performance
Besides the café racer scene, there was also a movement that demanded that their machines be driven even faster and that the appearance of their bikes needed to be similar to the machines of British racing heroes such as Mike Hailwood and Geoff Duke. Reaching a 100 miles per hour, or the “Ton” as it was called, became the ultimate goal. This meant a sleeker fuel tank, stiffer suspension, lowered frames, clip-ons, and fibreglass fairings. Engines got blueprinted and received performance upgrades such as forged pistons, bigger valves, race cams, open exhaust, larger jets, and lighter flywheels. This is the look and feel that Icon Motorcycles is aiming for.

British to the bone
The motorcycles that leave their workshop are all made with British parts. There is the Triumph engine, Norton frame, Hagon shocks, Lucas’ electrics, and Dunstall exhaust system. All parts are made of British entertaining, a Triumph engine, Norton frame, Hagon shocks, Lucas electrics and Dunstall exhaust. The parts are painted in “British racing green”, in a two-tone color scheme. The short aluminum racing tank and the swept back exhaust curves are a real nod to the old café racers. In each section you feel the British industry is represented. They do that because they are convinced that the urge for quality is what makes it so special.

Builder details:
Icon Motorcycles
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A modern cafe racer is the solution for those who can’t/won’t build there own cafe racer or just don’t want to have the maintenance of an old bike. Building your own bike is awesome, but also requires a lot of time, effort, skills, knowledge, space etc. Since the scene for cafe racers is constantly growing, motorcycle manufacturers saw a new niche: the modern cafe racer. These are bikes with a classic look, but with the technology of a modern motorcycle like modern brakes, suspension, fuel- and electrical systems.

While this post originally contained a list of 5 modern cafe racers, it organically grew into a full list without a specific number, plus some other cool modern classics.

Modern cafe racers

#1 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer (2012 -)

Stock price: $10,490 (2015)

The absolute champion of the modern cafe racers is the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer. With no doubt one of the best looking bikes you can buy. It’s characteristic (grumpy and bumpy), high torque 744cc v-twin puts out around 48hp and is powered with a shaft drive. 48hp doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you look at the dry weight of 179kg and consider the torque of 43Nm, you know that’s it’s a lot of fun to ride. And then that sound….! Count on a lot of neck-twists when riding this beauty!

The VII model (2015 and up) has more power and some new features like ABS, traction control (!), 6 gears and a better weight distribution.

Also the other V7’s (V7 Classic, V7 Stone, V7 Special) are cool retro bikes. The custom parts list is extensive and expensive, but why change this beautiful design?

#2 Triumph Thruxton (2004 – )

Stock price: $9,799 (2015)

Another “heavyweight” champion between the modern cafe racers is the Triumph Thruxton. We’ve set this one at 2nd place because the fact that the bike is actual very heavy for a cafe racer: the dry weight is 214kg. Despite the fact that the 865cc parallel-twin has more power (69hp and 51Nm) than the Guzzi V7 Racer, it has also more “fat” to move.

Beautiful design, powerful engine and lots of ways to personalize it. Not only a great choice for those who just want to buy-and-ride, it’s also a bike custom builders like to work with.

#3 Triumph Thruxton R (2016 -)

Stock price: approx. $14,500

Maybe one of the most exciting modern café racers out there: the 2016 Triumph Thruxton R. Not only a beautiful designed bike, but also a bike with some serious performance:

The brand new liquid cooled 1200cc (“high torque”) engine puts out a blasting 112Nm and just under 100hp. Combined with the fully adjustable Showa front USD fork, fully adjustable Öhlins rear shocks, top notch radial brakes with Brembo monoblocs and a weight just over 200kg makes this bike maybe a bit too modern…

#4 Royal Enfiel Continental GT (2014 -)

Stock price: approx. $8,300 (2015)

Almost 50 years after the introduction of the Royal Enfield, they’ve now got an answer to the demand for modern cafe racers: the Continental GT. Its single cylinder engine with 535cc puts out 29hp and 44Nm to move the 184kg of dry weight. Not the fastest modern cafe racer, but it’s got the looks, the sound, the ride is good and the single cylinder torque makes it a desirable bike. And at a price of $8,300, not too expensive.

UPDATE: New Royal Enfield 650 Twins (2017)

In 2017, Royal Enfield presented their all-new 650cc twin cylinder engines with a 270-degree crankshaft; the rebirth of the parallel twin.

Royal Enfield Continental GT

Royal Enfield Interceptor

#5 Ducati Sport1000 (2006 – 2009)

Stock price: $12,995 (2009, 1000s)

The Ducati Sport1000 is a direct inspiration of the 1973 Ducati 750 Sport with a typical one seated cafe racer look. For t a stock price of $12,995 you got a lightweight bike with adjustable suspension, USD front fork, Brembo brakes and a powerful 2 cylinder engine. The remarkable 992cc L-twin puts out an awesome 92hp and 90Nm. Considering the weight of 179kg this thing goes like a rocket!  Too bad that they’ve stopped the production of this awesome modern classic in 2009 and that there aren’t a lot of used models to find.

#6 BMW R nineT (2014 – )

Stock price: $14,995 (2015)

In 2014 BMW came up with an answer to the modern cafe racer: the awesome BMW R nineT. The price of almost 15k is high, but you get a lot for that: adjustable USD fork & rear shock, Brembo brakes (with ABS), single seat and classic cafe racer rear end, beautiful wired wheels and a powerful BMW boxer engine which transfers al the power to the rear wheel with a shaft drive.

The air-cooled 1170cc boxer engine is good for 110hp and a crazy torque of 119Nm. With a dry weight of 222kg it’s sure is not the lightest, it’s handling and power makes it feel lighter than you expect. The R nineT is also a good bike for daily use.

UPDATE: in October 2016, BMW revealed the 2k cheaper R nineT Racer:

#7 Norton Commando 961 (2006 -)

Stock price: $20,300 (2013)

The number 7 on this list is a bonus, merely because of its exclusivity and price. The Norton Commando 961 is a cafe racer with pure cafe racer blood, taking you back to the original Commandos. It’s air-cooled 961cc 2 cylinder engine has 80hp and 90Nm to move 202kg of dry weight. The bike comes with state of the art parts like Brembo brakes and Öhlins suspension.

We think that the price of over 20k is a bit high. But it’s a desirable bike, in fact: it’s hard to find a used on under the stock price…

#7a New Norton Dominator

Stock price: approx. $28,500 (2018)

Maybe even more desirable than it’s brother is Norton’s brand new Norton Dominator. Some say that the new Dominator is a direct answer to the Triumph Thruxton R. If you take a straight comparison, the Thruxton takes over the Dominator with its performance. That’s not a problem at all, because that Norton is way more exclusive; a handmade polished gas tank, carbon fiber seat, mudguards and covers, a big fat black Öhlins USD fork with Brembo Monoblox, a Öhlins TTX36 in the rear and all those other details… Beautiful, but unfortunately for most of us, unreachable.

Other modern classics

These are no modern cafe racers, but cool modern bikes with a classic twist:

#8 Ducati Scrambler (2015 – )

Stock price: $8,495 (Icon)

The Ducati Scrambler (or Scrambler Ducati like the Italians call their bike…) is a real modern classic inspired by the lightweight Ducati Scramblers from the 60’s and 70’s. Although they don’t want to call this retro bike a retro bike… The Scrambler is put down to the bare essentials of motoring but has high-quality parts like Brembo brakes with ABS, LED lights and Kayaba suspension.

The bike comes in 4 different trims: the Icon, the Classic, the Urban Enduro and the Full Throttle, each with a different styling and options.

Its 803cc air-cooled L-twin puts out 75hp with 68NM torque, and is taken from the Ducati Monster 796. The bike weights only 170kg which gives this bike a huge fun factor. No to mention the price under 10 grand.

UPDATE: Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer

Price: $11,395

In 2017, Ducati introduced a specific Cafe Racer trim based on their Scrambler to fill in an important gap in their sales brochure. In addition to the standard Scrambler (Full Throttle), the bike has some dedicated cafe racer features like: clip on handlebars, short seat and removable cowl, black adonized mufflers, bar end mirrors, 17″gold cast wheels with Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires, a radial brake pump and stiffer suspension. And last but not least: a beautiful classic black/gold color scheme based on the old days of the 1980 Ducati 900ss. Best of all is, of course, the 2 cylinder engine we already know.

#9 Triumph Scrambler (2006 – )

Stock price: $9,399 (2015)

Triumph smelled the success of the Thruxton, which is on the market from 2004. To attract a different audience, they’ve launched the Scrambler in 2006. In fact the Scrambler is based on a Bonneville with (limited) off-road capabilities and a heavy-duty look (just like a scrambler is meant to be). Just like the Thruxton, Triumph has a wide variety of custom parts and accessories to personalize it.

The 865cc parallel twin has 54hp and 69Nm. Not a fast bike with the 214kg dry weight, but sure good for a lot of fun.

#10 Kawasaki W800 (2011 – )

Stock price: $10,499 (2015)

The Kawasaki W800 is becoming a modern classic icon too. A real modern classic a it’s best. Lot’s of chrome, spoked wheels, long buddy seat, rubber pads on the gas tank etc.

The W800 is powered by a 773cc parallel twin with 48hp and 60Nm. Don’t expect a fast runner: the bike has a dry weight of 216kg, but with lots of torque in low RPM’s, it’s a real yesterdays cruiser.

#11: Yamaha XSR700 (2016 -)

Stock price: $7,999

A modern classic based on the Yamaha MT-07. Fitted with a smooth and torqy parallel twin with Yamaha’s “crossplane” technology. The bike is relatively light and puts out 74hp and 68Nm.

This bike is built to customize and Yamaha offers a wide range of custom parts and upgrades. Also check out this really cool custom Yamaha XSR700 Scrambler.

#12: Yamaha XSR900 (2016 -)

Stock price: starting from $10,500.

Another modern classic from the Japanese front: the Yamaha XSR900. Same looks and identity as the XSR700, but with more high-end parts en features and the powerful 3 cylinder engine from the MT-09 (FZ-09).

The XSR900 has adjustable suspension, a USD fork, radial (sport bike spec) brakes, ABS, adjustable Traction Control and Ride-by-Wire. The smooth and powerful 847cc engine delivers around 110hp and 87Nm of torque (final specs not yet released).

#13: Kawasaki Z900RS (2018 -)

Stock price: $12,000

Inspired by the legendary Kawasaki Z1, Kawasaki revealed a new retro bike in there line-up for 2018. Unfortunately, we don’t have a full list of specs yet, but the technique comes for the Z900, which has a 948cc four-cylinder on board. Kawasaki says that the engine is tuned down from 125 to 111hp to deliver a smoother power band below 7,000 rpm. Other highlighted specs are: fully adjustable 41mm front fork, adjustable rear shock, wave discs, traction control, ride-by-wire, For that real vintage feeling, the Z900RS has a beautiful set of laced wheels.

#14: Moto Guzzi Griso

Stock price: $13,000

Listed number 14 since it was not listed earlier but definitely deserves a spot on this page; the Moto Guzzi Griso. A bike that was introduced back in 2005 as an air-cooled 90° 1100cc V-twin with around 81hp. Later on, 850cc and 1200cc models followed with the 1200 being one of the most popular machines and still is going strong (and showed on the picture). This pretty machine has 110hp and is stuffed with high-quality parts. And the ride? Powerful, smooth, torquey. Well, just put on your classic leather jacket, kevlar pants and classic motorcycle face mask and just try it!

And? Which one is your favorite?

Do you have a favorite modern cafe racer or did we missed one? Let us know and reply!

PS. The CB1100 is missing on purpose. The stock model is missing its cafe racer soul… ;)

In association with MecanicFAQ.

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