Jerem Motorcycles builds a mean, green XV750… In the early 1980s, Yamaha introduced the XV750 Virago, their first V-twin “custom”-style cruiser. Though the air-cooled V-twin seemed like a completely novel design, it was actually well-rooted […]
Tag: Cafe Racers
Descending Dragon II: BMW R75/5 “HaLong 2.0”
Destined for Handbuilt Show ’22: DT Motoworks’ Slash 5… The 1970 BMW R75/5 (“Slash 5”) was a landmark machine for the company, whose motorcycle designs had become dated in the years since WWII, still in […]
“Project X” Buell M2 Cyclone
Taverne Motorcycle builds one wild Cyclone… Between 1983 and 2009, Buell Motorcycles produced some of the most innovative and distinctive motorbikes of the modern era. Erik Buell’s designs married the old-school character of the Harley-Davidson […]
Bologna Bullet: Ducati 1098S Café Racer
Super Café: Badass Factory’s 160-hp Café Racer… In 2007, Ducati introduced the 1098, also known as the “Ten-Nine-Eight” — a 1099cc liquid-cooled V-twin superbike that boasted 160 horsepower and a top speed of 174 mph. […]
Two-Stroke Corner Carver: KTM 300 SALT Café Racer
SALT Motorcycles introduces a 52-hp, 245-pound two-stroke café racer… The KTM 300 EXC TPI is one of the world’s most accomplished enduro machines, a lightweight modern two-stroke with Transfer Port Injection and a dry weight […]
The Racing Dream: Honda NX650 Dominator
A Honda supermono inspired by the Honda racers of old… The Honda NX650 Dominator has proved itself as one of the most versatile two-wheeled platforms of the modern era. The single-cylinder radial-valve engine put out […]
Black Fury: Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
XTR Pepo transforms an Enfield into an endurance-style racer… Pepo Rosell of Spain’s XTR Pepo built his reputation customizing Italian superbikes under his brand Radical Ducati. After closing that workshop several years ago and taking […]
Waterloo 77: Kawasaki KZ400 Café Racer
Café Racer New Style rebuilds a middleweight KZ… Introduced in 1974, the Kawasaki KZ400 was designed as a “bigger and better CB350” (Cycle Guide, 1979). While the KZ didn’t have the smoky sex appeal of […]
La Macchina: Moto Guzzi 850 T3 Café Racer
First place at Café Racer Festival at Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry! In 1971, the Moto Guzzi 850 T arrived, sporting what would become known as the Tonti frame: “Moto Guzzi Chief Engineer Lino Tonti not only […]
Ducati Multistrada 1000 Café Racer
Designed by the renowned Pierre Terblanche, the Ducati Multistrada 1000DS was a truly bold creation, combining the company’s dual-spark 1000cc air-cooled Desmo V-twin with chassis dimensions, suspension, and ergonomics more akin to a multi-cylinder dual-sport […]





