Menus
- Magical mechanics, mystical metal
- … Sound, charisma and character
- No mere show objects
- Coffee machine-Guzzi Machine 7
- Tiring to drive, these Guzzi
- Meiler-Kawasaki W 650 tin boxes
- Tears properly from 3,500 tours
- Royal Enfield Continental GT 535
- It’s over at 140, that’s it
- Suzuki Fat Mile
- The engine always has steam
- Triumph Thruxton R
- It just works
- Thunderbike-Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Cafe Racer
- evil, black, exhausting
- Wunderlich BMW R nineT Cafe Racer
- A little overdone, overdressed
- The eventful history of the cafe racers
- Engine performance is secondary
www.bilski-fotografie.de
28 photos
www.bilski-fotografie.de
1/28
Exit with the Moto Guzzi Machine 7 coffee machine, Meiler-Kawasaki W 650 Blechkistn, Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Suzuki Fat Mile, Triumph Thruxton R, Thunderbike-Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Cafe Racer and Wunderlich-BMW R nineT Cafe Racer.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
2/28
Coffee maker Moto Guzzi Machine 7
www.bilski-fotografie.de
3/28
Perfect proportions, mystical metal: snap-on tank cap, ox-eye indicators, classic fittings. In addition, the handlebars are clamped tightly and deeply.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
4/28
The purity of the curves. That means humps like taillights. In contrast, the seat shows an almost clear edge.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
5/28
Straightforward, stretched and clear. The open frame triangle is a matter of honor. The three-colored tank looks refined: matt and shiny silver, gold orange.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
6/28
Meiler-Kawasaki W 650 tin boxes
www.bilski-fotografie.de
7/28
Only real with a kissable mouth: The Franconian tin boxes are adorned with the historic Kawa logo and six sprints at Glemseck 101.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
8/28
And off! This Kawasaki “W 850” is made for sprinting over the eighth mile. This is show, sport and a big performance in front of an audience all rolled into one.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
9/28
The user interface appears technically wiry. But also sensual thanks to the rev counter with a white background and classically curved rubber grips.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
10/28
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535
www.bilski-fotografie.de
11/28
From the old school: long-stroke, air-cooled 29 HP single cylinder with a lot of flywheel – stretches to the heart.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
12/28
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535
www.bilski-fotografie.de
13/28
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535
www.bilski-fotografie.de
14/28
Suzuki Fat Mile
www.bilski-fotografie.de
15/28
Please take a deep breath: When was the last time a Suzuki triggered such an impulse to drive just by looking at it? This bandit is pure pheromone!
www.bilski-fotografie.de
16/28
It’s a shame, Brad: the sharpest bulges since Angelina Jolie’s lips – four-part leather bench on a sexy hump.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
17/28
The trumpets of Jericho? No, these four dainty fanfares aren’t really geared towards rioting. Full of fat: 200 mm rear roller on a six-inch rim.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
18/28
Triumph Thruxton R
www.bilski-fotografie.de
19/28
Classic and modern in fine harmony: adjustable fork with polished bridge.
triumph
20/28
More sensual and sporty: the “Track Racer Kit” fits like a perfectly tailored suit.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
21/28
Thunderbike-Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Cafe Racer
www.bilski-fotografie.de
22/28
Inhale: The finely milled, open aluminum air filter for 429 euros turns on, improves optics, sound and performance.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
23/28
Hold on: The Harley has the tallest handlebars and the most sideways mark of the septet. The seating position is okay for an LP side, then bang it.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
24/28
Appearance: The chic lamp mask for 499 euros gives the Forty-Eight a new, independent look.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
25/28
Wunderlich BMW R nineT Cafe Racer
www.bilski-fotografie.de
26/28
Fully adjustable: the carbon-coated Wilbers / ZF fork. Fully digital: the expensive Motogadget instrument. Still worse to read than the original.
www.bilski-fotografie.de
27/28
Trombone out of pure joie de vivre: the high Akrapovic double reed flute. Heat protection tape was hippier. Riddle: Find taillights and turn signals!
www.bilski-fotografie.de
28/28
Reduced? Yes, to a lot of driving fun for soloists. But minimalist? Not quite. The “whitewall rims” with black lacquered spokes make a difference.
Exit with cafe racers
Magical mechanics, mystical metal
These seven cafe racers thunder right into the heart. They all share a sporty spirit with a hump seat and clip-on handlebars. From series machines to absolutely unique pieces – gentlemen, please start your engines!
E.s roars, rattles and trembles in every corner. Glemseck 101, that means: every year in September a single festival of the motorcycle at the gates of Stuttgart. At the largest custom bike meeting in Germany, you will meet probably the craziest and hottest bikes in the world. It is a vibrating and pulsating source of inspiration, otherwise you won’t see so many creative conversions and self-builds in a year as here on a weekend, see also MOTORRAD 20/2016. At the same time, Glemseck 101 has long been considered Europe’s best meeting place for friends of the cafe racer culture. So our outing with cafe racers starts right here. At Glemseck we picked up these seven machines and then we went through the middle!
Buy complete article
Exit with cafe racers
Magical mechanics, mystical metal
Kawasaki W 650 racer Ralf Meiler and Suzuki Germany with the fantastic Fat Mile – these two bikes still had to prove themselves in the sprint races over the eighth mile.
… Sound, charisma and character
Regardless of whether it is interpreted in a modern way or classic with a polished aluminum tank – the recipe is traditional: with a one-man hump, clip-on handlebars, set back footrests and a high exhaust. Although, so much in advance, the Harley goes its own way here, as is typical of the US. They are machines that look like private sports and racing machines from the late 1950s and early 1960s. When in England exactly such self-tuned motorcycles became stylistic and expressive means of outbreak and social rebellion. You can read more about this on page 35. Well-known forms flood the blood with endorphins.
Ready to hit the streets? On the promenade in the urban jungle, the rolling septet hardly knows any opponents. Sporty, chic and stylish. Much more attention with two wheels is hardly possible. Necks stretch, heads turn, thumbs go up. Secretaries drop their papers, come out of the offices to look at these seven samurai on wheels. Drivers forget to start at the traffic lights – the sprint from pole position is one of the most important domains of these after-work athletes. Power and character meet charisma and sound. Passers-by hold their ears, so loud and rowdy trumpet some exhausts.
Subscribe to MOTORRAD videos on Youtube
No mere show objects
The glorious seven are definitely suitable for forays into winding country roads and, in contrast to many pure custom bikes, are not just show objects. You wag easily through the curves, also meet sporty demands. With power that is easy to get on the road: up to a maximum of 110 hp.
For great experiences, that’s what the cafe racers of the 21st century are made for. We really had a lot of fun with every single bike. Therefore we would like to thank every manufacturer, tuner and owner for their odes to the gasoline engine! Let’s ride with the Rockers: Coffee machine-Guzzi Machine 7, Meiler-Kawasaki W 650 Blechkistn, Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Suzuki Fat Mile, Triumph Thruxton R, Thunderbike-Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Cafe Racer and Wunderlich-BMW R nineT Cafe Racer.
Coffee machine-Guzzi Machine 7
www.bilski-fotografie.de
Coffee maker Moto Guzzi Machine 7
So far, Axel Budde from Hamburg has built 19 “coffee machines” based on Moto Guzzi, see MOTORRAD 20/2014. They are all perfectly shaped, simple, beautiful. This is number seven, one of two he owns. Long, narrow, slim. The basis was a Le Mans III. The pistons and cylinders of a V 11 Sport pump the displacement from 844 to 1064 cubic. Large valves (47 and 43 millimeters) and open Dell’Ortos allow the 90-degree V2 to breathe in and out freely. And how! Double ignition ignites fireworks here in the combustion chambers and emotionally.
It is as if the world held its breath for a brief moment when the V2 wakes up with a full barking, gurgling wonderfully deep from the open funnels. The whole motorcycle snorkels and stomps, thuds and shakes. What a soundscape! Gabriel, our photo driver and original from Baden, is “a gasoline cracking machine”. Accelerators keep the V-Twin alive. Luck and gas, how easy it is. Sound, experience and feeling in an almost perfect synthesis. Can’t a motorcycle be two-cylinder enough? Here is the evidence in person. The motto: more impression per kilometer. It’s about the essence, the essentials of a motorcycle. And these are the engine, two wheels, frame, tank and handlebars. Finished.
Modifying, rebuilding, stepping out of line – that’s how it used to be in London, that’s how it is today at Axel Budde in Hamburg. The individualized Guzzi looks graceful and long. It is easy! And the most reduced motorcycle of the septet. Here clarity in the line meets elegance and pragmatism. A wiry, rolling sculpture that is moved every day. The open triangle of the Tonti frame alone: a dream.
It’s about exposing the essentials. All details are authentic parts of the 60s and 70s: classic Brembo P08 two-piston calipers, Akront high-shoulder rims, CEV and Domino fittings, ox-eye indicators. Real works of art are the tank and hump from aluminum pope Lammers (www.alu-tanks.de) based on patterns by Axel Budde. Perfection grows from many little things.
Tiring to drive, these Guzzi
The V2 is an ideal base, you can clear it so wonderfully. A motor, a “motor-wheel”, is hardly conceivable. By the way: the gearbox and final drive are outdated. Flywheel lightened, crankshaft balanced – the V2 is fed up, eagerly on the gas. Throws the whole load from right to left and back again when playing on the throttle while idling. And pushes hard when the traffic lights turn green and the V2 is released from the clutch. Fiery and spirited. The bundle of energy weighs just 205 kilograms. RPM anywhere between 3000 and 5000, and the day is your friend. A machine that doesn’t just move. It drives you, moves you.
Tiring to drive, this Guzzi. The sitting position is extremely stretched. There is a lot of load on the wrists when going at slow speeds. The wind pressure has to be right to carry you. Comfort is different. And rumbling is not her thing. But if this Signora asks you to do a curve dance, you will forgive her everything. She tortures you – you desire her. She is stubborn – you are hopelessly addicted to her. She tells you what she needs, she speaks to you – you merge with her. Shift down before the curve and then pull the cardan evenly around the corner. Then the bundle of energy stubbornly holds the line. Shift, brake? Everything has to be done beforehand. Load changes in the curve, on the other hand, cause unrest. Lean angle? Is infinite on the narrow tire.
Engine tuning, paintwork and leather are carried out for Axel Budde specialists. He does everything else himself, including the optimized electrics. The trained photographer attaches great importance to color concepts. Customers order worldwide. You know why.
Data: Two-cylinder 90 degree V engine, 1064 cm³, 66 kW (90 PS) at 7000 rpm, torque k. A., telescopic fork, double swing arm, double disc brake at the front, Ø 300 mm, disc brake at the rear, Ø 242 mm, spoked wheels, tires 100/90 V 16; 120/90 V 18, Metzeler Sportec Klassik tires, weight with full tank 205 kg (standard 225 kg), individual price on request.
Tuner: Anyone who browses www.kaffee-maschine.net will find many bewitchingly beautiful Moto Guzzis. It is clear to see that execution in detail, finish and design language at Axel Budde have become even better with each additional machine. The price for a new complete machine (including the basic motorcycle) at Custom Motorcycles coffee machine starts at around 30,000 euros. But there are also individual parts for installation at home.
Meiler-Kawasaki W 650 tin boxes
www.bilski-fotografie.de
Meiler-Kawasaki W 650 tin boxes
When Ralf Meiler shows up at Glemseck 101 with his checkered flag trousers, he and his spectacular Kawasaki W 650 are sure to attract attention. With that, the always cheerful Franconian won the sprint for Cafe Racer at Glemseck 101 in 2016. Any questions? So there must be something to this motorcycle. Absolutely!
About the only, tightly cut half-shell cladding in the entire field. This style was also very popular in the 1960s. If you could afford it. Triumph and BMW are currently jumping on this bandwagon, see page 36 and MOTORRAD 20/2016. The tin box is authentically built down to the last detail. It’s supposed to win, it’s not just a show. “How to do it, step by step in the backyard,” says 55-year-old builder Ralf Meiler.
Here vertical shaft meets cooling fins and kick starter. Actually. Because the latter fell victim to the relocated Tarozzi footrest system. So take a seat on the self-made bench, traditionally attached to the narrow aluminum hump with rivets. And then reach for the convex handles: really long, the WBO aluminum tank. It holds a full 24 liters, was intended for a Moto Guzzi Le Mans, and was welded around by a bodywork foreman. He is now slightly incontinent and smells of gasoline.
Kawumm! The only real parallel twin on this exit wakes up at the push of a button. The two-sided roadster bags from Shark sound pithy, even rowdy and loud. The beautiful engine is ventilated by two 36-series Mikuni CR flat slide carburettors with an accelerator pump and long aluminum intake funnels that promote torque – open, of course. A cool buck, this Kawa. Full speed ahead and the past in mind. Tuning Pope Ulf Penner from Bremen brought the twin to 855 cubic centimeters by enlarging the bore to 81 millimeters. With an unchanged stroke of 83 millimeters, it is still designed with a slightly long stroke. It runs smoothly in idle and in the lower rev range.
Tears properly from 3,500 tours
The twin goes and turns unusually well. He hangs fine on the gas, does not vibrate too much. Ulf Penner built larger valves on a Kawasaki Z1R, machined their seats, polished the ducts and increased the compression. It crowned everything with a “Stage 5” camshaft that promotes both power and torque. Micron Systems in Furth took care of the fine-tuning of the frank exhausts. Classic tuning that chugges the twin from curve to curve. 83 HP and 86 Newton meters on the crankshaft – a great yield for an air-cooled long-stroke engine! That really picks up from 3500 tours. Small but mean. The clutch has reinforced springs, the standard transmission has a reversed shift pattern, and the large chainring shortens the ratio.
The 208-kilogram lightweight rolls smoothly and homogeneously through the curves and turns lightly. A 120 rear tire is pretty narrow these days. BMW, Suzuki and Triumph carry this width at the front. Bridgestone BT 45s are always a good choice in themselves. But the twelve-year-old rear tire offers little grip and rolls extremely wooden. A Zephyr 550 donated a telescopic fork (now with LSL fork bridges and fork stabilizer) and the eccentric aluminum box swing arm. This ensures more stability and requires the more bite-proof, albeit not ideally metered, double-disc brake system.
The long Wilbers spring struts spring and dampen hard but heartily. An aluminum fender at the front and the 18-inch high shoulder rim from Akront complete the image of the classic racer. At the back, the disc wheel cover is reminiscent of classic Brooklands board trackers, i.e. track racers. The lines and details were harmonious. Ralf’s machine is honest, not an easy one.
Data: Two-cylinder in-line engine, 855 cm³, 61 kW (83 PS) at 7600 / min *, 86 Nm at 5600 / min *, telescopic fork, two-arm swing arm, double disc brake at the front, Ø 300 mm, drum brake at the rear, Ø 160 mm, spoked wheel at the front, disc wheel at the rear , Tires 110 / 80-18; 120 / 90-18, Bridgestone BT 45 tires, weight with a full tank of 208 kg (series 215 kg), price on request (engine tuning approx. 4000 euros).
* MOTORCYCLE measurement
Tuner: Ralf Meiler has refined his private motorcycle over the years. The W 650 is built in 2002, Ralf has another one for everyday use and a W 650 combination. The power tuning was carried out by engine specialist Ulf Penner from Bremen (www.tuning-fibel.de). Micron Systems in Furth performed fine-tuning on the test bench (www.micronsystems.de).
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535
www.bilski-fotografie.de
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535
The little red from India impresses with her friendly, honest appearance even while standing. Two wheels, a fat single cylinder, a nice steel tank, clip-on handlebars and a one-man hump: authentic ex works, built entirely according to the recipe from back then. With a camshaft below, bumpers, kick starter in addition to the electric button. Passers-by love her, and even forgive her the roaring retrofit exhaust (180 euros), which cheekily spurts when downshifting. At the traffic lights, the single goes into wonderfully trudging idle.
The design is partly loving, partly rustic. Coarse workmanship, squeaky levers, the visible throttle valve opener – all of this underlines the traditional charm of the oldie. From the pilot’s point of view, only the front disc brake and the digital odometer are a reminder that 2016 is already on the calendar. For the coffee trip with an attachment, there is a two-person bench with pillion rests for an extra 250 euros. Shared joy …
It’s over at 140, that’s it
The handy, 187-kilogram Indian girl doesn’t go oldschool, she’s just like that: never lose your momentum! Because there is not much you can get from the two-valve engine. The usable range is between 2,000 and 3,500 tours, above which the 535 noticeably loses its desire, at 5,000 Shiva switches on the limiter. It’s still fun, especially because the engine is so wonderfully snorting, rough and lively. Analog long-throw charm at its best. The Continental GT is an impressive reminder of why 100 miles per hour was the magic limit in the 60s: 140 is the end, and that’s that. Kilometers, not miles per hour.
The Continental GT is currently the machine with the highest output and displacement from the traditional manufacturer, which has been producing since 1901. Nevertheless, VW Polo are already becoming serious opponents. Sports enthusiasts have to wait for the upcoming parallel twins. But if you are looking for a simple, original motorcycle that not only slows you down when braking, then the royal red is well advised.
Data: Single-cylinder engine, 535 cm³, 21.4 kW (29 PS) at 5,100 / min, 44 Nm at 4,000 / min, telescopic fork, twin-arm swing arm, front disc brake, Ø 300 mm, rear disc brake, Ø 240 mm, spoked wheels, tires 100 / 90- 18; 130 / 70-18, Pirelli Sport Demon tires, weight with a full tank 187 kg, price 6,490 euros.
Suzuki Fat Mile
www.bilski-fotografie.de
Suzuki Fat Mile
Awesome part! ”The driver of a Honda CB 1000 R circles the parked Fat Mile in admiration. Wow, what else can become of a good Suzuki Bandit 1250 S. Mom was at the cosmetic surgeon’s. And now wears a mini skirt instead of a smock apron. The effect is enormous, finally a Suzuki full of character: sexy instead of conservative, puristic instead of baroque. The Fat Mile means top customization, complete transformation, metamorphosis on wheels.
It’s amazing what star designer Hans A. Muth (BMW R 90 S, R 100 RS, Suzuki Katana) and young designer Daniel Handler created here in a kind of master-student constellation in 2014 on the initiative of Suzuki Germany. Respect. The duo of courage and dealers went to great lengths, leaving only the mighty four-cylinder hardware untouched. Rather, they radically shortened the rear frame, making its struts boldly steep instead of boringly long. They also flexed the pillion pegs and sanded everything clean.
A seductively short GRP rear with small Kellermann indicators / taillights towers above everything. At the front, the low-set lamp creates a bold low-lying silhouette: Flat Mile! The unchanged series tank is crowned by new graphics and the leather strap running lengthways across its hump. Coherent and beautiful.
The white-blue-brown color scheme has a refined effect and the design language is harmonious. Deeply clamped LSL handlebar stubs, sleek front spoiler and front fender as well as fine Rizoma notches ensure a sporty flair. It turns you on to clasp the finely milled Rizoma handles with the noble ISR levers, to flatten your buttocks on the individual leather beads. Sensual, not suitable for long distances. Successful, independent and technically clean – the bandit base was used to the maximum here.
The engine always has steam
At the first push of a button, the engine is fully at work, sounds full of sound, but not too loud from four organ pipes “Cobra Urban Killer” (that’s really their name) on the series manifolds. The double throttle stick hangs silky on the gas, is tame. This briefly translated powerhouse doesn’t have to prove anything, it makes you balanced, calm and relaxed.
This engine always has steam, even in the sixth it pulls powerfully on the chain. Of all seven engines, he sprints forward the most violently, not only when Nina Prinz successfully chases him over the eighth mile at Glemseck 101. Apparently, the other exhaust and modifications to the intake tract let the sparsely ribbed engine breathe much more freely. Four bars, four cylinders for a hallelujah. Carelessly accelerated in first gear? Then the Nippon arrow suddenly lifts the front wheel into the sky. Landed again, the fully adjustable fork of the current GSX-R does a good job, sensitively following the asphalt relief. Your radially mounted Brembo four-piston calipers bite brutally.
Attention: no ABS. The tire whistles not only because of the low rear wheel load: only 107 of the 231 kilograms with a full tank rest at the rear. Overall, the Fat Mile is 24 kilograms lighter than a serial bandit. Okay, everything without the fairing and pillion seat, side stand or license plate holder. Take your girlfriend with you? Forget it. Metzeler Sport tires M 7 RR on light PVM Supersport rims stick like the devil. Despite the fat 200 mm rear roller, this rat-sharp Susi drives very balanced, remains neutrally on course. It even lies unshakably on the track at top speed. A hammer motorcycle with a bearish thump engine.
“Elegant and sporty,” says Matteo, our Italian video man. Unfortunately, Suzuki could never bring itself to a small series or expensive conversion kits. Forsaken by courage (h). Too bad. So it’s going to stay with this exclusive one-off piece that really inspired us.
Data: Four-cylinder in-line engine, 1,255 cm³, 72 kW (98 hp) at 7500 rpm, 108 Nm at 3700 rpm, upside-down fork, two-arm swing arm, double disc brake at the front, Ø 310 mm, disc brake at the rear, Ø 220 mm, aluminum Forged wheels, tires 120/70 ZR 17; 200/55 ZR 17, Metzeler Sportec M7 RR tires, weight with full tank 231 kg (standard 255 kg).
Tuner: This street fighter with the noble design and the gentle soul belongs to Suzuki Germany. It is not for sale. After the first sketches, the Fat Mile was ultimately created in a three-day retreat from the cooperation of the two designers Daniel Handler and Hans A. Muth. It was built in Grobschirma / Saxony at the Schubert 101 company, contact at info@schubert-101.com and www.schubert-101.com
Triumph Thruxton R
www.bilski-fotografie.de
Triumph Thruxton R
How does the Triumph Thruxton R manage to avoid even the slightest hint of mass-produced honesty in such an exclusive environment of mostly finely refined coffee goods? If you didn’t know that this motorcycle is available to everyone at a trusted Triumph dealer – without screwing or oil fingers, instead with a four-year guarantee – you could also think of it as a fine one-off piece. Is it the countless lovingly designed details such as the polished fork bridge, the brushed old-fashion fuel filler cap or the chic shimmering engine housing?
Is it the sexy Ohlins gold, delicious spoked wheels, important handlebar end mirrors, the great seat cover? Or is it the textbook-like, infinitely timeless proportions with which the red one makes the heart of cafe connoisseurs open?
If the Triumph Thruxton R were a woman, she would be an underwear model. Nowhere too much and nowhere too little – nothing, nothing at all disturbs the eye. It has water cooling, of course, but the Blubbertwin has cooling fins with 270 degree crank pin offset anyway, just because it looks good. There would of course also be a one-man hump seat. No other motorcycle combines classic lines with modern functionality so effortlessly and stylishly, so naturally and cool. Formal perfection, and that in series.
It just works
And how it drives! So far, the classic triumphs have been more for the leisurely types, real racers in their minds better opted for speed and street triple. It doesn’t have to be anymore, because the Thruxton R rolls just as neatly as it looks. On modern, not too wide tires in modern dimensions and with a modern geometry, it drives, well – modern. Where some other cafe racers work hard, demand everything for every spark of cornering speed, fish for handlebar stumps in a low stooped position, the Triumph Thruxton R with moderately high handlebars is much more sociable. It just works. For those who just want to drive, excellent even, but in the surefire style of the Roaring Sixties.
If the beauty from England is not yet individual enough, if you still like a shot in the coffee, the Track Racer package is recommended. For 2300 euros plus assembly, a highly erotic half-shell, rear tidying, stainless steel exhausts and a little bits and pieces lift the Triumph Thruxton R into the retro Olympus.
Data: Two-cylinder in-line engine, 1197 cm³, 71.5 kW (97 PS) at 6750 / min, 112 Nm at 4,950 / min, upside-down fork, two-arm swing arm, double disc brake at the front, Ø 310 mm, disc brake at the rear, Ø 255 mm, Spoked wheels, tires 120/70 ZR 17; 160/60 ZR 17, Metzeler Roadtec 01 tires, weight with a full tank 225 kg, price 14,500 euros.
Thunderbike-Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Cafe Racer
www.bilski-fotografie.de
Thunderbike-Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Cafe Racer
They can also be different at Thunderbike. Compared to what the Hamminkelner Harley tuner usually puts on the wheels, the 2016 Forty-Eight-Cafe-Racer is more of a finger exercise. The customizer and Harley dealer Andreas Bergerforth usually goes to the nitty-gritty with 85 employees (!): Complete conversions with your own frame, swing arms, tanks, CNC machining, rims milled from solid – the list of possibilities is long. But the ultra-exclusive Thunder custom bikes are no cafe racers, and that’s what we’re talking about here.
Strictly speaking, this forty-eight of course borrows stylistically from the cafe theme rather than consistently implementing it. As well as? You sit ultra low and far, far back, the front is high – a Sportster does not turn into a true cafe racer. No way, the Thunderbike Forty-Eight has a lot of bad, black rocker spirit. The lamp cover for 499 euros looks great on it, as does the airy rear conversion (from 499 euros), which fits all Sportsters from 2004 onwards. Martial footrests and handles from in-house aluminum milling for 149 and 179 euros, small Rizoma indicators (148 euros), cool mirrors for dumping 19 euros each and a number plate placed on the side (159 euros) round off the daring appearance.
The form language of the Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight, which in itself is rather minimalistic, is so wonderfully condensed and taken to extremes. What makes this gloomy Milwaukee iron a real outlaw, somehow and in its very own way ennobling it to a cafe racer in its heart, is the engine and the adventurous driving behavior. Here you can really work for speed, just like in the past – and that in turn can be a lot of fun.
Rather phlegmatic in series, the Thunderbikers pull with an open air filter and an even more open Vance & Hines pipe for 1,199 euros the 1200 Sportster Vau the cork. When he is allowed to breathe in and out that openly, the bumper twin, which tumbles away rather cautiously in series production, develops unexpected vigor and real sportsmanship – quite apart from the fact that a place-here-here-I-come-exhaust is of course not missing on any real Harley may. Yes, that’s the way it is sometimes with volume and political correctness. It’s silly when the others are so chubby, but funny when your own stove is roaring that Grandma crumbles the third party. But it’s not just the thunderstorm that makes the 45-degree twin a character actor. The way he fidgets in the frame in the stand, so impatient for the next traffic light sprint, that has something. You can feel in the shock waves of every single ignition that Harley-Davidson has put a lot of know-how into the correct distribution of the much-quoted “good vibrations”.
evil, black, exhausting
The driving behavior of the coffee forty-eight is hearty and raw. No, it should work properly, or rather it shouldn’t, see the strange balloon tires on the front wheel. No, it doesn’t really willingly steer in, hardly brakes, hops rather dry over the asphalt – and yes, that’s the best thing about the machine from the Lower Rhine. Because you have to wrestle around every corner with a Harley in hard clinch, have to earn the bottom line. You have to grip firmly, reach in hard, knock down hard. Then it feels like it must have felt a long time ago, whether in front of the Ace Cafe, on Brighton Beach or in San Francisco in the days of Sonny Barger. Because she drives quite rudimentary, probably quite consciously, even a normal Forty-Eight provides a high level of experience. With this chic conversion, there is also the good feeling that the plane looks so wonderfully like “Sons of Anarchy”. Maybe not a real cafe racer, but evil, black, exhausting and great cinema.
Data: Two-cylinder 45-degree V-engine, 1,202 cm³, 49 kW (67 PS) at 6,000 / min, 96 Nm at 3,500 / min, telescopic fork, two-arm swing arm, front disc brake, Ø 300 mm, rear disc brake, Ø 260 mm, aluminum -Cast wheels, tires 130/90 B 16; 150/80 R 16, front tires Michelin Scorcher 31, rear Dunlop D 401, weight with a full tank 242 kg, price as a complete new machine 20,990 euros (series: 252 kg); all parts are also available individually.
tuner: In 1985, Andreas Bergerforth began to optimize and tune the Japanese. The company has been modifying Harleys since 2003, and the dealer license followed in 2006. Thunderbikes are characterized by extreme custom bikes, a high level of vertical integration (“everything except electronics and drive technology”) and the American diner “Roadhouse” as a popular meeting place for bikers. www.thunderbike.de
Wunderlich BMW R nineT Cafe Racer
www.bilski-fotografie.de
Wunderlich BMW R nineT Cafe Racer
Every year there are more BMW-based cafe racers at Glemseck 101. But almost always with historic two-valve boxers. Only gradually does the already much more powerful R nineT move up. A flat twin should not be missing in this round either. Because yes, friends, the time has long since come: Driving a BMW can be an emotional and sensual experience.
Like here with the Wunderlich R nineT Cafe Racer. Put your bum on your high-quality, real leather seat, which costs 900 euros, and park your knees on the elegant matt white painted aluminum tank. White is the new silver. Ready to take the far overstretched Schorsch-Meier memory posture?
Having to swim in a column of metal at 50 km / h is a pure nightmare. No, the wind pressure has to support it. Which is not so easy with the surprisingly effective protective pane. It stands steeply in the wind. It would not be better if it were more flat. But much sexier.
The Wunderlich rolls precisely through fast corners, as if lasered on. At a slow pace on country roads, the super sports tires Metzeler Racetec K3 RR are almost under-challenged. The fully adjustable Wilbers fork is a poem, see also MOTORRAD 23/2015. It responds fine, offers plenty of reserves, prevents too much movement in the front – a topic in the standard trim. But the high-speed damping is almost overdamped. The front looks wobbly in tight curves. Photo driver Karsten Schwers always has to counteract a little corrective action. Tightly tuned, the Wilbers shock absorber is not for drivers with bladder weakness.
A little overdone, overdressed
The standard blubber boxer is also of a robust nature. It vibrates heartily in the middle of the speed, sounds sonorous from the Akrapovic pipes. He hangs full and directly on the gas, fulfills sporty demands. Distributes mightily. Left hook, right hook, then the straight line. 110 hp is a real force on country roads.
The dynamic motorcycle is also a fulfillment for haptics. Finest workmanship, top-quality craftsmanship. The Wunderlich men mill everything cleanly. The length and width adjustable hand levers alone are a feast for the eyes. Really noble: the milled tension strut with eccentric for easy height adjustment of the rear. The filigree license plate holder attached to the swing arm and the cellar men hidden in the handlebars look classy. Nevertheless, this R nineT seems a little over-the-top, overdressed. Does a cafe racer really need a gear lever extension? More support surface for the side stand? Hey, that’s not a GS. The proud swan doesn’t know exactly what to be. The paddock also sees it this way: Sure, BMW tuner Wunderlich shows everything that is possible with its rolling brochure. But less would be more in this case.
Data: Two-cylinder boxer engine, 1,170 cm³, 81 kW (110 PS) at 7,750 / min, 119 Nm at 6,000 / min, upside-down fork, single-sided swing arm, double disc brake at the front, Ø 320 mm, disc brake at the rear, Ø 265 mm, spoked wheels, Tires 120/70 ZR 17; 180/55 ZR 17, Metzeler Racetec K3 tires, weight with full tank 223 kg (series 222 kg). Conversion costs including working time approx. 16,500 euros (basic machine: 14,900 euros). All parts are also available individually.
tuner: Erich Wunderlich has been offering complete conversions and accessories for BMW for over 25 years. Wunderlich’s career began in 1985 with Yamaha singles in his home garage. Today the company is located in Sinzig. www.wunderlich.de
The eventful history of the cafe racers
Thomas Schmieder
Then as now, the epicenter of the cult of chic bikes: Ace Cafe in London.
“Coffee”, “Koffih” or “Ka-fai” racers? Regardless of which pronunciation you choose, the history of the purist athlete is clearly more associated with English cafes, pubs and pints than with grandma’s filter coffee. The spirit counts, the right spirit counts!
On both sides of the English Channel, motorcycles were primarily seen as an inexpensive alternative to cars in the post-war period. And that is why it has been replaced more and more by the car with increasing prosperity. For the youth of the late 1950s, on the other hand, it became an expression of freedom and their own identity. Rebellion on wheels. In English backyards and workshops, Norton, Triumph and BSA machines were turned into stylish cafe racers. Clip-on handlebars, relocated footrests and seat bench not only made it look sleeker. The private bikes should look as cool as possible – like the racing machines of the time.
Those who could afford it also worked on performance. After all, the motorcycles were also used for more or less legal races from cafe to cafe. The meeting points were often in the street cafes and truck stops in the London area that could only be easily reached by motorcycle – for example the legendary Ace Cafe. “Record Racing” was particularly popular: the coin was inserted into the jukebox as the starting signal, after which the North Circular Road was pounded up and down the North Circular Road while the bystanders hooted, preferably before the record was over. Rock music was an integral part of the scene, but apart from guitar music and leather jackets, there was little in common with US rockers.
The “Ton up Boys” reached their peak in the eventful 1960s. “Doing a Ton” meant breaking the 100 mph, 160 km / h limit. Due to conflicts with the “Mods” (who preferred Lambrettas, Vespas, Jazz and Soul) the scene soon moved into the focus of the mass media, and rockers were soon decried as motorized cowboys and rowdies. The police responded with stricter speed limits and controls.
Engine performance is secondary
The scene evaporated, and when the famous Ace Cafe closed in 1969, most rockers broke new ground too. In a more moderate life, in the hippie culture or to the Hells Angels. There have been various revival events since the 80s until the Ace Cafe finally reopened in 2001 on the initiative of Mark Wilsmore. It is now a popular meeting place for motorcyclists from all over the world. The cafe racers have never completely disappeared either.
Since Triumph launched the Thruxton in 2004, these reduced-to-the-essential motorcycles have been making their comeback. Although they are technically up to date, they visually convey the opposite, celebrate the mechanical and the analog and stand out from the crowd all the more today.
Engine performance, as our glorious seven shows here, is of secondary importance: There are currently much better machines for fast lap times. In return, the modern cafe racers offer what many motorcycles have already lost: original enjoyment, unfiltered driving pleasure.
Related articles
-
Jahn comparison Cafe Racer, Buell XB12R Firebolt, Moto Guzzi V 11 Le Mans, Voxan Cafe Racer Cafe, curves and character with the idiosyncratic two-cylinder …
-
Cafe racers in the comparison test
29 pictures 1/29 Whether you call it retro, vintage or heritage, pleasure-oriented driving without horsepower is back in. …
-
Triumph Trident Cafe Racer reader conversion
Thomas Grad 10 pictures Thomas Grad 1/10 Triumph Trident Cafe Racer Thomas Grad 2/10 The handlebar fittings milled from aluminum by Motogadget look great …
-
Gargolov 9 pictures Gargolov 1/9 Louis press officer and motorcycle fanatic Kay Blanke, mastermind behind the NX project. Gargolov 2/9 A cheeky cafe …
-
On the move: Moto Guzzi V7 Cafe Classic
fact On the move with the Moto Guzzi V7 Cafe Classic Yellow-green, air-cooled and spartan Content of The Guzzi eagle has offspring. Yellow-green,…
-
Driving report Cafe Racer My Generation Two machines that go to the heart because they revive the spirit of days long gone: the …
-
Langen Motorcycles: Cafe Racer with a 250cc two-stroke engine
Langen Motorcycles 15 pictures Langen Motorcycles 1/15 The British motorcycle manufacturer Langen Motorcycles has launched The 2 Stroke, a cafe racer with …
-
On the move: Honda CB 750 Cafe Racer
Jahn 13 photos Jahn 1/13 Owner Peter Wolf can rightly be happy about his cream piece. Jahn 2/13 Two generations of Honda: Honda CB 750 Cafe Racer and…
-
Artist Test Benelli TnT Cafe Racer Gloss number It is not all gold that glitters, as the saying goes. Benelli’s new Cafe Racer is a brilliant success?…
-
Artist Autumn exit 2004 Waterworld Sometimes it just happens. Continuous rain. Land under. Knee deep. And you have no choice but to keep your eyes open….