Lightweight Guzzi 500 Café Racer from Revel Customs… In the mid 70s, Moto Guzzi decided they needed to add a midsize bike to their lineup. The resulting machine, the V50 II, featured a Tonti frame […]| BikeBound
Cafe racer motorcycles have always attracted riders who enjoy a mix of retro style and sporty performance. In 2025, several models offer the classic look,| Return of the Cafe Racers
Reborn Fazer 600 from Blackout Custom Design... The Yamaha FZS600 Fazer -- aka the Fazer 600 -- was revealed to the public at the 1997 Paris Auto Show. The 599cc 16-valve 95-bhp inline-four came from the YZF600R Thundercat. The engine was re-tuned for better midrange thrust, while the bra| BikeBound
Cédric Camiade's Harley-powered Featherbed... When Norton introduced the featherbed frame in 1950, it quickly earned a reputation among circuit and street racers as the best handling chassis on the market. The design originated with brothers Cromie and Rex McCandless of Northern Ireland,| BikeBound
Building a custom motorbike is a detailed process that requires careful planning from the start. The builder begins by imagining how the bike will look and function, focusing on both design and practical needs for long journeys. Each part, from the luggage options to engine modifications, is chosen to create a bike that fits specific touring needs and overcomes common challenges riders face on the road. During the build, the bike is taken apart and updated with new parts such as storage [...| Return of the Cafe Racers
Restoring an old Honda CB750 into a cafe racer takes patience, planning, and a good understanding of motorcycle mechanics. The bike at the heart of this project, dating back to the late 70s or early 80s, was partly disassembled and needed attention to its carburetor, wiring, and fuel system before any major customizations could happen. The process began with basic troubleshooting and preparing the main parts, like the battery, carburetor, and wiring. Each step, from fitting new gaskets to fix...| Return of the Cafe Racers
There is a rare Cafe Racer motorcycle sold on Amazon that stands out for its unique status. At the time of purchase, only four of these bikes were known to exist, making it a real curiosity. While it is marketed as the cheapest Cafe Racer on the platform, it also holds the title of the most expensive simply because it is the only one available of its kind. Unboxing the motorcycle revealed several unusual features. The packaging was awkward, the assembly seemed […] The post I Bought the MO...| Return of the Cafe Racers
Taking a neglected Honda CX500 and turning it into a standout motorcycle doesn’t have to break the bank. With some simple restoration work and creative, cost-effective customization, a rider can give new life to an old bike. The process covers everything from deep cleaning, engine and carburetor care, to upgrading the suspension and reshaping the fuel tank for a better look. Focusing on practical changes like replacing the bulky seat, adjusting the front end, and making sure the fuel tank ...| Return of the Cafe Racers
Starting a new motorcycle project can be an exciting challenge, especially when it involves turning a brand new Velocity Cargo 150cc into a custom cafe racer. After not finding a good secondhand option, they decided to go with a new bike, making the learning process a bit smoother and avoiding possible hidden issues with used motorcycles. This choice was also influenced by past experiences working with bikes in other countries and wanting to avoid higher local prices for parts and accessorie...| Return of the Cafe Racers
Cafe racer motorcycles have remained popular among riders who appreciate a clean, simple design and a strong connection to the road. These bikes are inspired by classic models from the past but use modern engineering to offer a blend of style, comfort, and power. With new models available in 2025, riders can find options that combine vintage looks with today’s technology and performance. Each cafe racer stands out with unique features, engines, and riding experiences. Classic lines meet a...| Return of the Cafe Racers
The Ducati Scrambler 1100 is not long for this world. Rather than update its aging engine (originally borrowed from the Monster 1100) to meet ever-stricter European emissions regulations, Ducati is dropping it from its portfolio altogether. The odds were stacked against the Ducati Scrambler 1100 from the get-go. It offers less power than most of its competitors for the same, or more, money. And the fact that it inherited the goofy 'Scrambler' moniker from the more established Ducati Scrambler...| Bike EXIF
The One Moto Show bills itself as "the world's largest, best-known, and most fun custom motorcycle show in the universe" -- and we can't disagree. Hosted by the good folks of Portland's See See Motorcycles, the show celebrates motorcycles, art, and community, bringing together custom bikes from arou| BikeBound
The exact definition of 'café racer' is often debated, but it holds a special meaning for Kenji Heianzan, founder of the Japanese workshop Minami Motorcycle. “We pursue what we call the 'Way of the Café,'” he tells us. “It's a philosophy that values quiet confidence, balance, and street presence, without pretense.” Minami Motorcycle is a small two-man operation based in Meguro—a quiet residential ward in Tokyo. They have a particular affinity for iconic Japanese bikes like the Hon...| Bike EXIF
Michelangelo famously said, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” I've long suspected that Yuichi Yoshizawa applies a similar philosophy to building custom motorcycles. The frontman of the Japanese workshop CW Zon has the ability to take even the most mundane motorcycle, stare into its soul, and turn it into something magical. This time, he's done it to the venerable 1981 Yamaha XV1000. Known as the TR1 in some markets and the Virago in others, the XV1000 featur...| Bike EXIF
From The Chattahoochee Skunkworks: Tastefully Modified Honda 400 Four... When the Honda CB350F appeared in 1972, it was the smallest-displacement four-cylinder motorcycle ever produced. While it was a neat engineering exercise that showed off Honda's technical prowess, it was too slow to| BikeBound
The last weekend in March marked not just the running of the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, but also the 2025 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show -- simply one of the very best custom shows on the planet. Organizers Revival Cycles have created an event that draws builders and craftspeople| BikeBound
From Wolfsmiths: Slash 7 Tribute to an 80s Hot Rod... If there's one thing we love, it's hearing stories of bikes that guys hot-rodded back in the day when they weren't vintage, but of their time. At the recent Handbuilt Show, we came across this killer BMW R100/7 and had to know more. It| BikeBound
Custom CX500 from Dinostyle Garage... We're nearing 50 years since the Honda CX500 was introduced. Who expected this strange middleweight V-twin street bike, which earned the nickname "plastic maggot" during its heyday, would become a darling donor of the custom motorcycle world more than| BikeBound
399cc L-twin Ducati from Hardheads Motostudio... The Ducati Scrambler is one of the major success stories in recent motorcycling history. Much like the Monster several decades earlier, the Scrambler aimed for mechanical simplicity and classic style over expensive exotica, which proved a w| BikeBound
Bali-Built: Treasure Garage's 400cc Cafe Racer... The SM Sport SM3 is a 400-class roadster available in various parts of Southeast Asia, produced by the major Malaysian distributor and manufacturer MForce. The engine is a 378cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected parallel-twin that makes 36 horse| BikeBound
As the founder of Spain's 72 Cycles Performance, and one-half of the collaborative outfit 72 HKG Performance, Antonio Rodriguez has developed an affinity for custom BMWs. So when he recently moved his operation to the US, choosing a BMW R100R café racer as his first project on fresh soil was a no-brainer. “After building more than 60 motorcycles in Spain, and due to the restrictions we have when making substantial modifications to our motorcycles, I had it in my head for a long time to mov...| Bike EXIF
With its casual bobber styling and easygoing twin-cylinder motor, the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 isn't the type of motorcycle you'd expect the unhinged crew at ICON Motosports to froth over. Nevertheless, Portland's finest were nonplussed when Royal Enfield asked them to customize one for the annual EICMA trade show. ICON specializes in the outrageous—and nothing is quite as outrageous as turning a mild-mannered cruiser into a bonkers café racer-cum-drag bike. But getting the Shotgun from t...| Bike EXIF
Bolt Motor Co. builds a 500cc weapon... The Yamaha RD350 is one of the most iconic sporting motorcycles ever produced. The original air-cooled 350cc two-stroke parallel-twin was produced from 1973-1975, and the RD quickly became a darling of club racers around the world. It earned a reputa| BikeBound
Star Wars-inspired Ducati by Jerem Motorcycles... At the 2008 Milan show, Ducati unveiled their Streetfighter 1100, a "super naked" machine featuring the 90° Testrastretta V-twin from the 1098 superbike. The 1099cc engine was tuned to 155 bhp -- the most powerful naked Ducati ever made a| BikeBound
Rebuilt Muscle Bike from Brittany's RV Workshop... Few bikes have earned the cult following of the Suzuki Bandit 1200. In 1996, Suzuki took the air/oil-cooled engine from the GSX-R1100, punched up the capacity, stuck it into an old-school steel frame, and created a 100-bhp muscle bike for| BikeBound
Worth the Wait: CB750 from Black Cycles Australia... For every lovely vintage bike you see cruising the backroads, parked up at the local tavern, or racing the track on Sunday, there are scores of abandoned projects just waiting for a new life. All too often a lack of time, money, or inspi| BikeBound
We've cast the net wide this week, with a selection of tasty motorcycles that are worlds apart. Purpose Built Moto kicks us off with a slick Ducati 900SS café racer, then we look at a stunning Kawasaki H1 Mark III restomod from the USA. Our fastest candidates are this week's 75th anniversary MotoGP bikes, and our slowest is a 1965 BMW R60/2 with a very peculiar sidecar rig. Ducati 900SS by Purpose Built Moto Our friends at Purpose Built Moto in Gold Coast, Australia have built plenty of grou...| Bike EXIF
We all have our inclinations, preferences, and particular predilections. In custom motorcycle circles, a BMW boxer or Triumph Bonneville are considered mainstream choices, while unlikely donors present a more left-field option. Yamaha’s Virago is one such machine—but it's not enough of an outlier for Jimbo Turner. Jimbo reserves his fervor for only one variant of the XV1000—the Yamaha TR1. He didn’t discover his kink straight away; dalliances with a rigid Yamaha XS650, a Honda CB, a D...| Bike EXIF
A Franco-British Café Racer from FCR Original... French workshop FCR Original specializes in modern neo-retro bikes like the BMW R nineT, Triumph Bonneville, and Royal Enfield twins. So this latest build from the Chauvigny-based shop is a bit of a departure: a 1975 Norton Commando 850 Mar| BikeBound
