The CRM team made our way to last weekend’s Mecum Motorcycle Auction at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for the first time in several years. First-timer Blair Powell was eager to witness an event he’d been hearing about for years. Being the owner of a half-dozen classic bikes, he was,…

    Opening the email each week has become a sought-after task here at CRM as the bevy of customized Royal Enfields rolling in for our Custom Contest are taking everyone here by surprise. Not only have we heard from some of the top professional motorcycle designers and builders in Royal Enfield’s native India, but…

Since first spotting the sleek and muscular 1995 Triumph Speed Triple in a local motorcycle dealership, I’ve been a huge fan of the first-generation British triples. They emerged onto the streetbike scene at a time when sportbikes ruled the roads in many places and the early-to-mid 1990s Triumphs were sporty without being garish in their…

  Oftentimes when we’re wrenching on one motorcycle project or another, Nick Coumos, our resident Norton guru, will remind me that he’s not well-versed in Japanese or European motorcycles.  Nick is a gifted technician, having ridden and repaired classic Nortons since, well, since before they were considered classic motorcycles at all. And though I respect…

Much has been written online as of late concerning the difficulties involved in selling used streetbikes. For years, proffering pre-owned machines was relatively simple; you placed an ad with cycletrader.com, eBay or Facebook Marketplace and soon thereafter, offers came rolling in. And not just offers to buy your motorcycle, but legitimate offers from punters genuinely interested…

  As someone who’s been buying, selling and swapping streetbikes for over 40 years, I’ve convinced myself of being fairly street smart at this game. I’m careful about where I park my motorcycles when visiting malls, sporting events and other large, exposed parking areas. And I’ve grown downright cautious when it comes to allowing strangers to…

Chris Snatcho on his Suzuki GS450 that survived a crash with a road-hogging whitetail deer.   It’s that time of year when the last, few warm days make shot rides very tempting. In our region, we’ve yet to see any measurable snowfall and sunshine is quite common, despite the days being at their shortest. Still,…

The 2024 Commando 961 Special 125th Anniversary Edition. Not for sale in this country Several Cafe Racer magazine readers have asked us about the wheres and when of purchasing a 961 Commando from the re-born Norton Motorcycle Company. On gentleman spoke with several member of our team at the most recent Reader’s Ride-In Bike Show…

It’s nearing the time of year when folks expect to get a few items for free, though these are generally found beneath the tree parked, sparkling in our living rooms. Our friends at Ton-Up Clothing/Red Torpedo are giving away a present next month that I’m sure any rider worth their well-worn leathers will appreciate, a…