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…

  We’d seen bikes on global websites and in images from custom motorcycles shows of modified Royal Enfields but had no real idea as to the scope and popularity of these adaptable machines. Not until we launched the Royal Enfield Custom Contest, that is. In case you haven’t hear, cafe Racer magazine has teamed up…

  It was bound to happen. Harley-Davidson ended their 60-plus year run of producing their beloved XL series Sportsters in late 2021, leaving the newfangled, water-cooled and very rapid 1250s and its 975cc stablemate the Nightster as their sole Sportster models. There’s been a decent response to the new 1250s and for good reason- it…

While building, riding and maintaining classic cafe racers holds charms and rewards you just don’t experience with a modern ride, plenty of custom bike enthusiasts have taken the altogether different route: they modify new school motorcycles to look like classics. Some purists- folks with muscular kickstart legs and grease permanently embedded beneath their fingernails- would…

  Many are the urban legends surrounding motorcycles owned and ridden by Elvis Presley. The so-called King of Rock and Roll was an avid motorcyclist during most of his career, appearing on the cover of Harley-Davidson’s house publication “The Enthusiast” in 1956 aboard a new Sportster. Unsubstantiated tales have surfaced over the years about various…

    If you’re into vintage bikes, roadracing or just checking out the world’s best motorcycle museum, Barber Motorsports Park is THE place to be this weekend. The annual Barber Vintage Festival kicks off today, and the event has quickly become the country’s biggest and most multifaceted vintage biking celebration. Emerging as a sort of…