Let’s not beat around the bush. The motorcycles built by Harley Davidson have never been hot favourites in the cafe...
JoinedApril 30, 2018
Articles2,449
Geoff launched Return of the Cafe Racers in 2006 as a place to document his very first cafe racer build. He has also worked as the editor of the independent custom motorcycle magazine Tank Moto, contributed to other online publication like BikeExif and co-hosted several Australian automotive events. Geoff also regularly visits custom bike events around the world as a special guest or media partner.
Image above: BMW R nineT tail tidy by Daedalus As Sir Mix-a-lot indubitably pointed out, there are some people who...
Stu Lloyd grew up in the UK during the late ’70s and early ’80s. As a young boy, his leisure...
The Bell Eliminator Helmet hit shelves a couple of years ago and has been a huge success for the brand....
Let’s face it – 2020 wasn’t the best year to be releasing a new motorcycle. Heck, it wasn’t a good...
A Moto Guzzi Le Mans cafe racer is enough to make any Guzzisti go weak at the knees. When Guzzi...
Named after the untamed mountains and wilderness of the Canadian northwest, these are the Rev’It! Yukon motorcycle boots. Inspired by...
The Honda CB750 was for many years the poster child of the “new wave” cafe racer scene. These days however...
When it comes to building a cafe racer, no other marque is better suited than Triumph Motorcycles. This is of...
Anyone privy to the world of custom motorcycles will have heard of Motogadget. The German aftermarket parts manufacturer made its...
In 2014, Harley Davidson introduced the world to the Street 500. The water-cooled 500cc, US & Indian built, learner approved...
When I lived in the city, cruise control was something I’d have never considered for my motorcycles. However, now that...
By definition, the Kawasaki ZRX1100 is a Universal Japanese Motorcycle, otherwise referred to as standard. But in our opinion, there...
Generally speaking, when we see workshops producing bolt-on kits, they aim to recreate the classic styles. Cafe Racer and Scrambler...
As the world struggles to regain some form of normality after the pandemic – we’re beginning to see the return...
On March 15 2021 Moto Guzzi celebrated its centenary. One hundred years in operation is no mean feat for any...
The iconic Gulf Oil orange and blue livery first appeared in motorsport on a Ford GT40 in the 1960s. Since...
This is the new Rev’it! Element Motorcycle Jacket a lightweight, versatile jacket offering all-weather compatibility and CE certified protection. The...
The Yamaha Yardbuilt series has been running for an impressive 7 years now. Since then Yamaha has commissioned over 50...
Last week we featured a very tidy BMW K1100 LT cafe racer by Anthony LoGalbo of New York based workshop...
If you’re familiar with the MOMO brand it’s most likely because of their steering wheels and gear knobs. The MOMO...
New York City is arguably the planets most influential style and culture mecca. Whatever you’re into you’re sure to find...
As the temperatures rise in Summer it’s not unusual to see motorcyclists neglecting their safety in favour of staying cool....
Unless you’re buying a Harley-Davidson most dealerships don’t offer much in the way of customisation at the time of sale....
On average it rains 164 days a year in Portland, Oregon. Not what you’d call the ideal climate for motorcyclists....
The Honda CB400 Super Four is the embodiment of Universal Japanese Motorcycle Design. It’s a general-purpose standard motorcycle built to...
I can’t think of anything worse than walking out to my motorcycle only to discover it’s been stolen. Motorcycle theft...
There’s a lot in a name. Vienna based workshop Horizontal Moto named their business after their approach to bike building....
Honda proved that the Japanese could build capable v-twin cruisers with motorcycles like their VT series. Compared to US-built alternatives...
Every so often you come across a product that’s so good you find it hard to part with it, even...
Repeat customers are the bread and butter of every business. Unfortunately, for some businesses, such as custom motorcycle builders, most...
There’s a huge difference between having the ability to bolt a few aftermarket parts onto a motorcycle and being a...
Recently I relocated from a major city to a regional town. Because of this, I have had to adopt new...
Some skills can take a lifetime to perfect. There are people however who seem to have a natural ability to...
Someone once said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” For any brand, releasing...
There are 2 kinds of people in this world. Those who like to keep their motorcycle clean and those who...
In life, the best advice you will get will comes from friends. After all, if you can’t trust your friends,...
Over the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to test ride almost every new modern classic, retro sports and...
It seems unlikely there would be any kind of connection between snow sportswear and motorcycling, but UK based helmet manufacturer...
The fine vólk at BMW Motorrad have a motorcycle for every occasion – just meander into a dealership and look...
The new 2021 Rev’it! Dirt Series riding gear collection is aimed squarely at the adventure rider segment. However, amongst the...
It is well and truly time to accept the fact that electric motorcycles will become commonplace in the not too...
When you’re on to a good thing, stick to it. This isn’t the first time Gwenael Barthélémy, aka Le Weekend...
This isn’t the first time we’ve featured a BMW cafe racer that’s been put together by a BMW car enthusiast....
Sena opened its doors in 1998 and since then has become a mainstay of the motorcycle communications game. They are...
My first visit to Jakarta in 2014 was arranged for the sole purpose of visiting custom motorcycle workshops. We’d been...
Serious motorcycle boots with serious motorcycle style. The Elsinore boots have been a stand out in the Icon range for...
In 2007 Buell Motorcycles announced the release of the first model in their range that wasn’t powered by a Harley...
If you’re based in central Europe and you’re seeking a place for advice on a cafe racer or custom motorcycle...
Working with clients can be both challenging and rewarding. When Ønix Design’s latest customer, a doctor from Valencia, brought his...
One of the biggest gripes we hear from riders about electric motorcycles is the absence of engine noise. We love...
Verona based workshop Fabbris Motorcycles has been in operation for an impressive 42 years. Started by Luciano Fabbris in 1979...
36-year-old Stefan Lantschner grew up on a farm in Italy where he developed an incurable fixation with motorcycles. His father...
I sink a lot of time and money into buying the right motorcycle helmet. And I don’t know about you,...
If you’re looking for a classically styled motorcycle jacket but don’t want the bulk or weight associated with leather, waxed...
Despite the lockdowns, we saw some amazing cafe racers completed in 2020. Many were built by individuals who suddenly found...
The Honda CBX1000 needs no introduction. It is one of only a handful of 6 cylinder production motorcycles ever made...
One of the greatest things about riding motorcycles is how they allow you to disconnect. Whether it’s by disconnecting from...
One of the trademarks of Tamarit Motorcycles is that their only constant is change. With a portfolio fast approaching 100...
Swedish builder Fredrik Persson of Paal Motorcycles has been a busy man. The last time we spoke he’d just wrapped...
Artist Albert ‘Kameleo’ Bierwiaczonek has been using his skills with an airbrush to paint motorcycles for the past 20 years....
Taiwanese custom motorcycle builder Alex Gao has a tendency to base his cafe racer builds on rather unlikely donors. In...
Is it just me or is it getting hot in here? Down here in the southern hemisphere we’re having one...
Panniers and city bikes aren’t a great combination. Not only are they generally difficult to install and remove, but they...
Back in 2017, French builder Ortolani Customs wowed us with his metalworking prowess. His polished Ducati 1199 S earned him...
Australian brand Liberta Moto has established itself as a force to be reckoned in the women’s riding gear market. They...
Melbourne is arguably the creative hub of Australia. If you’re looking for great food or a cultural experience the city...
If you’re customising motorcycles in Bavaria it seems only right said motorcycles should be those built by BMW Motorrad. Ralf...
34-year-old Mario Fedele’s entire career spawned from a childhood fixation with motorcycles. It all began with obsessing over his father’s...
To bring in the new year our friends at 100MPH have just released a new range of moto-inspired t-shirts for...
When great minds come together, great things happen. Often in the world of custom motorcycle building workshops keep to themselves....
The TCX X-Blend boots merge vintage looks with modern safety and steadfast waterproofing for year-round, any occasion wearability. They may...
Well, that wraps up yet another year of amazing cafe racer builds from custom workshops and backyard builders around the...
Up until he was 24 Pierluigi Intini’s experience on two wheels was limited to 50cc scooters. In 2007 he began...
Down here in the southern hemisphere things are heating up! Temperatures in Western Australia during the Christmas break can average...
The Japanese custom motorcycle scene is overflowing with all manner of unexpected and tantalizing two-wheeled wonders. Located in Ibaraki Prefecture,...
These Pando Moto Mark Kev 01 pants add high abrasion resistance and armour to a classic cargo pant design. Whether...
When he’s not fabricating parts for submarines (Yes, you read that right) David Manchester is building bespoke furniture or helping...
Adrián Campos and the team at Valencia’s Bolt Motor Co. are set to finish their 50th build sometime during 2021....
When architectural designer William Hendrix steps out of his office his mind is consumed with thoughts of motorcycles. He’s a...
It’s often the bikes we least expect to see customised that return the best results. One such motorcycle is this...
Some riding gear can leave you looking and feeling like a rolling billboard. If you’re not into the idea of...
Hugo Eccles is co-founder and design director of Untitled Motorcycles (UMC). With workshops in San Francisco and London, UMC designs...
I didn’t grow up in the seventies but even I know about the legendary Barry Sheene. The 1979 British Grand...
Since the onset of the pandemic, we’ve seen quite a few builds fast-tracked. While the general population was bingeing on...
Retired air traffic controller Donald Mildebrandt has been around aeroplanes his whole life. Growing up his spare time was spent...
Having good feedback and feel between you and your motorcycle is an essential part of riding. It allows you to...
We’ve all had a gut full of 2020 and I’m sure most people would agree they’ll be glad to see...
The 1200CC Triumph Speed Twin is the newest addition to Hinkley’s Modern Classic range. So far we’ve seen very few...
If you’re the kind of motorcyclist who rides rain, hail or shine you know how important purpose-built riding gear can...
Right now Australia’s most prolific custom builder would have to be Tom John of the Gold Coast based workshop, Purpose...
Working from their workshop in Paris, they modify, transform and customize motorbikes. Rive Gauche Kustoms really showed us their expertise...
The words Harley Davidson and Cafe Racer aren’t often muttered in the same sentence. Along with the challenges builders face...
One of our favourite advancements in motorcycle riding gear in recent years is the development of single layer riding jeans....
2020 has been a tough year in many ways. On top of all the terrible things attributed to the outbreak...
When you’re on to a good thing stick to it! The third generation of the Rev’it! Fly Gloves takes everything...
Generally speaking, first-time bike builds are a practice run for future projects. So in most cases, they’re a little rough...
If you’re up in the northern hemisphere old man winter will soon be knocking on your door. For some of...
Every self-respecting motorcycle aficionado knows of the Yamaha XS650. Built by the Japanese to take on British motorcycle manufacturers it...
BMW Motorrad has just lifted the covers off their upcoming 2021 R nineT range. This is of course great news...
