For years it was the west who produced the best custom motorcycles. The greatest rides were done by cashed-up Europeans...
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.
Overshirts have become commonplace in motorcycle riding gear catalogs. They can’t promise the same level of protection as a full...
The decision whether to customize a pre-eighties Honda CB750 or not is becoming a tough one to make. There was...
So, you rode your pride and joy to the last bike night of the summer, and after several enthusiasts mentioned...
All hail Yamaha. As part of their Yard Built series they’ve been sponsoring some of the wildest, genre-pushing builds we’ve...
Deus Ex Machina has been instrumental in the growth of the custom motorcycle scene. They opened their first location in...
What we love most about motorcycle lovers is how obsessive they are when it comes to anything with two wheels....
Spain’s Dragon’s Motorcycles created a massive stir with just one build. Their debut creation, a glorious six-cylinder BMW KL1100LT trimmed...
Since 2009 Aether apparel has been producing outdoor-ready urban apparel for discerning city dwellers and weekend adventurers. Their design philosophy...
Pour yourself a stiff drink and sit down. I’ve got news for you. This neo cafe racer by Turin’s Officine...
A helmet for any occasion. Whether you ride a cruiser, a cafe racer or an adventure bike the new AGV...
Earlier this year Return of the Cafe Racers had the honour of co-hosting the Australian premiere of Oil in the...
Mounssif Yettefti resides in the Netherlands capital of Amsterdam. Despite Amsterdam’s streets being some of Europe’s most colourful, he stands...
Riding gear featuring military-inspired designs is nothing new. Unfortunately, it tends to be limited to garish full camo garments. Rather...
How much difference can 300cc make? I made the mistake of thinking the Ducati Scrambler 1100 wasn’t much more than...
Layering is a great way to insulate yourself against the cold, but adding too much bulk can be impractical. The...
“Stop dreaming, just start building!” These are the words you’ll find on Andy Megerle’s Instagram profile. I’ve featured a couple...
Anyone who has ever emerged from a sticky situation unscathed and had someone tell them how “lucky” they were, will...
The late seventies Honda CB650 is commonly referred to as being a ‘standard motorcycle’. We doubt anyone would be using...
What’s not to love about two-stroke motorcycles? The alluring smell, the exhilarating sound and the white-knuckled terror of an unpredictable...
Customer requests and customer needs are two very different things. UK’s Sinroja Motorcycles are always happy to oblige with customer...
If you’ve ever performed side-of-the-road maintenance on your motorcycle, you know even simple fixes are impossible without the right tools....
My hometown of Perth, Western Australia offers some of the best year-round riding weather on the planet. Unsurprisingly motorcycles are...
Leather has long dominated as the material of choice for motorcycle jackets. And denim jackets have been style icons for...
Jay Patel of J&D Custom Co. knows his way around a Royal Enfield. The last time we spoke he’d just...
Opportunity theft happens when a less-than-upstanding member of society sees something valuable and decides to make it their own. Your...
Brazillian workshop Retrorides is the result of forty years of hard work by two generations of the Lourenço family. Nestled...
In recent years flat track racing has taken the custom motorcycle world by storm. Sideburn magazine paved the way with...
Triumph seems to have created the ultimate Scrambler. They’ve gone a step further than everyone else and built a fully...
We’re big fans of Nexx Helmets heritage range. I already have two of their X.G100 helmets in my collection and consider...
Their name may conjure up images of a suspect automotive salesman, but rest assured Crooked Motorcycles is anything but dodgy....
The Triumph Rocket 3 is a lot of things. A monstrous cruiser. A torque powerhouse. A modern classic. But it...
Let’s be honest. Being cold and wet isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. So if you’re planning to ride...
Of all the boxers the BMW R75/5 models with the “toaster” tank are a firm favourite. They are less angular...
If you read through the comments section on any modern cafe racer review you are sure to come across a...
All hail the late 70’s; when men were men and motorcycles were deadly – really deadly. During the ’70s engine...
We regularly feature motorcycle gear that appeals to those who are partial to custom, classic and cafe racer style motorcycles....
When it comes to the Moto Guzzi brand there are a handful of custom builders we’d consider experts on the...
Scales Studio is 2 man workshop that specialises in fabrication work and high-end paint. Based in Houston, Texas their list...
If you’re looking for a non-leather motorcycle jacket with timeless style, waxed cotton is the answer. The most iconic waxed...
Everyone needs a hobby. German-born Holger Breuer found his back in 2004 when he built his first custom motorcycle. Since...
Twin Shock Division (TSD) Motorcycles is a tiny shop located in the Ukranian capital of Kiev. Headed by the talented...
When you’re talking riding gear, leather has considerable protective qualities and generally looks great in a jacket. When it comes...
Once upon a time, there were two brothers, Marc and Phillip. They grew up doing all the things two brothers...
Using headsets to stay connected in a group ride can make things a lot easier, or a lot more frustrating...
“I have to say that I am simply an enthusiast of bikes and specifically Italian bikes and especially Aprilia. I...
When I’m not obsessing over motorcycles or writing features like this I like to watch people building things on Youtube....
Everyone has different requirements when it comes to luggage. However, as motorcyclists, we have a few unique issues that need...
If you’re considering attempting to turn any kind of tourer into a cafe racer you’re going to have your work...
More and more riding gear manufacturers are catering to women these days, giving those who ride far better options than...
I’m a big fan of Icon 1000 riding gear. It looks great, is well priced and does exactly what it...
Two motorcycle obsessed friends building bikes for a living. It sounds like the perfect life to be living. This is...
You don’t have to put out a poll to know which colour riding gear wins out over all others. It’s...
Europe’s first all-female motorcycle festival, the ‘Petrolettes‘ has teamed up with Royal Enfield to create the ‘Petrolettes Wrench Off’. The...
I’ve just returned home after attending Malaysia’s premier custom automotive lifestyle event ‘Art of Speed’ and it was a helluva...
If you don’t get Moto Guzzis or you don’t like their looks that’s ok; Guzzis are not a flash-in-the-pan affair....
Riding a motorcycle can be a dangerous business. There’s plenty of riding gear out there to keep your head, hands,...
Honda’s evergreen Hornet has been sold in the tens of thousands since its release in ’98. As a result, there...
Producing aftermarket parts seems like a natural progression for any successful custom motorcycle builder. If people love your bikes there’s...
I know a guy who reviews beer. The best part about his gig is that he gets to drink every...
As a motorcyclist keeping my belongings safe generally means carrying them at all times. A backpack offers the easiest solution,...
Michael Hammer’s workshop, Hammer Kraftrad, is located in the northern reaches of Bavaria. So it’s no surprise he loves his...
Finding an urban motorcycle jacket isn’t hard; seems everyone has one on offer. Finding a good one — one that’s...
If you call yourself a Moto Guzzi fan then you’ll be well aware of the work of Kaffeemaschine’s Axel Budde....
If we’re being completely honest, the style of a helmet matters almost as much as its protection capabilities. That’s a...
It takes a lot of courage to dare to be different. For our latest ‘Chop Talk’ Progressive Insurance collaboration, we...
Our friends over at Cognito Moto have been toiling away on their latest custom BMW R75 project. The project was...
Casual and riding gear are two terms that don’t belong together. To me, the word casual infers less safe, but...
No one is ever going to stand in front of a Honda NX650 Dominator and exclaim “look at the clean...
A good motorcycle jacket is an investment. This Alpinestars Oscar Brass jacket will pay serious dividends. With its timeless style...
It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since Harley Davidson unveiled their Livewire electric motorcycle concept. A lot has...
The Japanese custom automotive scene is bursting with unbound creativity and world-class craftsmanship. So for a photographer whose passion lies...
The Dutch have a rich history in Motocross racing that has produced a long line of champions. Inspired by their...
Remember that time you went to see your friend perform in ‘that show’. You went along willingly but their performance...
The name Motogadget appears a lot on these pages. The German company produces motorcycle parts and accessories which have become...
Former world champion racer ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer was a force to be reckoned. Spencer’s professional racing career started in 1978...
Italian riding gear manufacturer Stylmartin has made a pair of motorcycle boots that wouldn’t look out of place on a...
Andy Megerle’s CB750 cafe racer project was a rollercoaster ride of challenges and setbacks. In the end, he managed to...
Goldtop England first emerged on the riding gear scene way back in 1951. With that much history and experience behind...
Earlier this year was a landmark event in the global motorcycle scene. It was the debut of the world’s first...
This week’s Sunday Screening was produced by French moto-apparel brand Age of Glory. ‘Escape the City Limits’ celebrates the companies...
During the press launch of the Royal Enfield 650 Twins, they announced plans to work closely with custom builders in...
Introducing the latest addition to our go-to riding gear, the Dainese Tan-Tan boots. Dainese has been making protective motorcycle riding...
There’s very little that dual-sport bikes share in common with cafe racers. When it comes to customisation though every builder...
I don’t know about you, but I treat my motorcycle helmet like a newborn. I spent a small fortune purchasing...
With over a million Instagram followers ‘Cafe Racers of Instagram’ (aka CROIG) have one of the world’s biggest social motorcycle...
For the first time since its creation, Fuel Motorcycles ‘Scram Africa’ played out in two rounds. The first round took...
The Mighty Machines are a team of designers, engineers, software developers and marketers working together to create limited edition products....
Camo gear was never meant to make you stand out. But, if you spend most of your time navigating the...
In full dress, the BMW R1200RT tips the scales at hefty 259kg. This is by no means an ideal starting...
This year the London Bike Shed show played host to an astounding 281 custom motorcycles and over 17,000 visitors. As...
I feel the need… the need to go camping! I don’t know about you, but the idea of heading out...
Try tying your shoes with one hand behind your back. Now imagine building a custom motorcycle like that. There’s no...
I want a Moto Guzzi. I love the simple frames, huge engines and shaft driven rear wheel. The absence of...
Perth’s Kaylan Galloway is a guy who likes to do things the hard way. Probably because he can. A welder...
Call me a hipster, but if there’s one thing I like more than my blue Levi’s it’s my black ones....
I love a good backstory. For many builders, it was the influence of a family member or friend that got...
