More Morning Moto News - Aaron Zanotti & eBay Cafe Racer

Aaron Zanotti is getting ready to tackle the 2010 British Superbike Championship Evo Class. However, he severed ties with his former race team, Red Viper Racing, and is looking to taking on the series as a privateer. But, he has yet to get the sponsorship he needs to take his Suzuki GSX-R1000 to the track. It's always about money...

http://tinyurl.com/yfhktgn

This machine is famous - and you have certainly seen it in some moto magazine somewhere. It is the Carpy Honda CB750 Cafe, and it is one of a kind. Of course, the people offering it up for sale on eBay are quite proud of the machine and seem to have added some extra value simply due to the bike's popularity. However, it does appear that anyone who has thrown a leg over on this one has enjoyed it very much. Take a look and, if you have US$25,000 or more, it could be yours.

http://tinyurl.com/yz6659c

Thursday Afernoon Moto News - MCN London M/C Show & Motorcycles vs. Scooters

The MCN London Motorcycle Show will not only feature some of the great motorcycles which the attendees will certainly want to see - it will also feature some of the United Kingdom's best motorcycle road racers. John McGuinness, Guy Martin, Conor Cummins, and Ian Hutchinson. They will be there to promote their racing series and to hang out with the fans...get your tickets soon!

http://tinyurl.com/yh9za99

In Dallas, Texas (USA), there are shades of post-war England taking to the streets. This is the annual Rockers versus Mods event in the city and it attracts all sorts of riders on all sorts of bikes and scooters. In fact, if you attend the 28 - 30 March 2010 event, you are likely to feel like you have fallen back in time...The event has been getting larger every year and this is the third year, so expect some huge crowds, some lovely cafe racers from times past and the present, and some very well-decorated scooters. Try it out, you might just like it!

http://tinyurl.com/yem5bwk

Tuesday Afternoon Moto News - Yamaha Zuma 125 & Norton Cafe Racer

It's a scooter, yes, but a very cool one. The 2010 Yamaha Zuma 125 is one tight, little ride and it rides very well for a machine of this size and tune. The funny part about this specific model is that the average age of the people who purchase it is 48! Maybe it's because this scooter is built to last a very long time - and it sips petrol at 70 miles per gallon or so...

http://tinyurl.com/y8kxh79

A sweet Norton restoration if I have ever seen one. OK, so it is more of a resto-mod, but I still find it to be rather tasty. The interesting bits are numerous, but the Aprilia V-twin engine powering it seems to say enough for this post. Really, you owe it to yourself to go and learn about the Taimoshan Cycle Works and the owner of it all, John Pellew.

http://tinyurl.com/ydw9u8y

Yamaha YZ450F Cafe Racer Build

This came from our friends at MCN (UK) and it is a neat looking machine. The builder has not released much in the way of details, but we do have two nice photos. It is a great design and it looks very well thought out. It would be nice to know more, though, so keep an eye on it...

http://tinyurl.com/yap49ru

eBay Find: 1978 Triumph Bonneville T140V Custom Cafe Racer

What a lovely machine this is. It is based on a 1978 Triumph Bonneville T140V and has been lovingly taken care of. The 750c.c. twin engine was rebuilt from the bottom up, it runs all sorts of new parts on the inside, and has a Corbin Gunfighter seat and many other important upgrades on the outside. Just take a look and you are sure to be impressed...It is in Texas and the bidding was sub-US$3,000 the last time I checked.

http://tinyurl.com/yhl4rws

More Great Customs From Britain's Got Biking Talent - Moto Guzzi

OK, so the title would suggest that I have more than one to show here. I do not, but the linked article could help you find more on that website - after all, I am merely trying to direct you to news you may not have normally found. So, this Moto Guzzi LeMans Cafe Racer was built/customized by Frazer Yule, 35 years of age, from Lochmaben, Dumfrieshire, U.K. An incredibly richly detailed machine with a nice attitude and modern tech. That usually is a nice combination; this is no exception, this is very pretty.

http://tinyurl.com/yzgh97o

A Tribute to the Ducati 750 Imola Desmo - From Radical Ducati

This cafe racer styled bike is a mishmash of parts from various Ducati and MV Agusta motorcycles. It was created as a tribute to the the bike that carried Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari to victory in the 1972 200-mile race at Imola. It is called the RAD02 Imola - the current model is a track-only bike, but you can order one which is street-legal...if you can afford it!

http://tinyurl.com/yd337bm

Riding Impression: 2009 Triumph Thruxton

I have seen many Triumphs in my time, and most of them are quite nice looking. In the past, the old-school Triumphs were much better than the American bikes of the time, but the Japanese came in and taught us a new meaning of reliability. Triumph soldiered on into the here and now and along the way picked up some solid reliability, style, and even soul to boot. The new Triumph Thruxton uses the same 865c.c. fuel-injected engine the Bonneville uses, and takes you back to a time when Triumph was first coming up in the world. However, it rides like a modern motorcycle in every way...

http://tinyurl.com/ybygxgv

"Cafe Society" Premiers at Three Rivers Film Festival in Pittsburgh

You probably already know the "Cafe Racer: The Motorcycle" book and the magazine Cafe Racer from Mike Seate; well, now you can see the documentary by Pittsburgh moto-journalist Mike Seate. Cafe Society premiered on the big screen at the Three Rivers Film Festival in the Pennsylvania city and will be shown again tonight at 8PM local time at the Harris Theater in downtown - don't miss the 7PM cocktail hour and the Q&A session which follows the film! If you can't get to Pittsburgh tonight, you will have to wait for it to come to your town or DVD (already available!) like me...

Last section here: http://tinyurl.com/y9tqn8k

Café Racers and 60 Years of Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing - Two New Publications

First of all, Veloce Publishing has come out with another winner, "The Café Racer Phenomenon." It is part of their new "Those were the days …" series. This one is full of everything that makes the café racer scene fun and so very interesting. It covers the early years, the motorcycles, the people, and several previously unpublished photos. There is even a video interview with the author...

http://tinyurl.com/yzft9by

Julian Ryder & Martin Raines bring us the stories from 60 years of motorcycle Grand Prix racing. It includes the people, machines, politics and a great deal of information about the last 60 years - all the way up to MotoGP in 2009. If you are looking for a very good comprehensive guide to all of this time, this is the book to purchase.

http://tinyurl.com/yjqyhtn

Another Ride: The CR&S Vun - A Different Bike for a Different Crowd

This is the second riding impression I have come across for this motorcycle and I am posting another one because of just how stylish this bike looks and it is just so well suited for racing. Well, it is a different machine - it runs the BMW/Rotax 650cc single from the BMW Funduro and is covered in carbon-fiber bodywork, but CR&S (Cafe Racers and Superbikes) may be on to something here. The bike is compact and handles very well - and it is very powerful for its light weight, but it vibrates a great deal in the upper reaches of its powerband. When you purchase one of these £9,999, you also must have enough money to paint it and add any accessories and options you choose from the extensive catalog. This would make an excellent track-day weapon and might even fit within a local racing class...I would certainly consider it!

http://tinyurl.com/ygbbyuu

The Vento 400 Cafe GT from PTS Motors

It took some time for the managers at PTS Motors and Vento to accept the idea, but Nic Butti and Richard James did not give up. They both got together in Australia and worked with engine designer Ian Drysdale to put his own 400c.c. triple into the bike (it was originally only destined for an ATV). The bike they have produced is light, tight and made with many Chinese components to keep the price reasonable. Have a look and see how well you think they did on the project.

http://tinyurl.com/yjha35y

Motorcycle Classics Announces Winner of Honda CB500 Cafe Racer

Dennis Picken of Omaha, Nebraska, is the new owner of a specially prepped 1973 Honda CB500 Four! I entered and I posted on the contest - so, I hope that someone reading this had a chance. Anyway, the bike is being built by the staff at Motorcycle Classics and is not quite done yet - after all, they work a regular day and work on the CB500 in their spare time. However, Mr. Picken will get his new bike after the crew at the magazine finishes their work, takes her for a ride, and then publishes a story on the bike early next year. One lucky ba$tard!

http://tinyurl.com/yjpov3h

Riding Impression: 2009 Ducati Sport 1000

According to the author - "it lives up to its name." I am not exactly sure which aspect he means, but maybe most of them. The bike has a nice classic look, modern powerplant, and a 'cafe racer' riding position. There are some failings, of course, but overall the Sport 1000 is a very nice retro-styled canyon carver of a sportbike. Take a look...

http://tinyurl.com/yfomgwa

First Look: 2010 Triumph Thruxton

Yep, another press release about an upcoming model release - expect hype. This is the Triumph Thruxton - a classically-styled cafe-ish sporting twin. It was named after the circuit which gave Triumph many early victories; and, it was designed to be a classic with modern technology integrated within for better running, handling and performance. Have a look...

http://tinyurl.com/yge3oty

Honda CX500 Café Racer Cool

Who would have thought that the old Honda CX500 would look good as a café racer? Well, apparently, several people who have worked very hard to bring the bike correctly into the café racer fold...they are sweet looking!

http://tinyurl.com/yjg3amh

Rare: 1967 Norton Atlas - Beautiful Restoration - for Sale

Over on the lovely website Rare SportBikes for Sale is an incredible - perfect, perhaps? - 1967 Norton Atlas cafe racer special for sale on eBay. Just take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/yhk78y2

Go Back in Time - The 2009 Belgian TT

The Gedinne circuit is 3.43 miles of regular, public - read: tiny and bumpy - roads in the Ardennes hills in Belgium closed off for racing of historic motorcycles which may have raced there when they were new and ultra-fast. It's a dangerous 'real roads' racing game there, but the history, the aura, the bikes, the people - all of it adds up to something like a trip back in time; back to a golden age, but with more modern safety gear on motorcycles worth much more now than they were then.

http://tinyurl.com/yzxl7xp

London's Ace Cafe to Make Long-Awaited Return to Classic Motor Show

At Birmingham's NEC, where the Classic Motor Show will be held 13 - 15 November 2009, the Ace Cafe Racer Concours will make a very welcome return. The show is open to any bike from any manufacturer as long as it is a 'cafe racer'. Expect some very cool and historic entries! Make an appearance and enjoy!

http://tinyurl.com/y8whhqr

Cafe Society - A Film About Those Who Love Cafe Racers

It took two years to make and it includes several never-before-seen vintage photos, rare film clips and much, much more about the cafe racer culture. Check it out and buy the DVD!

http://tinyurl.com/yaoemyo