The Café Racer Phenomenon by Alastair Walker

Just saw this and I thought it maybe of interest to a few of you guys, or a christmas present for someone

The Café Racer captures the very essence of motorcycling, with its stripped-to-the-bone styling and a timeless blend of cat-quick chassis, matched to a barn-storming engine.

From its roots in the '59 Club, home-brewed specials and the creation of the Triton by Dave Degens, the Café Racer became the must-have Rockers' motorbike. It then became the template for a new generation of fast road riders in the 1970s, with the rise of Dunstall, Rickman, Seeley and many more bespoke bike builders.

The factories jumped on the bandwagon. Machines like the Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mk I, Ducati 900SS and the MV Agusta 750S all captured the spirit of the Café Racer. Then the slick, super fast, Japanese sport bikes of the 80s came along, and looked set to consign the Café Racer special to the history books.

But a revival had to happen. The Ace Café London re-opened, bike builders as diverse as Wakan, Fred Krugger, Nick Gale and Roland Sands all began to create lean, back-to-basics motorcycles, but with their own unique twist on Café Racer heritage. From the Buell 1125 CR to the Guzzi V7 Sport, mainstream modern bikes have also re-discovered their street racing soul.

Packed with previously unseen photos, machine profiles, interviews, and personal anecdotes from the glory days of Café Racer culture, this book takes a look at the enduring cult of the Café Racer, in all its ton-up glory.

The Café Racer Phenomenon by Alastair Walker

ISBN: 9781845848934

Print equivalent ISBN: 9781845842642

Available from various sellers, here's our Amazon link to it:Amazon

BULLET POINTS

• The rebellious spirit of the 50s!

• Foreword by Paul Dunstall

• Personal memories of the 60s/70s UK Café Racer scene

• Previously unpublished pictures

• Unique prototypes and specials

• World-beating motorcycles, made in garden sheds

• Interviews with bike builders including Norman Hyde

• The best and worst Café Racer manufacturers

• Global directory of Café Racer information

• The bikes and the people of the Ace Café London today