Name: 10 Off-The-Shelf Modern Cafe Racers
Brand: returnofthecaferacers.com
SKU: returnofthecaferacers-com-1
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10 Off-The-Shelf Modern Cafe Racers

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Price: $7,000 USD (rumoured) / $9,600 AUDPrice: $11,395 USD / $16,990 AUDPrice: $9,990 USD / $16,990 AUDPrice: $19,995 USD / $33,990 AUDPrice: $13,295 USD / $19,350 AUDPRICE: $8,999 USD / $15,590 AUDPrice: $12,999 USD / $16,499+ AUDThe Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe was released a short time after the highly anticipated Z900RS. On paper, both models are identical aside from styling tweaks. Both bikes feature a liquid cooled, 948cc inline four that produces 110 bhp. There’s 98 Nm of torque, ABS, adjustable USD forks, a slipper clutch and selectable riding modes. The most notable differences come in the form of bodywork.&nbsp;Up front there’s a retro fairing, the seat is restyled and it’s finished in a bright green paint scheme.The styling of Z900RS Cafe is more of a homage to the 80s Eddie Lawson KZ1000R than a classic cafe racer. That’s not a deal breaker for me though. Neither was that bright green paint or the incredibly wide fuel tank. I loved this bike when I had the chance to test it out. I never expected to be smitten with an inline four. However, the more I rode the Z900RS the more I understood the appeal of these high revving engines. I’ve had the opportunity to review both the standard Z900RS and the Z900RS cafe. They offer a great balance of power and everyday rideability which Kawasaki should be very proud of. If I was going to lay down my cash on a modern classic I would definitely be considering the Z900RS Cafe…but would probably opt for the slightly less ostentatious grey version.See alsoBMW Cafe RacerPrice: $11,490 USD / $18,299 AUDIf you haven’t heard of the Husqvarna Vitpilen it’s time to crawl out from under that rock. The Swedes first unveiled this futuristic looking bike back in 2014 and it’s only just gone on sale. Along with looking unlike anything else on the street the Vitpilen marks a return to the street bike category for Husqvarna. Usually, you’d expect such a move to be met with some teething issue, but this doesn’t seem to be the case. Every ride review of the cyberpunk single has been surprisingly positive. In a few weeks, I will have the chance to test the bikes myself and I’m expecting to come away feeling much the same way…fingers crossed.For the development of the Vitpilen, Husqvarna enlisted the help of design firm Kiska. What they came back with was a bike that respected the company’s rich past while propelling them well into the future. From the Vitpilen’s uniquely shaped tank to the dividing line that splits it diagonally in half it’s a rolling work of art. Is it a cafe racer though? Well, Husqvarna isn’t claiming it is, but I am. The Vitpilen confidently ticks all the cafe racer styling boxes. It’s got the telltale low handlebars and tight proportions, but more importantly, it has a bare-bones, purposeful style. Sure it looks like something off the set of the last Tron film, but there’s no denying there are hints of 1950s&nbsp;ton up racers in the mix.As for performance, the Vitpilen comes in 2 flavours, the 401 or the 701. Both are powered by a liquid cooled, single cylinder engine. The 373cc Vitpilen 401 produces an impressive 44 bhp and 37 Nm of torque. The 692cc Vitpilen 701 thumps out 75 bhp and 72 Nm. Both bikes feature the latest tech such as ABS, a ride-by-wire throttle and traction control. The 401 tips the scales at 148 kg while the 701 is a mere 9 kg heavier at 157 kg.401 Price: $6,299 USD / $11,600 AUD&nbsp; –&nbsp;&nbsp;701 Price: $11,300 USD / $17,500 AUDIf there was a king of the hill in the modern classic category it would be Triumph’s Thruxton R. Triumph have been enjoying the fruits of their labour since the new Bonneville series was released back in 2016. Of all the bikes in the range it’s the Thruxton R that is revered the most, and rightly so. The Thruxton R offers everything you’d want in a cafe racer package. It boasts the perfect balance of classic looks and performance. Where other bikes on this list offer mere styling tweaks and minimal performance upgrades the Thruxton R comes with the lot.When it comes to styling the Thruxton R nails the cafe racer aesthetic. Triumph had a great starting point with that classic looking parallel twin so all they had to do was continue the retro vibe, and they&nbsp;did an awesome job of it. There are no repurposed components from other bikes in Triumphs range. Everything on the Thruxton R was created to suit the Modern Classic vibe and it simply looks great. Triumph has also put together a range of aftermarket accessories for the Thruxton that includes a slick half fairing that i’d definitely spend the extra cash on.Yes, the Thruxton R will cost you an arm and a good chunk of a leg, but every dollar is justified. The bike comes complete with top of the range Showa and Ohlins adjustable suspension. It is powered by the HP (high power) version of the Bonneville 1200cc water-cooled twin producing 96bhp. There’s ABS, switchable riding modes, Brembo brakes, a multi-assisted clutch and the list goes on. This isn’t a mere exercise in styling, this is, without a doubt a,&nbsp;performance focused&nbsp;modern classic. Don’t get me wrong, it’s no competition for the latest Yamaha R1, but the Thruxton R is a thoroughbred.Price: $14,500 USD / $22,500 AUDYou can’t love em all…but you can try. Here are two other modern cafe racers for sale. They didn’t make my top 10 cut for various reasons…but they are still worth a look.Yamaha XSR900 Abarth – Yamaha’s XSR900 offers amazing bang for your hard earned bucks. Last year&nbsp;Yamaha teamed up with Italian racing brand Abarth to create a limited edition model. The big changes here are once again limited to styling with plenty of carbon fibre accents. Only 695 units were made and sold for around $12,000 USD. Unfortunately, your only chance of getting one now is in the second-hand market. The XSR 900cc triple won’t disappoint however the Abarth version is reportedly rather uncomfortable to ride.Suzuki SV650X – A cafe racer version of the long-running Suzuki SV650 platform. The SV650X features cafe racer styling&nbsp;laid over a stock SV650 powerplant. It’s a well priced, decent performer that is positioned to take on the likes of the XSR700.So there you have it. An impressive collection of off-the-shelf cafe racers for sale. Regardless of whether the naming convention is right or not these retro-styled rides are perfect for those who want&nbsp;classic looks and the latest in performance and safety technology.RelatedReally awesome content for beginners who are craze about motorcycles..will be able to get a clear view about cafe racer motorcycles..superb..Log in to ReplySeem to have forgotten about the xsr700 and xsr900. the best 2 bikes in this sector….Log in to ReplyYou can get custom, completely restored and better looking bike for a better price. Trust me 🙂Log in to ReplyWhat happened to the Langdon Two-stroke?Log in to ReplyWhat about highlighting the smaller cc bikes such as the AJS 125cc Cafe RacerLog in to ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment.Custom Motorcycle BuilderWorkshop SummaryBike of the DayEuropeBikes

Price: $7,000 USD (rumoured) / $9,600 AUDPrice: $11,395 USD / $16,990 AUDPrice: $9,990 USD / $16,990 AUDPrice: $19,995 USD / $33,990 AUDPrice: $13,295 USD / $19,350 AUDPRICE: $8,999 USD / $15,590 AUDPrice: $12,999 USD / $16,499+ AUDThe Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe was released a short time after the highly anticipated Z900RS. On paper, both models are identical aside from styling tweaks. Both bikes feature a liquid cooled, 948cc inline four that produces 110 bhp. There’s 98 Nm of torque, ABS, adjustable USD forks, a slipper clutch and selectable riding modes. The most notable differences come in...

10 Off-The-Shelf Modern Cafe Racers

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