Return of the Cafe Racers

2006 Ducati Paul Smart 1000 LE Heads to Auction With Just 2,433 Miles

Mark Capayas — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 10:17:40 +0000

Few modern Ducati motorcycles capture the spirit of the company’s racing heritage quite like the Paul Smart 1000 Limited Edition. Combining unmistakable 1970s endurance-racing styling with contemporary engineering, the SportClassic model remains one of the most distinctive modern Ducatis. Now, a particularly well-preserved 2006 example is heading to auction through Iconic Auctioneers, carrying an estimated value of up to £20,000 ($26,507). The Paul Smart 1000 LE pays tribute to Ducati’s landmark victory at the 1972 Imola 200. British racer Paul […]

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This Bespoke BMW R100 Café Racer Could Fetch $23,856 at Auction

Mark Capayas — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 10:42:18 +0000

The classic BMW R100 remains one of the most respected platforms in the air-cooled motorcycle world, combining traditional boxer-twin engineering with dependable mechanicals and long-distance capability. This 1978 BMW R100, offered through Iconic Auctioneers at the 2026 NEC Classic Motor Show, takes a different approach to the original formula, featuring an extensive rebuild and a series of mechanical and chassis modifications. 1,070cc Boxer-Twin Engine With Extensive Performance Upgrades Although presented as a 1978 model, the motorcycle is based on a […]

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Limited-Edition Norton Dominator SS Goes Under the Hammer

Mark Capayas — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 10:42:57 +0000

A rare 2015 Norton Dominator SS is set to cross the auction block at Iconic Auctioneers’ Iconic Motorcycle Sale during the 2026 NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham, offering collectors an opportunity to acquire one of just 200 examples of Norton’s exclusive modern café racers. With approximately 750 miles recorded and reportedly maintained in near-new condition, this limited-production motorcycle carries an estimate of £18,000–£20,000. A Limited-Production Norton Café Racer The Dominator SS combines traditional British motorcycle design with modern engineering, […]

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The First Heat Check After a Cafe Racer Rebuild

Georgio — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 03:41:47 +0000

You finally have the bike back together. The new exhaust follows the line you wanted, the wiring is tucked out of sight, and the seat fits the frame without a cable or bracket sticking out. After weeks of making everything look right, it’s tempting to fire it up and head straight for the road. Before that first proper ride, though, there’s one question a static garage inspection cannot fully answer: what happens when the new arrangement gets hot? […]

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This Bespoke Ducati Scrambler 803 Brings 1970s Italian Racing Style to the Streets

Mark Capayas — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 10:47:48 +0000

Custom motorcycles often combine modern engineering with styling inspired by historic racing machines. Pete’s 2016 Ducati Scrambler 803, transformed by Bolex Engineering, takes this approach to another level, replacing much of the motorcycle’s original visual identity with handcrafted aluminium bodywork inspired by the golden age of Italian Grand Prix racing. The project is primarily an aesthetic transformation, drawing inspiration from the motorcycles ridden during the era of legendary Italian racer Giacomo Agostini. Rather than replicating a specific historic machine, Bolex […]

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Analog Motorcycles’ Custom Harley-Davidson Street 750 Is Up for Auction

Mark Capayas — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:41:28 +0000

Harley-Davidson’s Street 750 was designed as an accessible entry point into the American manufacturer’s lineup, but this 2015 example demonstrates how much personality can be extracted from the relatively modest platform. Currently listed on Bring a Trailer, this customized XG750 was built by Analog Motorcycles and combines distinctive black-and-gold styling with a collection of mechanical and cosmetic upgrades. The motorcycle was originally commissioned by its first owner for Whiskey Grade, a fashion boutique in Cleveland, Ohio. Completed in 2015 by […]

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What to Do Before Your Crashed Motorcycle Gets Towed

Georgio — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 23:39:19 +0000

A recovery truck could have your damaged motorcycle aboard before you’ve spotted every injury, while passing tires crush small pieces of debris. When deciding what to do after a motorcycle accident, put your safety ahead of the machine lying in the road. Let the bike wait. Standing where another driver could hit you isn’t worth saving custom tanks and clip-ons. If you can safely walk behind a barrier, leave the motorcycle right where it is. What to do after a […]

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Deus X Royal Enfield Unveils Son of a Gun: a One-Off Shotgun 650 Custom

Mark Capayas — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 10:32:41 +0000

The collaboration between Royal Enfield and Deus Ex Machina has produced another distinctive motorcycle, with the unveiling of Son of a Gun, a one-of-one custom based on the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650. Designed and built by Deus head builder Jeremy Tagand at the company’s Camperdown workshop, the motorcycle celebrates the creative possibilities of Royal Enfield’s middleweight platform while previewing a limited-production collaboration. Unveiled at EICMA 2026, the Son of a Gun is more than a standalone custom motorcycle. It also […]

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Royal Enfield Celebrates 125 Years With New Motorcycles at EICMA 2026

Mark Capayas — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 09:44:20 +0000

Royal Enfield marked the culmination of its 125th anniversary celebrations at EICMA 2026 in Milan with an ambitious expansion of its motorcycle lineup, unveiling two major new models: the Himalayan 750 and Continental GT 750. Alongside the new twin-cylinder motorcycles, the manufacturer showcased its Flying Flea S6 electric scrambler, a limited-edition Shotgun 650 developed with Deus Ex Machina, and a refreshed lifestyle apparel collection. Himalayan 750: A New Chapter in Adventure Motorcycling The centerpiece was the Himalayan 750, Royal Enfield’s […]

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Royal Enfield Unveils Their New Flagship Café Racer at EICMA 2026

Mark Capayas — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 10:43:20 +0000

Royal Enfield has officially unveiled the Continental GT 750 at EICMA 2026 in Milan, Italy, introducing a more powerful evolution of its popular café racer. Revealed as part of the manufacturer’s 125th anniversary celebrations, the new motorcycle brings a larger engine, revised component specifications, and updated instrumentation while retaining the distinctive retro-inspired character of the Continental GT family. The Continental GT 750 is powered by an uprated version of Royal Enfield’s new 743cc parallel-twin engine, which also serves as the […]

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Best Retro Motorcycle Helmets in 2026: Four Stylish Options Compared

Mark Capayas — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:38:26 +0000

Retro motorcycle helmets have become an increasingly important part of the modern motorcycle gear market, offering riders a way to complement the styling of classic motorcycles without necessarily sacrificing contemporary safety features and everyday usability. From minimalist café racer designs to more aggressively styled modern-classic helmets, manufacturers are finding different ways to combine traditional aesthetics with modern engineering. However, choosing the right retro helmet involves more than appearance. Ventilation, weight, visor design, anti-fog protection, communications compatibility, comfort, and safety […]

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1982 Kawasaki KZ750 Cafe Racer Offered With No Reserve

Mark Capayas — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:25:27 +0000

The Japanese motorcycle scene of the early 1980s produced several memorable middleweight machines, and the Kawasaki KZ750 remains an appealing example of that era’s engineering. This 1982 Kawasaki KZ750, currently offered on Bring a Trailer, takes the original platform in a more contemporary direction with extensive cafe racer modifications, upgraded braking hardware, and components borrowed from Kawasaki’s Ninja lineup. Finished in metallic blue with black and gold accents, the motorcycle combines vintage Japanese character with a more aggressive custom appearance. […]

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What to Save After a Motorcycle Crash Before the Bike Is Repaired

Georgio — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 01:29:15 +0000

A scraped tank can be repainted. A bent rearset can be replaced. But once a motorcycle has been stripped, repaired, or sold for salvage, the marks that help explain a crash may be much harder to examine. For a café racer owner, the record also needs to show what the bike was before the collision: the donor machine, the parts fitted, and the work behind the finished build. A standard repair estimate may not capture that history. Medical care and […]

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Rare Norton V4CR 588 LE With Only 150 Miles Up for Grabs

Mark Capayas — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 10:30:04 +0000

The exclusivity of British motorcycle engineering takes center stage with this 2026 Norton V4CR 588 LE, an exceptionally rare, hand-built café racer currently offered through Collecting Cars. With production reportedly restricted to just five examples worldwide, this particular motorcycle combines a high-performance naturally aspirated V4 engine with extensive carbon-fibre construction and premium racing components. Located in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, the motorcycle displays just 150 miles on its odometer, making it a particularly low-mileage example of Norton’s distinctive modern naked superbike. […]

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Custom 2021 Triumph Speed Twin Now Up For Grabs

Mark Capayas — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:09:52 +0000

This 2021 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 offered through Collecting Cars takes Triumph’s modern-classic roadster formula in a distinctly bespoke direction. Finished in Candy Red over carbon-fiber-covered bodywork, this extensively modified motorcycle combines components from other Triumph models with premium suspension, upgraded braking hardware, and a distinctive flat-track-inspired rear end. Listed as the St. Maximin, it stands apart from a standard Speed Twin through its comprehensive custom preparation and striking visual identity. A Custom Build With Extensive Modifications The motorcycle’s defining […]

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Low-Mileage Ducati SportClassic Sport 1000 Monoposto Listed For Sale

Mark Capayas — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:22:10 +0000

This 2006 Ducati SportClassic Sport 1000 Monoposto combines retro Italian styling with the mechanical character of Ducati’s air-cooled V-twin motorcycles. Finished in orange with black stripes, this example is currently offered on Bring a Trailer while showing approximately 6,000 miles. The motorcycle features a 992cc desmodromic L-twin, a six-speed manual transmission, wire-spoke wheels, and a single-seat tail section. Its combination of classic proportions and sporting hardware makes it a distinctive representative of Ducati’s early-2000s SportClassic range. A Modern Ducati With […]

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706-Mile 2018 BMW R nineT Racer Listed on Bring a Trailer

Mark Capayas — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 08:56:45 +0000

This 2018 BMW R nineT Racer brings classic café-racer styling together with modern engineering, pairing a distinctive half-faired silhouette with BMW Motorrad’s air-cooled 1,170cc boxer-twin engine. Now offered on Bring a Trailer, this low-mileage example stands out with Motorsport tri-color graphics, black-and-gold Option 719 components, and a dual-muffler exhaust system from BOS Exhausts. Unlike a contemporary sportbike built primarily around outright performance, the R nineT Racer draws on the visual language of postwar European café racers while retaining the mechanical […]

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Twin-Turbo BMW R100S Custom Offered Without a Reserve

Mark Capayas — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:05:02 +0000

This 1980 BMW R100S is a radically modified take on the German marque’s classic boxer-powered motorcycle, combining vintage BMW engineering with twin-turbocharging, a stretched rigid frame, and drag-racing-inspired hardware. Built by California-based Boxer Metal, this custom machine departs dramatically from the original R100S formula, prioritizing visual impact and experimental performance engineering over everyday usability. Now offered at no reserve on Bring a Trailer, the motorcycle stands out not only for its unconventional construction but also for its award-winning history. However, […]

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The art of blending classic cafe racer aesthetics with modern riding safety

Georgio — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 00:29:30 +0000

Building or buying a cafe racer often starts with a specific vision. You picture stripped-back fairings, a flat bone-line extending from the tank to the tail cowl, and the raw mechanical beauty of an exposed air-cooled engine. Whether it is a modified 1970s Honda CB750 or a modern classic like the Ducati Sport 1000S, the visual appeal drives the entire experience. Riding these machines is a visceral connection to a bygone era of motorcycling where riders prioritized speed and simplicity […]

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Black Friday Electric Dirt Bikes: Why Riders Are Giving Battery Power a Second Look

Georgio — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 00:14:23 +0000

For riders used to the sound, mechanical feedback, and shifting rhythm of a gas-powered motorcycle, electric dirt bikes have always been a very different proposition. But as the shopping season arrives, price gives more riders a reason to take them seriously. This season’s black friday deals give those who have been curious about electric off-road riding another opportunity to compare the bikes and what they can actually offer. A discount may get a rider’s attention, but for motorcycle enthusiasts, being […]

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Two Triumph Ace Cafe Special Editions Now Up For Frabs

Mark Capayas — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:44:35 +0000

Triumph Motorcycles’ connection to British café racer culture is at the heart of two special-edition motorcycles: the 2015 Triumph Thruxton Ace and the 2020 Triumph Bonneville T120 Ace. Both celebrate the legendary Ace Cafe London and its association with postwar motorcycling, but they interpret that heritage through different generations of Triumph engineering. The Thruxton Ace represents the more traditional café racer approach, with an air-cooled parallel-twin engine, minimalist styling, and a compact riding silhouette. The Bonneville T120 Ace brings the […]

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This BMW K100 Café Racer Gets a Complete Mechanical Makeover

Mark Capayas — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:06:51 +0000

The BMW K100 has become a popular foundation for custom café racer projects, but transforming a neglected example into a refined, roadworthy motorcycle requires considerably more than cosmetic modifications. Tom Gilroy of Purpose Built Moto demonstrates this with a comprehensive restoration of a 1983 BMW K100, rebuilding its damaged engine, reengineering its chassis, and fabricating bespoke bodywork to create a distinctive motorcycle that balances performance, usability, and design. Built for a customer named Ryan on Australia’s Gold Coast, the project […]

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This Custom Triumph Thruxton Brings Flat-Track Style to the Street

Mark Capayas — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 09:14:18 +0000

The Ash Motorcycles Triumph Street Tracker demonstrates how a production motorcycle can become a distinctive custom machine through thoughtful engineering, traditional metalworking, and race-inspired design. Built by Tim Abbey and his collaborators at a workshop in Shaftesbury, Dorset, the 2012 Triumph Thruxton was transformed into a street-legal flat tracker that combines the minimalist proportions of American dirt-track racers with the practicality of a road-going motorcycle. The project gained attention at the 2023 Bike Shed Moto Show, where its carefully executed […]

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The 6 Most Popular Custom Motorcycle Styles

Mark Capayas — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:23:49 +0000

Custom motorcycles offer riders a way to express their personalities through engineering, design, and riding style. From minimalist machines built around classic silhouettes to heavily modified cruisers with extended front forks, each custom motorcycle style has its own visual identity and historical roots. However, the terminology can be confusing for newcomers. Scramblers, café racers, bobbers, brat-style motorcycles, street trackers, and choppers sometimes share similar components, yet their design philosophies and intended uses differ considerably. Understanding these distinctions helps riders choose […]

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How Cafe Racer Modifications Affect a Colorado Claim: A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Q&A

Georgio — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 23:39:39 +0000

On March 12, 2025, the Colorado Department of Transportation reported that motorcyclists accounted for 24% of the state’s traffic deaths in 2024, despite riding just 3% of registered vehicles. Custom work on a cafe racer can quickly muddy two questions: who caused the crash, and what the bike was worth. Short version: yes, modifications can affect a Colorado crash claim. The proof must tie a part, or how it was installed, to the collision itself. Custom work shifts provable pre-crash […]

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13 Best Motorcycles for Senior Riders: Comfort, Control, and Long-Distance Touring

Mark Capayas — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:31:19 +0000

Choosing a motorcycle later in life does not mean sacrificing performance, style, or the freedom of the open road. The right bike can make riding more enjoyable by combining manageable ergonomics, predictable power delivery, comfortable seating, and features that reduce fatigue on longer journeys. For experienced riders, the priority may be touring comfort and modern technology; for those returning to motorcycling, a low seat height and manageable weight may matter more than outright performance. The following selection examines 13 motorcycles […]

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FOR SALE: 2006 Triumph Bonneville T100 Tracker by Mule Motorcycles

Mark Capayas — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:57:43 +0000

This 2006 Triumph Bonneville T100 Tracker by Mule Motorcycles combines the classic character of Triumph’s modern-retro roadster with substantial engine modifications and purpose-built tracker styling. Nicknamed “Colonel Mustard,” this custom motorcycle features upgraded internals, specialist suspension components, and bespoke bodywork that distinguish it from a standard Bonneville T100. A Purpose-Built Tracker With Custom Bodywork The motorcycle wears Pearl White paint with black center accents, complemented by a black vinyl solo seat and a Harley-Davidson Sportster headlight mounted using a Joker […]

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FOR SALE: 2006 Ducati Sport Classic 1000 Monoposto

Mark Capayas — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:40:50 +0000

The 2006 Ducati SportClassic 1000 Monoposto captures the essence of classic Italian sport motorcycles in a package that combines period-inspired styling with modern-for-its-era engineering. Finished in Ducati Yellow with a black solo seat, this example, currently offered through Collecting Cars, represents the single-seat version of Ducati’s retro-inspired SportClassic family. Air-Cooled L-Twin Performance Power comes from an air-cooled, 992cc V-twin engine featuring Ducati’s desmodromic valve system. The engine has received an ECU remap and a Corse Dynamics high-performance intake kit, […]

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6 Things to Check Before Buying a Motorcycle for a Custom Café Racer Project

Mark Capayas — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 08:11:16 +0000

Building a custom motorcycle starts long before the first component is removed or the first modification is made. Whether the goal is a café racer, scrambler, bobber, or tracker, choosing the right donor bike can determine the project’s cost, complexity, and ultimate success. A motorcycle that appears inexpensive at first can quickly become a financial burden if it has structural damage, expensive mechanical faults, or missing components. A careful pre-purchase inspection helps identify potential problems before they become costly surprises. […]

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Digital Privacy Tips for Motorcycle Travelers: Staying Secure on the Road

Georgio — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 03:02:48 +0000

Motorcycle travel offers a sense of freedom that’s hard to match. Whether you’re riding across the country or exploring unfamiliar back roads for a weekend adventure, staying connected has become an essential part of the journey. Riders rely on navigation apps, accommodation bookings, weather forecasts, and mobile banking while travelling. However, using online services away from home can expose your personal information if you’re not careful. While premium security tools can help, safe online habits remain your most effective defense. […]

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FOR SALE: 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883

Mark Capayas — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:47:10 +0000

Harley-Davidson’s Sportster Iron 883 has long appealed to riders who favor stripped-down styling, compact proportions, and the customization potential of the Evolution V-twin platform. This modified 2009 Sportster Iron 883 takes that formula further with an official Screamin’ Eagle performance conversion, upgraded suspension, and an assortment of aftermarket components. Offered on Bring a Trailer with no reserve, the motorcycle combines familiar Harley-Davidson character with a more substantial mechanical and visual makeover. Screamin’ Eagle 1,200cc Conversion At the center of the […]

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This Custom Triumph Thruxton Is a Masterclass in Café Racer Design

Mark Capayas — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:33:08 +0000

The Triumph Thruxton has long been a natural starting point for café racer customization, combining classic British styling with modern engineering. Rob’s Thruxton takes that formula considerably further. Developed in collaboration with Tom of Hitchcox Motorcycles and a team of specialist builders, the project strips away much of the motorcycle’s modern electronic complexity, introduces a bespoke carburetor conversion, and pairs a minimalist aesthetic with extensively reworked suspension and a handcrafted titanium exhaust system. What began as a plan to delete […]

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The Five Motorcycles That Truly Changed Motorcycle Culture Through Film

Mark Capayas — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 10:09:11 +0000

Motorcycles have occupied a distinctive place in cinema for decades, serving as more than transportation or visual accessories. The right machine can embody rebellion, freedom, danger, technical sophistication or the promise of escape. In a handful of films, motorcycles have transcended their mechanical purpose to become enduring cultural symbols, influencing how audiences perceive motorcycling itself. The difference between an iconic movie motorcycle and a culturally transformative one is significant. A superbike may become instantly recognizable because it appears in a […]

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FOR SALE: 1993 BMW R100RT

Mark Capayas — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:38:17 +0000

BMW’s air-cooled R100 platform has become a favorite foundation for custom builders, and this 1993 BMW R100RT demonstrates why. Originally purchased as a stock motorcycle in 2017, the Texas-based example has since been rebuilt as a minimalist café racer, replacing much of the factory touring character with contemporary suspension, braking, and chassis components. At its core remains BMW’s 980cc air-cooled OHV opposed-twin, equipped with dual Bing carburetors, two valves per cylinder, an oil cooler, and electric starting. The engine was […]

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Custom Build, Public Road: What Happens to Your Claim When a Modified Motorcycle Goes Down

Georgio — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:47:38 +0000

Every builder knows the moment. The tank is painted, the rear-sets are dialed in, the clip-ons sit exactly where your wrists want them, and the bike finally rolls out of the garage onto a real road with real traffic. What very few builders think about in that moment is what happens if a driver turns left across that road without looking. A crash on a custom motorcycle is not handled the same way as a crash on a stock one, […]

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FOR SALE: 2018 Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer

Mark Capayas — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:19:06 +0000

This 2018 Ducati Scrambler Café Racer combines Ducati’s modern interpretation of classic café-racer styling with the mechanical character of its air-cooled L-twin platform. Now offered with no reserve on Bring a Trailer, this example has accumulated approximately 9,000 miles and is presented in Arizona with a clean California title. Finished in Black Coffee with gold accents, the motorcycle uses a black-painted trellis frame, gold 10-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, a headlight cowl, and side panels carrying the number 54. The graphics […]

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Roughchild’s 1975 BMW R90/6 Café Racer Reengineered for the Rider

Mark Capayas — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:42:25 +0000

Roughchild’s BMW café racer demonstrates that building a serious custom motorcycle is not simply an exercise in styling. The company’s heavily reworked 1975 BMW R90/6 combines traditional airhead character with modern suspension, braking, wheel technology and a thoroughly rebuilt 1,000cc engine, but the most important engineering decision was made around the rider rather than the motorcycle. Built for a customer measuring approximately 5-foot-5, the R90/6 was deliberately engineered to reduce perceived and actual seat height without compromising the handling, performance […]

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Top 20 Most Expensive Custom-Built and Modified Café Racers Ever Sold at Auction

Mark Capayas — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:15:33 +0000

Café racers began as relatively simple performance machines built by enthusiasts who stripped away unnecessary weight, fitted low bars and rearsets, and tuned their motorcycles for speed between the café and the next landmark. What started as a distinctly British postwar subculture eventually became a global motorcycle design language, influencing everything from Japanese four-cylinder specials and Italian sport bikes to modern one-off builds from some of the world’s most respected custom motorcycle builders. The auction market, however, tells a more […]

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2007 Ducati Sport 1000S Brings 1970s-Inspired Ducati Style to Auction

Mark Capayas — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:54:43 +0000

Ducati’s SportClassic family was conceived as a modern interpretation of the company’s celebrated sporting motorcycles of the 1970s, and few members of the range captured that philosophy as convincingly as the Sport 1000S. Now offered through Collecting Cars, this 2007 Ducati Sport 1000S combines Pierre Terblanche-designed styling with Ducati’s charismatic air-cooled Desmodromic L-twin, while receiving several enthusiast-focused mechanical upgrades. A SportClassic With 1970s DNA The Sport 1000S was essentially Ducati’s answer to riders who wanted the visual character of a […]

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2000 Bourget 1750cc ‘Dark Rider – Year of Shadow’: A Custom American V-Twin Built for a Charitable Cause

Mark Capayas — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:39:57 +0000

The 2000 Bourget 1750cc Dark Rider – Year of Shadow represents the distinctive custom-motorcycle culture that developed around large-displacement American V-twins at the turn of the millennium. Offered through Bonhams as part of a sale benefiting the Luca Guintoli Foundation, this unusual machine combines the visual identity of the American custom scene with a charitable purpose. Its listing also carries an important documentation caveat: Bonhams identifies the frame number as unavailable to locate and the engine number as W0735, with […]

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