October 28th, 2011 Coffee and Caf © Racing
It’s not something that everyone sees at every coffee shop in the states, but eventually the avid espresso-lovers start to notice that there are a lot of interesting motorcycles lately. One of the most exciting things about the rebirth of 60s nostalgia is the reclamation of forgotten and stylish trends. In the biker community, the caf © racers are not in a rebirth, because there was never any absence. But the style is one that’s starting to have a much wider appeal. Black leather jackets with white pinstripes are in stock at the nicer department stores, and old motorcycle logos are finding their way to mass-produced t-shirts. It’s the coffee shops, however, where the fashion gets to come out and play.
The caf © racer scene is one that comes out of London, where bikers on stripped-down bikes would gather at places like Ace Caf © . In the early 1960s, the social unrest that would characterize the decade was already making underground tremors, and for youth culture, the anthems of the generation were strictly rock and roll. The cafes were the only places one could hear the music originally, having been banned from radio airplay. Motorcyclists would meet and socialize, and after a little while the game was on to challenge each other. They would pick a destination to race to, and wager that they could get there and back to the caf © in between songs on the juke box. That’s the essence of the caf © racing tradition.
Today it plays itself out a little differently. Geographically, too, because in the states, the idea of a caf © is very different than Europe. The spirit of the neighborhood coffee shop might be similar to the traditional caf ©, but it’s not typical to find the same kinds of fare. In the U.S., there are some spots that will serve alcohol along with coffee and tea, and some with fuller menus, but it’s rare. What is the same, however, is that there is a kind of independent, creative spirit that can only be found among communities who don’t do labor during the usual work hours. What’s entirely the same is that spirit among the motorcyclists, who have a deep passion for the combination of speed and style that their stripped down vehicles offer.
They do drive gorgeous bikes, too. Some have maintained classic Nortons over the years, and others have taken great liberties with bikes that were never imagined with low handlebars. A retro paint job and some custom motorcycle rims , and the world suddenly feels like another time. It’s almost as if there’s an attempt to turn back the calendar in between songs, and an understanding that style never went out of style.
Related posts: