The whole café racer scene is nothing new and closely coincides, timing wise, with the American chopper phase. Men were returning from the Second World War, trying to fit into boring civilian life after living every day on the edge, knowing it might be their last. They needed adrenalin-pumping excitement. On both sides of the pond, motorcycles filled the void.
Author Mike Seate has a firm grasp of the lifestyle and describes the café racer movement in detail on both sides of the Atlantic. Sidebars throughout explain special events, places, people and, of course, the bikes they rode.
Following the foreword by Dave Degans, one of the best-known café builders in Britain, you are thrown into the colourful lifestyle of the café racer and the people who build and ride these unique motorcycles. Of course, the regular names appear like Triumph, BSA, Ariel and Norton, but mongrel monikers like Triton and Noriel are also explained in depth, as are modern factory café racers like Buell, Moto Guzzi and Benelli to name just a few.
Although author Mike Seate lives in the United States, he lives the life of a café aficionado and has done a fine job of exposing the café racer culture in this full colour, 160-page hard cover book with photos throughout. With a bit of resurgence in the café racer motorcycle, the addition of this book on the bookshelves comes at a perfect time. Seate also publishes Café Racer Magazine.
Checking online, Chapters offers an online price of $33.00 or $50.00 on the shelf.
Published by Parker House
ISBN – 10:0979689198
ISBN – 13:9780979689192
