You guys have asked for it and like everything else, we deliver! Check out these super cool new tee’s keeping it alive following the manta of “Everything Old Is Cool Again!” Snag yours today from the CRTV Store by [CLICKING HERE!] They’re printed on super soft vintage cotton with a discharge process that makes the ink almost impossible to feel when you run your hands over it. THINK- Wind Resistance! Get yours today!
When it comes to Cafe Racers names like Mark Wilsmore, Father Bill and Dave Degens are synonymous with the iconic culture in both conversation and legend. Having built literally thousands of Cafe Racers over the last 50 years and being the one to first recognize the utility and capability found in the Norton Featherbed Frame when matched with the Triumph parallel twin, Dave Degens is arguably the Father of Cafe Racers.
Starting out with a 350 Aeramachi, Degens set out on a quest to combine the best qualities from every bike he’d ridden into a single frame style combination that would allow him to shave seconds off laps times on the local brick laden streets of London. Truly a tuner, he set the bar and created a ripple effect that would change the world of motorcycling forever. The pursuit for speed, ah what wonderful thing!
In addition to building some of the most potent frame swinging-arm combinations, as Dave calls them, he is also one of the worlds foremost Triumph engine builders and rebuilders. Able to take a ceased pile of rubbish from a local scrap yard and turn it into a stunning horsepower produce ton chasing power plant, he has a vast amount of knowledge to draw off of when bringing these beauties back to life. Whether it be simple stuff like tapping and rethreading head studs to factory specification, modifying oil paths or adding additional breathers to allow for maximum performance.
But don’t take it from us, check it out yourself online right from Dave’s website at http://www.dresda.co.uk “Winner of the Barcelona 24 hour race on two occasions using sound sensible engineering 100mpg from a Triumph or 80bhp from a Triumph twin Road or Race……………….Talk to the Engineering Experts….We ship worldwide” or in person if you’re fortunate enough to be close, he’s the man when it comes to building things that go fast on two wheels.
The Cafe Racer TV Team toasts to you Dave, without you none of of us would be where we are today twisting the throttle on our aircooled vintage speed machines from pub to pub, cafe to cafe or just running amuk around the streets of our local town! Thank you!
Be sure to checkout all the Edit Room Floor Clips and Outtakes from Cafe Racer and subscribe to our Youtube Channel for updates! [CLICK HERE]
“I need a good café racer for under $7,500,” was the request from “Café Racer” TV’s Executive Producer, Chet Burks. The man had a plan to present the bike as a door prize at Discovery HD Theater’s rebrand to Velocity. The network has been pumping up “Café Racer” like a supercharged dragbike and this would be a great way to give something back to the folks that make it happen. Sure, there are a few machines in the Café Racer magazine stable that we could be persuaded to release for that kind of money – and let’s face it – when you’re infected with the custom bike building bug, garage space is always at a premium. We gave Chet a better idea – “Buy a stock Triumph Bonneville T-100 and we’ll do it up in the three days we have left before the launch party.”
As magazine people do when faced by deadlines, we make promises, then decide later if we can actually meet them. Usually, we do. For this project, I needed to muster the troops–fast. The stock Bonnie was located at Atlanta’s WOW Motorcycles, where a low mileage, 2010 model was found with only 1,500 miles on the clocks. The shop promised a 48 hour delivery to our Pittsburgh-area garage, which left just enough time to call in chief tech and road tester Blake Kelly and his sidekick, Zac Leroy, a man who can do things with vinyl that even its inventors never imagined. The wacky, and quite controversial, H.N.I.C. Racing Ducati 999 custom sportbike that I’d once built in the pages of Motorcyclist Magazine – yes, the one with KFC, Trojan Magnum and Miller High Life livery – was Zac’s idea and he’s since delivered several more sportbikes and café customs decorated in funky, irreverent decal kits.
The Bonneville, upon spotting it, would require a different approach, Zac and Blake decided. “Pipes, bars, decals, a seat cowl and some attitude should take care of everything,” Blake said, wasting no time tearing off the excessive parts that adorn Triumphs owned by riders of a certain age and disposition. Passenger pegs? Who needs ‘em? Chrome grab rail that adds more weight than a lead brake disc? Off it went along with the quieter-than-a-baby’s-fart stock exhaust system. Along with the removal of the factory installed center stand, we’d managed to tear about 40 pounds from the bike in just over an hour. The good folks at Triumph’s Georgia HQ were eager to help out with the project. They hooked us up with a lightweight two-into-two Arrow full exhaust system and a groovy little gloss black seat cowl from a Bonneville Thruxton model that transformed the stock T-100’s lines. Blake popped off the clunky stock rear fender and canned it along with the D.O.T. turn signals; in their place came a tiny (but still legal, honest) aftermarket LED strip light and mini indicators. Thruxton rear shocks, which offer two inches more rear wheel travel than the low riding Bonnie units, were bolted in place. This alters the rear ride height of the bike for sharper turning.
Up front, Zac got busy disconnecting the factory O2 sensors that are a royal pain for every customized fuel-injected bike builder to deal with. The mystery of the project? We thought all Hinckley Bonnevilles were issued with fat, one-inch diameter handlebars, but this one came rockin’ a set of 7/8” buckhorns from the factory. Lucky for us, we had several pair of cheap, swap meet clubman bars lying around the magazine’s workshop and, with some expert rewiring help form Blake, fitted them easily into place. Zac conjured up a very natty vinyl sticker kit for the Bonneville consisting of a set of CRTV logos for the tailpiece and a checkerboard trail leading from front fender down the gas tank and over the seat cowl. The kit changed the look and attitude of the entire bike and required no painting, powdercoating or hassles. Cool.
Looking at the clock, we’d invested about four hours in turning a stock, ordinary roadbike into something we’d be proud to park outside the Rock Store or Milwaukee’s Fuel Café. But this baby was headed to her big prom night in front of Discovery’s bigwigs. Could she hold her own in a room full of exotic Lamborghinis and Porsches? More on that later…
The emails poured in last week and we apologize folks, but unfortunately the LIVE feed from Mecum’s Auto Auction ran over last week and our beloved Cafe Racer TV was bumped! The reason for our delay in letting you all know? Because we were on the road and in the field preparing the Cafe Racer paddock at Barber’s Vintage Festival. What a bummer- WE KNOW!
Have no fear though, the episode isn’t lost and CRTV will resume from where it left off this Thursday at 8PM EST. Just for reference, here’s an updated schedule for the remaining episodes.
Thanks for watching!
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Episode 11 – 10/13/11 – 8-9PM EST
Episode 12 – 10/20/11 – 8-9PM EST
Episode 13 – 10/27/11 – 8-9PM EST
Episode 14 – 11/03/11 – 8-9PM EST
Episode 15 – 11/10/11 – 8-9PM EST
Episode 16 – 11/17/11 – 8-9PM EST
Nestled in the heart of Harley Country at the end of the quiet little road exists a shop that revels in shaking things up, doing things different and laughing in the face of homodgeny. J&B Moto Co. is their name and you saw them featured in Season 1 of Cafe Racer TV where they built a stunning machine with suspension geometry along the lines of Britten’s V1000, which turned the racing world upside down. How cool is that?
The guys from J&B Moto are doing well building custom bikes day in and day out along with restorations and other neat projects. If you’re ever in the Wrightsville, PA area we strongly suggest you take some time to stop in and haggle them for a while. Just tell them their buddies at Cafe Racer TV sent you. If heading to PA is out of the question for you might we suggest you take a look at their website, http://www.jbmotoco.com/ they have some great eye-candy to help kill a few hours behind your cubicle while you wait to get back to your own garage!
Go go, Cafe Racer!
Alright folks, the Barber Vintage Festival is less than a week away! As you know we’re putting together quite the to-do area for those of you who appreciate these vintage speed machines of yesteryear! We’ve got over $1,500.00 in giveaways from great sponsors like Dennis Kirk, Bell Helmets, Icon, Legends Fiberglass, Rusty Knuckles, Caraibi Rockers, Mike Woulfe Leathers and several more. In addition you’ll be able to get your hands on a copy of Ace Times the history of the Ace Cafe signed by Marks Wilsmore.
The Friday Lunch Ride is going to be a blast and for those of you coming, we ask you to please join us! The ride meets in the museum parking lot, KICKSTANDS UP at 12:30. It is a ride at your own pace, destination ride to the Irondale Café, better known as the “whistle-stop café” from the book/movie “Fried Green Tomatoes”. They are expecting us at 1pm, if you want to check out some of the lovely Alabama roads in the morning and meet at the café, that’s fine. The address is: 1906 First Ave North, Irondale, AL.
There is parking for the group behind the café. It’s cafeteria style, separate checks and if you like old fashioned southern cooking, that’s what it’s world famous for. Our group will be lead by folks from Dime City Cycles, DoTheTon, The Ace Cafe and Cafe Racer TV and will follow (at a distance) the Atlanta Ducati Owners Club “Wilducs” Should you choose to ride with the group please stay alert, leave plenty of space between you and the bikes near you and obey the traffic laws. If you are uncomfortable for any reason, do not hesitate to drop out. As an additional safety and help item, there will be a black truck marked DUCSTOCK following the group, if you need assistance that’s what they are there for – JUST ASK!
Here’s an update flier for those of you who haven’t seen it yet, we look forward to seeing all of you there!
