Top 10 Tastiest Cafe Racer Retro Motorcycles

[@VincentTL]

Great list!! And I’m really loving the 2022 XSR900!

[@RUBBERNMETAL]

That’s more modern cafe racers than u thought existed. Plus a few were left out of the list: Honda CB, BMW R Nine T, Guzzi etc.

[@glenmack3640]

Thoroughly enjoyable and well put together piece 👍🏼👍🏼 900RS cafe will do me just fine.

[@speedtriprr537]

I have a white speed triple rr, it’s amazing

[@multitaskchef]

These bikes are BEAUTIFUL! Such choices.

[@flatcapcaferacer]

The looks, the motor, the sound. For me the Thruxton, Kawasaki 900, BMW R9T, Moto Guzzi Racer are the bikes to have...maybe one of each. I have the Thruxton R and the R9T now I just need the Kawasaki and a Moto Guzzi. The others are very nice but give me these four.

[@allanshort8264]

For 6hour English summer blatts do you prefer Thruxton or R9T? I have T120 (2018) and want more poke for 300mile+ rural rides and need options other than last model xsr900

[@flatcapcaferacer]

@@allanshort8264 Hey for a six hour ride the R9T is more comfortable. I have a Corbin seat for the Thruxton R which makes it about even seat wise.. I think coming for the T120 I think the R9T riders triangle is overall more comfortable. The R9T is pretty sporty when you are going fast but the Thruxton R definitely handles better when you turn it up the speed. The R9T can get a little bouncy if you are over 185 pounds.

[@sushi_edits225]

Where is BMW R NineT? Plus the Superveloce is more of a retro super sport bike rather than a cafe racer in my opinion

[@daniellekoran7906]

It's not a cafe racer, so there's that. Not since the Racer that died back in 2018 has there been an R NineT cafe version.

[@tocatchasnark1471]

No guzzi?

[@MaverickAus]

900RS Cafe or Thruxton for me, actually who am I kidding I'm a Kawasaki man lol

[@gerry343]

Thruxton RS- best looking bike of the bunch. (Why do they put those godawful rear huggers on bikes like the Vitpilen, MV and the Ducati?)

[@soaruk3697]

prefer the JMC built Norvin myself - built in the UK.............a proper cafe racer

[@gerry343]

@@soaruk3697 Loadsa money!

[@soaruk3697]

@@gerry343 Yeah, the only downside........ 🙂

[@threethrushes]

Still having fun on my 2016 XSR900.

[@markiesmith4537]

"Makes other RETRO Cafe Racer's look DATED".... a Retro to Dated looking? That's the whole POINT of Retro!!! I suggest you get someone over 20 to produce and write your videos in future!

[@powamoto]

Biggest fan Powamoto bringing thumbs ups for ya all day great video Mate 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jjames2162]

Great video! I went with the Thruxston RS but that Royal Enfield is sweet! Great pics thanks for the video

[@soaruk3697]

I was toying with the idea of getting an Enfield - then worked out, by time sorted everything out, could get a low mileage second hand Thruxton R for about the same price with double the horsepower..........

[@jerryandnancywertzbaugher7778]

Congrats on the Truxton! Sweet Don't know about the Royal Enfield. I test road one last year and it did not compare favorably to my 46 year old 1976 Yamaha XS650. The olf Yamaha is lighter, with more HP and better fit and finish. Everyone raves about the RE for it's price point, but you can save some money and get a better bike looking for a vintage Yamaha in top shape. .

[@jjames2162]

@@jerryandnancywertzbaugher7778 thank you, there are many good options and I imagine more to come considering the style is growing more and more popular

[@descrane8005]

Xsr 700 I love it after sports bikes its a breath of fresh air

[@wjlowe111]

I agree with your rankings.. Excellent bikes that are under the radar for sure

[@BlakesPipes]

You had me at W800 Café! Wow

[@Onereelrider]

A Honda CB1000R is more of a cafe racer than the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR lol, that's a race bike essentially. Just saying.

[@Greddi]

"retro" is having a round headlight. Very brave manufactures

[@tirthenduadhikary8870]

This is what I was waiting for ❤❤

[@alanaspurling6469]

Too bad they discontinued the Vitpilen 701… I’m enjoying mine.

[@speedtriprr537]

Oh have a vitpilen 401 too, fun bike a lot of tech for the price.

[@jamesbrundret1726]

Hey Ollie, loving the narration and great reading many of your articles over the years. Remember Rockingham in the early noughties with P1 Formula 3 team? Adam Carroll had such raw speed and talent but not the budget. F1 missed out there. Anyway back to the subject! Got to be the Thruxton R. Had one with the full racer pack and dustbin fairing last year. Keep up the great work mate and best of luck in the future.

[@olliebarstow3878]

Hi James, I read the comment first (very kind of you!) and then I saw the name, how lovely to hear from you - Dad was very pleased to see it too. Not sure if you can DM on here but I know Dad would love to know how the Brundrets are doing today...

[@jamesbrundret1726]

@@olliebarstow3878 Hi Ollie, yeah not sure if DM is possible on here, I'll have to find another way to comm with you outside KZbin. It would make my parents year to hear from your Dad, I know they've tried a few times to contact him but with no luck. If your Dad still has old details of my parents, address and phone number, they are the same as they've always been. Would be good for us to chat too, you sound like a right good laugh!

[@jamesbrundret1726]

@@olliebarstow3878 ok mate, I'll do something tomorrow. I've memorised this message so you can delete as soon as you like. J

[@darrenlauzon5943]

Nice list.

[@WolfgangVonKempelen838]

That Yamaha blue is fantastic, I heard you have to be patient if you want one. Someone whispered in my ear; that it will October or November before you get your hands on one.

[@dereckwisniewski9311]

100% agree, there are a few things about the bike that I’m not keen on, but overall, it’s a beautiful machine. And that blue with the gold forks looks stunning together. I think I’ll be looking to get one myself.

[@godzeus9702]

Pssss they already out just be prepared to pay those dealer fees and shipping if you find one outside of your home state. 9,999 is what the price is going for currently plus tax plus extra BS dealership fees.

[@tg8150]

Nah, no one will get one until then. Straight from a Yamaha rep- china is closed, nothing is moving. These bikes are unicorns along with the MT-09.

[@godzeus9702]

@@tg8150 it’s on cycle trader you just will need to ship to wherever you are in the USA.

[@goodgiver]

I’m waiting for MT09 from last November without clear delivery date 🤷🏼‍♂️ it is said that XSR900 will take at least a year to get. In EU

[@2wheelsRnough]

I would change the top two bikes between eachother. The Yamaha seems to have some design issues, that makes it difficult to appeal. Kinda disproportionate and not the best looking. I am sure it makes up in performance, but in comparison, the Kawasaki is just beautiful! And a good ride.

[@lesklower7281]

I do like retro bikes the three of these motorcycles l like is the Royal Enfield the Triumph Thruxton and the Kawasaki kept the retro theme alive and well l used to ride bikes back in the 1970s and 1980s so l do like the motorcycles from that era and the have been retro cars but you still buy retro motor cycles brand new and l hope they will still be built in the future

[@punkrockdidi]

If you say the sv650x is a retro style café racer,I think you missed the mark... a round headlight and a "leather" seat doesn't make it a café racer.

[@tvdinner325]

The Yamaha is not a retro. If so, which 3 cyl 4-stroke model, does it resemble?

[@petedetraglia4776]

The best classic retro is the 2005 Kawasaki ZRX1200R that I bought new from Kawasaki and still own today with 22,000 miles on it. It is the Eddie Lawson replica from the 70s, dual shocks in the rear, a motor that just doesn't quit from idle to rev limiter, and all the swagger of the old school retro bikes. It's the last year Kawasaki imported the bike into the US and I get several offers from people who want to buy it from me every summer but my answer still is HELL NO... THE ORIGINAL RETRO bike and still the best... I also owned a 1970 Kawasaki Z1000A all original with the factory DENCO race pipe on it, but I sold it years ago like a dummy...

[@paulred158]

I’d argue my lemans mk1 is even better ;)

[@OscarDiaz-yl4gm]

Thruxton RS is the Best, number One

[@lazomoto]

WOW amazing 🤩🤩🤩

[@jerryandnancywertzbaugher7778]

Styling winner is unquestionably the W800😎. The Enfield is the dog of the group 😡. I’d have a very hard time deciding between the Z900, the Thruxton and the Yamaha XSR. The Yamaha is the most modern but the Triumph and Kawasaki pull hard on my heartstrings 😘.

[@sixsigmax]

If your decision criteria include performance and up-to-date technology, then the XSR900 has a clear advantage. Ride safe. Cheers, mate.

[@VapidUsername]

If only had a spare £20k to throw at at the superveloce

[@alwinbenjamin]

🔥🔥🔥

[@tanhy1522]

Which country are you from?

[@Ramuel1983]

MV Agusta rulezz in terms of beauty and engine

[@Maige2900]

R nine t?

[@mohdgaith2939]

Bmw r n t and moto guzzi

[@matthewmitchell8941]

When is Honda bringing back cb 750's?

[@SM-io8ol]

No cb1000r???

[@frogi296]

No CB650R😞

[@cp4512]

I don’t like the looks of the XSR compared to the other retros, and it definitely doesn’t tick the cafe racer box for me. But it does look a lot better than the MT-09 🤮

[@BulldogMack700rs]

I like it but agree it's not really a cafe racer, more of a retro styled Street fighter if anything.

[@elgar6743]

Cool vid! Thruxton and 900RS get my vote...they're all great with awesome aesthetics, except for the horrendously FUGLY Yamaha...obviously!!

[@10secondsrule]

So adding a single round light makes a bike cafe racer? Speed triple has nothing to do with cafe racer. If you not count overpriced and uncomfortable that is.

[@MattNeighbour]

A standard naked bike with upgraded parts, clip-on bars and added fairing is literally the historical definition of Café Racer. I'm pretty sure the ton-up boys didn't care about comfort either. Why do you think it is overpriced? Name a cheaper bike with that power, Brembo Stylema brakes, electronic suspension and all that carbon fibre.

[@victorgimenogranda8019]

@@MattNeighbour absolutely agree to that. I own a thruxton 1200 rs and a Speed Triple 1200 RR. Couldn’t be happier with each of them. Cheers!

[@SkinPeeleR]

It's a bit snobbish that Chinese cafe or classic racer arn't counted in. They've got cafe racers looking more classic than named in clip above.

[@paulred158]

Yet no mechanics I know want to touch them.

[@SkinPeeleR]

@@paulred158 No problem here. Engine is a honda clone made on original honda tooling. The Chinese build millions of them and no abnormal problems.

[@paulred158]

@@SkinPeeleR oh I understand the Chinese can build excellent stuff . But it depends if it’s been built to a price point. My local bike shop refuses to touch the Chinese scooters because so many of them have failed structurally . Cracked frames etc. they see it as a safety issue until time proves otherwise.

[@rogerthat10-47]

I'm sorry but the SV650 in any guise is the most boring Vanilla imagineable, at best they are a computer bike for the terminally inept, as for a Cafe bike that's just Suzuki wringing out every penny they can get from this platform a platform that was built to gain riders that were previously driver's they offer nothing to the rider apart from a good night's sleep.

[@busboy3232]

Having owned a Sv650x I honestly have to agree with you 100%. I have a Royal Enfield Int 650 now.. Much happier.

[@m3lvn415]

Again, Suzuki being lazy by not even putting a classic looking dash on their SV650X.

[@MudaholicJR]

Great vid but if you can't pronounce it, just say Husky.

[@richguest66]

Kawasaki z900rs

[@ACBros_06]

Hello... Honda Hawk 11 anyone?

[@monkmoto1887]

Africa twin engine in a road bike doesn’t do it for me. Z900rs all day

[@patricksandeberg8184]

You get an up and down quick shifter as standard on the Vitpilen 401 and both front and rear adjustable suspension. For the low price you pay (sub 6k), you get a bike that’s better specked then a lot more bigger and a lot more expensive bikes. 🫶🏽to Visordown