What would you want in a Biker Café?
Discussion
Im in NE Mids and have many cafes on the list for a breakfast, just depends on where im heading. Seaways at Fridaythorpe, East of York is very popular with bikers. The others just happen to be roadside cafes on a popular route. Good food and easy parking is all im looking for. If there are bikes there or a bike theme then its a bonus. I know a few bike dealers that have cafes within an hours ride, if I want to look at bikes/gear they are also a good option.
Im not particularly on the lookout for a cafe that is a "destination" for bikers like some aspire to be...
Im not particularly on the lookout for a cafe that is a "destination" for bikers like some aspire to be...
Clean
Clean toilets
Good food for a decent sit down meal
Good cheaper food and reasonably priced drinks for a quick stop and walk round
A free to use and accurate airline/tyre pump
Shop for basic gear, things like fresh earplugs, gloves, basic sunglasses rather than £700 rukka jackets
A screening room showing BSB/WSBK/MotoGP live
The motorist at sherburn is almost spot on for me, just needs a biker basics shop.
Clean toilets
Good food for a decent sit down meal
Good cheaper food and reasonably priced drinks for a quick stop and walk round
A free to use and accurate airline/tyre pump
Shop for basic gear, things like fresh earplugs, gloves, basic sunglasses rather than £700 rukka jackets
A screening room showing BSB/WSBK/MotoGP live
The motorist at sherburn is almost spot on for me, just needs a biker basics shop.
Edited by andburg on Tuesday 16th April 08:27
Langden Grill Food Truck in Bowland was great, superb rural location. Sadly, no longer there.
https://www.lep.co.uk/news/people/the-hairy-bikers...
https://www.lep.co.uk/news/people/the-hairy-bikers...
Definitely rural.
Decent food, drink & facilities all at a fair price. Good parking. Surrounded by interesting, scenic and quiet roads. Indoor and outdoor seating. Friendly staff. Not too busy.
A few more cafes like it within 50 - 100 miles, I can't last all day on one coffee & sticky bun!
And as we move into the future a couple of electric charging points. Very few of us have gone electric yet, but we will, and a cafe stop is the perfect place to charge up.
Decent food, drink & facilities all at a fair price. Good parking. Surrounded by interesting, scenic and quiet roads. Indoor and outdoor seating. Friendly staff. Not too busy.
A few more cafes like it within 50 - 100 miles, I can't last all day on one coffee & sticky bun!
And as we move into the future a couple of electric charging points. Very few of us have gone electric yet, but we will, and a cafe stop is the perfect place to charge up.
Accomodation would be good, if someone has travelled a long way, the option of a room for the night and secure bike parking would be good.
The option to dictate how you want your food cooking. This is a big pet peeve but when you go somewhere and ask for a bacon roll say, most cafe staff get funny if you ask them to cook the bacon properly. I cannot stand bacon that has touched the pan, been turned over and then served with all manner of stringy fat hanging off it
Decent entertainment - that could be live music, comedy act, or some form of outdoor thing
And lastly and this would be a godsend i think, an on site mechanic and workshop/spares shop
The option to dictate how you want your food cooking. This is a big pet peeve but when you go somewhere and ask for a bacon roll say, most cafe staff get funny if you ask them to cook the bacon properly. I cannot stand bacon that has touched the pan, been turned over and then served with all manner of stringy fat hanging off it
Decent entertainment - that could be live music, comedy act, or some form of outdoor thing
And lastly and this would be a godsend i think, an on site mechanic and workshop/spares shop
slopes said:
The option to dictate how you want your food cooking. This is a big pet peeve but when you go somewhere and ask for a bacon roll say, most cafe staff get funny if you ask them to cook the bacon properly. I cannot stand bacon that has touched the pan, been turned over and then served with all manner of stringy fat hanging off it
Pan !Bacon has to be grilled on a high heat - the fat should be brown and the bacon should be moist
One of the many reasons why I carry my own food and drink most of the time
KTMsm said:
I don't really see the point
I have been to Gilks and I can't see anything special about it, albeit it was clean
TBH I'd rather stop at McDonald's clean toilets, fast service, sensible prices
Haha, yes that is a big part of why I like it, as well as dietary options and the roads.I have been to Gilks and I can't see anything special about it, albeit it was clean
TBH I'd rather stop at McDonald's clean toilets, fast service, sensible prices
With you on McDonald's though.
slopes said:
Accomodation would be good, if someone has travelled a long way, the option of a room for the night and secure bike parking would be good.
The option to dictate how you want your food cooking. This is a big pet peeve but when you go somewhere and ask for a bacon roll say, most cafe staff get funny if you ask them to cook the bacon properly. I cannot stand bacon that has touched the pan, been turned over and then served with all manner of stringy fat hanging off it
Decent entertainment - that could be live music, comedy act, or some form of outdoor thing
And lastly and this would be a godsend i think, an on site mechanic and workshop/spares shop
I spent years cutting the fat off of bacon after my Dad made me a sandwich like that and I almost choked out on a chunk of bacon fat that got caught in my throat.The option to dictate how you want your food cooking. This is a big pet peeve but when you go somewhere and ask for a bacon roll say, most cafe staff get funny if you ask them to cook the bacon properly. I cannot stand bacon that has touched the pan, been turned over and then served with all manner of stringy fat hanging off it
Decent entertainment - that could be live music, comedy act, or some form of outdoor thing
And lastly and this would be a godsend i think, an on site mechanic and workshop/spares shop
andburg said:
Clean
Clean toilets
Good food for a decent sit down meal
Good cheaper food and reasonably priced drinks for a quick stop and walk round
A free to use and accurate airline/tyre pump
Shop for basic gear, things like fresh earplugs, gloves, basic sunglasses rather than £700 rukka jackets
A screening room showing BSB/WSBK/MotoGP live
The motorist at sherburn is almost spot on for me, just needs a biker basics shop.
NY 500 is a decent spot too... Just south of Pickering. Clean toilets
Good food for a decent sit down meal
Good cheaper food and reasonably priced drinks for a quick stop and walk round
A free to use and accurate airline/tyre pump
Shop for basic gear, things like fresh earplugs, gloves, basic sunglasses rather than £700 rukka jackets
A screening room showing BSB/WSBK/MotoGP live
The motorist at sherburn is almost spot on for me, just needs a biker basics shop.
Edited by andburg on Tuesday 16th April 08:27
The two local-ish to me are Loomies and H-Cafe.
I don't get much time for rideouts these days, but when I have been they tend to attract their fair share of wannabe Valentinos with the consequent attention from Plod which rather spoils things for everyone. Last time I went to Loomies the surrounding roads were crawling with marked Police cars which rather put me off going again.
Hence I tend to just ride out to a nice country pub instead, away from these kind of places.
I don't get much time for rideouts these days, but when I have been they tend to attract their fair share of wannabe Valentinos with the consequent attention from Plod which rather spoils things for everyone. Last time I went to Loomies the surrounding roads were crawling with marked Police cars which rather put me off going again.
Hence I tend to just ride out to a nice country pub instead, away from these kind of places.
thatdude said:
Actual decent food. Not "greasy spoon" options and nothing else. I want some f
king fruit and veg and salad, not just "eggs and bacon and sausages dripping with fat".
I was going to mention food but thought it was asking a bit much, but I agree, being vegan downgrading to veggie when travelling, food that isn't bacon/sausage/egg/fat would be nice, like a salad with a banana afterwards and decent sparkling water please. Like I can buy in France and Italy at a cafe.king fruit and veg and salad, not just "eggs and bacon and sausages dripping with fat". croyde said:
Inspire said:
1. Loads of different bikes to look at
2. No dick*eads. I live near Ryka’s and whilst I love going there the number of morons riding way too fast will end up ruining it for everyone!
3. Good weather!
4. Toilets that are not absolutely grim - yes, I’m showing my age!
Thanks
Rob
I used to go to Rykas most nights in the late 70s, early 80s. He had a burger caravan at the top of Bexhill too. Many races up and down the zigzag road back then, plus the A24 wasn't a 50mph average back then.2. No dick*eads. I live near Ryka’s and whilst I love going there the number of morons riding way too fast will end up ruining it for everyone!
3. Good weather!
4. Toilets that are not absolutely grim - yes, I’m showing my age!
Thanks
Rob
Deceptive Bends up where the A24 met the roundabout with the petrol station was 2 lanes heading South and a lot more fun.
Funny that a lot of the Japanese bikes on Jap tyres and crap brakes were terrible handling yet there were very few limits, yet now even my Speed Twin has great suspension, brilliant Brembos and is pretty quick yet there are limits everywhere
Sorry (not really), I was one of the d*ckheads riding way too fast ruining it for everyone else, while wearing jeans, paddock jacket and a Simpson with a pitch black visor. Happy days.
I hear Rykas is now thriving again after changing ownership and remodelling.
Bike Shed has it right. I'd go there in my classic car too if I could park.
Ace Cafe is terrible, hasn't changed in 25 years. Such a missed opportunity. Never go there now.
Being North London based I'll let you into a little secret, not much of a secret really......Bar Italia in Soho. Can stop on the yellow lines for a coffee and watch the world go by. Great coffee, great pizza too. We often pop into town either in an evening or early Sunday morning.
Its opposite Ronnie Scott's.
Ace Cafe is terrible, hasn't changed in 25 years. Such a missed opportunity. Never go there now.
Being North London based I'll let you into a little secret, not much of a secret really......Bar Italia in Soho. Can stop on the yellow lines for a coffee and watch the world go by. Great coffee, great pizza too. We often pop into town either in an evening or early Sunday morning.
Its opposite Ronnie Scott's.
KTMsm said:
I don't really see the point
I have been to Gilks and I can't see anything special about it, albeit it was clean
The Long Itch Diner was cheaper and dirtier
Caffine & Machine - pay to visit an expensive cafe with long queues - sod that
TBH I'd rather stop at McDonald's clean toilets, fast service, sensible prices
Best thing they have going is location really. There's some great roads around all 3 named there. Caffeine and Machine was brilliant until they started charging for motorcycles during COVID. I still really enjoy the place, but its more of a calculated effort to go than just popping in and seeing what's about/spending a shorter amount of time there.I have been to Gilks and I can't see anything special about it, albeit it was clean
The Long Itch Diner was cheaper and dirtier
Caffine & Machine - pay to visit an expensive cafe with long queues - sod that
TBH I'd rather stop at McDonald's clean toilets, fast service, sensible prices
Generally just having somewhere to leave a bike without worry of it being stolen is about the best thing all biker cafe's/stops typically have going as fellow bikers are typically standing around having a chat etc. no ones likely to get away with kicking a steering lock off and wheeling a bike off surrounded by other bikes. Always nice to have a look at other bikes folk are riding too. Rural locations and decent nearby roads for biking are a big plus too. I'd never ride into town to visit a bike café for example.
I also live in Scotland, whilst I'm happy to go for a pleasure ride for fun in the rain, it needs inside seats. Due to allergies, for me that means it needs to be dog free, a real rarity these days.
I too am a lover of good home baking, and I'd like the food to be decent quality these days. When I lived down south so many bike places weren't. However, The Bike Shed is daft money for food, and by being hipster central there's always someone in with a dog.
Chairs are important. I want some sort of cushion if my bum is frozen.
Clean toilets, again, it amazes me what some folk will put up with. The more popular a place is with MC types, usually the worse the toilets.
I too am a lover of good home baking, and I'd like the food to be decent quality these days. When I lived down south so many bike places weren't. However, The Bike Shed is daft money for food, and by being hipster central there's always someone in with a dog.
Chairs are important. I want some sort of cushion if my bum is frozen.
Clean toilets, again, it amazes me what some folk will put up with. The more popular a place is with MC types, usually the worse the toilets.
croyde said:
I used to go to Rykas most nights in the late 70s, early 80s. He had a burger caravan at the top of Bexhill too. Many races up and down the zigzag road back then, plus the A24 wasn't a 50mph average back then.
Deceptive Bends up where the A24 met the roundabout with the petrol station was 2 lanes heading South and a lot more fun.
Funny that a lot of the Japanese bikes on Jap tyres and crap brakes were terrible handling yet there were very few limits, yet now even my Speed Twin has great suspension, brilliant Brembos and is pretty quick yet there are limits everywhere
I bet you used to go to the burger van in Epsom by the clock tower after the pubs shut. Deceptive Bends up where the A24 met the roundabout with the petrol station was 2 lanes heading South and a lot more fun.
Funny that a lot of the Japanese bikes on Jap tyres and crap brakes were terrible handling yet there were very few limits, yet now even my Speed Twin has great suspension, brilliant Brembos and is pretty quick yet there are limits everywhere
Inspire said:
1. Loads of different bikes to look at
2. No dick*eads. I live near Ryka’s and whilst I love going there the number of morons riding way too fast will end up ruining it for everyone!
3. Good weather!
4. Toilets that are not absolutely grim - yes, I’m showing my age!
Thanks
Rob
Bet one of them is my mate on an old GS500 and his missis always doing burnouts, knee downs and crashing in the car park (typically when its quiet and most have gone)2. No dick*eads. I live near Ryka’s and whilst I love going there the number of morons riding way too fast will end up ruining it for everyone!
3. Good weather!
4. Toilets that are not absolutely grim - yes, I’m showing my age!
Thanks
Rob
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