Cafe Racers - Buying Decisions (Photo Heavy)
Discussion
klootzak said:
Take a look at the Ducati Scrambler Café Racer too. If you can live with the s
t suspension (uncomfortable but the handling is okay) it's really good fun and a way better choice than the standard Scrambler if only because it has a 17" front wheel so you can run proper tyres.
Objectively, the Thruxton R is almost certainly a better bike, but the Duc is lighter, smaller and weirdly feels faster even though it has way less torque. Probably because you have to wind it up a bit to get it going, that's half the fun though.
k
Edited to add ... the only Duc Cafe Racer review you need to watch ... https://youtu.be/nfK72LACS9I
+1 for the Ducati.t suspension (uncomfortable but the handling is okay) it's really good fun and a way better choice than the standard Scrambler if only because it has a 17" front wheel so you can run proper tyres.Objectively, the Thruxton R is almost certainly a better bike, but the Duc is lighter, smaller and weirdly feels faster even though it has way less torque. Probably because you have to wind it up a bit to get it going, that's half the fun though.
k
Edited to add ... the only Duc Cafe Racer review you need to watch ... https://youtu.be/nfK72LACS9I
Edited by klootzak on Monday 17th September 22:31
I got one last year after passing my test and use it for the exact type of riding you're talking about. It's great fun for short rides out on country roads and definitely turns heads.
I've had a passenger on it a few times which was fine for a Sunday ride out to a pub for lunch.
I'm a new rider so can't compare it to anything else, but I've found it to be engaging to ride and great for a rider who isn't an expert but is interested in developing their skills.
I picked up a Nine T earlier this year, test rode a couple of other bikes, Duke sled being one of them, and came to the conclusion 110-120 bhp was pretty much perfect for my kind of road riding, the beemer has a lovely characterful engine, feels proper old skool, but the chassis is modern and it handles pretty well.
Personally I would steer clear of the cafe racers (unless you are planning on riding at warp 10 and want to be tucked in out of the wind) and go with a sit up and beg riding position, much better vision over cars / hedges, easier to control when riding slowly, and keeps your speed in semi legal territory.
Personally I would steer clear of the cafe racers (unless you are planning on riding at warp 10 and want to be tucked in out of the wind) and go with a sit up and beg riding position, much better vision over cars / hedges, easier to control when riding slowly, and keeps your speed in semi legal territory.
I tried most of the bikes discussed, and all were great. In the end I bought the Monster but the nineT, Triumph and the Scrambler were great. The Harley was OK but no where near as nice to ride as the others. Triumph Bobber wasn’t available when I bought mine and that’s a lovely bike.
As a summary - buy the one you like / want.
As a summary - buy the one you like / want.
Sure, but loving the suggestions, some lovely looking bikes out there.
Will arrange some rides, I want to sit on the BMW racer just to see whether it’s too much.
I won’t be riding this every day, and roads here in Switzerland are smooth, not that crowded and with some lovely bends. But not the place for speeds... ( I go Italy for that !)
Will arrange some rides, I want to sit on the BMW racer just to see whether it’s too much.
I won’t be riding this every day, and roads here in Switzerland are smooth, not that crowded and with some lovely bends. But not the place for speeds... ( I go Italy for that !)
Pothole said:
My bad, I might have known that a cafe racer thread would be about looks over performance and handling.
There's nothing wrong with valuing looks alongside performance when buying what's effectively a toy. The OP says that he wants it for garage jewellery as much as anything else.I wanted a fun to ride bike with an interesting motor and stunning looks for short summer rides on country roads - the Duc Cafe Racer delivers IMO.
But I'm happy to admit that I'm a bit of a poser and not interested in taking my bike to track days or using it year round
when it comes to modern 'café racers' - the factory ones , the handling is all pretty much the same really.
It comes down to which one you like the look of versus which brand.............
non of them are sports bikes - all of them a compromise in some way.
Obviously Shed Built ones, or classics, well - that's a different level of handling all together
It comes down to which one you like the look of versus which brand.............
non of them are sports bikes - all of them a compromise in some way.
Obviously Shed Built ones, or classics, well - that's a different level of handling all together
Do we have anyone on here who's actually got an R nine T Racer?
For what it's worth, I had one on test for a day last year and loved it once I was out on the open road.
Returning it to the dealer in central Manchester was a killer. It wasn't so much the weight on the wrists as having to continually fold and unfold my legs in the stop/start city traffic.
I'm still thinking about buying one though!
For what it's worth, I had one on test for a day last year and loved it once I was out on the open road.
Returning it to the dealer in central Manchester was a killer. It wasn't so much the weight on the wrists as having to continually fold and unfold my legs in the stop/start city traffic.
I'm still thinking about buying one though!
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