The Best Cafe Racer Motorcycles [2024 Edition]

Why We Picked It:

Norton Motorcycles have had a tumultuous history, to say the least. It is one of the oldest manufacturers in the world, founded in 1898, but between then and now, despite having a ton of classic, highly collectible bikes and a lot of racing success, there have been bankruptcies, buyouts, takeovers, and even a few years of being completely shuttered.

However, through all that time, the Norton Commando was the most revered name of all, and many original Commando's were transformed into cafe racers. The current version of Norton is leveraging that, and have made the Command 961. What is interesting is that there are two versions of the bike, a sport standard with raised bars, and a cafe racer with very low clip-ons, the 961 CR.

The second version is the one that makes it to this list. Powered by a dead-simple 961cc pushrod parallel twin, it pushes out 77 HP and 59.7 lbs-ft of torque, motivating a little over 500 lbs fully wet. The clip-ons are made of billet aluminum, the front suspension is raked back to 24.5 degrees, it has the classic big headlight attached to the front of the suspension tree. It's about as classic cafe racer as you can get.

The only real downside is that for 2023, you can only buy it in the UK.

Why We Picked It:

MV Agusta have made a name for themselves throughout the years for making at times achingly gorgeous motorcycles, many of them special editions or limited production runs. From their beginnings in 1945, they have focused almost entirely on sport motorcycles that have the capability to go racing, and while not many original MV's were turned into cafe racers, the company has taken the idea of one and made a masterpiece.

The 2023 MV Agusta Superveloce 800 is what happens when you let a manufacturer known for stylish design run rampant. Every curve, every line, every angle of the frame... it's all purposefully meant to evoke the feel of a cafe racer, but with a very Italian flair to it. They didn't need to add a separate cooling duct for the lower oil cooler under the radiator, but they did because it looks amazing. The cowling is pulled back, low and tight over the steeply angled clip-ons. They even managed to add small winglets on either side of the lower cowling to shape the air up and over the riders' thighs.

It also definitely has the "racer" part down pat, as it has a 798cc inline three tucked away in is gorgeous body, pushing out 147 HP and 65 lbs-ft of torque. It weighs a hair over 400 lbs wet weight, and has a rated top speed of 149 MPH. It is low, long, and just screams fast even in pictures, standing still! As well, if you are wanting to actually take your Superveloce to the track, there is a much more focused, hardcore version of it known as the Superveloce S, with a remapped ECU, Arrow exhausts, a grippy alcantara seat, and wirespoke wheels instead of the cast wheels of the 800.

Why We Picked It:

Triumph Motorcycles are one of a few manufacturers that have balanced keeping their design language steadfastly in the last century, while also making exceptionally modern motorcycles under the fairings and frames. One of these is the Thruxton RS, named after the famous race track, meaning that they aren't playing about with making this quintessential cafe racer.

High performance Ohlins and Showa suspension, Brembo brakes that would look at home on a race bike, a frame that emphasizes rigidity and light weight in equal balance... it all speaks to Triumph's dedication to get the racer side of the bike bang on right. As well, since a cafe racer is all about simplicity in the pursuit of speed, there is no fancy TFT dash, just two simple dials, a speedometer and tachometer, and that's it.

Of course, the 1,200cc parallel twin engine is both air and water cooled, and almost fully exposed for maximum airflow. It punches out 103 HP and 83 lbs-ft of torque, with the Thruxton RS weighing in at about 450 lbs wet. What completely sells it for us, though, are the separate exhausts. They could have combined them into a single sided one, yet they gave each cylinder its own exhaust, and kept the bike looking like it has just arrived from the 1960s instead of 2023.

Why We Picked It:

BMW is one of those manufacturers that has been making motorcycles for a lot longer than many people think. Because of this, when they decided to create their Heritage series of models, a cafe racer was bound to show up. While the mainline R nineT is classic sport standard, and there is a Scrambler and an Urban G/S touring version, it's the Pure where they put the cafe racer influences.

The R nineT pure is a deceptively large bike, looking tiny because of how steeply raked the front forks are and how far back the seat is. Yet, the Pure follows all the right tenets of cafe racing: remove what isn't needed, simplify, and make it go like it's been shot. No extra fairings, no cowling, just a single speedometer dial on some sport standard handlebars.

The "go like it's been shot" is provided by a 1,170cc air & oil cooled boxer twin that gives a mighty thwap-thwap side to side when you fire it up. That engine pushes out 109 HP and 85 lbs-ft of torque, and it motivates 483 lbs of motorcycle in fine style. What really surprises a rider with the R nineT Pure is just how damned agile it is, as it is almost begging to be tossed into a corner so it can show you just how it carves a line through physics and spits you out the other side, the rumble of the boxer echoing behind you as you grin like a madman.

Why We Picked It:

When you think cafe racer, Kawasaki is probably the farthest thing from your mind. Yet, they have been around long enough to know what a cafe racer is, and have a few modern models that harken back to the rock and roll era of the 1960s.

One of these models is the Z900RS Cafe, which takes the frame and tech of a modern Z-series sport naked, tosses out the modern looking body, adds a neo-retro tank and seat, and wraps the front in a cafe racing cowl around it big main headlight. It truly does combine the best of both worlds, modern and classic, in one bike.

The modern part is the 948cc inline-four that howls out 111 HP and 48.5 lbs-ft of torque. It also comes with Kawasaki's massive array of rider aids, which they always somehow manage to shoehorn in while keeping the price low. You get ABS, traction control, stability control, an assist and slipper clutch, and even dual throttle valves to keep you in the power longer.

Draped over that is the classic, so much so the point that they even put the older Kawasaki lettering and pinstriping on the tank. The bars are sport-standard instead of clip-ons, but with the cowl and how long the tank is, you can definitely lean down into a racing tuck when needed.

All of this, for just $12,399? Yes please!

Why We Picked It:

Yamaha is a company that loves to drive forward, with angular, angry sport naked bikes, flowing and aerodynamic supersports and superbikes, and some of the best off-road and dual-sport bikes you can buy. However, they do have a few models that fall into their "Sport Heritage" category, of which the 2023 XSR 700 is one.

It has the long tank, it has the low and long seat, and it has the stripped down look of a cafe racer, with the only thing preventing it from being completely labelled as one is the raised handlebars to a sport touring level. However, as mentioned at the start, we are basing this list mostly on the silhouette of a cafe racer, and for that, the XSR 700 passes.

Using Yamaha's superb 689cc parallel twin from the MT-07 hyper naked, the XSR has 74 HP and 50 lbs-ft of torque, and barks out a lovely rumble from its retro-inspired exhaust, sounding somehow meaner and angrier than the MT-07. It is also one of the lightest bikes on this list at 410 lbs wet, meaning it definitely has the speed bit taken care of. It is also as agile and flickable as its naked cousin, so show it some corners and it will absolutely love to play.

Why We Picked It:

When talking about cafe racers, Royal Enfield has a strong argument to claiming bigger influence on the entire segment than Triumph. This arises from the original Continental GT 250 being released as a from-the-factory cafe racer in 1965, and those styling cues haven't changed much at all in nearly 60 years.

Just look at that picture above of the Continental GT 650... long tank, dipped seat with a tailbone stopper, just enough frame to hold the whole thing together, and a whacking great engine low and forward in the frame. There is a massive front headlight in the correct style, and sport standard bars hover on the verge of becoming clip-ons with how low they are. It is pure, unadulterated, 100% cafe racer.

That engine, with the transmission and large side covers, is in truth a 648cc parallel twin that puts out 47 HP and 38 lbs-ft of torque. It may not sound like much, especially when you consider the curb weight of 445 lbs, but it will definitely get you up and moving faster than you'd think. As well, since Royal Enfield's bikes still use the same type of exhaust routing as they have for the longest time, they make some of the best noise when you open the right wrist...

Why We Picked It:

One reason that we're considering the 2023 CB1000R a cafe racer is the fact that Honda themselves claim it as a combination of a rough and ready streetfighter with a fast and agile cafe racer. From the front on, it definitely has the poise and stance of a streetfighter, but it's when you look at it side on and squint a little you can see the familiar cafe racer silhouette.

It has the long, low tank, sport standard bars, the single headlight, but probably most cafe influenced bit is the seat, with a tailbone stopper. The pegs are also up and back, and it's just inviting the rider to get down into a tuck to be as aerodynamic as possible.

It's massive engine, a 998cc inline four, absolutely howls out 143 HP and 76 lbs-ft of torque. It revs hard and high, and motivates the 467 lbs of curb weight that the CB1000R carries rather rapidly down any chosen motorway or freeway. As a nod to its influences, there is even a small wind deflector over the headlight, and while its dash may be a TFT screen, it still shows a dial-style tachometer beside the speedometer, with just enough retro flavor to it to make this, if anything, an honorary cafe racer.

Why We Picked It:

Yes, we've already had a Triumph on this list, but when they make a bike that is as drop dead gorgeous as the Speed Triple 1200 RR, they get to show up again. Just look at that profile above, it's utterly perfect.

You have the clip-ons, the cowling, the long tank with a sharp dip to the low and rearward seat with a tailbone stopper. You have the engine low and forward and the front suspension is raked back at an almost ridiculous angle. It just has everything and the kitchen sink in terms of a bang on correct silhouette.

It's also the most powerful of the cafe racers on this years list, with a 1,160cc inline three that shreds the tarmac with 178 HP and 92 lbs-ft of torque. If that wasn't enough to raise both eyebrows, consider that it also weighs only 438 lbs soaking wet with a brick tied to the pillion seat. It has absolutely perfect ergonomics to tuck down low to the tank, with your feet on rear and upwards mounted pegs, and it is also eminently flickable and agile, while remaining planted and sure as you ride.