A trip to the Toy Motorcycle musuem.

These charming models at the virtual Motomini museum come from Britains co. An old (est. 1860) English Company specializing in toy soldiers. Their motorcycles are in the traditional 54mm (1:32) a scale common to the toy soldiers they create. The early pieces were made from lead alloys and mainly featured military motorcycles. Starting in the 1970s, common bikes-along with Cafe Racers-were represented along with popular American style choppers.

Britains is still active today and have issued few military style bikes, - thier models have until very recently still been made in England.

BMW Racing-chrome version

Triumph Thunderbird

Triumph 500cc Speed Twin

BMW-chrome version

Racing Norton

MV Agusta

My personal favorite: the BMW sidecar combination
(Note the handsome packaging Britians always had with thier models...)

Here are some great 1/24 scale toys from Godi of Italy:

MV Agusta Corsa

Yamaha 250cc Corsa

A rather generic cafe racer..with garish flames.

Cafe Racer of the week: Goffys '59 BSA A10.

This brilliant story (edited for space) is from Goffys Classic and modern bike parts website.

"I bought this A10 from a chap called Paul Philips in Chalfont St. Giles in 1977. She was dismantled then but in fairly large bits, so I reassembled her with a respray in something like Golden Flash beige. All the tin ware was there so it went back more or less original. The speedo was missing as was the carb., so I fitted a concentric that I had laying around and as it ran so well it was eventually replaced with another, although larger 30 mm version.

Common knowledge has it that cheap cars killed off outfits in the early 1960s but by the mid 70s cars were still too expensive for many impoverished youngsters so cheap old British bikes were the way to go with a second pulling a chair to carry the washing, shopping and broken-down or non-running bikes. I had a Dommie Café racer with a single seat so something to carry the girlfriend as well was needed. One of my friends had an Ariel outfit, another an A10 and another made a living as a window cleaner around Marlow with a double adult sidecar on an M21."

"After the first winter I had to have a rebore done, as she was becoming very oily and smoky. I was disappointed to have to have it taken out to +30 as it wouldn’t clear on any less. I had no idea of the mileage, as there was still no working speedo, but one winter didn’t seem enough to wear out a top end. A clue was a persistent freezing carburettor whenever it was cold and wet; eventually I discovered that the rear wheel was throwing water and muck through a hole in the mudguard, past where the battery would have originally been (now in the sidecar) and straight into the bellmouth on the carb.! A filter was fitted and I have so equipped every other bike I’ve owned. Fork bushes and wheel bearings were frequently needed so I had a spare set of forks and a rear wheel that I would rebuild ready for when they would be needed. Every fortnight or so I would have to reset all the sidecar mounts and chains and sprockets didn’t last too long either. If I had ridden around gently all this heavy maintenance wouldn’t have been necessary, but I was often having to keep up with solos so she given a bit of stick.

The Dustbin fairing I picked up at Kempton Park autojumble for £20 and, although it had no fittings, was in good condition apart from a hole in the front about big boot size. I’ve mounted it using bonded rubber mountings, which isolates it from the engine vibration so it isn’t at all noisy. The down side is that the mounts allow flexing that has caused the gel coat to crack. Really gusty side winds can be interesting but generally it is a great improvement on when the bike was unfaired. Prejudice against fairings I can’t understand. Fit a well-designed fairing and the bike will be faster, use less petrol, and you will stay warmer and dryer. Also every post 1950s racing bike I’ve seen has a fairing so they cannot be accused of having no macho appeal. It makes the bike much bigger so takes up more space in the garage and the lock has had to be reduced so manouevering is more difficult. But the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, particularly staying dry.

Josephine was featured on the cover of the March 2000 edition of Classic Bike Guide and given a glowing write up by staff writer Steve Wilson - I think he was particularly impressed/amused by the shark's tooth design copied from a photo of an American WW11 Curtiss P40 fighter plane. Pictures of it have been seen in Back Street Heroes and other sundry rally features but this was the only time it's had a full article written about it. Fame and Fortune beckons!

Josephine is the most reliable bike any one could ask for. She starts first or second kick, doesn’t use much oil, does 60 mpg, handles well, stops OK (Triumph 2LS front brake) comfortable on a long run and keeps me warm and dry. What more could one ask for?

Age is beginning to take its toll on Josephene as much as me, and apart from special events stays in the garage. I've got a new cluster for the gearbox, which is all it really needs. I think I'll go back to a 28MM carb as although she's got plenty of power at higher revs she's a bit flat lower down. This combined with lowering the gearing will make it more suitable for squrting around the lanes near where I live."

Gallery: From Dotheton.com-A Cafe racer Photoshoot by Walter Lai.

These stunning Cafe Racer picts are from a photoshoot done by Walter Lai ( a professional photogapher with much of his works published and showcased in national magazines) on November 6 for Toronto's" Dotheton.com"

Here are the some of the Dotheton lads: (L to R) Eric Ling, Louis Merchan and photographer Walter Lai

Eric Ling & his 69 cb450, Louis Merchan in his 74 cb400f & Walter Lai on his 75 cb550

The worlds smallest and most perfect Sport Montesa.

Thanks to the The Kneeslider for the tip on this great piece.

This 1/5 scale (about 8"High) 1963 Impalia 175 cc Sport Montesa from Fine Art Models and looks for all the world like the real thing was somehow magically miniaturized and placed on a stand. This is a perfect miniature version of the real bike. Naturally these models like this aren’t cheap (any of Fine Art Models can go from $16,000 for a locomotive to $4500.00 for a BMW R75 Military Motorcycle) and the price for this little gem has yet to be determined.

Just how accurate are these models?..lets hear what Fine Art Models has to say about it:

" Our models are 100% scale and no detail found on the original item is omitted on our models; no plastic used in our models. Our models are made entirely of stainless steel, brass and nickel silver, If wood was used on the real piece, then we use real wood (not photo-etched brass made and painted to look like wood); The glass in our windows is real glass."

Breathing life into Nellie: Royal Enfields Cafe racer goodies.

Cafe Racer kit: Product Code : Z91224

"We can supply a complete kit less the rear sets to convert your Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycle to a vintage British Café Racer similar to the picture shown. You can also purchase these accessories separately. All the parts supplied in this kit are direct bolt-on parts. Any drilling (with the exception of the light on the rear mudguard), polishing, plating and painting have already been done for you. All necessary hardware and bracketry are supplied where required. No drilling or welding is required to the frame. Most of these classic parts have been designed specifically for the Bullet and are produced to a high standard in Europe. The exhaust system and air filter supplied in the kit will enhance the performance of the engine, but to go even a little further please see our performance parts.

The Café Racer Kit includes: Alloy Fork Top Yoke, the 7" Lucus Headlamp, Shell, Rim and Bracket, Rubber Fork Gaiters, the Café Polished Alloy Petrol Tank, Polished Alloy Front Mudguard and Stays, Electrics/Battery Covers (ES or KS), Café Seat and Rear Mudguard, Goldstar Style Exhaust System, Sidestand, and Handlebar Clip-ons. Items that are NOT included, but very nice to have are the Polished Wheel Trims, the Flyscreen, or the dashing Sport Fairing.

Notes: All of the fiberglass parts are furnished in red as pictured. They are suitable for immediate painting if you wish to change the color. If you opt to stick with the left hand shift mechanism and stock handlebars, all will be well except that your riding position will be more upright than was originally intended. Bullets only. Please specify if your bike is a 350cc or 500cc, KS or ES, 4 or 5-Speed, Right or Left-hand shift and Disc or Drum Front Brake. "

Continental Kit: Product Code: Z91029

"Feast your eyes! This replica of the vintage Royal Enfield Continental Motorcycle displays the sensuous and classic British lines of its time, smooth curves and tactile pleasures that are not gone by the wayside anymore!

This accessory and parts kit includes an Alloy Fork Top Yoke, a 7" Lucus Headlamp Shell, Rim, Bracket and 7" Sealed Beam Headlight, Fork Gaiters, a Polished Alloy Continental Petrol Tank, a Polished Alloy Front Mudguard Kit, Rear Sets (4 or 5-Speed), an Electrics/Battery Carrier and Cover (ES or KS), the Continental Dual Seat, the Café Exhaust System, Handlebar Clip-ons, Polished Alloy Rear Mudguard and Loop, 4 Amber Bullet Turn Signals, a Sidestand and the Rear Number Plate Taillight. Other options NOT included in this kit, but shown on this bike are Polished Wheel Trims. A Flyscreen is also a nice and practical touch. For Bullets only."

Café Racer Kits & Bits: Product Code : Z90097

"We can supply a complete KIT to convert your Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycle to a vintage British Café Racer similar to the picture shown. You can also purchase these accessories separately. All the parts supplied in this kit are direct bolt-on parts. Any drilling (with the exception of the light on the rear mudguard), polishing, plating and painting have already been done for you. All necessary hardware and bracketry are supplied where required. No drilling or welding is required to the frame. Most of these classic parts have been designed specifically for the Bullet and are produced to a high standard in Europe. The exhaust system and air filter supplied in the kit will enhance the performance of the engine, but to go even a little further please see our performance parts.

The Café Racer Kit includes: Alloy Fork Top Yoke, the 7" Lucus Headlamp, Shell, Rim and Bracket, Rubber Fork Gaiters, the Café Polished Alloy Petrol Tank, Polished Alloy Front Mudguard and Stays, Rear Sets (4 or 5-Speed), Electrics/Battery Covers (ES or KS), Café Seat and Rear Mudguard, Café Exhaust System, Sidestand, and Handlebar Clip-ons. Items that are NOT included, but very nice to have are the Polished Wheel Trims, the Flyscreen, or the dashing Sport Fairing."

The Cafe Racer of the future: The Ecosse Heretic.

"ECOSSE Moto Works is the premier luxury marque of innovative, limited-production motorcycles created for discerning enthusiasts. The models – each with a distinctive character and soul – are built to the highest standards of craftsmanship using the most exotic materials in never-before-seen designs.

"ECOSSE’s flagship model, The Heretic, combines a highly engineered chassis, massive torque, wicked attitude, sleek lines, exquisite detail and race-bred components in a refined package."

"evil. exquisite. exclusive. ECOSSE.

ECOSSE Moto Works, Inc. is the premier luxury marque of distinctive, limited-production motorcycles created for discerning enthusiasts. Founded in 2001, the company spent three years perfecting The Heretic through three complete prototype iterations. The final prototype, X-3, remains at the company’s headquarters and is reserved for a collector or museum.

While forming a cherished brand, ECOSSE intends to build several different models with the same underlying theme: a synergistic combination of innovation, craftsmanship and technology with a nod to the company’s racing influence. The models share chassis styling, materials and certain elements to instantly alert consumers of the ECOSSE pedigree. Yet each serves a distinctly different purpose and is handcrafted in limited quantities to motivate innovators, collectors and aficionados to place their names on the waiting list for each new model."

Fanfair for the common man: The Honda 550 Cafe Racer.

From My Cafe Racer comes this pict of Jay's 550 F "Lucy". "She's gone through about 3 speedo's, a set of bars, and a set of mirrors from people backing over my bike here in the city (San Francisco). She's been knocked over plenty by the local (near blind) city parkers but she keeps getting back up and asking for more. I love this bike."

For people who think the 550 is too small for the larger chap or lady-take look at the picture carefully-tall Jay is 6ft3 and fits the bike like a kid glove.

This grand picture from Walter Lai comes from our friends in Canada at CafeRacer.ca. Taken at local photoshoot, the bike another 550F and shows how a Honda can even match a more pricey vintage British bike in the Cafe Racer looks (and performance) dept.

Okay, Please allow me to boast for a short time. Here is my own daily rider, A 550 Four-k built by a brilliant man in local walnut Creek, Calif and luckily found by yours truly on a local Craigslist posting and therefore saving me all the time, money (and fun) of building my own. Bored out to 600 cc, equipped with 750 carbs and a Megacycle cam she goes like a rocket. Most local 650 Nortons, Triumphs and even the occasional 750 Honda's are given a run for thier money. I have plans to fit a more proper looking period fairing in the very near future.