Not for U.S. consumption: The Honda CB 400ss.

From the 35th Tokyo Motorshow

"Lightweight Handling and Thumping Big-single Torque.

The CB400SS is a sporting single in the finest tradition. Wearing new colors, it now projects a new image. A new electric starter added to the traditional kick-starter make this middleweight thumper easy to start, and the buffed pedals and kick-starter are quality details that every enthusiast can appreciate. Now equipped with HISS*(Lightweight Handling and Thumping Big-single Torque.

This customized model dresses out the CB400SS in the image of a more stylish classic café racer using off-the-shelf parts combined with a distinctive rocket cowling, aluminum tank, solo seat, and reverse cone muffler- a new direction in the café racer genre, and a sure hit on the street bike scene."

the other Cafe Racers-Cafe Racer Filmworks.

"Café Racer Filmworks is a dynamic new production company led by two seasoned veterans with experience in numerous genres of visual media, from reality TV to feature films, documentaries to dramas. That collaboration has already created an imaginative roster of projects that is innovative, budget-friendly and audience winning.

Our specialty: fresh approaches to story-telling and direct communication. Café Racer's goal is straight forward: to deliver inspired and highly inventive fare, without the bureaucratic morass that's all too familiar -- and inefficient. While the bottom line can't be ignored, our primary emphasis is always on creating the finest finished product for the most lucrative demographics. Our edge over the competition is that we follow through every step of the way, from the concept to the completed project. Not just on the executive producing level but in the trenches as well. Every phase is controlled and overseen directly by the principals. We don't farm out our work to others who don't share either our vision or our work ethic. With those we do hire, all share the enthusiasm and expertise that guarantees a better product. The adage "I don't care what they are like as long as they get the job done" is not acceptable. We invite you to work with people with passion."

When in South Carolina....Clemson Cafe Racers.

click on the banner to go to the Clemson Cafe Racers homepage

"In the early 1970's a unique motorsports convergence occurred in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the college town of Clemson and the mountain gateway town of Walhalla. A group of motorcycle enthusiasts gathered who favored the performance machines of the day which were at the time motorcycles manufactured by Norton, Triumph, Ducati, Moto Guzzi and BMW. No doubt the proximity of some of the best motorcycling roads in the southeast was a contributing factor. A long summer afternoon could accommodate a 100 mile ride up through Walhalla to Highlands or Clayton or Cashiers with a little bit of the Blue Ridge Parkway thrown in for good measure. A good Saturday or Sunday ride might see a dozen or so riders in black leather and scarves carving up the curves. Some of these roads are now listed in the must rides for sport riders in a number of publications, but we'll never give away our favorites. A number of the motorcycles were the most sophisticated that money could buy at the time. A not insignificant portion of our number pursued racing in the newly formed WERA. We had rallys and poker runs and "meetings" always with a little chaos thrown in. But at the finish line, everybody involved enjoyed a spirit and a camaraderie and an insanity that made Clemson Cafe a once in a lifetime experience that a few lucky individuals had the opportunity to experience."

Your Cafe Racer picture of the week:

From the Italian Cafe Racer Blog: Otto Nero

From the Return of the Cafe Racers blog: The Yamaha SR 400/500.

I recently saw this great write up of the Yamaha SR500/400 on the terrific Cafe Racer Blog: The Return of the Cafe Racers. So I will let our friend from down under describe this great little bike in his own choice words:

pretty cool right out of the box: The SR500

"Originally modeled off Yamaha's first true "big thumper", the XT500 which gained popularity through it's success in the Paris Dakar, the SR400 set up has been around since 1978. The earlier SR 500 became a legend as one of most reliable and easy-to-maintain motorcycles ever built. I was sold till 1999 and Yamaha enjoyed huge demands in Germany and Japan, until new noise and emission regulations signalled the end of the big air-cooled single. The SR400's being produced and sold in Japan today differ slightly from the earlier SR500 versions of the bike with a shorter stroke and heavier muffler to comply with tight emission laws. Powered by a 400CC four stroke single producing 27Hp (19.73kW) @ 7000RPM the bike is not what you would call an amazing performer but all up it's a solid set up and a good performer.


Aesthetically the bike hasn't changed much since it's conception and as such oozes retro classic appeal in todays market. The original SR500 look was designed to have a "strong family image and a strong link to our (Yamaha's) first four stroke, the XS 650 twin, which was also inspired by British design at first." Like the W650 the SR400's classic Brit bike looks have gained it a huge popularity in Japan and as such you can find parts for almost any type of custom conversion you may desire. Searching online will return examples of SR400 based Cafe Racers, Boppers and Street Trackers that will make any motorcycle lover drool. Here a few examples of beautifully customised SR400's I found online...

Here's a few links for those wanting more...
Yamaha Papercraft Oragami SR400
Super cool Official Yamaha SR400 website - The aptly named SR Cafe (Japanese only)
Yamaha Japana's line up of custom parts - Y's Gear
Deus Ex Machina SR400 Grievous Angle Cafe Racer
Deus Ex Machina SR400 Manx
Deus Ex Machina Sr400 TT

If you're looking to get your hands on a Yamaha SR400 in Australia, once again the guys at Deus are importing them so get your orders in now!"

Official of Japan brilliant SR500 cafe

Honda's future cafe racers ?

Honda is ready for the 40th Tokyo Motor Show, which will be held from the 27th of October till the 11th of November 2007. And right now, they're giving you a sneak preview of what you can perhaps expect from Honda in 2008! The prototypes you see above CB1100F and the CB1100R - stand a good chance of going into production next year.

The two bikes are powered by 1100cc inline-fours and while the CB1100F (above) seems to be a modern interpretation of a traditional 1980s UJM("universal japanese motorcycle"), the CB1100R (below) which looks totally brilliant- It has that 1980s, Freddie Spencer era Japanese cafe racer cool and we so love this bike. Awesome!

More details will follow as they become available. In the meanwhile, you can visit the Honda website here.

From Faster and Faster:

Vintage 1999: The Laverda Black Strike 668 Cafe Racer.

From the Laverda factory web site: March 1999.

"As any true Cafè Racer, the Laverda Black Strike 668 has a 650/668 has a non-conventional look. It is all black and the only other colours are the white background of the instruments and the silver grey. An elegant and sporty combination that highlights the uniqueness of the Laverda Black Strike 668 Cafè Racer. They were manufactured in an exclusive series of 50 numbered-distinguished by a special plate and certificate of originality, and was very well received and sold extremely quickly.

"The air and oil cooled Laverda 668 engine delivers 70 HP and has been submitted to a large variety of upgrading and improvements. It has a new engine head, the cylinder liners have a new grinding, the pistons and the piston rings are new as well, the oil circulation circuit has been redesigned to improve cooling and lubrication at the same time, the oil pump has a larger flow and the crankcases are the same of the 750 c.c. versions."