CAFE RACERS - Speed, style, rock and roll, rebellion

The Café racer culture — a term originally used as an insult aimed at rebellious motorcyclists who raced from one café to another on modified bikes — gradually evolved into a lifestyle embodying the fervent English counterculture of the era, eventually becoming a movement that swept across the rest of the world.

Today, this movement enjoys considerable popularity.

Café racers tells how a handful of speed-obsessed teenagers lit the first spark of what would become a worldwide motorcycle culture phenomenon.

The most iconic models are showcased in stunning studio photographs: Gold Star, Manx, Thruxton, Bonneville, Sportster and Dominator. As are the most legendary marques: Vincent, Triumph, Norton, BSA, Velocette, Royal Enfield, BMW, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Yamaha and Victory. Along with famous hybrids such as the Norvin, Triton, Métisse and Rickman.

Known as the editor of the website Vintagent, Paul d'Orléans travels the world to attend events featuring vintage motorcycles, whether rallies in France, concorsi in Italy, auctions or club meetings in England and the United States. A motorcyclist, collector and recognised authority on motorcycle history, and an ardent advocate of vintage motorcycles, he writes for numerous magazines, websites and club bulletins worldwide. He is involved in organising events and auctions, serves as a judge at concours d'élégance, is co-founder of the Yerba Buena chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, and a consultant for the auction house Bonhams.

Since the early 1980s, Michael Lichter has been photographing custom motorcycles for Easyriders magazine. He has collaborated on numerous books, both as a writer and photographer.