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Harley Davidson

American manufacturer Harley Davidson was formed in 1903 when childhood friends William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson began building their first motorcycle. Surviving 2 world wars and great depression Harley has grown to become one of the world’s most recognized motorcycle brands.

Although these days many don’t consider Harleys as race machines the aptly named Sporsters were developed with racing in mind and for a period were the brand of choice for flat track racers. Harleys have always been associated with customization, most notably in the chopper scene.

Although a Harley Davidson cafe racer conversion is a challenging undertaking there’s no shortage of aftermarket parts available to help get it done.

Pin10 Cafe Racers That Killed it At Auction
Custom Motorcycle BuilderDucatiHarley DavidsonHondaMV AgustaTriumph

10 Cafe Racers That Killed It At Auction

Nothing grabs the headlines quite like an enormous selling price at auction. We’ve seen motorcycles sell for phenomenal money over...
PinCowboy's Chopper XR1200
Harley Davidson

Cowboy’s Chopper Sportster XR1200 Cafe Racer

Taiwanese custom motorcycle builder Alex Gao has a tendency to base his cafe racer builds on rather unlikely donors. In...
PinHarley Sportster 48
Harley Davidson

Unlikely Candidate – Archie’s H-D Sportster 48

The words Harley Davidson and Cafe Racer aren’t often muttered in the same sentence. Along with the challenges builders face...
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Harley Davidson

McKee Harley-Davidson Sportster Cafe

Generally speaking, first-time bike builds are a practice run for future projects. So in most cases, they’re a little rough...
PinXL1200R Scrambler
Harley DavidsonScrambler

Ovrlandr – Combustion Industries XL1200R

Two things we don’t feature on this website all that often are Harley Davidsons and Scramblers. Well, today we’re bucking...
PinHarley WLA beach racer
Harley Davidson

Hand Shifted – Tim Kill’s Harley Davidson WLA

PinMean Green Harley Davidson Street
Harley Davidson

Mean Green Customs Street 750

I know a guy who reviews beer. The best part about his gig is that he gets to drink every...
PinHarley Davidson Livewire
Electric MotorcycleHarley Davidson

2019 Harley Davidson Livewire Specifications

It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since Harley Davidson unveiled their Livewire electric motorcycle concept. A lot has...
PinHarley Street 500 cafe racer
Harley Davidson

Street Cred – HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET 500

“If you want something done, do it yourself”. Try following that mantra when it comes to building a custom motorcycle....
PinHarley fat bob cafe racer
Harley Davidson

Not so Fat Bob – Blacktrack H-D BT03

Luxembourg’s Blacktrack Motors have been steadily ramping things up since they started back in 2015. They kicked things off with...
PinHarley Davidson 48 custom
Harley Davidson

GOD HAMMER – Forty Eight Sportster

Harley-Davidson is the indisputable king of cruisers. Sure they’ve dabbled with a few racing bikes in the past, but they...
PinHarley Sportster Cafe Racer
Harley Davidson

Breaking Limits – AC Calella Harley Sportster

For most of its existence, the AMD World Championship of bike building has focused on chopper styled builds. Thankfully in...
PinHard Rock Harley Davidson Cafe Racer
Harley Davidson

Hard Rock Cafe Racer – Old Wine Shovelhead

Restaurant, hotel and casino chain Hard Rock Cafe are set to open their latest hotel venture on the Spanish island...
Pin3 new electric motorcycles
Electric MotorcycleHarley Davidson

Bright Sparks – 3 New Electric Motorcycles

With many of the major car manufacturers now developing electric vehicles it was only a matter of time before motorcycle...
Pindanmoto harley sportster cafe racer
Harley Davidson

V-twin test bed – Danmoto Harley Sportster

After designing and manufacturing his own performance parts for years Danmoto owner Wei Liya decided it was time to build...
PinHarley Davidson Sportster Cafe Racer
Harley Davidson

Caffeine fix – Barista Harley Davidson Sportster

Motorcycles and coffee are two items that appear on my list of things that I can’t live without, which is...
PinKeanu Reeves Arch Method motorcycle
Harley Davidson

Keanu Reeves Motorcycles – Arch Method 143

Taking the red pill. As the story goes back in 2007 Keanu had a custom Harley Davidson built by Gard Hollinger....
PinHarley Davidson Cafe Racer
Harley Davidson

Steely Blue – Harley Davidson Cafe Racer

If ever there was a person destined to become a metal fabricator it would have to be Jay Donovan. Jay...
PinHesketh Sonnet vtwin cafe racer
Harley Davidson

British Brute – Hesketh Sonnet Cafe Racer

Hesketh Motorcycles was originally conceived in the 1980s out of a desire to revitalise Britain’s dwindling motorcycle industry. After the...
PinTop 5 modern motorcycles for cafe racer
BikesBMWBuilding a Cafe RacerHarley DavidsonTriumphYamaha

Top 5 modern motorcycles to customise

Cherry’s Company Highway Fighter BMW R9T Before we start looking at the individual bikes I thought I’d explain my decisions...
PinHarley davidson ironhead cafe racer
Harley Davidson

Viking Funeral – Busch and Busch Harley Ironhead

“This bike started life as the “Meat Grinder” chopper Sportster we had built about 5 years ago, with a hardtail,...
PinBuell cafe racer japan
BuellHarley Davidson

Godless – Ask Motorcycles Buell XB

As the months passed I kept a close eye on the Ask Motorcycles Instagram page and received regular updates via...
PinHarley Davidson cafe racer
Harley Davidson

Twisted Twin – Stile Italiano Harton CR1200

By definition, a Harton cafe racer blends the best bits from a Harley-Davidson with the best bits from a Norton to...
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Harley Davidson

XLCR Reborn – Jamesville Shovelhead Cafe Racer

“Last year I received a rather sheepish email asking if there was any way I would ever build a café...
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Harley Davidson

South Garage – Kimera Sportster Cafe Racer

The South Garage ‘Kimera’ started out life as a 2006 Harley Davidson 1200cc Sportster. Never the one to turn down...
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Harley Davidson

Ardent Featherbed – Harley Sportster Cafe Racer

“As an artist, I love beautiful things. I also love making things. When I get passionate about something, it’s only...
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Harley Davidson

Say hello to Tony Montana – Harley 883 Cafe Racer

This time round Harley has reached outside of their own network, inviting some of Europe’s top builders to modify the...
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Harley Davidson

Zonnevlek Harley-Davidson Street 750

The Zonnevlek (meaning Sunspot in Dutch) was the brainchild of CW Zon duo Yuichi Yoshizawa and Yoshikazu Ueda. Since 2003...
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Harley Davidson

The Slate Hammer – Rough Crafts Harley Cafe Racer

Over the past few years Taiwanese workshop Rough Crafts have achieved amazing things in the world of custom motorcycles. Their...
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BikesBMWHarley DavidsonHondaKawasakiTriumphYamaha

The little things that count

As 2014 comes to an end I thought I’d take a (close up) look at some of the incredible work...
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Harley Davidson

The Mako Harley Davidson Sporster

Brandon Holstein run a workshop called ‘Brawny Built’ in Signal Hills, California where he does everything from basic servicing through...
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Harley Davidson

Ivory Comet XL Sportster

“Modern Retro”. That’s how Taiwan born, LA based Samuel Kao of JSK Custom Design describes his ‘Ivory Comet’ Cafe Racer....
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Harley Davidson

Harley Forty-Eight Sportster K1

The build of the K1 was undertaken by a talented group of individuals who donated their time and skills to...
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Harley DavidsonLifestyle StoriesMotorcycle Videos

Two Cities Part 2

Cam from Stories of Bike paid the Kustom Kommue another visit a few weeks ago to film part 2 of...
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Harley Davidson

XLCH Ironhead Land Speed Racer

“You wouldn’t believe how the bike looked when we first got it, so I won’t even show a picture, I...
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Harley Davidson

Matt Black Sportster Cafe Racer

Harley’s continue to be the underdog in the Cafe Racer scene. Although I’ve featured plenty of Harley Davidson Cafe Racers...
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Harley DavidsonNorton

Sporton Norley Cafe Racer

Although they call each other allies the US and the UK never quite see eye to eye. One area where...
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BikesBMWHarley DavidsonHondaKawasakiLifestyle StoriesSuzuki

Tank Moto issue 2

After months of hard work and seemingly endless nights of writing, issue 2 of Tank Moto is now available! Just...
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DucatiHarley DavidsonHondaLifestyle StoriesMoto Guzzi

2013 AMD World Championship Cafe Racers

The annual custom motorcycle craziness that is the AMD World Championship of bike building has been and gone again. This...
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Harley DavidsonMotorcycle VideosRiding Gear

RSD Apparel stack tested

I just stumbled across this video interview with Roland Sands discussing his 2013 RSD line of apparel. In the video...
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Harley DavidsonMotorcycle Videos

Technics Harley XL883N Sportster video

Sweatpants Media have released a video of the Technics Harley Sportster Cafe Racer I featured a few weeks back. Built...
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Harley Davidson

RSD Technics Harley 883 Sportster

With the increasing popularity of the custom motorcycle scene we’re starting to see some interesting and sometimes unlikely pairings between...
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BSAHarley DavidsonLifestyle StoriesTriumphYamaha

Oil Stained Brain motorcycle exhibition

Tim Kills BSA A65 Bobber On November 3rd & 4th I co-hosted a custom motorcycle exhibition in Melbourne named Oil...
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Harley DavidsonHonda

Harley Davidson FLH HighSlot

This popped up on the Biltwell facebook page and I felt compelled to share. It’s a heavily customised ’84 Harley Davison...
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Harley DavidsonTriumph

Pangea Speed Turbo Harley

Bosozoku biker gangs once ruled the streets of Japan, these days though they are more of a nuisance than anything...
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BikesBMWBSAHarley DavidsonLifestyle StoriesTriumphVincent

Bonneville Speed Week 2012 photos

The 2012 Bonneville Speed Week is wrapping up for another year. Thankfully it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot...
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Harley Davidson

PainTTless 2012 Sturgis AMD World Champion

The 9th annual Sturgis AMD World Championship of bike building (try saying that after a few pints!) has just wrapped...
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Harley Davidson

Aermacchi M65 Leggro Cafe Racer

“We ran across this Aermacchi as we were sifting through piles of crashed bikes looking for a suitable donor bike...
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Harley Davidson

Shinya Kimura Harley Davidson Sportster

The 2012 Fast Dates Calendar Motorcycle Show took place over the weekend. This years event organisers invited legendary custom builder,...
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Harley Davidson

Harley Sportster Cafe Racer Mulato

Another Harley? Yep that’s right two Harley’s is less than one week and both involved California based Chopper workshop, Brawny...
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Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson Street Tracker

Dan from the Speed Merchant dropped me an email the other day to let me know about their awesome 39mm...
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Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson XL883 Gun Baby

Last year Joe Cooper of Cooper Smithing Company grabbed our attention with the raw steel, hand formed bodywork of his Yamaha...
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Harley DavidsonHondaRiding GearTriumph

Inspiration from Le Container

If you don’t already have Le Container in your bookmarks or on your Blog roll you soon will. This is...
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Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson XLH Sportster

  Unfortunately, my Japanese isn’t great and details on the website are limited so here’s what I managed to translate...
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Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson 883 by Simone Flash Benedetti

More shots of the Harley Sportster 883 Cafe Racer by Passion 4 Custom I posted earlier today from photographer Simone Flash Benedetti. Simone...
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Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson Sporty 883 Cafe Racer

It’s not often I post articles about custom builds based on Harley Davidsons. Harleys tend not to be popular in...
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DucatiHarley DavidsonLaverdaReaders Rides

Readers Rides: La Haduc Cafe Racer

What do you get when you cross a Laverda with a Harley and a Ducati? You get a Ducati 860...
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Harley DavidsonMotorcycle Videos

Wrenchmonkees Harley XL

Before the Wrenchmonkees customised Harley XL was shipped off to it’s owner in Dakar the guys threw together this nice...
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Harley DavidsonMotorcycle VideosTriumph

Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show 2011

Another Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show has wrapped up and the web is starting to buzz with photos and videos...
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Harley DavidsonMotorcycle Videos

Harley Davidson Cafe Racers

No matter how much purists proclaim that a Harley based Cafe Racer motorcycle is nonsense they are still going to...
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Harley Davidson

Shinya at El Mirage

Shinya’s steam punk esque Harley at El Mirage 2011 speed trials chicomoto.blogspot.com chabottengineering.com...
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Harley Davidson

Harley Cafe Racers – a matter of Taste

Harley Davidson based Cafe Racers always receive mixed emotions. The large V-Twin engine and cruiser dimensions prove difficult to balance...
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Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson Sportster Cafe Racer

I spotted a photo of the bike online and managed to dig up these three images. It’s one of the...
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BikesBMWHarley Davidson

Monday motorbike blues…

It’s the start of yet another working week. What better way to get through the day than by drooling over...
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Harley DavidsonHonda

Erick Runyon motorcycle photographer

Beautiful shots of beautiful motorbikes by Erik Runyon.     I’m loving the colour of that tank. Maybe the colour...
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Harley DavidsonMotorcycle Videos

Board Trackers at the velodrome

Check out this great video of some guys in Germany on their Board Tracker style vintage Harleys burning around a...
Pin
BSAHarley DavidsonHonda

Best of the 2011 AMD Championships

The results are out and the winners have been announced but what bikes were our favourite custom motorcycles from the...
Pin
Harley Davidson

Eleanor Harley Davidson Cafe Racer

As more and more workshops produce their own version of a Cafe Racer it’s only natural that we are going...
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Harley DavidsonNorton

Harley Davidson Cafe Racer

  An American heart with a British soul....
Pin
Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson VTM Spacester

Although the Spacester’s name may have been pulled straight out of a cheesy 50’s Sci-fi flick it’s styling is nothing...
Pin
Harley Davidson

Krugger Veon transforming Cafe Racer

I’ve always been in two minds about the custom motorcycles built by Fred Krugger but this time round although the...
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Harley Davidson

Deus Ex Machina New Blood

Deus ex Machina have released images of their latest custom build, the “New Blood”. Recently they seem to have moved...
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Harley Davidson

Harley Davidson Cafe Racer

I’ve never been a huge fan of Harleys. In school my mates all used to go crazy for them but...
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Harley Davidson

Million Dollar Motorcycles

Chicara Nagata of Chica custom motorcycles got a lot of attention for his liquid chrome series of custom motorcycles. The...
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Harley Davidson

Black & White

Shinya Kimura...
Pin
Harley DavidsonKTM

Roland Sands Cafe Racers

Roland Sands has created several custom motorcycles he has labeled as Cafe Racers and although purists would question if these...
Pin
Harley Davidson

Deus Ex Machina Sportster Nightster

Based on a 2008 Harley Davidson Sportster Nightster (seen below…thanks MCNEWS) the Deus V Twin Cafe Racer is a breath...
Pin
Harley DavidsonHonda

Monkee auctions

Fancy owning a Wrenchmonkee motorcycle? The Gorilla Punch is going under the hammer along with Monkee #7. You can place...
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Harley DavidsonLifestyle Stories

The departure

Chabott Engineering at Bonneville....
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Harley Davidson

Hogbitz Cafe Racers “Re-Made in England”

Got a soft spot for the rumble of a Harley V-twin and Cafe Racer styling? Hogbitz speedshop in the UK are...
Pin
Harley Davidson

Custom motorcycle goodness – Hidemo Japan

I know a lot of people (including myself) probably wouldn’t choose a Harley as a base for their next Cafe...
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Harley Davidson

ENGLAND EXPECTS – The Ace Cafe Racer

Mark Wilsmore, owner of Ace Cafe in London has partnered with custom bike builder Nick Gale and Ace Investor George...
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Harley DavidsonLifestyle StoriesYamaha

Deus Ex Machina – Redefining old school

Established by Dare Jennings, Rod Hunwick and Carby Tuckwell, Deus ex Machina in Camperdown, Sydney, produces motorcycles for the post-modern world. What the hell...
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Est. 2006 Return of the Cafe Racers is the world's premier cafe racer focused website. We publish regular features on custom motorcycle builds, riding gear reviews, how to guides and event coverage from around the globe. If you're a fan of cafe racer motorcycles and style then you've come to the right place!

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