Much like its cars, Italy’s motorcycles have always leaned towards more sporting orientations – so perhaps that’s why they have become so popular in the ever-growing café racer scene. The progression from Italian sports bike to Italian café racer has been a natural one, and it’s a phenomenon that’s swept the world. Custom bike builders from Austria to New Zealand have experimented with their own cultural takes on famous bikes from the likes of Ducati, Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta, each with varying degrees of input from the commissioning owner (and indeed, success.)

No espresso required

From original, early single-cylinders right up to custom new-builds from the likes of Kaffeemaschine, Officine Rossopuro and Wrenchmonkees, the new book details the movement of the Italian sports bike into the re-ignited café racer scene – and rides off into the future, too, with several concept café racers envisioned by motorcycle customisers and designers. Whoever would have expected to see battered dustbin fairings a few pages away from a Tron-esque, all-electric café racer with its own charging station?

Photos: Veloce Publishing