Stock price: $10,490 (2015)

The absolute champion of the modern cafe racers is the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer. With no doubt one of the best looking bikes you can buy. It’s characteristic (grumpy and bumpy), high torque 744cc v-twin puts out around 48hp and is powered with a shaft drive. 48hp doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you look at the dry weight of 179kg and consider the torque of 43Nm, you know that’s it’s a lot of fun to ride. And then that sound….! Count on a lot of neck-twists when riding this beauty!

The VII model (2015 and up) has more power and some new features like ABS, traction control (!), 6 gears and a better weight distribution.

Also the other V7’s (V7 Classic, V7 Stone, V7 Special) are cool retro bikes. The custom parts list is extensive and expensive, but why change this beautiful design?

PS. I’ve actually bought one myself last April and one thing is for sure: it’s an awesome ride!

Stock price: $9,799 (2015)

Another “heavyweight” champion between the modern cafe racers is the Triumph Thruxton. We’ve set this one at 2nd place because the fact that the bike is actual very heavy for a cafe racer: the dry weight is 214kg. Despite the fact that the 865cc parallel-twin has more power (69hp and 51Nm) than the Guzzi V7 Racer, it has also more “fat” to move.

Beautiful design, powerful engine and lots of ways to personalize it. Not only a great choice for those who just want to buy-and-ride, it’s also a bike custom builders like to work with.

Stock price: approx. $14,500

Maybe one of the most exciting modern café racers out there: the 2016 Triumph Thruxton R. Not only a beautiful designed bike, but also a bike with some serious performance:

The brand new liquid cooled 1200cc (“high torque”) engine puts out a blasting 112Nm and just under 100hp. Combined with the fully adjustable Showa front USD fork, fully adjustable Öhlins rear shocks, top notch radial brakes with Brembo monoblocs and a weight just over 200kg makes this bike maybe a bit too modern…

Stock price: approx. $8,300 (2015)

Almost 50 years after the introduction of the Royal Enfield, they’ve now got an answer to the demand for modern cafe racers: the Continental GT. It’s single cylinder engine with 535cc puts out 29hp and 44Nm to move the 184kg of dry weight. Not the fastest modern cafe racer, but it’s got the looks, the sound, the ride is good and the single cylinder torque makes it a desirable bike . And at a price of $8,300, not too expensive.

Stock price: $12,995 (2009, 1000s)

The Ducati Sport1000 is a direct inspiration of the 1973 Ducati 750 Sport with a typical one seated cafe racer look. For the a stock price of $12,995 you got a lightweight bike with adjustable suspension, USD front fork, Brembo brakes and a powerful 2 cylinder engine. The remarkable 992cc L-twin puts out an awesome 92hp and 90Nm. Considering the weight of 179kg this thing goes like a rocket!  Too bad that they’ve stopped the production of this awesome modern classic in 2009 and that there aren’t a lot of used models to find.

Stock price: $14,995 (2015)

In 2014 BMW came up with an answer to the modern cafe racer: the awesome BMW R nineT. The price of almost 15k is high, but you get a lot for that: adjustable USD fork & rear shock, Brembo brakes (with ABS), single seat and and cafe racer rear, beautiful wired wheels and a powerful BMW boxer engine which transfers al the power to the rear wheel with a shaft drive.

The air cooled 1170cc boxer engine is good for 110hp and a crazy torque of 119Nm. With a dry weight of 222kg it’s sure is not the lightest, it’s handling and power makes it feel lighter than you expect. The R nineT is also a good bike for daily use.

Stock price: $20,300 (2013)

The number 6 on this list is a bonus, merely because of it’s exclusivity and price. The Norton Commando 961 is a cafe racer with pure cafe racer blood, taking you back to the original Commandos. It’s air cooled 961cc 2 cylinder engine has 80hp and 90Nm to move 202kg of dry weight. The bike comes with state of the art parts like Brembo brakes and Öhlins suspension.

We think that the price of over 20k is a bit high. But it’s a desirable bike, in fact: it’s hard to find a used on under the stock price…

These are no modern cafe racers, but cool modern bikes with a classic twist:

Stock price: $8,495 (Icon)

The Ducati Scrambler (or Scrambler Ducati like the Italians call their bike…) is a real modern classic inspired by the lightweight Ducati Scramblers from the 60’s and 70’s. Although they don’t want to call this retro bike a retro bike… The Scrambler is put down to the bare essentials of motoring but has high quality parts like Brembo brakes with ABS, LED lights and Kayaba suspension.

The bike comes in 4 different trims: the Icon, the Classic, the Urban Enduro and the Full Throttle, each with a different styling and options.

It’s 803cc air cooled L-twin puts out 75hp with 68NM torque, and is taken from the Ducati Monster 796. The bike weights only 170kg which gives this bike a huge fun factor. No to mention the price under 10 grand.

Stock price: $9,399 (2015)

Triumph smelled the succes of the Thruxton, which is on the market from 2004. To attract a different audience, they’ve launched the Scrambler in 2006. In fact the Scrambler is based on a Bonneville with (limited) off road capabilities and a heavy duty look (just like a scrambler is meant to be). Just like the Thruxton, Triumph has a wide variety of custom parts and accessories to personalize it.

The 865cc parallel twin has 54hp and 69Nm. Not a fast bike with the 214kg dry weight, but sure good for a lot of fun.

Stock price: $10,499 (2015)

The Kawasaki W800 is becoming a modern classic icon too. A real modern classic a it’s best. Lot’s of chrome, spoked wheels, long buddyseat, rubber pads on the gas tank etc.

The W800 is powered by a 773cc parallel twin with 48hp and 60Nm. Don’t expect a fast runner: the bike has a dry weight of 216kg, but with lots of torque in low RPM’s, it’s a real yesterdays cruiser.

Stock price: $7,999

A modern classic based on the Yamaha MT-07. Fitted with a smooth and torqy parallel twin with Yamaha’s “crossplane” technoloy. The bike is relatively light and puts out 74hp and 68Nm.

This bike is build to customize and Yamaha offers a wide range of custom parts and upgrades. Also check out this really cool custom Yamaha XSR700 Scrambler.

Stock price: starting from $10,500.

Another modern classic from the Japanese front: the Yamaha XSR900. Same looks and identity as the XSR700, but with more high end parts en features and the powerful 3 cylinder engine from the MT-09 (FZ-09).

The XSR900 has adjustable suspension, a USD fork, radial (sportbike spec) brakes, ABS, adjustable Traction Control and Ride-by-Wire. The smooth and powerful 847cc engine delivers around 110hp and 87Nm of torque (final specs not yet released).

Do you have a favorite modern cafe racer or did we missed one? Let us know and reply!

Font: http://bikebrewers.com/modern-cafe-racer-top-5/