What’s your opinion on the accusation that ‘café racer’
is more about the rider, i.e. a show-off who owns a bike
for the image and not for the sheer thrill of riding it?
What do you believe café racer culture is really about?
I believe that there is always going to be an urge for people
to simply identify with the motorcycle culture in general. There
are those who get a thrill just by wearing boots, jeans and
a leather jacket. If they happen to have a bike to go with it,
more power to them. I personally have always identified with
motorcycles in so much as they have always made the world a
much bigger place for me. When I say this, I refer to the thrill
of riding because a motorcycle can get you out of a ‘one-horse
town’.
Subsequently, the effort that it takes to keep a motorcycle
well-tuned to achieve optimal performance really requires
the rider’s participation and mechanical knowledge of their
machine. I believe that the culture is as subjective as the
machines themselves. Functionality and simplicity have always
been and will continue to be forever cool. This is what the café
racer represents and ultimately this is what people want to
identify with.
In an article on ctvnews.ca Nick Clements from the
vintage fashion magazine Men’s File says that the
interest in retro bikes is linked to developments in the
fashion industry. Even David Beckham is riding a fully
customized bobber based on a Harley Davidson. Why is
it that in the 21st century we feel such an urge to make
use of aesthetics from the past?
There may be those who are arbitrarily recreating a particular
vintage aesthetic. However, I believe that retro aesthetic is a
by-product of a 21st century urge to reconnect with redundant
simplicity. There seems to be defiance toward poorly made,
throw-away, mass-produced products. This has led to people
wanting to identify with intimately involved, handcrafted,
unique products that can once again stand the test of time.
"I HAVE FOUND
THAT A LACK OF
TECHNOLOGY
HAS ACTUALLY
LED TO
MORE
CREATIVITY
AS OPPOSED TO
LESS."