Ace Cafe. London.

[titan performance]

Sunday was "cafe racer" day at the world famous Ace Cafe, on the busy north circular road in London. My pal Paul and I decided to go and take a look. Sadly my bike decided to play up last minute, so I took Tim's Crooks tribute bike. The trip to the Ace is around 95 miles for us, so we whimped out, and went by van, and unloaded the bikes up the road a bit !
When we got there, we were the only two strokes in the display amongst a sea of brit iron....
however, we were well received, and ended up being chosen for a 2nd place award !
We got to meet the proprietors of the cafe, Mark and Linda Willsmore, and also Mick Duckworth, who has written a book entitled Ace Times, about the history of the cafe. Linda Willsmore writes freelance articles for the American bi-monthly Cafe Racer magazine, and has written a piece on Tim and me, and what we do at Titan Performance...so that should be on the shelves in the US shortly.
It was a good day out, and as usual at bike events, the atmosphere was great, with loads of interested and interesting, people to chat with. We will definitely be going again.

[tz375]

I guess it's not surprising that a gathering at the Ace brought out Tritons and Tribsas, Dommies etc, but it's interesting that it apparently wasn't anything like the US Cafe Racer scene which is dominated by CB350/360 relics with pods, chequer stripes and Ace type stickers.

Has that fad arrived over there where every one and his dog is buying up old bikes and throwing away the mufflers fenders air box etc and bashing in the sides of the tank because they like the "look".

[titan performance]

Hi TZ.....most of the British bikes were Tritons, though there were a smattering of the others you have mentioned.
To be honest, the cafe scene here is different to yours....most of the cafe bikes here are traditional in style, and based around a british machine. I have noticed the enthusiasm you guys have for those middleweight Hondas....the 350/360 etc, and I know the look you are talking about, ie fenderless and chequered tape etc.....but that really hasn't happened here yet.

[tz375]

Thank goodness.