Buy the right bike to suit your unique style
Buying a motorbike has become more and more of a challenge these days, with one of the newest crazes being the buying or building of a café racer
POLOKWANE – According to Sapa Yopa Motorcycle Club president, Sarel Nong, the popularity of café racers is slowly but surely growing in the city and it is not just becoming a favorite among the elder riders, but with the younger generation as well.
Nong explains the difference between several bikes:
• A café racer is a vintage (or modern classic) bike that has been modified to meet a vintage racer aesthetic. Typically these bikes feature single saddles that are lower, thinner and or further back than a stock saddle, and clip-ons or low lift/draw handlebars. Usually the rear fender is removed and much of what is under the seat is removed as well. They can have suspension upgrades, performance upgrades, and steering dampeners and they can have cast wheels or spoke/rim.
• A street tracker is a circle track racing style bike with accessories that make it street legal. They typically have upright seating with handlebars, knobbies and decent suspension clearance. They can have high mount pipes.
“These bikes are the easiest to maintain and can be done my the rider himself,” Nong says.
• A fast or speed bike is a superbike racing motorcycle derived from standard production models. Superbike racing motorcycles must have four-stroke engines of between 850 cc and 1200 cc for twins, and between 750 cc and 1000 cc for four cylinder machines. They are some of the fastest and most modified motorbikes on the road and usually are very expensive to buy and maintain.
“This is not a bike to maintain yourself and needs to go into the bike shops to be maintained. This is a bike that is mostly popular among the younger riders in the city,” Nong explains.
• A cruiser motorbike is based upon the American model of large, heavy machines, traditionally powered by a substantial V-twin engine tuned to deliver strong low-speed torque and roll-on response. Riding position is low and often slightly reclining, with feet forward. The most popular cruiser motorcycles are often Harley-Davidson. Cruisers are one of the most popular styles of motorcycles in the world.
“There are quite a few of these within the Sapa Yopa biking community and it is a bike a person should consider when you are more mature as it is a bike that will carry you well into your old age and still keep you riding,” he says.
“The best advice when buying a bike is to determine why you want the bike and for what purpose you want to use it. Talk to friends, get advice and, if possible, take a few bikes out for a ride before you decide what bike you want.
“Consider if it will be a lifestyle change for you or just a method of transport.”
