The Glory Days of British Motorbikes - BBC Cafe Racers Part 3 

When I was 16 I borrowed my friends BSA Lightning and went a 100 miles an hour down the freeway in La Mesa CA -- 1965. What a thrill, what a machine!

That American guy riding the Vincent wore an extra pair of trunks to protect himself just in case he came off! Can’t be too careful at those speeds! 😉😉

In the 80s we'd ride from motorcycle shop to motorcycle shop to stare at bikes we couldn't afford, I refused to go down the HP route as I was so much happier when not in debt 😄

I remember as a kid "riding" up from London to Edinburgh in the late 50's. My uncle rode a BSA Golden Flash with side-car. The sidecar was like a cockpit and because I was the bigger brother, I got to sit at the front. It pissed down the whole day on the A1 and I felt sorry for my uncle, who only wore his R.M.Commando beret and a pair of goggles. My aunt only had her scarf.

"A helmet...would muck me hair up! The wind never did that to me hair!" Lol.

I luvved me my Norton 850 Commando. A canary yellow beast. The lady who helped develope the carburator on the Spitfire rode a Norton.

I gotta say....The British era...1930s thru the 1960s were fabulous motorcycles!

If you,r not impressed or not on Fire by this Dokument of Motorbike Spirit , you will never be a Biker - thank,s a lot , and peacefull Greattings from Cologne Germany

Love this! my neighbor's father was the mechanic for Rollie Free the rider.... So I have the original photo's of this day! I had copies made into two canvas prints (one each way) original signatures and memorabilia.. The large prints adorn my living room wall!

Interesting comment about leather jackets. My first motorbike jacket was PVC which was cold and leaked at the seams, my second was waxed cotton (Belstaff) which was less cold and leaked a bit less but was a dirt magnet. My final jacket was black leather with fold over front that kept the wind and rain out. To keep it looking good every now and again on a Sunday morning it would get polished with black boot polish which also helped with water proofing. Then after lunch off for a blast down the bypass on the Goldie. Leather also resisted the road well when (not if) you fell off and the scuffs covered with boot polish. So function not fashion was the main reason for leather jackets for most serious bike riders and still is.

85 years old now just sold my 750 cc intruder. Rode 350 matchless in the army and when I could borrow it a 650 AJS. Great hobby if you ride defensively. Only had one accident. 1953.

JUST got a Triumph 900 Triple. Beautiful bike. Had a new trailer built, we'll tow it behind our 'brand new' 71 Revcon motorhome. SIX THUMBS UP EVERY DAY!!

Thanks board video old-timer here still love Triumph always will

Memories are made of this... Early '60s, I lived in England. I bought a NorVin in quasi-Black Lightning tune for 600 pounds...and everyone I knew said I should be committed. But it was the fastest thing on two wheels, or 4 for that matter as only a VERY few exotic cars were faster (and none of them had the NorVin's acceleration). I rode it for 3 years, bringing it back to the states with me. It was a long time ago, but I don't remember having much trouble with it once I'd gotten the electrics de-bugged (damn you, Joseph Lucas, Prince of Darkness...the English drink warm beer because they all have Lucas refrigerators!). Stateside, the NorVin was even more remarkablek, as it just gobbled up freeway miles, and this was the era of vast expansion of the Interstate highway system. Funny thing is, I can't for the life of me remember what happened to it... And, yes, I'm an old fart now (86 and still riding), but I still remember many lesser bikes I've owned and sold. I think the NorVin may have been part of the trade than netted me a beautiful '57 Corvette with newer brakes and a ton of rare go-fast parts...but I'm not sure. If I'd kept all the bikes and cars I've owned over the years, I'd have a collection worth many millions of dollars, but I've got my memories...and those are priceless (and I don't have to store them)!

In America we had to wait for Ichiro Honda to come along with affordable bikes. British iron was beautiful but a little spendy. You had to be a resourceful professional mechanic that could rebuild a motor on the side of the road to ride a Harley, as that is where you found most of them, on the side of the road.

The Vincent used to be called "The Plumber's nightmare" due to so many pipes all over the place.It was a really lovely bike though.A friend had one and he used to tease the ton up kids by riding alongside them in third gear about 90 mph and making a great show of changing up one more gear then leaving them in his exhaust as he pulled ahead.

For me, A triumph 650 or 500 with open megaphones is still the best sounding bike around. Had them both in the late 50s and early 60s when the law didn't pay much attention to the noise.

I had the Ace Cafe, the Busy Bee, the Dug-out, the Cellar, the 59 Club, the Salt Box - all innocent in their way but bloody good fun!

I had a 1965 BSA. It never started cold. I lived with my parents when I was 19. We lived on a hill so every morning I had to coast start the blasted thing. My cousin had a 1963 BSA. It was rare for us to get both bikes to run at the same time to go riding. Mine got stolen about a year later. Probably all for the best. Lol.

The current #2 (excellent) condition value for a 1950 Series C Black Shadow is . In 2018, the only Vincent Black Lightning that we have record of selling at auction fetched .

Been into British bikes since the early 70s at around 7 or 8 years old a couple of guys from a local bike club that worked for my dad used to take me to speedway on the back. I'm 55 in a few days and now ride a 1995 speed triple.

Everyone always talks about the Ace Cafe in North London, Johnson's Cafe on the A20 near Brands Hatch is never mentioned, even though it was the bikers cafe that everyone south of the river went to. The A20 was dodgy - three lanes not dual carriageway then. An almost straight run from Wrotham to Farningham around 7 miles. If you had the bike you could get to a ton going past Johnson's. I had a 350 BSA Gold Star top speed 105 mph. The problem for a lot of bikers was coming back into south London the straight run from the Sidcup round-about to the Dutch House pub was too tempting and many a rider came to grief in the forecourt of the Dutch House trying to take the bend at speed, often resulting in death. Not for the faint hearted.

A very brave American on a very great British bike Braking the speed record what a combination Love it all except ONE thing Not to include the Best RnR song of all times n its English too Shaking ALL Over featuring Great British bikes deserve a great British r n r song for sure

Got a job at the Ace Café. It's amazing to work for a place with such history innit. And amazing bikes to look at as you work!

My first bike was a BSA C11, then I got a BSA RGS and I still have it today along with five others and my latest is a 675 street triple and I’m 70 now, great days

Plumbers nightmare delivers a lot of performance in minded craftmens hands

I had first a Triumph Tiger Cub Supersport, then graduated to a T120R Bonneville. Great bike but vibrated much more than my present bike - aged 70 I now ride a Honda CB750 1989 retro. Bikes - love-em.

Hi guys, when I saw for the first time a 1967 triumph- Bonneville I went crazy for one of them, down the road of life I came across with a used one that had mechanical problems, the owner sold it to me for a very real good price, that Triumph was practically new, with very little money I got the parts, fixed it myself, took it for a ride, that was like going to heaven, that toy was marvelous, I keep it for many years on perfect condition, at my 71 years of age I still regret the day I sold it.

Growing up in rural Arkansas. There was a retired high school basketball coach who loved British bikes. He converted a barn into a Norton dealership. Upstairs, he laid down a basketball court and let any of us come and play at night, just be sure to turn out the lights when we left. It was maybe a 2/3 scale and had hay bales lining the sides and ends. No heat and cold, cold but lord what great memories. I dont know if he sold many Nortons, I dont think he cared as long as he had his Norton. This was during the late 60's and early 70's.

Ton up boy ...,1st gear on the R1 ...60 years old ... Still hooked

Distant and fond memories for an old 'geezer' like me-self :)

My Dad bought 3 wrecks, over the years. 1968 Tiger 650 was the last. I did the ton, slimming onto to tank, with a 69 Camaro at to front wheel. I dropped it off, and the car pulled into my lane. I had plenty of throttle. Cheers Memories now.

Dave Croxford, saw him so many times racing at Castle Combe, with Percy Tait, and so many more.

The Filming is Great. The Commentry and however put the words to this is a pillock but the words from the real people in this production are Real People are spot on

My first bike was a 1949 DOT with a 197cc Villiers motor. Top speed 55mph. I passed my test on that then got a 350cc Triumph T21. Took the panels off it and customised it into a chopper when Easy Rider hit the screens. :-) I still ride a Triumph but it's a Speed triple now!

First bike was a James Captain with clip-ons and home made rear sets mildly tuned by a local racer it wasn't a Brough but I loved it.

The first time I went off my bike I spent a few hours in hospital having pebbles picked out of my skin and quickly realized why motorcyclists wore leather clothes

Very cool documentary I love my 650SS even next to my modern stuff I ride she holds her own an is always the bike I end up drifting onto constantly an she doesn't drop any oil now to :)

HRD Vincent, oh so beautiful.

if a documentary can age badly, this should be the poster child!

I own a Brough Superior! 1936,admittedly pre-cafe racer, but still a beautiful bike!

Beautiful motorcycle....

When I was 10 I began wearing a brown leather fighter pilot jacket. It had lambs wool liner. In January 1960 Alamogordo was 14 Below zero! ☃️❄️, A record still. I wore that jacket and I was ok. It was too long but by High School it fit nicely. But by senior year I outgrew it, it was for a 5'8" guy and I was a whopping 5'9.5". Those were 8 long, good years

I get fed up hearing these folk talking about crap Britsh bikes. In their day they were wonderfull. As a 17year old I made my first of many rides to Motherwell Scotland from south London on a 1948 350 BSA B31. Apart from the HT lead coming no probe. At 19 myself and Roy Stopher with full camping gear on a 1950 Sunbeam S7 done South London to John O Grotesque and back. Apart from a wee bit of fiddling. We always carried a few tools and knew how to use them if need be. I still have my 1959 650 Triumph Trophy and a. Kwakisaki 500 Due to an eye prob I can't use them anymore. But it has been a great time to look back on as an Old Geezer

my first byke was an ex ww2 16h norton t 12 years old ? in a field im nearly 70 now still love the old british bykes

My father had a Matchless Single 500 cc (1938) which was ex- British Army. The gears were on the tank and the Army wanted foot gears. He bought the Army issue Matchless and he kept it until 1951 (April). They gave him a new Matchless 500 cc with foot gears for the whole of the war.

My 1st helmet was so beat up I had pop rivets holding the strap to the inside of the helmet. Wow that was so raw. Later on in my life when I began to feel afraid while riding I got a full face with tint tip up shield. Guess that happens when you get old. 🚵

I had a 59 Thunderbird ex police still with the sidecar attached. We had a Matchless the same, ex police, with a sidecar. Todays riders have no idea of what it was like to ride these bikes and learning to deal with repairs on the run. To kick over the twin in the morning and listen to it idle while it warmed up ... baboombaboombaboombaboomba .... while you were finishing off your tea and toast then thunder off down the street heading to work. They were so satisfying to ride. I owned a CB750 K2 at the same time and there was no comparison between the two. Both were different and both were good.

Truth be told, when it comes to electrics, Lucas invented darkness!

I had a ‘56 Tiger T110, ‘62 Norton 650SS, ‘67 Trophy TR6P ex police bike, ‘68 Norton Fastback, and a ‘72 T120RV...by today’s standards they were glorified lawnmowers on two wheels, but the styling was truly exceptional. Today, nearing 60, I have a KTM 1290 Super Adventure, and it’s so far removed from old British bikes that it’s almost a different life form...and it keeps all its oil where it should be.

i was surprised to learn that "Triumph" is now made in Thailand. I guess that a lot of riders from the '60's wouldn't have heard of Thailand(no wonder it is the Land of Smiles).

We're all witness' to the reincarnation of Triumph, Norton and potentially Ariel(?), not to mention the acquirement of our Bellstaff name (such a national shame, but at least the name lives on (I hope), but I feel this is just the start. However please.....SOMEONE (financiers and engineers everywhere) bring back the Vincent HRD 50 deg twin. I's a British work of art and an example of engineering that wouldn't be out of place in the Louvre or the north circular (circa any decade). I was born, grew up and still remember the stories of regret that his Vincent BS was stolen from my father (it seems reminded every every Christmas). Biking wise, he lost love of his life. Vincent is worth resurrecting so if you have the power to do so, tread lightly

In 1964 I rode an old Norton sitting on the pillion from London to Berlin. My mate, the owner and driver of the Norton was Fritz Koerner, the Antarctic and Arctic researcher and explorer. Aug 13, 2008: Roy , more commonly known as , who has died aged 75, was one of the four members of Sir Wally Herbert's British Transarctic Expedition which, on April 5 1969, stood at the North Pole. The Guardian

Oh , days to remember , put a record on the juke box and race through the town , up the new bypass , before it finished . Bert,s and Joy,s cafe ,the Minnie diner and the Friar Tuck to see if any girls were about . Goldstar or Bonneville ? ride what you fancy and have fun , watch out for Ringwood the local police man on his triumph . 👍👍😉

Awesome film 🎥 ..!

road & worked on about everything made in the 50's favorite was my Ariel sq 4,most dependable & easiest to repair was Jawa ,most to vibrate was my Harleys ( liked them but poor for field meets,enduro & scrambles)actually i like them all including w or wo/sidecars.also road year round both in USA & Germany.

My dream is to someday own a Vincent Black Shadow or a Brough Superior SS100....once I win the lottery, of course !!

My father was on a 1938 500 cc single cylinder Matchless (Gears on the tank). The British Armed Forces gave it him new (He was a motorcycle courier. He told me that when the war started they took it from him and put it output of service (he bought from the British Armed Forces at a great price) and they gave him a new Matchless 500 cc single cylinder with the gear change lever on the right foot. This happened because with the war they mounted a gun on the tank. I was born right in the middle of the war. My earliest memory of it was when I was four and he tried to put me on the back (much to my mother's discuss and anger). He used to ride it home from work and when he came home he blew the horn and mum went out the front with his ramp. She would place the ramp on the front step and across the kerb and dad would ride it straight up and into the lounge room. I remember the galvanise (tinned) steel tray under it to catch the oil. Totally a different life.

I had a BSA Royal star. The good lord used to punish me with that bike. You can´t imagen the joy wenn the Honda cbr 550 and 750 saw the light

Wow, a trip into the culture I took up as a new American motorcycle enthusiast and wasn't aware of the origins. Great video. My high school friend and I had some simple but reliable two strokes in '57 (Zundapp and Puch - Allstate). He took up the clothing and personal styles, I did not. I eventually became a dedicated motorbike (motorsickle) technician for the next 20 years or so. So many advancements in the machinery during those years, Brit bikes went into eclipse then.

The leather is just plain practical, and US motorcycle cops were wearing leather jackets by the 1930s. Also WWII bomber crews wore leather jackets too. Geez, I remember my own days in the US West Coast version of this culture... "traffic racing" - say you've got essentially a traffic jam moving at 70MPH which happens all the time on the 405 freeway between Los Angeles and Orange County. OK so you race through this, weaving through cars. The other guy might have a 750cc bike and you might have a 550cc, but this sets you equal because you might be more skilled, daring, or just plain foolhardy. And "doing the superman" on the bike, always fun esp. between opposing directions of traffic. Taking offroad bikes and making them look street legal and riding them on the road, taking road bikes offroad, coming up with all sorts of cool modifications and paint jobs, and just basically terrorizing the Newport Pier area. Good times.

Back in 1977 I bought a 1970 Norton 750 Commando in boxes for $100.00 half the parts where missing so I built it my way. Installed 8" high bars and cut center tube and seat mount lowered 5' and cut 10' off the upper frame tail. made it a single seater. Was a great bike. never should have sold it

Soon as I added badges to my jacket it aged over night!

We had a circuit to race from our local coffee bar that had to be completed in the time it took to play a record on the juke box, fun until one of the boys hit a factory wall and decapitated himself. The local hospital had a ward for bikers and we would visit there on a Saturday afternoon like it was a social event. All the beds were bedecked with biker photos and regalia, good times if you weren’t injured.

a vincent black shadow and rollie free.... cant get better than that

My first motorcycle was a Norman Nippy, then a BSA bantam, then a 250cc BSA twin, then a 500cc Royal Enfield Bullet, then a 350cc Triumph Speed Twin, then a 500cc Triumph Speed Twin, then a 750cc Norton Commando.

my dad's a triumph guy from that era still got a TR2 cub ( its mine ) a TR5 trophy ( the same as fonzies ) an a TR6 thunderbird (the same as marlon brando's ) + other bikes ~ not telling

There was a time when there were only BSA matchless, AJS, TRIUMPHS and Royal Enfields in India, British bought them all from UK and then came the Japanese and Czech built bikes like JAWA 350 and Rd350. Sadly there were no good roads to ride them, today there are multi lane roads and express ways in India but no good bikes to ride. I am a proud owner of JAWA 300 launched recently. I enjoy riding it everyday to work and on the highways in weekends.

still biking after all these years great fun just treated my self to a new bonnie

We didn't have the Ace café but we did have Baz,s café in Queensferry North Wales

Just realized today how lucky i have been to live through the 60/70's as a youngster. Missed the wars the pain the slaughter etc and been present at the beginning of the future as we know it. Bit of a struggle but not too much.Revolution after revolution Music clothing life in generally how lucky i/we have been I honestly do not think today's youth will be so lucky they have everything but they have nothing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just makes you think does it not ????????? Or is this just old age ?? Do today's youngsters think the same ???? Were we not the beginning or are we really the end I loved my youth I loved what it meant I loved what it gave me so so exciting stones beatles presley etc etc etc Life really is and was worth living !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know it's not a proper English bike, but I'm picking up a new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 this Friday. It's got the style though. I MIGHT attempt the ton at some point, but not on the roads I'll be riding it home on. I've been on better roads in warzones.

Had all sorts but got to admit that now i'm 62 my Fireblade is just the nuts!!!!!!

Brilliant 😊

British is a totally unique piece

When I saw Honda's CB72 for the first time in the early 1960's, I knew British Bikes were quite deservedly obsolete...

600 Pounds, oh my... Still such lovely machines

Is that a time-travelling Leon Haslam I see at 7min 22 secs? So he started out on Cafe Racers, who'd have thought it.....?

my jaw DROPPED....on checking prices of Vincents....YIKES! 6 figure$$$$

childhood fantasy bike (magazine) would have to be Ogri s' Norvin

6:30 tune is "Rumble" by Link Wray which was also banned !!!

I would trade my 3 Harleys to get any of my old British bikes from 1949 until the demise of BSA and Triumph. Even with the occasional pains with Lucas I loved them all from my first 250 single hard tail to my Goldies. At near 85 I still try to find a nice Brit bike from the 50-60-70's as I can still shift opposite foot.

Rollie Free - I took my clothes off to prevent my clothes getting sprayed by oil !!

I've done 120 mph on a Honda, no windsheild, and the wind is a terror.

What was once looked down upon by the public at large has now become the iconic brand from England!

When was 19 years old i had A.J.S 500cc,i used to go to the Salt Box cafe in Biggen Hill, Kent,its not there now, it was not law then to wear a crash helmit,so i never wore one,riding a motor bike is all about freedom

Where do I get a video of this!

Anyone know the name of the song at 13:30 ?

Im lucky enough to be an age where i can remember the mid 80s, when you could pick up an old triumph 650,,b.s.a 650, or similar, for what they were actually worth!!!, i had an old 1954 bsa a10 hardtail, 2 hundred quid!!!, it ran, obviously wasnt original, (thats why it was still on the road),

"Costing near 600 pounds ..." Ahh yes ...

The mannequin head at 10:26 is the spitting image of Stephen Fry - spooky!

I had an old 900 Z1 in high school. I was the fastest guy in Old Fort by 10 miles. JfromOH

I missed out on an aerial square 4 in 1982 which was a non runner in an auction. It sold for 25 quid. I had 20 quid in my pocket.aaaaaaargh!

i live very near to where Vincent's were made.Stevenage,in Hertfordshire( i live in the next town,Hitchin.)

That`s the reason I still keep my Ariel NH dry and warm...

does anyone know what song starts playing around 6.30?

The person at 1:05 could not find a road that was fast enough. Silly me, I always believed that roads did not move and he told me I was wrong because it was the roads that moved. Also, I never knew the Salt Flats in Utah was a desert, as mentioned. We learn something new every day. I bought my first motorbike for a fiver when I was at H.M.S. Dryad in 1957 - a 500cc Triumph WWII RN dispatch-rider bike that had a solid, rigid frame, no springs except on the seat, weighed a ton (at least that is what it felt like), and had a whopping top speed of about 65 mph going downhill with the wind behind it. Not built for speed or comfort but it was safe because nobody wanted to get in the way. Used to ride all over the place when I had money to fill it up Sadly, I was transferred to H.M.S. Centaur and the person who was going to look after it until I could ride it from Portsmouth to Essex sold it. Never saw him again either to ask for the money he got. 'nuf sed.

the chelsea bridge boys documentary is the best

It was a sad time when The Japanese Bikes sent The Triumphs packing. A Triumph and a Harley have there own distinctive sound and was definately music to our ears in the 60's.

have a diecast model of vinent black shadow remember riding on back of one ln early 60s doing 100mph fantastic