Guest Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 Hi there,I am a student from Amsterdam, motorcycle enthusiast and very happy to be researching motorcycle culture in different cities in Europe.I was hoping to ask you guys (and girls) some questions about motorcycle culture in London. Are there any unique sides to the London motorcycle world? Specific bars that have a long history, specific kinds of bikes that are in your heart, people that are important, or anything related to London?Any reply is very appreciated, and if you have any questions for me, please feel free to ask!Niels Quote
eastanglianbiker Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 welcome to the forum a good place to start is to google the Ace cafe london one of the oldest meeting places there is left in the london area Quote
Tango Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 There's a few other places too. Have a look at The Bike Shed........ just opened in Shoreditch...... I wouldn't have thought that there was a single London style.......bikers and bikes come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and flavours..... Quote
Guest Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 Yeah I've been doing a bit of reading about it! And also saw an article about the Bike Shed! Thanks for the tip! I can imagine it being rather diverse.. Thats always the tricky part about this kind of research. But would you know anything that is out of the ordinary? Maybe a kind of music or specific song that has meaning, or a type of bike that is important? Quote
Tango Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 As East Anglia Biker says, The Ace Cafe is one of the oldest biker places in the London area........and, of course, the Cafe Racer culture...... Quote
Guest Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 ........and, of course, the Cafe Racer culture...... indeed.http://caferacertv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/discovery-hd-theater-cafe-racer-caferacer-tv-vintage-motorcycles-ace-cafe-london-rockers-59club-norton-triumph-triton-honda-historic-phot-16.jpghttp://caferacertv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/discovery-hd-theater-cafe-racer-caferacer-tv-vintage-motorcycles-ace-cafe-london-rockers-59club-norton-triumph-triton-honda-historic-phot-15.jpghttp://caferacertv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/discovery-hd-theater-cafe-racer-caferacer-tv-vintage-motorcycles-ace-cafe-london-rockers-59club-norton-triumph-triton-honda-historic-photos-22.jpghttp://caferacertv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/discovery-hd-theater-cafe-racer-caferacer-tv-vintage-motorcycles-ace-cafe-london-rockers-59club-norton-triumph-triton-honda-historic-photos-11.jpg Quote
Tango Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 Also search for 59 Club and Rockers....... Quote
Guest Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 Great, and when it comes to events? Are there any very important culture/background wise? Quote
eastanglianbiker Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 events tend to be what ever a person seems to like or enjoy unless you include things the the motorcycle show at the XL centre in east london which is a big show every year Quote
Guest Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 Ok! And is it common to meet up and go for tours, and if so, are there any specific websites you use to meet up?Thanks to all who are helping, this is incredible useful! Quote
eastanglianbiker Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 if you scroll further down the index page you will see the section for arranging meets and ride outs most of the info you need will be seen in there Quote
Fozzie Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 Ace café is the London hub for bikers.I used to go there a lot on the weekly Friday meet. You'd get all shapes and sizes of bikes turning up.It has meets for specific groups as well on certain days. But it's possibly the most famous London biker bar. Quote
Guest Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 And are there any brands of motorbikes, or any related products, that have a high status within London? Quote
Mr Fro Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 And are there any brands of motorbikes, or any related products, that have a high status within London?Yeah, the owners of green Kawasaki ZX6r made between 2005 and 2006 are regarded as gods over here. Quote
Fozzie Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 And are there any brands of motorbikes, or any related products, that have a high status within London?Yeah, the owners of green Kawasaki ZX6r made between 2005 and 2006 are regarded as gods over here. Perhaps by 17 year olds. For big brands, BMW supersport bikes, Ducati sports bikes, MV Agusta sports bikes, and any heavily customised (done properly) bikes draw the crowds around them.If you go with an ugly duckling I've seen people think it's amazing the small crowd it gets. Then you go out and people are calling it every bad thing under the sun Quote
Guest Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 And what would you say about the image of bikers, has this changed? Quote
Hoggs Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 Yeah, the owners of green Kawasaki ZX6r made between 2001 and 2006 are regarded as gods over here. I've fixed that for you Quote
Fozzie Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 And what would you say about the image of bikers, has this changed? I think back in the 60s you had the mods and rockers which brought a more gang style image of bikers. You had a bit of a bad boy image if you had certain bikes back then.Now on the other hand it has changed quite significantly, the sport has broadened and the image has shifted from being a bad boy/girl on a bike to more just being seen as a "biker". Or at least from my point of view that's how it appears.It's much more an every mans hobby now. There's a group for everyone so bikers image has changed quite a bit. Particularly with charity causes where rideouts are now the norm. Quote
Guest Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 Great, again, thanks to all! This is really helpful!I do have another question: are there any motorcycle related brands trending at the moment in London? Doesn't have to be bikes, can also be clothing or a store or anything related! Quote
Mr Fro Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 Yeah, the owners of functioning green Kawasaki ZX6r made between 2001 and 2006 are regarded as gods over here. I've fixed that for you Double fixed. Quote
Hoggs Posted November 26, 2015 Posted November 26, 2015 It functions for a small amount of time.... Quote
Grumpy Old Git Posted November 27, 2015 Posted November 27, 2015 Yeah, the owners of functioning green Kawasaki ZX6r made between 2001 and 2006 are regarded as knobs over here. I've fixed that for you Double fixed. Properly fixed!As for the 'Mods & Rockers era' - I was a "Mod on a motorbike" (parker wearing 500cc riding boy about town)!Were it was really 'at' was the Cafe Racer scene - spent many weekends up and down the A1 and A46 (Fosse Way). Some cafes are still there (but not many). Quote
RantMachine Posted November 27, 2015 Posted November 27, 2015 Yeah, the owners of functioning green Kawasaki ZX6r made between 2001 and 2006 are regarded as knobs along with everyone else who lives in London.Properly fixed!Quadruple fixed! Quote
Hoggs Posted November 27, 2015 Posted November 27, 2015 Does it work that if I have a Ninja and live in London the knob-ness cancels each other out? If I didn't need help with my stupid ninja I'd like so totally be flouncing right now Quote
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