Category definitions are a bit vague.
The keyword "heritage" has been actively used by Ducati and Yamaha since around 2014 and has subsequently spread among ordinary riders. The basic concept is a model that brings back to life the atmosphere and looks of motorcycles of the past while incorporating modern technology.
In terms of this modern technology, it can be slightly differentiated from the neo-classics that have existed for some time, but the line between heritage and neo-classics is much blurred, as evidenced by Yamaha's categorization of the SR400 as a sports heritage model.
Café Racers, on the other hand, are a category derived from the rockers' culture that was popular in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s. At the time, rockers would gather at cafes on their motorcycles and compete to see who could ride the fastest on a given route while playing songs on a jukebox instead of a stopwatch, and they or their favorite motorcycles were called "café racers.
At first, the customization was limited to low handlebars, back steps, and seat modifications. Later, this culture spread around the world, and European custom builders developed exterior kits such as rocket cowls, tail cowls, and long tanks. In the 1970s, European and Japanese manufacturers adopted this style for production vehicles.
For about half a century, this style has been passed down through a mixture of development and nostalgia, and in this sense, the line between this style and the neo-classical style is often not clear.
More than 10 Heritage & Cafe models from domestic manufacturers
※ Graphs were prepared by the editorial office based on manufacturer information as of November 2022. Red-lettered vehicles are the vehicles introduced in this report.
As mentioned earlier, the definitions of heritage and café racer are ambiguous, so to some extent, this is a pickup based on our own judgment and prejudice, but there are at least 10 models made by current Japanese manufacturers that we believe belong to this category.
Among them, we have divided them into five displacement classes: moped class, a class that can be ridden with a standard motorcycle license, middle class with a displacement of 400cc to 750cc or less, a large class with a displacement of 750cc to 1000cc or less, and over-liter class, and searched for the lowest-priced model in each of these classes.
In the 400cc and below class, only Honda currently offers current models that can be categorized as heritage or café racers. In the middle class, Suzuki's SV650X has a significant price advantage. In the 800-1000cc class, the Yamaha XSR900 with a three-cylinder engine is the most reasonably priced. And in the liter-class, the Hawk 11, new for 2022, is the only one that offers a lower price than the 900-1000cc four-cylinder crowd.
Which are the most affordable domestic heritage and cafes?
Let us introduce you to our recommended Heritage & Cafes by class.
[Moped Class] Honda CB125R
The smallest displacement model of the Neo Sports Cafe concept
Honda's current CB-R series was given styling rooted in the Neo Sports Café concept that was first unveiled at the fall 2017 Tokyo Motor Show and was rolled out in Japan starting in 2018 with the CB1000R, CB250R, and CB125R, and the CB650R added in 2019.
Its characteristic feature is the fusion of a modern sports naked package and retro taste.
Although it differs from the so-called "general café racer," it is included in this ranking as a café racer type because it still incorporates the neo-sports café as its catchphrase.
Rather, this is the only current model in the moped class made by a domestic manufacturer that is similar to a heritage or café racer model. In this respect, it is highly noteworthy.
The engine is a 124cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder with a maximum output of 15 hp and a manual clutch-type 6-speed transmission. Front and rear tires are 17-inch radials for a sporty ride.
[Regular motorcycle license class] Honda CB250R
The only weak "cafe" type in the light motorcycle class
For the same reason as the CB125R, a moped model, we have added this one as a model similar to the Cafe Racer and Heritage models. To begin with, the basic parts of the CB250R and CB125R are the same, so it is not possible to choose only one or the other.
While the Neo Sports Café design concept is common to the rest of the series, this CB250R is powered by a 249cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine with a maximum output of 27 hp.
In the class of motorcycles that can be ridden with a regular motorcycle license with an engine displacement of over 125 cc and under 400 cc, there is the GB350 series, also by Honda, which we were not sure how to handle. The GB350 is priced at (approx.) 4000 USD, which is even more reasonable than the CB250R. However, we decided that the GB350 is more of a neo-classic series than a heritage series.
This is because the GB350S, which is based on this model and has enhanced sportiness, is in the lineup. On the other hand, the GB350S would have no problem being categorized as a café racer, but it is priced at 594,000 yen, slightly higher than the CB250R.
[Middle Class, over 400cc and under 750cc] Suzuki SV650X ABS
Fine-tuning the SV650 for price reduction
Based on the handlebar naked model SV650, the SV650X has separate handlebars, a headlight cowl, and a special retro-style seat. It has a slightly spartan feel that is different from the friendly base model with its slightly tighter forward lean, giving it a true café racer feel.
The engine is a 645cc liquid-cooled 90-degree V-twin that has been matured for more than 20 years. It also features a different pulse feel from parallel twins.
To begin with, the base model SV650 is reasonably priced at 803,000 yen, and the SV650X is also less expensive, albeit with some exclusive customization. It is shocking that the SV650X while using a V-twin engine, is 740~1455 cheaper USD than the parallel-twin Yamaha and Kawasaki café racer models in the same displacement range.
[Large class, over 750cc and under 1000cc] Yamaha XSR900
XSR900 360 images
Sports heritage with the 3-cylinder engine
As a current model equipped with an engine that complies with the latest emission regulations, the XSR900 is categorized by Yamaha as a sports heritage model along with the XSR700. Developed based on the naked sports MT-09, which also serves as a platform base model, this model is equipped with an 888cc liquid-cooled, parallel three-cylinder engine mounted on an aluminum frame.
It underwent a full model change for the 2022 model year, and at this time it underwent a major transformation from its previous orthodox retro naked style to a look reminiscent of the road racers of the 1980s.
Considering that the former Café Racer Custom was influenced by the Grand Prix Racer, this model can be considered both a heritage and a Café Racer. The price is kept low due to the three-cylinder engine and the use of a platform base motorcycle.
[Liter class, over 1000cc] HONDA HAWK11
Orthodox cafe racer style
The one-piece molded FRP rocket cowl asserts its unique presence, the separate handlebars located on the underside of the top bridge, and the low-set rearview mirror. The Hawk 11, newly launched in September 2022, is a model reminiscent of café racers from the 1970s onward, utilizing the 1082cc liquid-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder engine and steel main frame of the CRF1100L Africa Twin adventure model.
It also has a number of modern features, such as four riding modes, three-stage + off traction control, Showa SFF-BP inverted front forks, and Nissin radial-mount front brake calipers. In other words, it can be viewed as a heritage model.
Designed exclusively for the domestic market, the two-cylinder, diverted engine also helps to keep the price down, making it more affordable than the four-cylinder Kawasaki Z900RS series, Suzuki Katana, or Honda's CB1000R.
