Café Racers of 50s and 60s: Machines, Riders and Lifestyle a Pictorial Review: v. 1 (Mick Walker on Motorcycles)

This was a lovely book. Bought for my dad who was a Teddy boy back in the day. Sadly he died from covid before I had chance to give it to him so it went in his coffin with him.

Being 'my' era (+the 70's), I could review this with an informed eye. I expected Mick's work to be almost perfect, and it was. Well researched with many good pictures, he puts across the sense and feeling of the times. The 60's were when motorcycling was on one of it's cyclical wanes. Despite the highest ever 2 wheel registrations of the 20th Century in 1959, and with masses of cheap motorcycles being around, the arrival of Sir Alec Issigonis's Mini and it's many copies, (Riley Elf, etc.,) really knocked the ground out of the Motorcycle world. Suddenly Dad could afford a decent car, so the old sidevalve single and Canterbury Carmobile sidecar were out. The better off bought little Johnny a 'nice little car' instead of "one of those dirty, smelly, dangerous motorbikes". (Similar to today, with the Chav and his beaten up hatchback).So, those who rode motorcycles in the 60's were either too poor, or too anti-social to drive a car. Thus the rise of the 'Rocker'. These people, quite naturally, wanted the best. If the manufacturers wouldn't or couldn't make it, then construct it yourself. The Triton or Norvin being the top hybrids. A DBD34GS Gold Star, esp a Taylor Dow one, being the top production bike. Can't afford one? Buy a £30 B33 and call it an 'iron barelled Goldie'..... many did!So, here was a world ripe for home grown realisations of teenage dreams. There were some awful concoctions, but, like Dave Degen's/Paul Dunstall's machines, many were mechanical works of art.This book explains why and how, and is a must to any serious motorcyclist, (as are any of Mick's other books!). 10 out of 10!

For us of a certain age this book is a nostalgic look back to the times when British motorcycles ruled the streets. There are some great photos in here and some lovely bikes. What I also particularly liked about this book is that it shows some of the people too making this an interesting book from the social history side aswell. The author is right too to mention that the riders were not the rebels they were portrayed to be in the media most of them were ordinary people like you and me, united in their love of bikes.

For those bikers who lived through the sixties this is a book that will bring back many a memory. I was there as an impoverished apprentice and drooled over the bikes that are depicted within these pages. The author obviously shared the same dreams (and maybe realised them) as the book has been compiled with loving care. Those who came to the scene later will have a true slice of history in this book. Excellent.

fast and good

Really lovely photos of bikes, brought back memories of the 60s for me, which I bought as a gift for daughter's boyfriend who really likes his bikes. It was much appreciated by him.

Bought tis for my husband as one of his resents and he loved it as he use to race motorcycles in this era.

all good!