The café racers were known sometimes as the leather boys, but only an exclusive gro
The café racers were known sometimes as the leather boys, but only an exclusive group, a subculture within a subculture, could call themselves the “Ton-Up Boys.” It was called “doing the ton,” or “tonning up,” and it referred to doing 100 mph on the back of a bike. Hitting that mythic speed on a motorcycle was proof of your mettle- and for most of them, who rode rather meager motored bikes, extremely difficult. As a result of this badassery hanging over their heads, the young café racers began chopping up their bikes and bolstering them, seeking to making them lighter and more powerful. The ambitions of these young men to upgrade their motorcycles portended the future of the café racer as the ultimate canvas for motorcycle customization. The Ton Up Boys had no qualms with stripping their bikes down to its skeletal frame, removing anything that would add unnecessary weight, and doing whatever it took, in order to top the century mark. The history and spirit of the cafe racer and ton-up boys lives on today!
The Cafe Racer
For as prevalent as they are, few know the origins of the cafe racer, and why they were so desired. Few even know from where the name “cafe racer” actually originated.
Rock 'N Rev tee from Ton-Up Clothing. Rev it up and rock it out!
The V-Racersticker, pin and patch collection.
The Cafe Racer sticker, pin and patch collection.
Ton-Up Clothing sets the standard for quality clothing and cafe racer culture. They are the number one clothing brand for the modern day Ton-Up Boy. This Cafe Racer design comes in black and white tees or long-sleeved waffle tops. Check out the collection here. See how it feels to wear 100MPH!