The retro trend is gathering pace. The vintage spirit is taking great pleasure in being in the saddle of a beautiful café racer bike, and especially admiring their unmistakeable look and character.
All the manufacturers have identified and understood this trend: Honda was one of the first to return to this style of bike, in response to customer demand. Kawasaki followed with the reissue of their W800, the first W model, launched in 1967. The Moto Guzzi V7 has also been available since 2008, in a version which pays homage to the classic 1966 model. Lastly, Triumph has recently relaunched the Bonneville, their first model from 1959.
More recently, BMW made a huge comeback with their wonderful Nine-T and were one of the first manufacturers to offer customisation.
This trend has not escaped the manufacturer Harley-Davidson, which is probably the most in tune with being 'retro'. Its flagship models such as the Fat Bob, the Forty-Eight, or the V-Rod prove this.
It's clear that sporty bike performance is no longer leading the trend. Bikers have gone back to their roots, and to values close to their heart, like freedom, friendliness, adventure and a cool attitude!
Major manufacturers are not the only ones to follow the retro trend. Many small makers have also jumped on the bandwagon and orders are flying in. Vintage fashion harks back to old fashioned values, to personalisation and a long yearned-for freedom. What matters is not the destination, it's the road we take to get there.