Ton Up!

Ton Up! tells how motorcycle speed and style has evolved from the early 1900s right through today, with its pinnacle in the café racer movement. Illustrated with historic and modern photos, renowned motorcycle historian Paul d'Orleans traces the history of the machines, the riders, the builders, the style, and the culture of the café racer world. Café racers are most associated with the young, rebellious rock-and-rollers of 1960s Britain. These riders created the quintessential café racers-fast motorcycles customized to resemble the racing bikes of the period. They were called "café racers" because their riders raced on public roads, from one café to the next. The goal was to do "the ton" (exceed 100 miles per hour) on these runs, which led to their designation as "ton-up boys." Today, ton-up culture is more popular than ever and recognized worldwide with a following of young and long-time riders alike.With Ton Up!, enjoy a scenic ride through the history of this vibrant scene.

Auteur

Paul d'Orleans, better known as the publisher of the website The Vintagent, travels the world following the vintage, custom, and electric motorcycle scenes. As a rider, collector, and recognized expert on moto-history, he is a passionate advocate for motorcycles and writes for numerous magazines (including Cycle World, Classic Bike Guide, Kraftrad, etc), and websites worldwide. He also is co-founder of the Motorcycle Arts Foundation and guest curator at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles (Custom Revolution, Electric Revolution), He can be seen commenting on the Las Vegas motorcycle auctions for NBCSN, and he resides in San Francisco, California.