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rocker style, nor do they share the passion for 50s rock'n'roll. These modern café racers have taken elements of the
American greaser, British rocker, and modern motorcycle rider styles to create a look of their own. Rockers in the 2000s tend still to ride classic British motorcycles, however, classically styled European café racers are now also seen, such as
468:. Rockers have continued to wear leather motorcycle jackets, often adorned with patches, studs, spikes and painted artwork; jeans or leather trousers; and white silk scarves. Leather caps adorned with metal studs and chains, common among rockers in the 1950s and 1960s, are rarely seen any more. Instead, some contemporary rockers wear a classic woollen
237:, using them as starting and finishing points for road races. A café racer is a motorcycle that has been modified for speed and good handling rather than for comfort. Features include: a single racing seat, low handlebars (such as ace bars or one-sided clip-ons mounted directly onto the front forks for control and aerodynamics), large racing
397:
They had no knowledge of the different sorts of drugs. To them amphetamines, cannabis, heroin were all drugs - something to be hated. Their ritual hatred of Mods and other sub-cultures was based in part on the fact that these people were believed to take drugs and were therefore regarded as sissies.
311:
Rockers bought standard factory-made motorcycles and stripped them down, tuning them up and modifying them to appear like racing bikes. Their bikes were not merely transport, but were used as an object of intimidation and masculinity projecting them uneasily close to death, an element exaggerated by
279:
is now also used to describe motorcycle riders who prefer vintage
British, Italian or Japanese motorbikes from the 1950s to late 1970s. These modern café racers do not resemble the rockers of earlier decades, and they dress in a more modern and comfortable style, with only a hint of likeness to the
147:
is
English slang for driving at a speed of 100 mph (160 km/h) or over. The rockers or ton-up boys took what was essentially a sport and turned it into a lifestyle, dropping out of mainstream society and "rebelling at the points where their will crossed society's". This damaged the public
607:
It was, I have it on good authority, as much a surprise to the so-called rockers to find they are now "greasers" as it was to the general public...The people in question—greasy rockers?—are expected to sit back uncomplainingly while learned gentlemen in such papers as the
Guardian discuss the pros
385:
Largely due to their clothing styles and dirtiness, the rockers were not widely welcomed by venues such as pubs and dance halls. Rockers also transformed rock and roll dancing into a more violent, individualistic form beyond the control of dance hall management. They were generally reviled by the
136:
and financing for young people, the influence of
American popular music and films, the construction of race track-like arterial roads around British cities, the development of transport cafes and a peak in British motorcycle engineering. The name "rocker" came not from music, but from the rockers
854:
British motorcycle customisation stretches back to the 1950s, when the term cafe racer was coined. They were stripped-down machines, lighter than stock with dropped clip-on handlebars to make the riding position more aerodynamic, and were the low-cost mode of transport for the growing band of
495:, which attracted individuals from as far as Europe. The first rocker reunion motorcycle run of 30 classic British motorcycles rode to Battersea - home of the Chelsea Bridge Boys. Following runs went to other destinations with historic relevance to rockers such as
315:
First seen in the United States and then
England, the rocker fashion style was born out of necessity and practicality. Rockers wore heavily decorated leather motorcycle jackets, often adorned with metal studs, patches, pin badges and sometimes an
241:
tanks (aluminium ones were often polished and left unpainted), swept-back exhaust pipes, rear-set footpegs (to give better clearance while cornering at high speeds) with or without half or full race fairings.
506:
to mark the 25th anniversary of the closure of the famous transport cafe before going on to re-opening and establishing a series of events. These events now attract up to 40,000 motorcyclists.
608:
and cons...I would suggest to the
Guardian's correspondent, and to any other erudite commentators who feel duty bound to join in, that the subject should be allowed to die a natural death.
132:
The rocker subculture came about due to factors such as: the end of post-war rationing in the UK, a general rise in prosperity for working class youths, the recent availability of
1271:
855:
post-war rockers who would race ton-up (100mph) between transport cafes, such as the famous Ace Cafe on London's North
Circular Road, along the then quiet motorway network.
163:, a term previously little known outside small groups. The public came to consider rockers as hopelessly naive, loutish, scruffy, motorised cowboys, loners or outsiders.
327:, or wore a classic open-face helmet, aviator goggles and a white silk scarf (to protect them from the elements). Other common items included: T-shirts, leather caps,
125:
period, motorcycling held a prestigious position and enjoyed a positive image in
British society, being associated with wealth and glamour. Starting in the 1950s, the
1246:
491:
In the early 1980s, a rockers revival was started by Lenny
Paterson and a handful of original rockers. Paterson organised rocker reunion dances called
260:
engine. It used the most common and fastest racing engine combined with the best handling frame of its day. Other popular motorcycle brands included
1062:
1218:
1204:
480:
In the early 1970s, the British rocker and hardcore motorcycle scene fractured and evolved under new influences coming from California: the
1266:
1261:
531:
805:
The sociology of youth culture and youth subcultures: Sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll by Mike Brake 1980 Routledge & Kegan Paul,
1190:
1176:
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Dancin' in the streets!: anarchists, IWWs, surrealists, Situationists, Franklin Rosemont, Charles Radcliffe. Charles H Kerr 2005
245:
These motorcycles were lean, light and handled various road surfaces well. The most defining machine of the rocker heyday was the
1251:
837:
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newspaper wrote, "you can call rockers Greasers if you like. ... Greasers just means they have to put a lot of work into bikes."
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407:
261:
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British motorcycle industry and general enthusiasts as being as an embarrassment and bad for the industry and the sport.
1101:
758:
1276:
987:
958:
905:. Café Racer The Motorcycle: Featherbeds, Clip-ons, Rear-sets and the Making of a Ton-up Boy. Parker House (2008).
883:
782:
Resistance through rituals: youth subcultures in post-war Britain By Stuart Hall, Tony Jefferson. Routledge, 1990.
209:
57:
that originated in the United Kingdom during the late 1950s and was popular in the 1960s. It was mainly centred on
435:
bands and fans in the late 1970s. The look of the ton-up boy and rocker was accurately portrayed in the 1964 film
621:
250:
213:
1087:
155:
through highly exaggerated and ill-founded portrayals. From the 1960s on, due to the media fury surrounding the
639:
1053:
Missy D. Interview mit Mark Wilsmore Ace Café, London (deutsche Übersetzung). Speeding E-magazine, July 2007
151:
The mass media started targeting these socially powerless youths and cast them as "folk devils", creating a
20:
1230:
390:
359:
369:
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found in 4-stroke engines, as opposed to the two stroke engines used by scooters and ridden by mods.
67:
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83:, although used differently in North America and elsewhere. Rockers were also derisively known as
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The Café Racer Phenomenon (Those were the days...), Alastair Walker. Veloce Publishing 2009.
516:
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332:
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133:
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460:(sharp pointed shoes) are no longer common. Some wear brothel creepers (originally worn by
598:
378:
351:
343:
129:
were able to buy inexpensive motorcars so that motorcycles became transport for the poor.
288:, as well as classic Japanese bikes, some with British-made frames such as those made by
411:
Len Paterson, founder of the Rocker Reunion movement, left, Father Graham Hullet of the
545:
374:
339:
33:
28:
708:
Mods, rockers, and the music of the British invasion. James E. Perone. Praeger, 2008.
689:
Suzanne McDonald-Walker, 'Bikers: Culture, Politics and Power' Berg Publishers, 2000.
488:. The remaining rockers became known as greasers, and the scene had all but died out.
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Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon, James Sullivan, Gotham, 2006.
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Writer: Driscoll, Frank. Rank Organisation Special Features Division, 1964.
423:
The rockers' look and attitude influenced pop groups in the 1960s, such as
328:
725:
Skateboarding, Space and the City, Borden, Iain. Berg Publishers, (2003).
354:
with members all over the world. The rocker hairstyle, kept in place with
654:
The Restless Generation: How Rock Music Changed the Face of 1950s Britain
503:
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of England, a church-based youth organisation that later formed into a
347:
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had also been introduced to Great Britain and, since then, the terms
1106:
Folk Devils and Moral Panics; The Creation of the Mods and Rockers
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Cookson, Brian (2006), Crossing the River, Edinburgh: Mainstream,
763:
Folk Devils and Moral Panics; The Creation of the Mods and Rockers
406:
368:
335:
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199:
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1960s Rockers under canopy outside Busy Bee Café, Watford, England
112:
27:
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trinket. When they rode their motorcycles, they usually wore no
317:
166:
The rocker subculture was associated with 1950s and early-1960s
143:
939:
Cafe Racers: Rockers, Rock 'n' Roll and the Coffee-bar Cult
826:
Nuttall, Jeff. Bomb Culture Paladin, London 1969. pp. 27-29
140:
During the 1950s, they were known as "ton-up boys" because
957:
Café racers of the 1960s: machines, riders and lifestyle,
398:
Their dislike of anyone connected with drugs was intense.
338:, leather trousers, tall motorcycle boots (often made by
921:
Welte, Sabine, Cafe Racer. Bruckmann Verlag GmbH, 2008.
346:. Also popular was a patch declaring membership of the
502:
In 1994, Mark Wilsmore and others organised the first
233:
originated in the 1950s, when bikers often frequented
219:
built in a street legal racer style with single seat,
625:. 2nd ed. (1989); online version December 2011. <
159:, motorcycling youths became more commonly known as
312:their use of skull and crossbone-type symbolism.
441:. The rocker subculture has also influenced the
16:Biker subculture members in the United Kingdom
1043:Cycle World: The Ace Café. Riding the Reunion
8:
1077:Motorcycle News (MCN), UK. 17 September 2008
1068:(scroll down page) Retrieved 26 January 2014
87:. Their Japanese counterpart was called the
1272:Working-class culture in the United Kingdom
838:"The return of motorcycling's cafe racers"
362:hairstyle, as was popular with some 1950s
249:, which was a custom motorcycle made of a
886:. Rocker to Racer. Breedon Books. 2010.
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820:
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704:
702:
685:
683:
1009:by John Stuart, Plexus Publishing Ltd.
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801:
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223:low handlebars and megaphone exhausts.
1171:. Thames and Hudson / V&A museum
456:or full-length motorcycle boots, but
452:Many contemporary rockers still wear
7:
836:McCallum, Duncan (8 February 2014).
358:, was usually a tame or exaggerated
1247:Youth culture in the United Kingdom
1140:. Wild Palms 1968, Chronicle Books
627:http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/81098
79:have become synonymous within the
14:
389:Originally, many rockers opposed
148:image of motorcycling in the UK.
1064:Brighton and Hove City Council.
344:brothel creepers/beetle crushers
186:called "screw and smash" music.
50:) are members or followers of a
1066:Ace Cafe Reunion, Madeira Drive
675:Glossary of Japanese Neologisms
1211:Or Glory: 21st Century Rockers
393:. According to Johnny Stuart:
1:
1231:The 59 Club: London's outlaws
941:. London: Osprey Publishing.
1209:Horst A. Friedrichs (2010):
1267:Counterculture of the 1960s
1262:Counterculture of the 1950s
610:" Accessed 20 February 2014
568:(Plexus Publishing, 1996).
415:, seated on motorcycle, at
212:twin-cylinder engine in a
208:motorcycle consisting of a
1293:
1007:Rockers! Kings of the Road
844:. Herald & Times Group
566:Rockers! Kings of the Road
193:
106:
18:
1197:The Café Racer Phenomenon
1152:The Ace Cafe then and now
1123:. Plexus Publishing Ltd.
622:Oxford English Dictionary
170:music by artists such as
65:music. By 1965, the term
1195:Alastair Walker; (2009)
1150:Winston Ramsey; (2002).
534:: Behind the Ton-Up Boys
93:Thunder Tribe/Clan/Group
1252:Motorcycling subculture
1119:Johnny Stuart; (1987).
601:, 24 June 1965. p.836.
510:Films and documentaries
377:motorcycle jacket with
21:Rocker (disambiguation)
1181:Steve Wilson; (2000).
990:. Redline Books, 2004
677:(Arizona Press, 1962).
420:
400:
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1233:article on Visor Down
1199:. Veloce Publishing
410:
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391:recreational drug use
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31:
1154:. After the Battle,
656:(Rogan House, 2007)
307:Pudding basin helmet
19:For other uses, see
986:The Bsa Gold Star,
937:Clay, Mike. (1988)
417:Enfield Motorcycles
673:Bailey, Don C.A.,
585:14 February 1961,
421:
383:
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258:Triumph Bonneville
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85:Coffee Bar Cowboys
37:
1277:Music and fashion
1219:978-3-7913-4469-0
1205:978-1-84584-264-2
716:. pp. 3, 65, etc.
603:On the Four Winds
587:The Daily Express
32:Three rockers on
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619:greaser, n.
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532:Look at Life
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486:Hells Angels
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466:combat boots
451:
449:subculture.
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419:factory, UK.
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172:Gene Vincent
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38:
25:
1257:Subcultures
1134:Danny Lyons
988:Mick Walker
959:Mick Walker
903:Seate, Mike
884:Mick Walker
848:29 December
765:Routledge.
599:Motor Cycle
525:Home Truths
447:psychobilly
425:The Beatles
373:Customised
366:musicians.
277:café racers
190:Café racers
180:Chuck Berry
153:moral panic
59:motorcycles
48:ton-up boys
1241:Categories
1213:. Prestel
1167:; (1994).
1160:1870067436
1136:; (2003).
1104:; (1972).
761:; (1972).
552:References
462:Teddy Boys
443:rockabilly
282:Moto Guzzi
230:café racer
227:The term
204:A vintage
196:Café racer
121:Until the
107:See also:
97:Thunderers
55:subculture
1185:. Haynes
433:punk rock
429:hard rock
360:pompadour
356:Brylcreem
275:The term
270:Matchless
1121:Rockers!
589:(London)
546:BĹŤsĹŤzoku
540:See also
497:Brighton
493:piss-ups
484:and the
470:flat cap
379:Ace Cafe
333:Wrangler
142:doing a
123:post-war
640:The Sun
482:hippies
413:59 Club
381:details
348:59 Club
321:gas man
305:Aviakit
290:Rickman
221:clip-on
210:Triumph
161:rockers
103:Origins
73:greaser
68:greaser
40:Rockers
1217:
1203:
1189:
1175:
1158:
1144:
1127:
1112:
1029:
1013:
994:
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870:
809:
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769:
746:
733:p. 137
729:
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693:
660:
572:
464:), or
329:Levi's
325:helmet
286:Ducati
256:and a
251:Norton
247:Triton
239:petrol
214:Norton
206:Triton
134:credit
77:rocker
336:jeans
95:, or
52:biker
1215:ISBN
1201:ISBN
1187:ISBN
1173:ISBN
1156:ISBN
1142:ISBN
1125:ISBN
1110:ISBN
1027:ISBN
1011:ISBN
992:ISBN
972:ISBN
943:ISBN
923:ISBN
907:ISBN
888:ISBN
868:ISBN
850:2014
807:ISBN
784:ISBN
767:ISBN
744:ISBN
727:ISBN
710:ISBN
691:ISBN
658:ISBN
629:>
570:ISBN
523:BBC
431:and
318:Esso
268:and
178:and
75:and
61:and
331:or
284:or
262:BSA
144:ton
99:).
46:or
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852:.
840:.
817:^
794:^
701:^
682:^
499:.
472:.
292:.
272:.
264:,
174:,
1116:.
773:.
664:.
576:.
91:(
23:.
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