Vanson and Café Racer Magazine

Vanson Leathers and Café Racer have a great relationship as well as having been in the motorcycle world for quite a long time. Mike Seate, editor of Café Racer magazine and his streaming TV show keeps riders who eat sleep and live the ton-up style of a Café Racer motorcycles up to date with current trends on repairs as well as showing bikes that have been brought back to life. He also has the country’s largest all-indoor cafe racer custom show (August 15, 2022), click here for more info.

Café Racer motorcycling has been around since the 1950's. The youth in Great Britain had the same motorhead passion of their U.S. counterparts, the only difference being they didn't have the same access to cars nor did they have the same funds to pay for their modification. They turned to modifying their British motorcycles, the creations they came up with gave them personality as well as added performance. With the added performance came the hunger for speed. Bikes back then were not known for their top end so reaching 100 mile an hour became a badge of honor which they called 'doing the Ton'. It was popular to do short, quick rides between roadside cafés, most notable London's Ace café where they would show off their recent modifications. This is where the Café Racer got their name (click here for more on the Café Rider history).

The Café Racer style soon crossed the 'pond' with American motorcyclists creating their versions of the Café Racer rides. This has continued to today and is seeing an uptick with many young riders wanting to create their own identity with their bikes. Café Racer magazine is the perfect publication to show these creations along with technical information to help new riders create their own version of a Café Racer.

 In keeping with the 'Café Racer' mind set Vanson offers Café Racer styles (original Vanson designs still made by hand, one at a time from our original templates) that will complement the Café Racer style of riding while still giving you the best protection to help minimize injuries if you go down.

Vanson has been in business since 1974; we are a small operation, we specialize, and everything we do is done very well. Our designs cover a wide variety of riding styles. In fact, many of our original designs are still being sold today. Added to that are Vanson's 10 patents in ventilation and protection. Buy a riding jacket, pants, gloves, or racing leathers suit from us, and you may be paying more up-front (we reserve the right to be cheap), but in the long run it's likely to cost you less, and for sure will serve you better along the way. Many of our jackets that were bought in Vanson's early years are still being used today. We have records going back to the early 1980's which document the cleaning and repair work done on many customers garments. These items are now being passed down to sons and daughter as well as their grand kids. You be hard pressed to find another manufacturer that can claim the same! Dollar for dollar owning a Vanson is truly a frugal purchase. 

Images to the right are some of Vanson's current ads appearing in the Motorcycle classics magazine.

Vanson Leathers are designed, engineered, cut and produced in the U.S.A. of imported and domestic materials in our own workshop in Fall River, Massachusetts!

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Vanson's Men's Leather Jacket Selection


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Vanson's Women's Leather Jacket Selection

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Vanson's Men's Textile Jacket Selection


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Vanson's Women's Textile Jacket Selection