Image gallery: Ace Cafe Racer

In this week’s edition of MCN, road tester Adam Child takes a ride on the gorgeous Ace Cafe Racer created by custom bike builder Nick Gale. In case the road test left you wanting more, here’s some extra close-ups and action shots of the S&S V-twin powered throwback.

The Ace Cafe Racer’s 1200cc air cooled V-twin lump makes 138bhp and 110ftlb of torque, which Nick estimates should give it a top speed of around 180mph. Neat touches include a top yoke that hides the brake and clutch reservoirs, an exquisite exhaust system that took 10 solid days to fabricate and an oil filler cap that pokes out of the seat in true old-school cafe racer style.

According to MCN road tester Adam Child, the bike is as interesting to ride as it is to admire: “This is a man’s bike and no mistake. The seat is wide due to the featherbed frame, which makes it hard to touch the floor, you need the grip of a gorilla for the clutch and once fired up the engine is loud enough to wake the dead”.

Read more on the Ace Cafe Racer and what it’s like to ride in this week’s issue of MCN, on sale Wednesday 19 November.