Comments on: Mods And Rockers. Are We Seeing A Revival Of Both Subcultures?

By: mark

mark — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:47:53 +0000

Nice article. We’re having our 4th event in Dallas coming March 26-28, 2010. There’s enough of a rivalry between the scoots and the bikes to be fun, but we mostly just take the piss out of each other and talk a bunch of trash. Between our event and the British Biker Burnup’s that Ralph puts on, some amazing bikes come out of the woodwork.

By: Business

Business — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:28:37 +0000

yeah, Their influence on the London music scene was such that the Mod subculture resulted in the creation of new bands.

By: rocker girl barb

rocker girl barb — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:56:55 +0000

I BEGAN MY ROCKER GIRL LIFE IN THE 1950S AGE 6 BEGING MY OLDER BROTHERS FREINDS FOR RIDES ON THERE BIKES AND DROVE THEM ALL MAD UNTIL ONE OF THEM PERSUADED MY MOTHER TO LET HIM TAKE ME WITH THE INTENTION THAT IT WOULD PUT ME OFF AND I WOULD LEAVE THEM ALONE . THIS WAS NOT TO BE JUST THE OPPOSIT IT MADE ME WORSE.
NEXT IN MY EARLY TEENS IN THE MID 1960S OF I WOULD GO TO ALL THE LOCAL NOTTINGHAM BIKER CAFES WITH MY FRIENDS AND SOON BECAME ONE OF THE GANG OFTEN HAVING TO PINCH MY BROTHERS LEATHER JACKET AND HELMET UNTIL I GOT MY OWN.
SOON TO PROGRESS TO ALL THE BIKER PUBS IN NOTTINGHAM THE MAIN ONE WAS THE WHITE HART AT LENTON THE BIG BICKER PUB IN NOTTINGHAM IN THE 60S AND 70 ALSO BELONGING TO SEVERAL BIKE CLUBS AROUND TOO 59, 41, AND MANY MORE.
MET MY HUSBAND ALSO A ROCKER AT 14 STARTED GOING OUT WITH HIM AT 17 AND EVENTUALLY GOT MARRIED AT 22 AND STAYED ON THE SCENE UNTIL HAVING OUR FIRST BABY BUT HAVE ALLWAYS KEPT IN TOUCH WITH ALL OUR BIKER MATES AND NOW ARE VERY MUCH BACK ON THE BIKE TRACKS AGAIN BUT DUE TO MY DISABILITY DO NOT HAVE A BIKE. WE HAVE JUST REOPENED OUR BIKER BAR AT THE WHITE HART AGAIN SO ANY OF YOU BIKERS OUT THERE FANCY A RIDE OUT SOMEWERE NEW BUT OLD COME AND SEE US A WARM WELCOME AWAITS ANY ROCKERS OR MODS IF THEY WISH TO COME AND CHECK IT OUT.

BEST WISHES AND THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

BARB

By: Rick the Mod

Rick the Mod — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:56:11 +0000

I came of age in the 60s and gave up riding old BSA A7 and A10s to buy a Lambretta as my friend reckoned I had more chance of scoring on a scooter. He was right too, so I went the whole nine yards and had the Mod haircut and wore a suit and a parka with fur trim on the hood. My scooter was a GT 200 with the usual array of mirrors and other chrome doodads all over it. I never lost my love of real motorcycles though and got back on an old Triumph as soon as I had graduated from Uni.and got a regular job. It was one of the last 650 five speed bikes with the oil in the frame and although it was old and somewhat less than reliable I loved it.Now I have a 2008 HD Softail, my sixth Harley since I left the UK for a job overseas. I ride year round in mostly warm, sunny weather but I still miss taking the Bonnie out on winding English country roads. I wonder what happened to Barbara, my first Mod girlfriend? I reckon she would love riding the Softail as much as she loved riding the Lambretta!

By: Steve CARPY Carpenter

Steve CARPY Carpenter — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:20:15 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=carpy1#p/u/31/lwQVcLxFBIQ

By: Steve CARPY Carpenter

Steve CARPY Carpenter — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:12:02 +0000

Rockers Reunion:

Hey There
Well i now reside in the USA and have done since 1997, but have always been into the Rockers Scene, my Dad was a rocker in the late 50’s and hung out at the Ace and Busy Bee, he met my mum whilst racing around London on his 500 matchless and I guess the Cafe Racer is in my blood, as I build these cool rides over here.

I am 47 and in the 70’s when unemployment was at its highest, seaside resorts on Bank holidays always ended up with Mods and Rockers turning up and of course, we all got into a few punch ups.
The scene is just as strong today but we all get along now and thats a cool thing.
The Rockers were really the early Motorcycle Custom Creators, and the Mods were in a way too, Rockers made bikes faster, lighter and sleeker for the elimant of speed.
Mods tricked theirs out with paint, chrome and they were also more fashion concious.

I will always have a passion for any Cafe Racer, be it Brit, Japanese or italian, I love it all.

There is a big following for the Cafe Racer lifestyle here in the USA and around the globe and boy am I all revved up about it, very cool indeed.

Peace and Grease
Carpy

By: john reed

john reed — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:40:12 +0000

I look back at my life, there has been a lot of good things, but there are some that I feel ashamed about.
In England late 70’s, two mods were riding on the road between Didcot and Wallingford , they were cruising along side by side about 45mph on their scooters when a dick in a leather jacket rode between them at 70 miles an hour on a Vincent with 2″ pipes it made them jump so much they fell into the ditch on each side of the road.
It was me , I thought it was funny when I did it, but years later I realized that even tho I thought they looked stupid riding along with their feet out the side on scooters covered in lights they were still bikers, they didnt do anything to me but I screwed up their day and after all these years I still feel a little guilty .
I must be getting mellow.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:10:51 +0000

I meant to say it’s MY manor now!

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:20:04 +0000

Nice piece but a very few minor inaccuracies – all forgiven except one being that the Ace Cafe is now at a different location – it is in exactly the same spot, and is the same building albeit with a few slight (mostly cosmetic) modifications over the years. Before it reopened it was a tyre shop, and a taxi cab office I think.

I live down the street where Jimmy lived in Quadrophenia… but I’m a rocker and it’s manor now!

By: gustian

gustian — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:42:40 +0000

My youth is coming back to my mind, with tears in my eyes……
The most frustrating is that my sisters daughter (30 years old) is still wearing my old leather jacket.
That stuff is over here a cool item again.
No mather what I try, she dont want to give it back……(lol)

Figure I have to buy a new “old” jacket for myself, if I want to hit the road again in a 70ties look .

Young at 53 , cooooooool.

Peace Gustian

PS my “wheels” in those times was a Rickman with a 750 Four with four in one Marschall. (Pushed to 90 HP)

By: jatinder pal

jatinder pal — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:17:31 +0000

Old pics are always my favourite…they say it all.the time and era just looks so cool…

By: Doc Robinson

Doc Robinson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:53:30 +0000

We had the same scene in Australia, a virtual copy of the UK. A mate of mine decided to pull up on his Triumph out the front of an Adelaide nightclub full of mods (and with plently milling about outside) to give them the finger, which he did. Then promptly stalled his bike. Before he could kick it over to restart it, he was swamped with angry mods. He has worn a complete set of false teeth since that day!

By: Scotty

Scotty — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:16:39 +0000

Before my time but cool reading about it.

By: Bigalyts

Bigalyts — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:14:25 +0000

GREAT RE CAP CYRIL, THE NEW NAMES OF THE TIMES OF NOW ARE “CRUISERS” ,”CROTCHERS”, & “NERDERS” (No matter how you cut it, you look like a nerd riding a scoot).

By: 1550tc

1550tc — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:45:29 +0000

Cyril

everything old is new

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrOek4z32Vg

By: nicker

nicker — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:49:34 +0000

-BTW-
Rockers were the first contemporary Custom bike builders.
Gear head working class kids who created two wheel hot rods of iconic proportions.
And their creations were immortalized as:
- Norvins
- Tritons
- TriBSAs
And in California
- Grumphs
No production customs in those days. If ya had to have one, ya had to build it.
Every real Rocker was a gear head.
I

People are still building these “standards” today.
And gear heads “must” create…………. it’s in their DNA ……………..

-nicker-

By: nicker

nicker — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:22:50 +0000

Old is New…………

-nicker-

By: Cranky Phillip

Cranky Phillip — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:03:04 +0000

Love the story and old pics. Rock n’ Roll, baby. Going to listen to some Gene Vincent.

By: Colin Dresner

Colin Dresner — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:59:16 +0000

2 subcultures that Americans don’t know very well. Very interesting. Thanks Cyril.

By: Canajun

Canajun — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:52:20 +0000

Great summary. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

By: alan

alan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:39:51 +0000

IF THIS HAPPEN I WILL JUST SAY IT’S ABOUT TIME
I LOVE THAT
NO MORE CHROME AND COVER FOR NOTHING JUST ABOUT MOTORCYCLE AND FUN
AND ALSO GOOD MUSIC

By: jeez louise!

jeez louise! — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:57:02 +0000

“the moon is bright above, oh, what a night for luv, and as I ‘old you near, and wisper in your ear…Igot 750 cc outside my door, I ain’t no bus stop cowboy that’s for sure, try and stop me,catch me if you can…. I’ll be a Rocker, yes I’m a Rocker till die…. too fast to live, too young to die…” words of a song by Chas ‘n’ Dave, makes me smile every time I think about it… I’m in Canada now, still riding a cafe-racer, still got the ’sideburns’ A Rocker ain’t just a weekend cowboy like them bleedin’ tarts mods… Stirrin’ it up as always….

By: Jim F

Jim F — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:44:05 +0000

Not from the UK, but Boston MA, USA. Me and 4 friends did our best to copy the Rocker thing that we read about in UK magazines (one + of living there, lots of Int’l publications readily available). To of us had Triumphs, one had a BSA and a Norton, one had a BSA and the last guy rode a HD Sportster (we still loved him!). Our primary haunt was Route 128, which circled Boston. We’d run from one truck stop or Howard Johnson’s (roadside restaurant) to the next, then back again. One plus, there weren’t a lot of scooter riders around, except near some of the university and college areas.

Good times!

By: ian

ian — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:55:11 +0000

Brighton is still host to two of my favourite day rallies both of which feature plenty of classic British Bikes and tricked out vespas and Lambrettas – Brightona http://www.brightona.brighton-rock.net/
and The Ace Cafe Reunion http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/Reunion.aspx

But we are all friends these days and there hasn’t been any south coast trouble since the days of punks in the late 70’s.

By: rocker aka shirts.

rocker aka shirts. — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:32:37 +0000

Rockers, we never disapeared we just had a long lay in, I was there in the 1960’s it was a exciting time, we hung around cafes like the Ace cafe, Busy bee cafe we were in clubs like the 59 club we modified our motorbikes to get more speed, we raced from cafe to cafe to see who would get there first or reach that elusive ton or 100mph the bikes got the nickname of cafe racers because thats what we did raced from cafe to cafe, we listened to Rock n roll and yes we clashed with the Mods at a number of seaside resorts hay we were young but it sure was fun.
Its good to see more folks are getting them old brit bikes out and having fun as we did way back then.
Real good Blog Cyril, keep it up.

shirts.

By: RM

RM — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:52:49 +0000

I was around for the big Mods n Rockers revival fueled by the release of Quadrophenia in England in the late 70’s. Scooters were my first introduction to bikes and the vast majority of my old mates are still in to them and have been religiously attending scooter rallies since then. We just flew to the UK to attend our club’s (Glevum Stax SC) 30th Anniversary bash and had the BEST time. Scooterboys sure know how to party!

By: Fluke

Fluke — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:27:53 +0000

I grew up in the UK in the 80s, OK, I came of age in the 80s bike wise. It was the same back then, half my school friends walking around with ex -army greatcoats with Union Jacks or The Who logos on the back pretending to be mods while the wannabe rockers were into black leather and 60’s glam (slightly odd 60’s glam even I will admit, but hey, we were kids in the age of the Dynasty shoulder pads and giant hair) .Our view of dream like America back then was the Monkees TV show and Happy Days repeats.

I lived about 5 miles form the Ace Café mentioned above, but I never even knew what it was when I went past. You live amongst history and have no idea at the time.

I should add one point, according to my mom who actually lived them, the Brighton mod/rocker fights so immortalised nowadays were quite a short and less exciting phenomenon. One of those things where pop culture history is a lot more interesting than the actual reality.

By: Joey

Joey — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:27:17 +0000

Cyril. Great story. And I didn’t know.