A café racer is a style of custom motorcycle that originated in the UK during the 1950s and 1960s. They were motorcycles ridden by members of the Rocker or Ton-Up Boy subculture, and were lean, stripped-back bikes built for speed. Café racers were typically based on British motorcycle marques, and owners would remove any unnecessary components, fit parts designed for the race track, and even swap engines and frames in the hunt for more power and improved performance. The process of swapping engines spawned the creation of new breeds of motorcycles. Café racers are known for their visual minimalism, and a 1960s café racer would typically be an English parallel twin motorcycle with low-mounted clip-on or "Ace" handlebars with rear-set footrests. Items considered "non-essential" such as side panels, rear chain enclosures, and voluminous mudguards (fenders) were replaced by lighter items, or dispensed with altogether. Café racers are meant for quick rides over short distances, and are known more for their speed and handling than comfort. They are quite light in weight and feature a minimalist appearance along with a highly tuned small engine and frame, low seat height, and long, low-slung clip-on handlebars, and foot pegs pushed back to lower the riding profile. Café racers have since become popular around the world, and some manufacturers produce factory-made models that are available in showrooms.