Cafe racer motorcycles are a trend in the motorcycling world, and all the paraphernalia, aesthetics, and decorative elements of these bikes are becoming popular, but often we don’t know their origins. Customizations of naked or custom bikes to give them a cafe racer look have become especially popular, and in addition to the half handlebars, mini mirrors, and straight tail sections, we’ve seen how cafe racers adorn their round headlights with an X made from duct tape.
The “X” that sometimes appears on the headlights is often a mystery to many, even motorcyclists. These are the origins of this trend and its current meaning.
The X on the headlights of racing motorcycles and its context
It’s certainly curious to see an “X” on the headlight of a motorcycle. These are more commonly found on retro-looking bikes. The birth of the cafe racer happened originally in Britain in the years immediately after World War II. Motorcycles were becoming more popular and also more affordable. Due to their affordability, younger people would buy a motorcycle, but they could usually only afford low-displacement models. These basic models were transformed into the style we now know as cafe racers.
It began to become a trend for groups of young people to gather at cafes with their motorcycles. Fans of rockabilly music and culture often sought out cafes that played American rock and roll music, which often meant roadside cafes.
Often, while drinking coffee and listening to rock and roll, another group of motorcyclists would quickly pass by the cafe as a way to challenge the group inside. The group of young people would then get on their bikes and race to the next nearby cafe. It’s said that truck drivers at these cafes would tell these young riders that they weren’t real racers, just “cafe racers.” This generation liked the name and idea.
Why do cafe racers have an X on their headlight?
I had the same question myself until recently. I met a group of motorcyclists at the Pingüinos winter rally last January in Valladolid, and they explained the reason, which, although now purely aesthetic, has a surprising origin.
I did a bit of research on the history of cafe racers and bobbers and why they look the way they do. This article can explain in more detail what the “X” on the headlight means and how it has influenced today’s society.
The original idea of placing tape in the shape of an X on the headlights of motorcycles or race cars was a protective mechanism to prevent broken glass from harming anyone in case the headlight shattered during a race.
Due to these high-speed races, they often stuck an “X” on their headlights to prevent broken glass shards from ending up on them or their friends in case the headlight broke. It was likely that the headlight would break at some point since these groups were racing and riding at high speeds, and the headlights were made of regular glass, not polycarbonate or laminated glass like today, so a small rock could shatter the headlight.
The idea of protecting the headlights during this era was influenced by car races. Many drivers in these official races would place an “X” with tape on their headlights for the same reason, so the original cafe racer generation adopted the idea.
Many people think the idea was influenced by the early days of track motorcycle racing. In fact, the motorcycles used in track races generally didn’t have headlights in order to remove as many unnecessary accessories as possible, much like what happens in MotoGP today.
Any young motorcyclist in the 1950s riding a motorcycle with an “X” on the headlight meant they were more of an amateur racer. The idea quickly became popular and influenced trends in other countries, including the United States.
The X tape on the headlight: a military-origin idea
One theory about the X on race vehicle headlights in the 1950s is that racers took the idea from military vehicles that were navigating rocky terrains. In case a stone hit the headlight and shattered it, the tape in an X shape would keep the glass shards together, preventing possible harm to the occupants.
The black cross tape on motorcycle headlights today
Cafe racers and bobbers have had their ups and downs in popularity. But in recent years, they’ve really made a comeback, especially among vintage motorcycle enthusiasts. It no longer makes sense to put an “X” with duct tape on the headlight for safety reasons. Nowadays, people do it mainly for the retro look and as a tribute to those who influenced the style in the first place. Essentially, it’s a trend, a styling choice for retro bikes like cafe racers.
Another meanings of the black cross on the headlight of the motorcycle
This meaning isn’t official or widespread, but sometimes tape in the shape of an “X” is placed on the headlight of a motorcycle as a tribute to its deceased owner. I personally saw this at a tribute to a deceased member of a motorcycle club. During the tribute, black adhesive tape was used to create a cross on the headlight of his custom motorcycle.
Is it legal to ride with an “X” tape on the headlight of a motorcycle?
Many may wonder about the legality of sticking an “X” on a motorcycle’s headlight. The answer to whether it’s legal or not depends on the type of headlight and the amount of tape applied, as well as what the bike is being used for. If you’re using your cafe racer for track racing, marking the headlight shouldn’t be a problem.
It depends on the traffic code of each country. In Spain, the traffic code is very clear about this. You cannot install any object that impedes the full projection of the light beam from the vehicle’s lighting systems.
If your bike has a grille, an X with tape, or any other object that interferes with the light output, your bike will not pass the ITV (Vehicle Inspection), and you might be fined on the road.
These elements are more common in rallies, where authorities are not as strict about controversial decorative elements.
Another factor to consider is the heat emitted by the headlight. If low-quality tape is used for an extended period, it may melt.