retro café racer draws design from 1950s british racing motorcycles

Compass Rose’s ciulator is a retro-looking café racer

Meet Ciulator by Compass Rose, a retro café racer with a front shell that draws design from 1950s British racing motorcycles. Dubbed a flagship motorcycle created for collectors, its design and overall silhouette are grounded in the visual and mechanical language of 1950s British café racers. The body sits low and long, with a horizontal line running from the front fairing through the fuel tank and into the rear cowl. This stretched stance reflects how riders back in the day lowered their bikes to reduce wind resistance and improve stability at speed.

The Ciulator keeps this proportion intact, making the bike inspired by 1950s British racing motorcycles look compact. At the front, the full nose fairing is one of the most direct references to motorcycles of the previous era. The two-wheeler’s fairing wraps tightly around the front wheel and forks, with a narrow opening for airflow and a clear windscreen positioned low over the handlebars. This design forces the rider into a tucked riding position, which was standard practice in 1950s road racing.

all images courtesy of Compass Rose

two-wheeler inspired by 1950s british racing motorcycles

The handlebars of the bike inspired by 1950s British racing motorcycles appear low and close to the front end, similar to clip-on bars used by café racers. The fuel tank continues the historical reference, with its elongated shape mirroring the hand-formed tanks seen on classic British machines. The tank also narrows toward the seat, allowing the rider’s knees to grip the bike firmly. Behind it, the single-seat configuration reinforces the café racer identity. In the 1950s, riders removed passenger seats and excess parts to save weight. The Ciulator by the Korean brand Compass Rose follows this idea with a solo saddle that transitions into a raised rear cowl.

This rear section visually completes the bike’s streamlined form while signaling that the machine is built for one rider and one purpose: speed. The engine, suspension, and exhaust are hidden behind panels, still harking back to the designs of the 1950s British racing motorcycles. The wheels and tires further connect the bike to its historical roots, as the narrow tire profile matches the proportions used in early racing. By focusing on classic parts, reduced structure, and a racing-oriented layout, the Ciulator by Compass Rose positions itself as a modern object shaped by 1950s British racing motorcycle tradition.

meet Ciulator by Compass Rose, a retro café racer that draws design from 1950s British racing motorcycles