all

  • Greek surprise in an art gallery

    Greek surprise in an art gallery

    When wandering around the wonderful Greek island of Spetses I entered an art gallery and found these two machines taking pride of place. One is a Norton and the other is a Sterling. I was

  • Classic Racer product placement

    Classic Racer product placement

    Malc Wheeler had the honour of starting the Classic Racer Lap of Honour at the Classic TT and in so doing he now has another claim to fame. The front row consisted of John McGuinness,

  • New 2019/2020 Mortons Books catalogue released

    New 2019/2020 Mortons Books catalogue released

    The Mortons Books catalogue showcases a wide range of topics from railway, military and aviation history to consumer issues, hobbies, crime and politics.

  • You’ve featured my Daytona!

    You’ve featured my Daytona!

    Well, not quite my machine but on opening my October 2019 copy of The Classic MotorCycle, I was amazed to see a 1972 Daytona looking just like mine – almost. I was aware of most

  • DIRTPRODUCTS

    DIRTPRODUCTS

    Do you make, import or otherwise supply bits and pieces, clothing or other stuff the world of off-road motorcycling needs to know about? If so, then your product could be featured in CDB. Contact Helen

  • Frankie for Newark Show

    Frankie for Newark Show

    Pierfrancesco ‘Frankie’ Chilli, is to star as guest of honour at the Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic at Newark showground over the weekend of January 11-12, 2020. Bologna-born Frankie, as he is known

  • Cycle aid: Cykelaid/Lady’s Model C

    Cycle aid: Cykelaid/Lady’s Model C

    At a time when transport for the masses was in hot demand, the Cykelaid offered ananswer for many. Words: ROY POYNTINGPhotographs: TERRY JOSLIN A quick glance at the Cykelaid gives the impression that it was

  • Three not of a kind

    Three not of a kind

    There has been at least some progress in the workshop with our collection of machinery. Words: Tim Britton Jerry’s Jumbo Jerry’s rolled up his sleeves and is pushing on to reach rolling frame stage with

  • Classic Racer archive: In a cloud of dust, they depart…

    Classic Racer archive: In a cloud of dust, they depart…

    Photo: Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive YEAR: You Tell us // LOCATION: A rock in the middle of the Irish Sea Attention paddock, attention paddock, time to get pushing… The Mountain calls and the

  • November/December issue out now!

    November/December issue out now!

    Classic Racer magazine celebrates the greatest racers and racing motorcycles in history, where motorcycle-racing legends truly live on.

  • Classic Racer archive: Getting a lesson

    Classic Racer archive: Getting a lesson

    Photograph: Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive YEAR: 1969 // LOCATION: Isle of Man On a day much like any other, one rider gracefully gets out of the way for another coming through on a

  • COMPETITION! Chance to win Premier Vyrus helmet – worth £189.95

    COMPETITION! Chance to win Premier Vyrus helmet – worth £189.95

    We’ve teamed up with our friends at Premier to offer you the chance to win a Premier Vyrus helmet worth £189.95.

  • November 2019 Issue out now!

    November 2019 Issue out now!

    It’s the Suzuki Katana Special, where old meets new! This month’s Classic Motorcycle Mechanics is a must-read!

  • The Bob Mac

    The Bob Mac

    The SCRMC recently served up a full card of classic racing at the East Fortune circuit, for the traditional Bob Mac meeting. Against the backdrop of the former First and Second World War airfield, there

  • Whatever happened to Michael O’Rourke

    Whatever happened to Michael O’Rourke

    Words: Chris Pereira Michael was born on April 11,1931 in Plumstead London and the family later moved to Camberwell. His father Bill was a butcher by trade, but he was also a grasstrack rider so

  • Pre-TT Classic: Jamie’s day

    Pre-TT Classic: Jamie’s day

    Jamie Coward was the man of the meeting at the Pre-TT Classic, clocking up three wins as well as new outright lap and race records for the event. But it certainly wasn’t all plain sailing

  • John Williams: A private matter – Part 2

    John Williams: A private matter – Part 2

    Despite the interest from Yamaha and Honda, it was Suzuki who John lined up with in 1976 and it saw John and wife Margaret give up the life of the privateer, replacing it with the

  • Classic Racer specialist spotlight: LOUIGI MOTO

    Classic Racer specialist spotlight: LOUIGI MOTO

    We’re shining a light on some of the biggest and best players in the Classic Racing world and this timewe’ve been speaking to Louigi Moto’s Richard Llewellin. WHAT’S LOUIGI MOTO? Based down in the South

  • Record breaking weekend of Classic Action

    Record breaking weekend of Classic Action

    Words: Jono Yardley Photographs: Charlie Battisti British Historic Racing’s third racing weekend of the year was held at the lovely one-mile-long Kent circuit of Lydden, just a few miles outside of Dover. It’s always good

  • New on AllMyReads: The Scrapbook Series – AJS

    New on AllMyReads: The Scrapbook Series – AJS

    AllMyReads is the new way to browse unlimited non-fiction books, taking you on in-depth journeys all in the palm of your hand.

  • New on AllMyReads: The Scrapbook Series – AJS

    New on AllMyReads: The Scrapbook Series – AJS

    AllMyReads is the new way to browse unlimited non-fiction books, taking you on in-depth journeys all in the palm of your hand.

  • New on AllMyReads: The Scrapbook Series – AJS

    New on AllMyReads: The Scrapbook Series – AJS

    AllMyReads is the new way to browse unlimited non-fiction books, taking you on in-depth journeys all in the palm of your hand.

  • Gone but not forgotten: Colin Seeley, Vic Eastwood, les archer

    Gone but not forgotten: Colin Seeley, Vic Eastwood, les archer

    It is a fact of life that life comes to an end and none of us can go on for ever. Here at Classic Dirt Bike we regularly deal with images of the stars of

  • New Old Stock

    New Old Stock

    Oh, and one to race too! Words and pics: Tim Britton If your business is based on a particular model of motorcycle to the exclusion of all others, then there are a number of ways

  • Moment in Time: 20 years ago – MICK DOOHAN’S LAST RIDE

    Moment in Time: 20 years ago – MICK DOOHAN’S LAST RIDE

    It was another dodgy day at Jerez, the first day of practice for the first GP of the 1999 European season. Mick Doohan, titan of the 500 class, was having an indifferent start to the

  • More than the sum of ITS parts

    More than the sum of ITS parts

    Sometimes a specification sheet can give the totally wrong impression of a bike. The MV Agusta 350S might just be the best example of such a phenomenon… Words: PHIL TURNER Photographs: GARY CHAPMAN The early

  • Sammy to be guest of honour

    Sammy to be guest of honour

    The Pre-65 Scottish Trial Committee is very excited to announce that Sammy Miller will be the guest of honour at its May 1/2 trial. A spokesman for the committee told CDB: “We are very privileged

  • Knock-out Yamaha

    Knock-out Yamaha

    I really appreciated the letter from Nigel Megson regarding the great article by Andy Westlake on my Greeves 197cc Scottish in the September 2019 issue of The Classic MotorCycle. In answer to his question concerning

  • Honda FireBlade: Best colour scheme?

    Honda FireBlade: Best colour scheme?

    This Honda CBR900RR-S FireBlade is more than 25 years old, but take a walk around its flanks and it looks so clean, spotless and almost point-perfect.

  • Rare Mike Hailwood watch to be auctioned at Stafford

    Rare Mike Hailwood watch to be auctioned at Stafford

    A rare timepiece given to Mike Hailwood by gifted watchmaker and pioneer entrepreneur Jack Heuer will feature in the Bonhams auction at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show at Stafford later this month.

  • Rare Mike Hailwood watch to be auctioned at Stafford

    Rare Mike Hailwood watch to be auctioned at Stafford

    A rare timepiece given to Mike Hailwood by gifted watchmaker and pioneer entrepreneur Jack Heuer will feature in the Bonhams auction at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show at Stafford later this month.

  • Telford gets more Classic Dirt!

    Telford gets more Classic Dirt!

    Bernie Schreiber, the American World Trials champion of 1979, and Bryan ‘Badger’ Goss, the 1970 British 500cc motocross champion, are guests for the Telford Classic Dirt Bike Show of 2020.

  • ‘Over 200 exotic motorcycles’ to go to auction next month

    ‘Over 200 exotic motorcycles’ to go to auction next month

    More than 200 “exotic” motorcycles including Ducatis, collectible Japanese sports bikes and two-stroke street machines, will go to auction in Tampa, Florida on November 9.

  • A touring Triumph

    A touring Triumph

    Intrepid motorcycle tourist Ida Crow and two companions take a European jaunt on their TR5 Trophies. Words: ADAM REARPhotographs: MOTONS MEDIA ARCHIVE At first glance, the photograph asks more questions than it answers, with a

  • ‘Over 200 exotic motorcycles’ to go to auction next month

    ‘Over 200 exotic motorcycles’ to go to auction next month

    More than 200 “exotic” motorcycles including Ducatis, collectible Japanese sports bikes and two-stroke street machines, will go to auction in Tampa, Florida on November 9.

  • October 2019 Issue on sale now!

    October 2019 Issue on sale now!

    Laverda Loud & Proud! Honda FT500! Honda Blackbird! This month’s Classic Motorcycle Mechanics magazine has got the lot!

  • Stafford 2019: View Bonhams catalogue for free

    Stafford 2019: View Bonhams catalogue for free

    With the Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show only a few weeks away, Bonhams are showing their catalogue ahead of the show for free.

  • Lind’s a learner

    Television and radio star shows off her small-wheeled transport. Photograph: MORTONS ARCHIVE From July 1948, actress, comedian, singer and radio star Lind Joyce explains the workings of her Brockhouse Corgi scooter to a youngster riding

  • Nine years that rocked the world: Part 1

    Nine years that rocked the world: Part 1

    This year marks the diamond jubilee of Honda’s first appearance at the Isle of Man TT in 1959, and there hasn’t been a single year since without the successful participation of racing machines built by

  • Showtime

    Showtime

    As the International Dirt Bike Show moves into a new phase, we take a look at dirt bike shows from the past. Words: Tim Britton Pics: Mortons Archive The International Dirt Bike Show had a

  • CDB show dinner with special guests

    CDB show dinner with special guests

    We all like a bite to eat and if there’s a chance to enjoy some food in good company and listen to some tales teased from the star guests by Jack Burnicle, then so much

  • Gearing up for a sidevalve

    Gearing up for a sidevalve

    So Arthur Pentney (OBM Letters July) likes his Norton sidevalve solos but not his BSA M20 which was “somewhat heavy and ponderous and lacking cornering ability” – could this be because he was talking of

  • Cadwell pics parte the seventh

    Cadwell pics parte the seventh

    When Colin’s nephew gave me this batch when we worked for a Lincoln company in the 1980s, he had a huge pile of the card-backed prints. I just wonder what happened to them all if

  • Rebuild | Triumph unit twin: I’ll do that later…

    Rebuild | Triumph unit twin: I’ll do that later…

    In the quest to assemble the big bits as quickly as possible, the details often have to wait. Words and photographs: Tim Britton I doubt anyone who has assembled a motorcycle of any sort will

  • Spot that frame damage

    Spot that frame damage

    Visit any autojumble and you’ll find many motorcycle frames on offer and you’ll see enthusiasts happily buying the most unpromising structures. Are they mad, or do they know something we don’t? Words and photographs: RICHARD

  • Jewel of a motorcycle

    Jewel of a motorcycle

    This fabulous Royal Ruby V-twin has a rather regal bearing, which issomewhat ironic, as it was the overthrow of the Russian royal familythat most likely led to its non-delivery. Words: Rachael Clegg Photographs: Gary Chapman/Mortons

  • A brief chat with… the Association of Pioneer Motor Cyclists

    A brief chat with… the Association of Pioneer Motor Cyclists

    Club life is a good way to be involved. Words: TIM BRITTON Photographs: BRIAN SLARK It’s a slightly different take on our brief chat for this month as we’re talking to a club rather than

  • Men who mattered: Mick Walker

    Men who mattered: Mick Walker

    He bought a scooter, and was satisfied with that, until a go on a friend’s motorcycle proved revelatory. There are people who’ve written a lot of books – and then there’s Mick Walker. The author

  • Hello…

    Hello…

    What a great cover photo on your July 2019 issue: London’s Metropolitan police officers on the Noddy Course. When the Met put hundreds of officers on two wheels in the late 1950s, many of them

  • Suzuki TM400

    Suzuki TM400

    Was Suzuki’s big TM the final frontier? Steve Cooper goes where no man has gone before to reveal the truth. In late 1969 or early 1970 someone at Suzuki’s Hamamatsu HQ came up with the

  • Darlo dreams

    Darlo dreams

    This picture (left) could have been taken in 1948 but was actually taken last month. It shows my 1951 BSA C11 next to Tornado, which was the first steam locomotive built in Britain for 50

  • Special interest

    Special interest

    This fascinating, charming and ultra-rare motorcycle comes from the early days of Vincent-HRD manufacture. Words: James Robinson Photographs: Gary Chapman When I was a child, I was obsessed with a book called ‘The Vincent HRD

  • Cockerel of the north

    Cockerel of the north

    Designed to mobilise the postwar northern Italian workforce, Moto Guzzi’s Galletto offered function in quite a strange form, but it’s not without its charms. Words: Phil Turner Photographs: Gary Chapman Few countries enjoyed a post-Second

  • And it was all Velo

    And it was all Velo

    For a first ride on a rigid frame, girder-forked machine, what better place to do it than at Mallory Park, during The Festival of 1000 Bikes. Words: Chelsea Borchert Photographs: Matt Hull The rejuvenated Vintage

  • My own two Eglis: The same but different

    My own two Eglis: The same but different

    I was very interested in your Egli-Vincents article, and the heading ‘The same but different’ was appropriate. It is also appropriate to my Egli-Vincents as I have a single (Egli-Vincent Comet Special) and a twin

  • Hand-built for a master

    Hand-built for a master

    Build a bike for a world champ to ride? No pressure then… Words Tim Britton Pics Tim Britton, Fiona Watson and Martin Mathews Building a motorcycle which will be used by a former world champion,

  • Goodbye, Gene

    Goodbye, Gene

    Gene Romero excelled in every aspect of motorcycle racing across a long and successful career. And he was known as ‘Burrito’. Gene Romero had an unlikely start for a motorcycle racing legend, having spent four

  • Make them so we can ride them!

    Make them so we can ride them!

    Having just come back from my wife trying a new Royal Enfield Himalayan for size, we couldn’t believe your editorial piece in the last issue. The seat height is 30 inches and it is just

  • Thumping good start

    Thumping good start

    I read the article about the XT500 enthusiastically because I’ve always had a soft spot for these big two-valve single engines, both in XT and SR forms. On the matter of starting, I found the

  • Cullen and the 1971 ISDT

    Cullen and the 1971 ISDT

    Being a trials man myself I enjoyed the Greeves Scottish story featuring Chris Cullen in the September 2019 issue. The last time I saw Chris Cullen was on a Steam Packet ferry, bound for Douglas

  • Road trim Jimmy

    Road trim Jimmy

    I enjoyed your article on lightweight military motorcycles (June 2019 issue) and thought readers may be interested in the civilian version of the James Military Lightweight (ML). After the Second Word War ended, James continued

  • Swinging arm conversions

    Swinging arm conversions

    There were quite a few observations about aftermarket rear suspension in your September 2019 magazine. It should be noted conversions were not just confined to off-road machines. Here are some photos of my late father

  • Falling Flat: Honda FT500

    Falling Flat: Honda FT500

    Scorned, derided and cold-shouldered at the time, but why? Steve Cooper samples Honda’s flat-track styled FT500 from the early 1980s. Honda’s brave attempt at getting on the big thumper bandwagon was, arguably, always doomed to

  • You need a Jap in your shed

    You need a Jap in your shed

    This mythical shed is getting quite full, but there is always room for one more motorcycle in there and when it’s as good as this JAP then room would be made anyway. Words and Pics:

  • Plane game

    Plane game

    On pages 6/7 of the September 2019 issue of TCM, the aeroplane is a French-built SNCASE SE 161 Languedoc, powered by four 900HP Gnome Rhone engines. Air France used 40 of them – 100 were

  • WIN! Weise Tundra Jeans worth £99.99

    WIN! Weise Tundra Jeans worth £99.99

    We’ve teamed up with our friends at Weise to offer you the chance to win a pair of Weise Tundra Jeans worth £99.99!

  • Cub’s Classic

    Cub’s Classic

    Many dads and lads ride the ‘Scottish’ but only onedad and lad duo have won it. Words and pics: Tim Britton As the suspense mounted in the hall of the Leven Centre on Saturday evening

  • The early years of Fausto Gresini

    The early years of Fausto Gresini

    Words: Norm DeWitt Photos: Norm DeWitt and Don Morley archive Watching the racing in his native Imola, Gresini was drawn to the sport, especially the famous F750 races held there, featuring his hero, Marco Lucchinelli.

  • Scrambling memories

    Scrambling memories

    I was delighted to read Andy Westlake’s article (TCM, July 2019) about a 350cc scrambles Matchless and his fond memories of that era. I was a competitor at that time and this was my 1953

  • It was the Best of Times

    It was the Best of Times

    The Racing Career of Charlie Williams Another long overdue story of a hugely successful race career is told in Charlie Williams’ autobiography. Starting out as a sidecar passenger, Charlie quickly realised he should stick to

  • Show us yours: 1999 Triumph Thunderbird

    Show us yours: 1999 Triumph Thunderbird

    Leigh Myhill sent in this brilliant picture of their fully recovered 1999 Triumph Thunderbird!

  • The madness of Millyard on show at Stafford

    The madness of Millyard on show at Stafford

    Genius engineer Allen Millyard, will be showcasing many of his wild and wacky creations at The Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show in October when he is a guest of honour. Allen is renowned for

  • Welcome to our world!

    Welcome to our world!

    Words: John Nutting Photography: Gary D Chapman, John Nutting Every month our sister title Classic Motorcycle Mechanics features brilliant bikes like this one – Yamaha’s 500cc V4 two-stroke. You want more loveliness like this piece

  • Sliding for charity at sidecar festival

    Sliding for charity at sidecar festival

    One of the highlights of The Cadwell Park Sidecar Festival, held in June, (and there were many), was the sponsored passenger rides in the sidecars, raising money for charity. One of the first to hold

  • 34hp and 60 years of progress?

    34hp and 60 years of progress?

    If there’s one thing that classic motorcycling canteach us, it’s that the passage of time does not always equate with developments and improvements, as Chris Coote tells us. I own a 60-year-old Venom, which I

  • The early years

    The early years

    Any of us who have been around motorcycles for any period of time will have some tales to tell of our fellow riders, and Ralph Ridley is certainly no exception… One of the benefits of

  • Farewell Itoh-san

    Farewell Itoh-san

    Words: Tommy Robb It is with great sadness that I write this tribute to a long-time Japanese Suzuki Team icon who was one of Suzuki’s flagship riders and my friend of 59 years. When we

  • The shape of things to come more than half a century ago!

    The shape of things to come more than half a century ago!

    Pete Kelly raids the Mortons’ Archive once again to discover how the weekly motorcycling press reacted to a brace of 250cc Japanese twins in the early 1960s – Honda’s overhead-camshaft C72 Dream in 1961 and

  • Remembering the roads

    Remembering the roads

    Dear CR The article in CR #197 about the making of the film, The Road Racers, got me thinking – always dangerous for a pensioner… I saw the film on BBC2 when first shown and

  • Outside assistance

    Outside assistance

    Regarding the front page photograph of Jim Sandford’s tyre repair in the 1971 ISDT on the Isle of Man. First the people from left to right, on bike number 999, is Ken Heanes, my friend

  • 2019 Motorcycle Grand National race weekend returns!

    2019 Motorcycle Grand National race weekend returns!

    The 2019 Motorcycle Grand National race meeting returns this weekend for another year of spectacular racing on two wheels at the famous Castle Combe.

  • 2019 Motorcycle Grand National race weekend returns!

    2019 Motorcycle Grand National race weekend returns!

    The 2019 Motorcycle Grand National race meeting returns this weekend for another year of spectacular racing on two wheels at the famous Castle Combe.

  • An H1 meets its end

    An H1 meets its end

    I was very interested to read in the May issue of OBM,, Steve Cooper’s article on the remarkable emergency development of the Kawasaki H1 500cc triple. Readers may be interested to recall that at the

  • T-minus five minutes…

    T-minus five minutes…

    YEAR: 1987 // LOCATION: Anderstorp, Sweden// IT’S THE: 125cc grid When Don Morley sent us this image for our Fausto feature on page 28 of this very issue, we had a problem. We desperately wanted

  • Is anything new?

    Is anything new?

    I was reading the letters in the latest OBM and something stirred when I read the letter titled ‘Nothing’s new’. Rummaging through my old motorcycle mags I came across the attached article. By modern standards

  • Festival of 1000 bikes

    Festival of 1000 bikes

    Now back to its roots, the VMCC Festival of 1000 Bikes proved hugely popular with those on track and spectators alike. Always a favourite with the crowd is the John Cooper and Giacomo Agostini reenactment

  • Constellation gearbox mods

    Constellation gearbox mods

    I found reading about the Royal Enfield (Constellation) on page 36 of the June issue of Classic Bike Guide very interesting. It reminded me of when my two boys and I rode Enfield bullets in

  • Money doesn’t buy happiness good advice

    Money doesn’t buy happiness good advice

    Like you say in Classic Bike Guide’s July editorial, not everyone has £10,000 for a bike – I never have. I would guess my collection of sometimes running semi-wrecks (although I don’t include my Honda

  • Duking it out with a Goldie

    Duking it out with a Goldie

    Following the Gold Star vs Thruxton article (June 2019 edition), and my brother (Chris Briston) visiting us last week from the USA, and the June ‘Where are they now?’ letter, I was prompted to write

  • Show Us Yours: Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo

    Show Us Yours: Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo

    Take a look at Ian Cleveley’s Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo! Here’s what Ian had to say about his bike!

  • A reply from Pete Crawford

    A reply from Pete Crawford

    Dear Dick I’m so glad that you enjoyed the recent Ray Knight and Mick Boddice pieces. I’ve always had a soft spot for the chairs and production racers. They never quite commanded the same status

  • Stand aid

    Stand aid

    I’ve read in OBM, and other mags, plaintive messages from older riders who are selling bikes because of difficulty with machine weight, especially when lifting on to centre stands. One method suggested by Tony Groves

  • SEPTEMBER ISSUE OUT NOW!

    SEPTEMBER ISSUE OUT NOW!

    Suzuki GS750! Aprilia Moto 6.5 Ridden! Puch VZ50! This month’s Classic Motorcycle Mechanics magazine has got the lot!

  • Place correction

    Place correction

    With regards to the Louie McLean article in the August 2019 issue and the statement that her husband George “went on to run a motorcycle dealership in Perthshire”. George McLean’s business was in Dundee and

  • Webster stars at Stafford

    Webster stars at Stafford

    Steve Webster, the most successful sidecar racer of all time, will be guest of honour at the Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show this October. He always attracted a large audience during his racing days,

  • Rider identification

    Rider identification

    I have just opened my copy of the July mag and noticed that on page 28 you have named the rider on the sidecar as possibly being Bruce Main-Smith. I can say that the rider

  • More on Meier

    More on Meier

    With reference to Herman Meier, as featured in You Were Asking in the TCM of August 2019, I met Herman several times. The pictured bike was ridden in sprints by John Kimberley, and I suggest

  • It’s… and… with…

    It’s… and… with…

    Dear CR Yet another great mag (#198 July/August) and the where and when picture did indeed get me thinking, so many cross issues to note. To start, the two Nortons made me think 1973 but

  • TJ Wassell

    TJ Wassell

    Keen to discover whether the heart of England’s motorcycle industry still has plenty to offer, Dave Manning heads to the West Midlands, and finds lots of true British industry. While there are those who bemoan

  • DAMMIT

    DAMMIT

    YEAR: 1978 // LOCATION: Brands Hatch There comes a moment in every racer’s life when he’s sure he’s passed the slippery stuff – when he’s seen the obstacle in front of him, identified the course


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