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The British Two-Stroke Conundrum
There came a point when both Panther and Ariel stopped building their traditional four-stroke motorcycles and switched over to two-stroke production. David Bullivant has a theory which explains why…
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That Was Then. Is It Still Now?
Do you prefer cappuccino, or is builder’s tea more your style? Rowena Hoseason wonders if there’s still room for all sorts in classic biking…
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Opinion: AMC Anorak 26
There was once a time when folk rode their AJS and Matchless motorcycles all over the place! Frank Westworth reflects…
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The Perfect Motorcycle
In a recent issue of RealClassic magazine, reader Roger Bibbings asked for nominations for the perfect modern motorcycle to suit classic bike riders. And lots of people answered him…
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Where BSAs Dare! by Norman Vanhouse
Back in 1952, three workaday BSA A7s beat the world to win gold medals in the ISDT and secure the Maudes Trophy. This new book tells the inside story, written by one of the competitors…
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Way to Go, by Geoff Hill
Two of the world’s great motorcycle journeys involve riding an Enfield Bullet from India to Belfast and a Harley-Davidson down Route 66. Dave Blendell enjoyed this entertaining tale…
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Norton Prototype Racer
The first part of the story of Waltzing Walter the Rotor-Racer appeared in issue 28 of the magazine but was cut somewhat short. So here’s the whole thing: from drawing board to TT triumph to the National Motorcycle Museum…
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Vroom with a View by Peter Moore
How would you handle a mid-life crisis? This author set off on a classic scooter to see life in rural Italy…
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When Choppers Were Cool
That’s no way to treat a classic bike! John Kane revisits a simple land before heroes emerged from the back streets…
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Pride And Clarke
In the heyday of the British bike industry, everyone had heard of (or bought a bike from) Pride and Clarke in London’s Stockwell Road. Our readers remember them…
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Opinion: AMC Anorak 25
Great Things Are Afoot. Is Frank Westworth really going to sell a classic bike? Or even two classic bikes? Stranger things have happened. But not many…
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Opinion: The BSA OC: Behind The Scenes
Want to know what an Owners’ Club is really like? A65Bill dishes the dirt with the inside story of the BSA Owners’ Club recent AGM…
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‘Vincent Motorcycles since 1955, the continuing story’ by David Wright
Jacqueline Bickerstaff, acknowledged expert on HRD-Vincent and an author on the subject herself, finds plenty to fascinate in this new hardback…
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Vincent Black Knight and other twins
There never had been a motorcycle so packed with original design and high speed stamina. Old legends like this, says Dave Minton, never die. They simply race away…
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Velocette Motorcycles, MSS to Thruxton by Rod Burris
There’s a new hardback book available, covering the later models of Velocette singles in great depth. Rowena Hoseason enjoys turning the pages…
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Velocette 350 Mac
‘Just give me the facts, ma’am, just the facts’. In that frame of mind, we present a new, rapid-fire format of real classic bike guides for your delectation…
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Opinion: AMC Anorak 24
Did you know that lots and lots of the very best, British-built AJS and Matchless motorcycles were exported to the USA? It came as a surprise to Frank Westworth…
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Opinion: Vive La Rivet-Counter
You might not want to rebuild your classic bike to standard spec, but sometimes it helps if someone else has. Karl Bentley’s BSA A50 may have been modified. Or not. Who knows?
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Opinion: AMC Anorak 23
Art for art’s sake; isn’t that what they say? A devoted student of the art of motorcycling, Frank Westworth has long been a fan of old adverts…
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Opinion: AMC Anorak 22
A famous motoring writer and a few Matchless motorcycles appear in this month’s musings, but mainly Frank Westworth mourns the troubles of a roadside friend…
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1969 Velocette Venom
You might think that taking home a trophy would be enough excitement for one day. But Ian Pointon’s Velo Venom attracted more attention than he expected at the Post-TT meet…
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The Lively LE
There once was a day when an everso ‘umble Velo LE overtook an Enfield Interceptor. Mick Merrick was there, but rather wishes he hadn’t been…
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Triumph Pre-Unit Twins by Matthew Vale
From the Speed Twin to the first Bonneville, this glossy hardback tells the story of Turner’s iconic twins…
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Opinion: A Bug’s Life
Jim Peace has made many friends on his motorcycling travels. Meet Nebraska, the bug…
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Opinion: AMC Anorak 21
Different strokes for different folks. Frank Westworth remembers a great British stroker…
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Opinion: First Rides on Classic Bikes
Dave Wooding started his riding career with a Triumph 3T. He also rode a Bantam-based Villiers-engined oddity and a BSA B31, but it’s the Triumph 350 twin which he remembers the most fondly…
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Opinion: London Bike Shows – Excel vs Ally Pally
This year – this week, in fact – there have been two competing motorcycle shows in London. Martin Gelder tries to pick a winner while making
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Triumph Experimental by Mick Duckworth
Even now, more untold tales of the original British bike industry still surface. This hardback book focuses on the efforts of Doug Hele and his Meriden development team in the late 1960s and early 70s…
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Triumph Bonneville Celebration
This two-disc DVD set re-lives the weekend of the Bonneville’s 50th birthday, and offers an overview of the world’s most famous classic motorcycle. Matt Vale spent an evening by the box…
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The Road Racing History of the Triumph 500 Unit Twin, by Claudio Sintich
A true enthusiast’s book, this one; packed with technical information and racing recollections. Dave Minton discovers how the competition Triumph Daytona 500s performed so well in the late 1960s…
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Triumph 650 & 750 Twins by Matthew Vale
The Triumph Bonneville is probably the world’s most famous classic bike. RC writer Matt has produced a splendid book on the subject…
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Opinion: AMC Anorak 20
If you want to ride your classic bike roughshod, then you simply can’t beat the real thing! Frank Westworth’s been playing in the dirt…
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Famous Last Words 29a: On Knowledge, Power, BSA C15s and Anoraks
Power is knowledge, apparently. This may be important if you intend to own a BSA C15, as Frank Westworth explains…
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Famous Last Words 29: On Classicness
If a bike from yesteryear was rubbish when it was a new bike, does that mean it’s still rubbish now it can claim to be a classic bike? Frank Westworth contemplates classicness and other fantasies…
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Triumph T120R Bonneville
In years gone by, young men dribbled and young women swooned at the very mention of the name. Bonneville. Can the T120 live up to its reputation, even today? Rowena Hoseason examines an icon
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Triumph Motorcycle Restoration, Pre-Unit, by Garry Chitwood and Timothy Remus
Chris Spaett of Venture Classics has restored several classic Triumph motorcycles, so he seemed like the ideal chap to review this new book for us…
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Triumph 3TA “Bikini”
Shock-horror! After much online debate, a RealClassic.co.uk reader splashes some cash on a shiny Triumph twin! Paul Webb explains how he’s fallen in love with his second-ever Britbike, and now all his thoughts are golden…
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1961 (or 1962?) Triumph T100A
Kevin off of the RealClassic Message Board ponders the origins of his 1961 Triumph 500 twin, originally registered as CSU 662. Maybe…
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Famous Last Words 3
Old bike clubs are right at the core of the classic bike scene. Frank Westworth has belonged to many clubs, but wonders whether the excitement is all too much…
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Famous Last Words 13: A Little Knowledge
A little knowledge is supposed to be a dangerous thing. Frank Westworth has a little knowledge, but worries about those with less…
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Famous Last Words 4
What are journalists for? Should they always tell it as it is? Or as they see it? Frank Westworth fears a breakdown but Sandra Saves The Day…
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Famous Last Words 30: Nortons New and Old
If his choice of bikes isn’t terrible enough, the fact that he can afford one is worse! Frank Westworth is as bemused as ever…
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Triumph T100A – Part 7
After 14 months of hard labour, Dave has turned a miscellany of motorcycle spares into a real live classic bike. But now he has to make it legal…
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1975 Triumph T160
It’s a winner! Stuart Bidwell’s Trident collected a pretty prize during the 2004 summer show season. But when he bought it, Stuart thought it was ready to roll…
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Triumph T100A – Part 6
So Dave had just taken his first ride on his rebuilt Triumph Tiger… and then he stopped to look at it. Ooops…
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Triumph T100A – Part 5
The end of the project is in sight, and Dave isn’t going to let little things like the lack of a saddle and dodgy ignition timing stop him. Pass the bubblewrap, and he’s away!
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Famous Last Words: New Year Resolution
You’re reading a website about old bikes, so presumably you like old bikes. But do you ride one? Frank Westworth is dazed and confused…
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A Classic Introduction
What bike would make the perfect introduction to real classic motorcycling? Vague familiarity or character-building oddness? Paul Miles conducts a scientific experiment on a man called Simon…
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Duller than a Deauville
Article continues below… Advert Enjoy more classic motorcycle reading, Click here to subscribe to one of our leading magazines. “These large corporate companies won’t force their vision of motorcycles for the masses on me”. Anarchy goes to test ride a new Honda…. On any Sunday, well actually this last one, I rode over to my…
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Are Retro Replicas Good Value?
Martin Gelder goes to Motorcycle Live at the NEC and comes back with a head full of questions and a camera full of inspiration and distraction in equal measure…
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Triumph T100A – Part 4
It’s the Moment Of Truth for Dave’s rebuild project. The Tiger is back in one piece and he’s got to get it going. So. Will it start?
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Triumph Rocket III
After a day’s escapades, Steve The Toaster reckons this is one Triumph which is a classic straight from the crate. Martin Gelder, on the other hand, says it might be big but it’s not clever…
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Triumph T100A – Part 3
We’ve followed Dave’s rebuild from the day he brought home a box of bits, as he attempts to fulfil his dream of owning a top-notch Tiger. Next items on the agenda: paint, and brakes…
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Triumph T100A – Part 2
In the first instalment, Dave found and bought his dream bike (or a large box of bits depending on how you look at it). This time: wiring and shocks and going for a bus ride…
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Riding Reminiscences 2
Ian Caswell recalls more of his early riding years at the Paddock, and one particular episode which became a local motorcycling myth…
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Racing Days at Mocheck, Part 3
John Ryan shares a final selection of his classic motorcycling photographic memories from the days when South London dealer Mocheck developed competitive production racers…
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Racing Days at Mocheck, Part 2
By 1976, Mocheck were enjoying enough success on the circuits that the company produced and sold a proddie race replica. John Ryan rode less and spent more time spannering, and shares a selection of his classic photographic memories of the era…
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Triumph T100A – Part 1
You know how it goes: always wanted a classic bike, never could quite afford one. Dave (aka Molster96) risked domestic distress in order to fulfil his dream…
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Triumph T100 Bonneville
When the need arises for a modern-but-traditional motorcycle, Mike Powell didn’t quite know which one to choose. So he let his Better Half do all the deciding for him…
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1950 Triumph Thunderbird
1950’s Britain was very different to today. So what was it like to run a classic bike then, a Triumph Thunderbird, when it was brand new? David Gambie remembers…
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Triumph Bonneville Versus Kawasaki W650
If you’re talking about modern classically-styled twins, then which is actually better? Brady Davis rides both regularly, and so take us down some parallel lines…
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Racing Days at Mocheck, Part 1
Back in the 1970s, Mocheck of Clapham fielded an array of racers. John Ryan shares a selection of his photographic memories of the time, from the track and back at the shop…
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Famous Last Words 9 – Ignorance is Bliss
Motorcycling and music fit together as well as grease and grit, says Frank Westworth. Possibly…
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SatNav Savvy!
Andreas Ganzera responds to Rowena’s recent grumbling about not using GPS or modem navigational aids. Andreas reckons SatNav makes much more sense on the European mainland…
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Great White Hope or Giant White Elephant
We’ve just received a press release about the launch of a new British Motorcycle Brand, complete with tantalising computer generated images of a range of Buell Blast based singles. Martin Gelder isn’t sure whether to laugh or cry…
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1959 Triton T100
George Wilshaw’s Triton defied classification at the 2004 Stinkwheel RealClassic Bike Show. As we couldn’t figure out which class it belonged in, we had to invent an award on the spot for it…
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Triumph T150 Trident
Roy Bacon gave the early T150 a 5-star rating (otherwise reserved for the pre-unit twins and Thruxton Bonnie). We met two T150 owners who explain what’s so special about their three-cylinder machines…
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1955 Triumph Speed Twin
When is CB350 Paul not CB350 Paul? When he’s Speed Twin Paul, of course. The Speed Twin route to classic motorcycle contentment is not necessarily a straight- forward one, however…
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1970 Triumph TR6C
Ever bought more than you bargained for? Jerry Fiford did when he fell for a classic 1970 Triumph Trophy, and he explains how and why to Rowena Hoseason…
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Where Are They Now?
In the grip of nostalgia, you may be tempted to try to find your P&J from years gone by. We’ve found that strategic enquiries works better than the scattergun approach…
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Riding Reminiscences
What did lads get up to, back when BSA Bantams were the motorcycle of choice for youthful despatch riders in the City of London? Daniel Hicks spins a story which might have a sniff of the truth in it…
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Famous Last Words 7
‘It’s very nice, but…’ Journalists ride other folks’ bikes all the time. Frank Westworth has just loaned his Number One Favourite Motorcycle to someone else…
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Famous Last Words 10: Facing Facts
Fiction is a wonderful thing in its place. That place shouldn’t really be in the description of a motorcycle, says Frank Westworth…
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Triumph T140D Bonneville Special
Was there really anything special about the T140D apart from its name? Steve Wilson rode one, and reports…
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Triumph Speed Twin – Daisy’s Diary Part I
Daisy the Speed Twin has carried Graham Ham half around the country and has become more than a little bit famous in the process. But just how did their adventure begin?
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Triumph Tiger Cub
All that glitters… is usually a pain in the posterior. And the pocket! David Rooney learned this lesson when he bought a beautiful-looking T20…
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Triumph 650 Twin
It’s not really a Bonneville, but Neil Owen’s individually-tailored twin-carb 650 twin might, just might, be better than a Bonneville…
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Famous Last Words 8: If Ethanol Clogs Your Carburettor…
Frank Westworth muses upon the meaning of magical metal lurgy…
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Historic Motorcycle Racing
The BHR classic racing season started last month. Roy Maddox reckons there was a missed opportunity at Mallory…
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Rules of the Road
Do you wave or nod to every other bike rider you meet on the road? Dave Whiting has undertaken four months of statistical research to see who responds (or not) to his greetings…
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Famous Last Words 18: Cooling Camaraderie?
Not all verbal exchanges need to be disagreements. Frank Westworth has been talking with other riders and wonders whether they’re as friendly as they used to be…
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Triumph 6T – 1961
If the amount your rebuild is costing frightens you, says Derek Foulds, then the solution is simple. Don’t add up the numbers! Can such ignorance be bliss with a Triumph twin?
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Triumph T160 Cardinal: Desert Dawn
The very last production T160 Tridents were several hundred built to Police spec for Saudi Arabia. Steve Wilson rode a refurbished one with less than 30 miles on its clock…
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Triumph T120V and T120TT
The debate hots up. Which is the Best Bonnie of all time? Jon Tait has some opinions, based around his three T120s
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‘Travelling With Mr Turner’ by Nigel Winter
A modern rider retraces a trip taken in the 1950s by Triumph’s top man, Edward Turner. This book tells the tale of both journeys, touching on how motorcycling and Britain itself have changed over half a century…
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Fettling of Parts
There are those who believe that classic motorcycles are poetry in motion. Marc Buffery proves that classic bike poetry can inspire all manner of emotions…
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It Takes All Sorts
Steve Cooper of the VJMC considers collectors, fettlers and hoarders of classic Japanese motorcycles…
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Riding Reminiscences 3
Back in the day, the young lads of The Paddock weren’t averse to a quick sprint to demonstrate their riding prowess. Ian Caswell remembers ones particular evening when things got a tiny little bit competitive…
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Famous Last Words 20: Emerging Classics
Why do so many of us apparently need to categorise everything? Frank Westworth is bemused by the notion of an emerging classic…
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‘Touching the World’ by Cathy Birchall
An 18 year old BMW. A trip across five continents, 31 countries and 26,000 miles. The first global circumnavigation by a blind person on a motorcycle. And a cracking read, says Dave Blendell…
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2004 Triumph Bonneville Thruxton 900
So the caff-race Bonnie has a strange riding position, dodgy stoppers and is more than a little lethargic? BikerBabe reckons you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers…
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1957 Triumph Thunderbird
‘Complete 1957 Thunderbird but in pieces’ read the advert. Roy Stockham wouldn’t usually reply to adverts that don’t give a price but the phone number indicated that the bike was only 20 miles away…
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Suzuki 650 Katana
Four-pot Japanese classics are over-complicated, tricky to maintain and expensive to run, right? Not quite. Steve Bergman has clocked up over 120,000 miles on the cut-rate Katana and reckons it has real classic cred…
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Doris Lowe, Her Motorcycling Life – Part 2
David Wright continues the story of a remarkable motorcyclist who took part in trials and displays; rode the largest capacity British bike of its time, and worked behind the scenes for decades for grassroots clubs and the national ACU…
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Doris Lowe, Her Motorcycling Life – Part 1
David Wright remembers a remarkable motorcyclist who took part in trials and displays; rode the largest capacity Britbike of its time, and worked behind the scenes for decades for grassroots clubs and the national ACU…
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What’s Classic and What’s Not
What is a ‘classic’? It’s one of those abstract questions that has fuelled a million internet arguments, ever since the first bulletin board was set up for people to talk about old vehicles. Andy Wegg adds fuel to the fire with a Jawa Mustang and some 500cc Hondas…
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Famous Last Words 6
Some folk fall off their bikes. A surprise, it’s true, but Frank Westworth is one of them. Someone is to blame! Someone must pay!…
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