Gallery

From early sporting leanings in the roaring 20s, Norton’s immortal 490cc pushrod engine developed into a delightful lusty slogger, fondly remembered by many. The ‘Easy’ 2 was a mainstay of the Norton range for over three decades, and it’s not difficult to see why it had such a devoted following

Triumph’s SD was based upon the despatch rider’s favourite, the Model H, but used Triumph’s own three-speed gearbox rather than the H’s Sturmey Archer and had chain replacing the belt final drive…

The Goodman family – manufacturers of Velocette – stopped making motorcycles circa 1970, right? Well, not quite. In 1998, Simon Goodman, the great grandson of the firm’s founder, made one last machine, and thanks to Neil Redley – marque enthusiast extraordinaire – we’ve scooped a test on this unique machine…

In the early 70s the world of twins was simple; Ducati produced Vee twins, BMWs were horizontally opposed and the British persevered with pushrod parallels… then Yamaha mixed it all up, with the OHC XS1…

The first of the 80’s was a hot-bed of motorcycle development where two-strokes took on four. Suzuki built both. The GSX-R750 and RG500 were about as hot as it got. 25 years on CMM stages a re-match…

Apart from wooden beer and wine barrels, the majority of fluid containing vessels are one piece structures. Not so engines. Joints are a feature of their design and oil tight seals are essential…

Museums are often criticised for having lots of static exhibits. Luckily the Beaulieu collection is more enlightened and actually allows historic machines to run. Jim Reynolds gets on with a legendary Norton…

Rod Ker is reminded of breezing along through a blue haze of burnt two stroke oil when he rides the smallest of Suzuki’s three-cylinder trio