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Panther claimed ‘the Perfect Motorcycle’ in its catalogue of 1911, but the company had many more years of life after that. Phil Mather takes a look at 1948’s version of the breed…

When Featherbed based specials are mentioned, several variations of power unit come to mind but hardly ever would P&M’s slogging old sloper feature in the list. Jim Reynolds meets one such man for whom such ‘prejudices’ do not exist and finds that even the most bizarre concoction can produce quite remarkable results

Super Onslow Special and So Obviously Superior were two suggestions what the ‘SOS’ badge stood for. Whatever the terminology, the bike was an appeal to discriminating riders, to try something different in the lightweight utility market…

Norton’s Commando twin was only ever intended as a stop-gap model to put the Norton name back in the public eye, but the ‘stop-gap’ ran for 10 years and is regarded by many as the finest incarnation of the traditional British parallel twin…

Triumph’s Speed Twin was restyled in the late 1950s, its demure appearance suggesting life at a much slower pace…

What is the ultimate classic motorcycle? The model that the whole movement is based on? That’s right, the Vincent V-twin. Jim Reynolds rides a brand new Vincent V-twin…

The Norton Jubilee was launched in 1958, Norton’s Diamond Jubilee year, and though it perhaps wasn’t universally loved, it still has its devotees to this day

Take an ex-125 racer with a background in the bike trade, an old Triumph engine, a load of shiny new Metisse bits – and stir…

Abingdon King Dick, or the company’s safer internet search name AKD, were early pioneers of the tricycle, motorcycle and took an active lead in the development of its own range of engines, which was unusual and gained the company a lot of respect