Classic Bike

Classic Bike helps and inspires enthusiasts to get more from their passion for classic motorcycles. The magazine shares their fascination with motorcycling’s heroic past while also helping them buy, fix and improve the bikes in their shed. Our main areas of content are: - Inspirational and entertaining reads that celebrate the glory of motorcycling, from riding stories that put the reader in the seat of history’s greatest bikes to incredible racing tales - Restoration stories and instructional features that inspire and help people get their tools out and sort out their old bike - In-depth technical features from the most expert and authoritative writers in motorcycling If you share our passion about classic motorcycles from the last century, you'll enjoy reading Classic Bike.

Welcome

Soaking it all up • The annual run through the ‘Garden of England’ attracted a good turnout of determined riders from the UK and Europe, despite continuous rain. This ex-WD tank suit may seem optimistic clothing considering the weather, but nobody got back dry

Reinforce your coffee table • The Ultimate Collector Motorcycles book has just been published – a heavyweight tome in many respects

What’s new?

NEXT MONTH

Bol d’Or, Circuit Paul Ricard, France

Get up for the Kop • Kop Hill in Princes Risborough will be closed to local traffic on the weekend of September 16/17 for the annual Hilllclimb – but this is one road closure you don’t want to avoid. Classic Bike’s very own Rick Parkington has enjoyed the experience as a spectator and as a rider

More dates for September • Our choice of alternatives, if you can’t get to Kop Hill

Hats off to Harris

Classic Bike

Show us yours • We love to see your acquisitions, regular rides and projects – keep ’em coming to the address on the right...

50 GREATEST THINGS IN THE CLASSIC BIKE WORLD

50 TO 42

41 Dave Hancock • Representing motorcycle test riders in our top 50 is Dave Hancock, who was Charlie Williams’ mechanic, sold 40 RC30s over a weekend and test rode the Honda FireBlade three years before it was launched…

40 TO 37

36 Honda RC30 • ‘One giant leap for motorcycling’ says Mat Oxley, who crashed the first Honda RC30 to reach Britain in 1988, then rode one to second in the 1990 Spa 24 Hours

35 TO 30

29 Triumph X-75 Hurricane • Catch a Hurricane glittering in bright sunshine and you can’t fail to admit it’s one of the Great Things about classic motorcycling – but how much more is there to it than that?

28 TO 20

19 Europe • Harry Bott proves that broadening your horizons by riding a classic overseas is a great thing to do. With a month before starting his first job, the 22-year-old decides to ride a 1981 MZ TS250 to Albania…

18 Heroic Past

17 TO 9

8 Classic Bike magazine

7 Restoring your bike • Howard Osborne took on the challenge of a rare BSA military H15 – and came out smiling 15 years later

6 TO 3

2 Mankind’s ability to endure Gold Star ownership • Rick Parkington celebrates the joys of owning a classic motorcycle that’s fabulous - and fabulously frustrating

1 The People • It’s true. You meet the nicest, funniest, most knowledgeable and interesting people on a classic. Take a bow, all of you.

BUYING RIDING FETTLING • Welcome to the sharp end of Classic Bike. Your hosts are spannering supremos Rick Parkington and Alan Seeley, along with market guru Gez Kane

Lads working in Tandon • Rick tempts his neighbours into a project that was originally a powered bike from a little-known marque

Imperial Fixes

Metric Fixes • European and Japanese classic bikes sorted with Alan Seeley

Change a Scott’s gear ratio • Last month’s Prescott...