The Classic MotorCycle

Started in 1903, The Classic MotorCycle has more to offer the true vintage motorcycle enthusiast than any other publication, backed by Europe's largest motorcycle image archive.

Welcome

GET YOUR FIX • Struggling to get to the shops?

Classic Motorcycle

Stock Tiger test • In the early part of 1937, ‘a demonstration of the high speed reliability of Triumph Tigers’ was undertaken.

New year show falls victim to Covid virus

Festival of 1000 Bikes 2022

NEWS IN BRIEF

Sammy at the double

THE WAY WE WERE IN February

Book Review

Rachael’s latest Milestones

NMM Triumph powered prizes

The pastime and industry in France • From 1912, a report on motorcycling over the Channel, featured in The Motor Cycle.

Coming into colour • As the 1960s dawned, a new generation of motorcycle buyers were looking at different, often brightly-finished offerings, coming from foreign makers.

Readers’ Letters • YOUR VOICE & YOUR OPINIONS

Major influence

That’s better

THIS MONTH’S STAR LETTER WINS

Back with aplomb • That BSA was coming back was about the worst kept secret in motorcycling. But what nobody expected, was a new ‘big single.’

BSA Gold Star

Where the going is good • The London Classic Off-Road and Racing Show was held on December 4, 2021, with enthusiasts congregating at Kempton Park Racecourse.

Harder summits at The Heights • The Jack Thompson Classic Bike Trial was held at Canada Heights, Swanley on December 5, 2021.

Racer on the road • Many a motorcycle club member aspired to a bit of racing but still needed everyday transport – enter the catalogued Clubman racer. This example of the breed contested the ultimate Clubman’s event, the TT races.

The Featherbed International

The Kiwi connection

The Clubman TT in a nutshell

Back to Spain again • The enthusiasm of participants meant that the Spanish events were always going to come back strongly.

Last of the breed • In the late 1960s, as the Spanish invasion of the trials market intensified, the Cheetah was an attempt to repel the advancing armada.

FINER DETAILS

The Silent Humber • Though now a largely forgotten maker of motorcycles, Humber was at the forefront of the fledgling industry, building a succession of quality machines for three decades.

Sammy Miller Museum

Anneka and I • Steve Wilson and his BSA A10 have been together for 30 years. Their story is a tale of real-life classic riding in a changing world.

Jack of all trades • Amal’s development manager intended that the launch of the Concentric would mark the end of variations to suit customers’ demands. It soon proved to be a vain hope.

Unheralded genius • During his five-decade career, Valentine ‘Val’ Page produced many landmark designs, ranging from ohc JAP racing engines, front forks, Triumph’s first production parallel twin, to the Ariel Leader. He was arguably the most successful, prolific motorcycle designer of his period, yet many never knew his name. Here, in part one, we look at a selection of his work.

A brief chat with... John Avery • From a first competitive event to being crowned British scrambles champion took John Avery, ‘The Oxford Flier,’ just seven years.

Norton Commando 750

A matter of timing • Basically, a four-stroke engine runs using the suck, squeeze, bang and blow formula. However, there are a number of variations on when these four things happen.

IMPORTANT LETTERS

81st Sketchbook Travels at the: Pioneer Run

You were asking • Your queries resolved with Richard Rosenthal

Diary

When one becomes two… • It’s been a productive few weeks in the workshop,...