Real Classic

RealClassic magazine features the very best British motorcycles from all eras, plus charismatic Continental machines (and the odd Japanese classics crops up occasionally, too). Long term classic riders will recognise many of the members of the RC team, which includes authors, historians and journalists like Steve Wilson, Dave Minton, Matt Vale, Odgie, Jacqueline 'PUB' Bickerstaff, Rowena Hoseason and editor Frank Westworth -- but the magazine's key feature is that it is firmly grounded in the real world. Our articles are written by real life riders and reflect far more than a simple road test ever can. We're never scared of getting grubby in The Shed (and we even admit it when things go horribly wrong!)

Real Classic

FROM THE FRONT

HEAVY METAL • The era of the hefty V-twin tourer was almost over, but that didn’t stop Royal Enfield producing one of the best of the breed. Phillip White took on a demanding restoration and brought one of the few remaining examples back to life…

INCOMING • RC readers write, rant and rattle on…

Friendly and Relaxed • Two wheels, two speeds, two cylinders and no clutch. Frank Westworth has been cruising around Cornwall aboard an almost automatic Honda…

BACK TO THE FUTURE BANTAM • Remember your first bike? Odgie encounters a humble Bantam and is transported back to his youth…

Lights FANTASTIC • Iconic classic bikes can disappoint when they don’t live up to their heady reputations. Working class heroes, on the other hand, frequently provide unexpected delights. Fred Harrington is unexpectedly delighted…

SERVICE STARS

THINKING OF BUYING?

IRON CURTAIN Artefact • Remember those world-class Jawa racers? Thought not. Alan Cathcart does, and has ridden some of them…

TRUE TO FORM • Are the Triumph 650 twins from the late 1960s really so superior to their oil-in-frame successors? Paul Henshaw has the chance to ride both types, back to back. He discovers that the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree…

MORE FROM PAUL

Riding Life • During Reg Eyre’s earlier riding life he clocked up many miles on green lanes – but maybe not so many in recent years. Recent events presented an unusual opportunity for him to try his hand at old skills…

OUTWARDBOUND • Rides, rallies, shows and jumbles! Point your wheels this way…

PLUGS & LEADS

CLASSIC TECHNIQUES • Older motorcycle electrical systems can’t always cope with running the lights all the time. Bob Livesey discovered a quick fix for his particular Honda…

PART THREE NO POINT OF REFERENCE • Mark Adams bought his Beezer 30 years ago and has been trying to make it work well ever since. It’s the mid-2000s and the recently rebuilt twin-carb 650 should be ready to ride. However…

PUB TALK • The spring Classic Bike Show has finally returned, together with an ever expanding Bonhams auction. In the garage, since nobody has taken up the offer of the ‘low mileage’ Suzuki (the speedo having rolled around and conveniently lost 100,000) there was nothing for it but to do a service…

Ollie’s ODDTOBS • Inspired by recent showstoppers, Ollie discovers something truly special at Stafford…

TALES FROM THE SHED • What should a chap do when the lanes are dry and the sun is shining? Ride his bike or throw spanners at it? Frank prefers to ride, but…