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?

The Classic MOTORCYCLE

A week in the high Alps • Reported over two issues in August 1922, this 100-year-old account of motorcycling in the Alps must have seemed a world away to the majority of readers of The Motor Cycle.

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Classic Mechanics show

Book Review • “BMW Airhead Twins – The complete story”

Classics at the coalface

THE WAY WE WERE IN NOVEMBER

The world’s fastest road race • The performances of the class winners in the 250, 350 and 500cc categories meant that, in 1949, the Ulster GP could once again make the headline claim.

Ghostly show • The slightly over-exposed light and lack of people give this picture, taken at the 1964 Cologne Show, a weird after-worldy, ethereal quality.

Readers’ Letters • YOUR VOICE & YOUR OPINIONS

What a difference a week makes • Though the summer heatwave threatened its running, the Chinon Classic was a welcome returnee in 2022, with motorcycles again featuring strongly at the French event.

Dream machine • For many of those who grew up watching motorcycle racing in the 1960s and early 1970s, a four-cylinder, red-and-silver MV Agusta represented the pinnacle.

The heat is on again at the Friar s • Held over August 4-8, 2022, it was a welcome return for the West Kent Run, where around 450 riders and passengers congregated for a memorable comeback.

Civil servant • For many years, the G3 was a mainstay of the Matchless range, its dependability and capability underpinned by its thoroughly decent manners.

Royal Star, Kerry Gold • Riding to Ireland to meet ‘thatboyinkerry’ and his hard-working motorcycles.

Lost legend • Once one of the biggest names in American motorcycling, these days the products of The Excelsior Supply Company, out of Chicago, are largely forgotten.

What? No show? • London show organisers decreed that due to their alternate year policy, there would be no motorcycle show in 1961. As a make-do measure, the weeklies appraised next season’s models at what would have been show time, in part filling pages and enabling makers, importers and accessory houses to promote their next season models.

Great expectations… fulfilled • The flat-tank Model 18 Norton is one of the finest vintage machines by reputation. Happily, this one lives up to its good name.

JAWA DT 500 890 SPEEDWAY

Best foot forward • The standard British motorcycle footrest mounting position is always too far forward for some.

Sketchbook Travels • MOTORCYCLES, SEEN THROUGH THE SKETCHBOOKS OF MARTIN SQUIRES

You were asking • Your queries resolved with Richard Rosenthal

Diary

Troubleshooting • Though 30 or so years of mucking about with old motorcycles provides plenty of experience to help with diagnosing problems, on occasion the issue can still prove vexing to identify.

Breaking the myths • Certain things in motorcycling have become folklore without necessarily being true or correct, with braking no exception to that particular phenomena.