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.

CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome

We have lift off! • After a three-year break for Covid, the fantastic Red Marley Hillclimb was back again on Easter Monday. Greg Moss went along to catch the action

The story of the ultimate classic bike project • In 1998 George Beale started work on an incredible creative endeavour – building ten replicas of Honda’s legendary six-cylinder 297cc Grand Prix racer. Now he’s written a book about the project

Bearing rumble

May 15, 1977 Italian Grand Prix, Imola

What if a motorcycle show broke out in a five-star restaurant? • Concours d’elegance sounds posh, so best make it properly posh. California’s Quail Motorcycle Gathering on May 6 puts amazing bikes onto the immaculate lawns of an upmarket hotel. It’s the one you really need to attend, reckons Paul d’Orleans

BE THERE

Non-matching numbers

Show us yours • Classic Bike readers share news of recent acquisitions, regular rides and progress of ongoing projects

TIME FOR A T140 ? • Fifty years after its launch, Triumph’s 750 Bonneville makes more sense than ever. But can it convince a diehard 650 fan?

Tips for a top T140 • Andy Orton has restored over thirty T140s. He tells Bob Dixon exactly what to check out when looking for one – and which are the best to buy

Roger Marshall • Plenty of British riders should have been GP stars, but Roger Marshall surely tops the list. The eleven-time British champ tells us about missed chances, beating Wayne Gardner and donkeys…

Gilera jewel • Just south of Amsterdam, in the village of Rijsenhout, there lies a little gem amongst the canal-laden flatlands of the Netherlands. With 69 different post-war Gilera models on display, it serves as a reminder of the boom times and glory days of this Italian marque

AIRY BEAST • Forty years ago, Yamaha launched their first four-stroke sports bike, the FJ1100. Owners like Andy Ames love these mighty air-cooled missiles – we ride one of his restored bikes

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION • Indian’s inline four was conceived as a smooth, high-performance tourer, but that didn’t stop Max Bubeck winning America’s toughest off-road race – the legendary Greenhorn Enduro – with this home-tuned Model 439-M on road tyres

EVOLUTION OF THE INDIAN FOUR

Max’s other Indian racers

Simple solutions • Nine out of ten carburettor problems are ignition problems... except when they're carb problems

Which lead?

Imperial Fixes • Problems with old Brits?Rick can help

Upside-down solution

At the workbench • This month’s workshop activity led Rick to rifle through his pressing tools box and use a rescued bearing scraper, as well as reminding him how lucky we are that you can still buy new Amal carbs, as well as the bits to fix old ones

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

At the workbench • This month Alan’s workbench has been cluttered up with Suzuki GSX engine fettling – and there’s been...