Blog

Familiarity breeds… you know. Roger Houghton, a visitor from South Africa, takes a fresh look at the UK while he visits its classic motorcycling heritage sites… I am a classic motorcycle nut and my dream trip was to visit the ‘pilgrimage sites’ of the now virtually extinct British motorcycle industry – once the largest of…

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Back in the day, the young lads of The Paddock weren’t averse to a quick sprint to demonstrate their riding prowess. Ian Caswell remembers ones particular evening when things got a tiny little bit competitive… In my early days of knocking around the Paddock there were several of the occasional riders who I knew only…

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John Ryan shares a final selection of his classic motorcycling photographic memories from the days when South London dealer Mocheck developed competitive production racers… In 1977, Mocheck’s racing effort moved up a gear with a genuine, factory-supplied RSC (Racing Services Centre) engine. Here’s the bike being prepared for its first test Old and New 400…

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Dave Wooding started his riding career with a Triumph 3T. He also rode a Bantam-based Villiers-engined oddity and a BSA B31, but it’s the Triumph 350 twin which he remembers the most fondly… Everyone remembers their first time, but how many have a photo of the event? I remember that for me it was on…

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Riding old bikes produces many wonderful moments. Frank Westworth dredges through his memory for some memorable AJS and Matchless rides… I accept at once that you ride your old motorcycle (perhaps it’s an AJS, or Matchless; no-one is entirely perfect) all over the place and at every available opportunity. In those distant days when the…

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How did Japan’s motorcycle industry come to inherit the market position which the British bike business once held? Steve Cooper of the VJMC makes some suggestions… If you had to single out one attribute about Japanese machinery which really inspires owners it has to be the technology that made the manufacture of these bikes possible.…

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Steve Cooper from the VJMC brings us up to date with some information about next year’s Uttoxeter Show, and contemplates the value of originality… The VJMC Uttoxeter show will be running again in 2011 over the first weekend of July as usual, from the 1st to the 3rd. For the 2011 event the VJMC are…

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Prevention is better than cure. Maintenance breeds reliability. Frank Westworth finds no comfort in these fine sentiments… I am developing a tedious tradition. Every year, either the beginning or the end of the serious riding season is marked by a breakdown. I’ve just checked back, and it’s true. It has become such a regular feature…

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Steve Cooper of the VJMC considers collectors, fettlers and hoarders of classic Japanese motorcycles… It’s a strange old world, ours. Classic biking attracts all kinds of folk from all walks of life. Some are ardent riders, some demon spanner twirlers, others restore to original status and a few write about their passion (like the ever-active…

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What is the attraction of a modern ‘classic’ motorcycle? Paul “The Destroyer” sticks his neck out (and doesn’t mention Triumphs once!)… There are lots of differing views on certain brands of motorcycle which might or might not deserve the label of ‘modern classic’. I found it all very intriguing from my position as a bikeaholic.…

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