Category: Blog

One of life’s genuine real classic riders rode over the horizon in early 2011. Jim Reynolds pays tribute to him… Bruce Pollard and the Big 4 Norton he’d owned since 1972 were inseparable friends. When hundreds of his bike-riding friends gathered to say goodbye to Bruce in May 2011, that faithful old rigid framed 60 year old sat in the…

There are those who believe that classic motorcycles are poetry in motion. Marc Buffery proves that classic bike poetry can inspire all manner of emotions… To-day we have fettling of parts. Yesterday, We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning, We shall have what to do after riding. But to-day, To-day we have fettling of parts. Japonica Glistens like coral in…

Ian Caswell recalls more of his early riding years at the Paddock, and one particular episode which became a local motorcycling myth… As with all memorable summers, the sun shone, and clouds were few. Most importantly some of our number achieved 17 years of maturity and while some drifted away towards car ownership, others got themselves into debt buying the…

Jim Peace has made many friends on his motorcycling travels. Meet Nebraska, the bug… Riding a motorbike in America is no more dangerous than anywhere else, but there is one hazard that you never see mentioned in any riders manuals. Bugs. I’m not talking about little buzzy things here, like midges or mosquitoes; American bugs are big. They have a…

Have you ever ridden a real, genuine, internationally successful competition Matchless? Frank Westworth has ridden several, strangely… It is all true. Despite an entire lifetime spent studiously avoiding anything to do with ‘competition’ in most of its sweaty, athletic forms, from time to time I have been forced to ride about on pukka competition machinery. I have no idea why…

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Silence is golden. Frank Westworth ponders a cliché-ridden life and concours cults… ‘It’s completely original and unrestored, you know. Just how you like to see them. And really rare these days.’ Proud Owner was plainly delighted with his excellent motorcycle, and I was delighted for him, I am not an unkind man. ‘It…