Features

  • Braking Bad

    Braking Bad

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    In the February issue of RealClassic, Dave Bushell noted that ‘my pre-war Scotts and, I think, most girder-forked machines, have their front brake arms facing forward from the pivot point. My post-war Scotts with telescopic forks have them facing rearwards, as do most other makes with some exceptions. If forward facing brake arms provide better…

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  • Classic bikes for sale

    Classic bikes for sale

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      Every issue of the monthly RealClassic magazine includes pages of old motorcycles and classic bikes for sale, offered by private individuals and trade specialists. And every month, some extremely interesting (or just plain strange) small ads attract the eagle eye of Editor Westworth. Here then are six of the best reader ads from the…

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  • Classic bike bits: anti-ethanol, riding jeans and smart sparks

    Classic bike bits: anti-ethanol, riding jeans and smart sparks

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    Anti-Effinol We’ve discussed the irritating effects of ethanol in petrol before – and the subject becomes ever more relevant as the concentration of ethanol rises. Even ‘super’ high-octane fuels are quite likely to contain some ethanol. It’s entirely possible to purchase fuel-proof pipework and petrol taps but, especially if a bike only gets occasional use,…

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  • BMW F650

    BMW F650

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    BMW’s original Funduro, soon to celebrate its quarter-century, is one of the firm’s most successful models. Some 50,000 of the original four-valve dual-plug five-speed 650 singles were built in partnership with Rotax and Aprilia in the mid-1990s, before BMW brought production in-house in 2000. Ian Caswell initially thought he’d found a brilliant bargain in the…

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  • DKW and MZ motorcycles

    DKW and MZ motorcycles

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    We frequently find all manner of interesting artefacts while rummaging around in the RC RChive, including factory adverts, original artwork and some stunning bike brochures. We cram as many of them into the magazine as we can, but they often don’t reproduce particularly well in print so we can only use them at relatively small…

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  • Springfields Motorbike Show

    Springfields Motorbike Show

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      We are so lucky here in Lincolnshire to get two great motorcycle shows in January, reckons Roy Workman. This two-day event incorporates modern motorcycles and classic bikes alongside celebrity riders, accessories, clubs and the ‘wall of death’ display. It all got off to a smoky start, as Roy explains… The show is held just…

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  • Frank’s Famous Last Words, #42

    Frank’s Famous Last Words, #42

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      Despite inhabiting a world of perpetual ups and downs, they keep our wheels going round and around. Pistons, says Frank Westworth, are the unsung heroes of the classic biking world. For some arcane reason which is now beyond me, a friend and I were discussing pistons. I know, I know; the very idea of…

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  • Auction Action: bid on classic bikes at Bristol

    Auction Action: bid on classic bikes at Bristol

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    Next weekend’s Carole Nash Classic MotorCycle Show at Shepton Mallet incorporates an auction of old bikes and classic motorcycles. This down-to-earth event feels a little bit different to those immensely up-market auctions which feature famous names and unique icons that sell for five figures (and frequently fetch north of £100,000, which fair boggles the brains).…

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  • Marsh 500/4: a really rare British racer

    Marsh 500/4: a really rare British racer

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    ‘This has been a nerve-wracking project to work on,’ admits restoration expert Colin Wall. And if Colin’s showing concern then you can bet that the classic bike in question is extremely unusual. Colin has over 50 years’ experience of restoring classic and vintage motorcycles, some of them the most significant machines in British motorcycling history.…

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  • Museum Makeover

    Museum Makeover

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    The world’s biggest collection of British-built bikes has been given a mammoth makeover in recent months and the new-look displays at the National Motorcycle Museum have just been unveiled. The five halls which showcase the majority of the museum’s machines have been completely reconfigured, bringing some remarkable motorcycles into the limelight and providing regular visitors…

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