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Our Cornish correspondent, NVNL, turns his attention to a minor mechanical matter on his Triumph Bonneville. Well, it started out as being ‘minor’. Honest… ‘Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; ……… The best lack all convictions, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.’ William Butler Yeats Sometimes even on the brightest and best…

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If you ever wanted to know who won an ISDT Gold Medal on a clutchless Tiger Cub, or what Steve McQueen’s toughest two-wheeled challenge was, then this is the book for you… Written in the author’s usual accessible style, Off Road Giants is a series of short biographies of well-known figures from the golden age…

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An Edwardian motor bicycle with ‘modern’ features, one that doesn’t frighten the horses? The ideal, well-sorted winter classic bike? Must be Steve Wilson’s old BSA M21. He’s saying goodbye, so it could be your M21 if you felt so inclined… Bit sad to be penning this, really, as it’s a farewell, as well as an…

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He’s nearly ready to put his bitsa Beeza back together again, but Phillip Rashleigh’s project bike has turned out to be just a little bit different to his original intentions. Gold Star scrambler, anyone?… As a restoration proceeds, plans often change. I had planned to use the original B31 crank, however I was offered a…

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After running-in this traditional-but-modern motorcycle, Fiery Fred finds that his 750 boxer twin behaves almost exactly like a proper classic bike. The ‘Beemer with beansprouts’ has needed some fettling… I bought the CJ new (see previous episodes) and we are now run-in (done in, in my case) and about to ring her neck, as it…

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A chance find of an old album of photographs led to the publication of this book, which recalls the halcyon days of motorcycle racing at the Donington circuit… A major challenge in recording history is that as it gets left behind by subsequent generations it compresses: formerly distinct time periods slide into each other to…

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Steve Wilson didn’t really need to ride another Enfield straight away, but we wanted to do the ‘out standing in his field’ joke. So he just had to go a-trialling-oh… If you want to go trail riding in proper classic style, then you need to get something relatively reliable, affordable and fuss-free, and do it…

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When he was 16, Jerry Fiford wanted nothing more than to own a Goldie. 35 years later his dream came true. Was it worth the wait? My dream started when, as a B31 riding 16 year old, I envied the guys who owned Goldies. They always had the best girls and could walk into any…

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Which bike do you choose if you want an old fashioned air-cooled triple with all mod cons? This one should be on your shortlist… There’s something about the old Beezumph triples: they just seem to beg to be updated, uprated and re-invented. The Rob North specials spring to mind, as does Craig Vetter’s Hurricane, Les…

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Which classic bike would you take to the Isle of Man TT races? Phil Speakman’s 46 year old stroker saved the day – and even saw some high speed action on Mad Sunday… Impotent fury isn’t a particularly enjoyable experience, but to have it in front of a queue of uncaring Post Office customers who…

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