New & Features

It’s in one piece and ready to ride. Phil Speakman does the unthinkable, and actually concludes a rebuild saga. Steady on, Phil… Beep beep, beep beep beep beep… I felt like throwing my phone through the window at 7am on Saturday morning, but I’d only myself to blame for feeling like I did. I could…

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Little girls beware; Barry Granger’s Norton Commando is out to get you… Apart from the front brake, Barry Granger has very little to complain about when he thinks about his 1974 Norton Commando Interstate. Bought in 1982 for around £700, Barry sees his Commando as; ‘the last of the hairy-chested bikes. Large, heavy and grunty…

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Two new books about classic bikes are on the way; one for fans of world-class sidecar racing and the other about Panthers… Panther Publishing produce a selection of books for the classic motorcyclist. As the company’s name suggests they started out producing a book in conjunction with the Panther Owners’ Club (‘The Panther Story’) but…

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Celia Walton has been riding and passengering sidecars for many a year, so she seemed the natural person to review this new book about riding with three wheels… While Rowena and I were discussing something completely different one day, she asked me if I’d review a book about sidecars. Sure, I replied. Oh yes, she…

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Your definition of a ‘classic bike’ may well depend on where you live. Chico Rasia, from Curitiba in Brazil, dreams of a 1980’s Honda twin… So, I’ve decided it must be a Honda CB400. 1983 or earlier. With a Japanese engine. Wait a moment. Haven’t I skipped something here – something like ‘How come this…

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Ever bought more than you bargained for? Jerry Fiford did when he fell for a classic 1970 Triumph Trophy, and he explains how and why to Rowena Hoseason… There are people who will tell you that the 1970 Trophy was one of the landmark Triumph motorcycles; one of the most well developed and stylish classics,…

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Kevin off of the RealClassic Message Board ponders the origins of his 1961 Triumph 500 twin, originally registered as CSU 662. Maybe… Old bikes; different things to different people. At one end you have the fully restored as new type of bike, the sort that could grace any museum, then you have the “original” oily…

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How would you handle a mid-life crisis? This author set off on a classic scooter to see life in rural Italy… As we’re sitting here, glad to be rid of the worst winter in two decades, why not join Peter Moore for a sun-soaked foray across Italy on a classic Vespa? Don’t worry you won’t…

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Ariel’s Arrow was certainly an oddity, and it is most definitely an old British bike. But is it a genuine classic motorcycle? Paul Friday doesn’t really care, because his Arrow was certainly the worst bike he’s ever owned… It wasn’t all the bike’s fault. I was the previous owner from Hell. I was young and…

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Looking for an introduction to Norton twins? Marc Reibman has just the book for you (although he may be just a teeny bit biased on the subject – decide for yourself!) I know it’s hard for Commando types to believe, but Norton twins were in existence long before the Commando was even a twinkle in…

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