New & Features

  • Vincent Black Knight and other twins

    Vincent Black Knight and other twins

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    There never had been a motorcycle so packed with original design and high speed stamina. Old legends like this, says Dave Minton, never die. They simply race away… Vincents in the post-WW2 period were as mythical as they were rare. The two went hand-in-hand of course. As schoolboys we relished the myths, repeating them amongst…

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  • Daisy's Diaries: 'An Adventure Too Far'

    Daisy's Diaries: 'An Adventure Too Far'

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    There’s no doubt that readers adored Graham Ham’s adventures aboard Daisy, his Triumph Speed Twin. In fact, they like the cut of his jib so much that they demanded a sequel to the original ‘Daisy’s Diaries’ book. And now it’s just been published… Regular readers of RealClassic will be familiar with Graham Ham’s adventures in…

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  • Triumph T140 Clutch Rebuild – Part 1

    Triumph T140 Clutch Rebuild – Part 1

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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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  • Off Road Giants; Heroes of 1960’s Motorcycle Sport by Andy Westlake

    Off Road Giants; Heroes of 1960’s Motorcycle Sport by Andy Westlake

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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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  • Steve Wilson's BSA M21

    Steve Wilson's BSA M21

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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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  • 1956 BSA B31 Scrambler Rebuild – Part 8

    1956 BSA B31 Scrambler Rebuild – Part 8

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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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  • Chang Jiang CJ750 Side Valve – Part 3

    Chang Jiang CJ750 Side Valve – Part 3

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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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  • Douglas Dragonfly

    Douglas Dragonfly

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    Rowena wants a Douglas Dragonfly. Why does she want a Douglas Dragonfly? Why would anyone want a Douglas Dragonfly, exactly? There is no rhyme nor reason to the wanting of a motorcycle. There is no explicable rationale to explain my increasingly demanding desire to own a Douglas Dragonfly. When it began I had never ridden…

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  • Royal Enfield Bullet 500. Again.

    Royal Enfield Bullet 500. Again.

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    We feel that everyone should be told how Emm’s adventures with her Royal Enfield are progressing (even though we run the risk of becoming RealBullet.co.uk). This time, she gets in a bit of a flap… Despite rabid heckling from the gallery for ‘Royal Enfield Bullet – the First Service’ and ‘Bullet 500cc – The Next…

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  • 1961 BSA Goldstar DBD34

    1961 BSA Goldstar DBD34

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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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