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Phil Speakman starts to clock up some miles on his recently rebuilt 250 Trophy… and promptly runs into trouble. No problems, there’s another MZ in the shed. It’ll be fine to ride to Finland. Won’t it? When you have rebuilt an old, unloved by most motorcyclists and yet interesting bike, you have two choices really.…

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Riding a race-replica: Steve Jenkins lets rip on a 1970s JPS Norton – an unusual oldster which gets ridden all year round In 1979 a JPS Norton loitered at a bike show in Walsall. Mick Woolley was wandering around the show with £1800 burning a hole in his pocket. Mick was on his way to…

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Motorcycling may be an incurable ailment. These books have helped one RealClassic regular survive the experience with his sanity intact…… Why do we do this? Out in all weathers, constantly in the teeth of a gale, either too hot or too cold and likely to be tipped into the surrounding scenery at any time. And…

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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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