Reviews

In theory this book is about Harley-Davidsons but, as Dave Blendell discovers, the marque is almost immaterial. This could be the funniest book you’ll ever read about motorcycling in general… The cover blurb reads; ‘This book is the handbook for the first-time Harley rider and anybody else who’s ever dreamed of a life in the…

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Another new-old bike hits the street, using a familiar Rotax engine in a classic-shaped chassis. Rowena Hoseason tells us all about it… There is no doubt that there’s a huge European market for a middleweight single-cylinder streetbike. That’s the market which all but kept BMW afloat when their Boxers were out of fashion; BMW sold…

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Bru Enzer is best known to the RealClassic world as ‘Laverdabru’, and so it was almost inevitable that this book would land in his lap at some point… Us Laverda owners and fanciers are not best provided for on the books front. My personal collection, after years of Mirage ownership, comprises a photocopy of Tim…

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In between destroying old bikes, Paul Morgan-Knight pauses a while to read about someone who used to build them, back at the old AMC factory in Plumstead… I was perusing a well known auction site for junk…..err, I mean ‘valuable spares’ for my almost alive Matchless. I stumbled across this book. As a person who…

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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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