Reviews

So the caff-race Bonnie has a strange riding position, dodgy stoppers and is more than a little lethargic? BikerBabe reckons you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers… If you’re of a certain generation, then the word Thruxton probably conjures up images of speed, adrenaline, excitement and of course, racing. Back in the late…

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When the need arises for a modern-but-traditional motorcycle, Mike Powell didn’t quite know which one to choose. So he let his Better Half do all the deciding for him… I was quite happy on the 550/4 Honda, mint it was, almost a classic, dead comfy, electric start, but judged gutless by the local bike experts.…

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This two-disc DVD set re-lives the weekend of the Bonneville’s 50th birthday, and offers an overview of the world’s most famous classic motorcycle. Matt Vale spent an evening by the box… I have just spent an enjoyable time watching the Triumph Owners Motor Cycle Club (TOMCC) DVD chronicling the Bonneville Celebration held at Gaydon in…

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Andy Sochanik likes unusual bikes — which is just as well, seeing as his go-to-work motorcycle is one of the least-loved members of the XS family. Not that it’s given him any trouble, you understand… It never really caught on, the XS500, despite attracting all the right kind of attention at its launch back in…

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Imagine a wormhole which sucked a 1930s classic bike forward to 2003 (and upgraded its electrics in the process). Steve The Toast investigates a tear in the fabric of time… Brushes come in many sizes, and you can use one of almost any size to tar many different things. Today was a day for having…

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Fans of 1960s and 70s TT racing will be delighted by this second edition of photos from the camera of Ken Sprayson. Costa Zarifi has read it… Ken Sprayson, in Colour is a collection of Ken Sprayson’s Island snaps, from 1963 to 1981. If the name seems familiar, it is because Ken can be associated…

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Owners of old British bikes are not biased about their machines. Most certainly not. They know all about the bikes’ good points — but no one is ever particularly shy about coming forwards with the bad news, too. It just happens that in the case of Ted Richardson’s 1969 Starfire there is very little bad…

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20 years ago, Stephen Dunne threw caution to the wind and set off around mainland Europe on an 8500 mile journey which would turn out to be the best time of his life… Whilst consuming beer at a very excellent weekend in Belgium, the discussion moved on to a chap who had ridden over from…

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Some experts consider the Gold Star to be the best bike ever built by BSA. Make up your own mind, after examining our quick fire classic bike guide to the breed… A Bit of Background We’re all probably familiar with the charismatic postwar bikes, but the Gold Star first arrived in the years leading up…

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Bike builder, demon scribbler and so much more, Odgie celebrates one of those ‘special’ birthdays this year. And to commemorate the moment, he’s written an autobiography… From the get-go I have to admit an interest in this book: I’ve long admired and enjoyed Odgie’s exploits and it’s a delight to feature his outlandish machines and…

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