Reviews

When we feature a bike in the RealClassic magazine, there’s often a whole pile of photos left over which don’t get into print and which no one gets to see. Shame! Here you are, then: a selection of previously unseen snaps for your delectation… Random Matchlesses on eBay.co.uk Matchless G80CS Fact Pack Engine Type: Air-cooled…

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Flaming June. And flaming revision. Martin Gelder promises himself a post exam Real Classic ride, but ends up stuck in the shed writing lists of things to do and things to buy… I hate exams. I’ve always hated exams. I hated them at school, I hated them in the sixth form, and I’m pretty sure…

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It’s Bonfire Night, so what better time to catch up with the second instalment of PaulG80’s Diary of a Sadman. Time to start making a big pile of bits; anyone got a light? Right then where were we? Ah yes. I remember now. I had just finished with the first part of this series… in…

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After years of hard work, Rob Seedhouse had his wreck of a Norton lightweight nearly ready to run. But then came… the paperwork! During the build-up I registered the Navigator with an age-related plate. I couldn’t find any documentary evidence to prove that its original registration number — which was on the motorcycle when I…

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Twenty years ago, Goat Maison set off on his 1958 600cc twin to ride halfway around the world. In the previous episode, we’d left him in Iran… After an unpleasant encounter with a big crowd in Qom, I headed out of town and then stopped for a coke. There were some young soldiers there (who…

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The ultimate, multi-part manual for BSA unit-construction single-cylinder classics is nearing completion. This instalment covers absolutely everything apart from the engine… Many moons ago, ‘Rupert Ratio’ of the BSA Owners’ Club produced an invaluable manual, an extremely detailed hands-on guide to maintaining, rebuilding and trouble-shooting the Unit Single engine. That extensive and informative book became…

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Frank Westworth revisits a bike he rode several years ago. Years before A Nice Gurl gave him a Sunbeam… Oh bliss. Oh joy. Oh sweet smiles of happiness! What a pleasant motorcycle this is. Can I ride it for a while or two? I can. Splendid… Some days nothing goes right. Even when I was…

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The debate hots up. Which is the Best Bonnie of all time? Jon Tait has some opinions, based around his three T120s The T120V My dad bought this bike from a guy in Bedfordshire about 15 years ago. It’d been rebuilt but I remember, from riding it home for him, that it was a long…

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We’ve followed Dave’s rebuild from the day he brought home a box of bits, as he attempts to fulfil his dream of owning a top-notch Tiger. Next items on the agenda: paint, and brakes… I had reached a point in the restoration when I really needed to think about getting some wheels. I had decided…

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Forget what you think you know about Ural motorcycles. Today’s 745cc flat twins come with electric start, a Brembo front brake and decent dealer back-up. Steve The Tovarich ventured behind the Iron Curtain (not) for a quick spin… For the second time in seven days I find myself being driven across a bumpy car park.…

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