RealClassic

Let’s go back, back, back in time to when flares were cool the first time around, and the Honda CB350K4 was all the rage. Paul Webb has a fascination for Hondas of 1973/1974 vintage — we blame the parents. His dad said ‘no’ 30 years ago… You will understand why back in 1974, as a spotty 17 year old, I…

Modern marvel? Mechanical milestone? Or just another mediocre mass-market middleweight? 400 Fours were everywhere in the seventies, and now they’re back. This time there’s a Classic label attached but Martin Gelder had one first time round and isn’t convinced… You buy your first multi-cylinder bike from the local dealer, ride it straight round to your best mate’s house to show…

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 wind.’ Well, it is that.…

Which bike do you choose if you want an old fashioned air-cooled triple with all mod cons? This one should be on your shortlist… There’s something about the old Beezumph triples: they just seem to beg to be updated, uprated and re-invented. The Rob North specials spring to mind, as does Craig Vetter’s Hurricane, Les Williams’ Legend and Trevor Gleadall’s…

You want a modern bike with classic style. How do you choose? Steve The Toast explains how he ended up with a Harley Softail… It was the summer of 2002. The small ads were once again spread before me. My finances had experienced a lift which gave me the chance to buy a new bike. I mean ‘new’ new, as…

In 1954, an adventurer set off on an overland ride from Britain to Australia, aboard a Norton Dominator. These are his diaries, which we asked Dave Blendell to read… The Hard Way Round is more of a thick pamphlet than a book, taking 44 pages of A4 to tell the tale. There is also a map and foreword — more…