RealClassic Page 4 of 289 - All about buying, selling, riding and restoring real classic motorcycles

The BSA Rocket 3 with three lives

10th January 2024 Trevor Drury Features, From The Archive

Over the years, we’ve featured many (many!) BSA and Triumph triples in RealClassic. Trevor Drury explains how his much-modded Rocket 3 evolved into the machine you see here… Words and photographs by Trevor Drury The Rocket 3 was built on 9th June 1971 and shipped the next day to California. It returned to the UK in 2007, repatriated by the…

January 2024

30th December 2023 Alex Bestwick Latest Issue RC

RealClassic revels in the nuts and bolts of running, riding and rebuilding real classic motorcycles. Expert and enthusiastic real-life riders from across the world share their passion for old bikes. This month: BMW R69S BMW’s R69S is undoubtedly a record-setting icon with a highly polished provenance. But is it a suitable steed for a spirited classic rider? Ace Tester Miles reveals…

Mind, Body & Motorcycling

26th December 2023 RowenaH Blog, Features

It’s the time of year to celebrate – but that can be particularly difficult for some people. RC regular Odgie shares his own personal perspective… As we get older we seem to have no great dread of talking about our physical ailments – how many bikes do we see for sale in RC and other magazines due to ‘old age,…

Bonhams to sell the 14th production Vincent Black Lightning at the Spring Stafford Sale

20th December 2023 Alex Bestwick Advertisement Feature, News

1949 Vincent-HRD 998cc Black Lightning – Estimate £120,000 – 150,000 Bonhams is delighted to announce the consignment of a recent ‘Barn Find’ Vincent Black Lightning, one of the most captivating and highly prized motorcycles ever produced, to be sold at The Spring Stafford Sale, held in association with International Classic Motorcycle Show, over the weekend of the 20 – 21…

The history of the AJS V-twin: from birth to rebirth

19th December 2023 Rowena Hoseason Features

Vintage V-twins almost took over RealClassic issues 225 and 226, with roadtests of litre-class prewar beasts from Royal Enfield and AJS. Rowena Hoseason investigates the background to the Ajay family… The Stevens family built their first V-twin more than a century ago, when AJS were still firmly rooted in Wolverhampton. Introduced in 1912, the sidevalve Model D initially used a…

Classic Choice: BMW or Moto Guzzi?

5th December 2023 Web Editor Features

A while back we wondered which 1970’s sports-tourer would you want to call your own, if you had to choose between a pair of Continental classics? We’re talking big twins: one boxer, one V-twin, both shaft drive. If you could own either, then which one would you want in your shed? We asked RealClassic readers – in an entirely imaginary…