Bikes Archives Page 3 of 20

The Toastmaster Challenge, Part the Fourth

8th July 2019 Sam Hewitt Features

If you’re going to rebuild a burned-out Ariel Huntmaster, then you’re going to need spare parts. Lots of them. We present Frank Westworth’s guide to autojumbling for idiots… What do you do when faced with the realisation that you’ve started a project which is not what you expected? Do you shovel the whole lot into a deep pit and pretend it never…

The Toastmaster Challenge, Part the Third

1st July 2019 Sam Hewitt Features

Is this any way to restore a traditional British classic bike? The story of Frank Westworth’s improbable rebuild continues. Slowly… ‘That’s an Ariel Huntmaster, that is.’ ‘What is? That pile of bits?’ ‘What pile of bits? That’s an Ariel Huntmaster, that is…’ My first Ariel, my first Huntmaster, was not in fact mine. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t ride…

The Toastmaster Challenge, Part the Second

24th June 2019 Sam Hewitt Features

Only an expert or an optimist would attempt to rebuild a totally burned-out classic motorcycle. So here’s Frank Westworth’s guide to stripping down for idiots… Every sane treatise on the subject of rebuilding motor vehicles insists that any successful restoration follows a few rules. This is in fact the case, and any sane person should ignore the way I do…

Ariel Huntmaster Rebuild Part 1: The Toastmaster Challenge

17th June 2019 Sam Hewitt Features

How to spend uncounted piles of money over many years in the fond hope that a shiny Ariel Huntmaster will arise from its own ashes. Frank Westworth tells an episodic tale from the shed… Everyone likes a challenge. At least, I hope that’s true… I was sat in a local pub, chatting with one Sam Whitehouse, when he mentioned that…

Triumph Racing Champions

15th October 2018 RowenaH Events, Features

To kick off a special exhibition dedicated to their racing champions, the Triumph factory visitor experience put on an exclusive event hosted by Steve (Stavros) Parrish which featured collector / restorer Dick Shepherd and two-times TT winner and 675 pilot Gary Johnson among members of the company’s factory staff. Amazingly, we had a secret agent on the scene… ‘Aches and…

Replica Ducati Racebike Revealed

27th August 2018 RowenaH Features

Remember the bevel-drive desmo Ducati on which Mike Hailwood made his amazing comeback in 1978? After 11 years away from racing, Hailwood returned the Isle of Man aboard the 900 V-twin and took top honours in the Formula One TT. Hailwood made history and the Ducati MHR became seriously sought after. Last weekend, a brand-new Hailwood replica was unveiled at…