british bike

  • Triumph Thunderbird

    Triumph Thunderbird

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    Back in the early 1980s, Triumph built a budget 650; a short-stroke version of the 750 Bonneville. These days the TR65 Thunderbird is proving to be a rewarding practical classic bike for one regular rider… ‘As I age,’ says RC regular Mark Holyoake, ‘my taste in bikes has changed. Gone are the days of race-reps…

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  • Norton Commando

    Norton Commando

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    The S-type 750 Commando was introduced in 1969 alongside the Fastback, itself a tweaked version of the initial Commando, and the R-type Roadster. The S was intended to capture the hearts and wallets of the American market and it wedded Norton’s isolastic chassis to the street scrambler styling of the P11 desert sled which had…

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  • Egli Vincent

    Egli Vincent

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    Take an iconic British V-twin engine and wrap it in an uprated Continental chassis and – voila! – you have created the Egli Vincent. Well, that’s exactly what Fritz did. Richard Jones bumped into this example of the breed at a recent British Historic Racing meet, and it inspired him to investigate the background of…

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  • Matchless G50 CSR

    Matchless G50 CSR

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    Nicknamed the Golden Eagle, the Matchless G50 CSR is ridiculously rare – an homologation special of an exclusive, limited edition works / clubman’s racer. Not the sort of thing you see on the streets every day, but we know where you can find one. Or two! The National Motorcycle Museum at Solihull display this 1962…

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  • Rudge Sports Special

    Rudge Sports Special

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    Rudge Whitworth promised ‘grace, speed and silence’ in the shape of their svelte 500cc sporting single, the aptly named Sports Special. This was one of the final motorcycles made by the high-class concern in the years leading up to the outbreak of war. It may not be the fastest bike Rudge ever built, nor the…

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  • Sunbeam S8

    Sunbeam S8

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    The August issue of RealClassic magazine features a splendid story of perseverance and commensurate success, as RC regular Stuart Urquhart fettles one of Sunbeam’s unique inline twins. There wasn’t space in print to show off the delightful original illustrations to best effect – so here they are in full-size web-o-vision, along with a quick history…

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  • August issue out now

    August issue out now

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    RC160 rolls off the production line and this month’s magazine covers more than half a century of classic motorcycling, with tall tales about Continental classics from Italy, Germany and Denmark, plus a selection of brilliant British bikes, and the Japanese interpretation of the trad big Brit single. Here’s exactly what’s inside the issue – available…

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  • British and Classic

    British and Classic

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    Back in 1977 Paula Davis and Beaver Hughes, interested in old British motorcycles, said ‘let’s start a club.’ Six people took the idea to heart and founded the North West Wales British Motorcycle Preservation Society. This year, the Society celebrated its 40th anniversary, and Richard Jones was there to capture the highlights for us… The…

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  • July issue available now

    July issue available now

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    This month’s magnificent magazine offers V-twins from Italy and America, an airhead from Germany, alongside Britbike twins, singles and triples all for your entertainment, education and edification. BMW R80, Part One When you buy a cheap bike on eBay there’s always a chance that one of its minor problems might be something major. In this…

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  • Norton Model 18

    Norton Model 18

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    The price of pre-war British bikes frequently puts them beyond most budgets, but the first bikes built after WW2 offer an affordable alternative. This 500 single was manufactured by Norton in 1946 and it retains many vintage virtues, as its owner explains… ‘It just oozes character,’ grins owner Brian. ‘I’ve owned other girder-fork machines over…

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