Classic Bike

Classic Bike helps and inspires enthusiasts to get more from their passion for classic motorcycles. The magazine shares their fascination with motorcycling’s heroic past while also helping them buy, fix and improve the bikes in their shed. Our main areas of content are: - Inspirational and entertaining reads that celebrate the glory of motorcycling, from riding stories that put the reader in the seat of history’s greatest bikes to incredible racing tales - Restoration stories and instructional features that inspire and help people get their tools out and sort out their old bike - In-depth technical features from the most expert and authoritative writers in motorcycling If you share our passion about classic motorcycles from the last century, you'll enjoy reading Classic Bike.

Welcome

CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE

It leaves you in disbelief • This year’s Jack Thompson trial, hosted by the Sidcup and District Motorcycle Club, attracted over 150 competitors to Canada Heights, showcasing a fantastic variety of bikes and riders, young and old

The start of superbike racing • A new book documents the glorious early years of American superbike racing

Cecil Sandford • Winner of MV Agusta’s first world championship has died at the age of 95

Simms again, please! • The Exeter Trial first ran in 1911, and is still going strong. The best place to watch in 2024 is Simms Hill, just outside the village of Ilsington in South Devon. Hugo Wilson is your guide

Should I bag a Bantam?

Classic Bike

Show us yours • We love to see your acquisitions, regular rides and projects – keep ’em coming to the address above

The Barry and Phil show • In 1974 Brian Crichton reported on January’s bike show for MCN

Yamaha go mono • Mick Andrews’ monoshock marvel stuns the trials world at the Hurst Cup

Ago stuns America • The Daytona 200 was Agostini’s first time on a banked circuit, first time in the USA and first race on a two-stroke. But that two-stroke was the new Yamaha TZ750…

Trident production restarts

The engine of the year • In 1974 the Wankel engine looked like the future. NVT revealed their P39 prototype in May, DKW and Suzuki started building rotaries, and Van Veen’s monstrous OCR1000 showed up. What went wrong?

When Harley beat Yamaha at their own game • The 1974 250cc World Championship should have been a Yamaha benefit. Walter Villa and Harley-Davidson had other ideas...

Read. At speed • On July 7, Phil Read dominated the Belgian 500cc GP at Spa. He led right from the start, won by over a minute and averaged 131.9mph. By the end of the month he was world champion. It was MV Agusta’s last crown

Always the underdog • British race fans lost a favourite when Peter Williams’ racing career was cruelly ended by a crash at Oulton Park

EVEL PLUMMETS • Evel Knievel’s Snake River Canyon jump was the year’s most successful failure

Soviet aggression • The 1974 250cc Motocross World Championship was an Eastern Bloc battle between Czechoslovakia and Russia that involved brutal, cold-war tactics on track, and political intrigue at that October’s FIM conference

Turning Japanese? • After a year of teasing, production of the audacious Benelli 750 Sei finally started in November ‘74. But could the Italians really beat Honda at the multi-cylinder game?

Suzuki triple trio ride 30,000 miles

Enjoy a year of Classic Bike • It’s a year away, but if you’ve enjoyed Classic Bike’s 1974 celebration, make sure you don’t miss our special 1975 issue by taking out a year’s subscription. Between now and then are 11 more copies of CB, all packed with fantastic bikes, amazing people and great stories

Loan Rangers • On a golden day in between autumn storms, we take a ride on a pair of...