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

Getting it up down under • The New Zealand Classic Motorcycle Racing Register’s Classic Festival had a new home this year, after Pukekohe Park Raceway, its home of 43 years, was closed. Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon hosted the two-day festival, where 220 racers competed on over 320 bikes

NZCMRR FESTIVAL

Ultimate Streetbike is back • Nine-event series for 2024 aims to recreate the giddy days of 1980s streetbike drag racing

What’s new

More dates for March

A birthday party at Brooklands • The Sunbeam Club are celebrating their centenary with a birthday event at Brooklands in March, and you’re all invited. Julie Diplock, editor of the club’s magazine, explains

My Moto Martin missile

Classic Bike

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

Good Save! • Dean Stevenson rescued a garden-find wreck and transformed it into a GS1000S with Wes Cooley cool. We get the gen on the job – and take it for a spin

Roger Harvey • He raced everyone from Dave Bickers to Dave Thorpe, scored two GP podiums and was Joey Dunlop’s team boss. We ruin Roger Harvey’s new year diet by dragging him out for lunch

HOG HEAVEN • On Milwaukee’s riverfront lies the largest single-make motorcycle museum of all – the Harley-Davidson Museum. Phil West gets the tour

Vincent Rapide • With only 78 made, getting to ride a Series A Rapide is a rare treat. Rick was lucky enough to put one to the test – so is it really the ‘Snarling Beast’ of legend?

Hanks for the memories • British sidecar champion and TT winner Roy Hanks had an extraordinary life in racing, ably assisted by most of his close relatives. Roy’s now written a book about their life on three wheels – here’s a taste of it

SAXON HISTORY • This factory-supported triple flew in the face of Hinckley Triumph’s ‘no racing’ rule 30 years ago. Alan Cathcart was in the hot seat, having been in the thick of development

Seemed like a good idea... • Taking on a project inevitably plunges you into a world of possible pain and uncertainty – and bike magazine projects are no different. Some are more successful than others, as these bikes prove – all taken oln by bokes we know, and maybe should have known better

ENJOYING YOUR READ?

It’s that time of year again • Winter can be frustrating – what you need is some inspiration to get you in a positive mood

At the workbench

At the workbench

A fitting conclusion? • Having cut up the bodged frame, and with pipework ready for bending and brazing, Rick reckoned he deserved a celebratory brew. But there’s many a slip ’twixt lip and cup...

GET READY TO MAKETHIS A BRILLIANT BIKING YEAR • New six-part bootcamp video series goes live, aimed at making us all better and safer riders…

Honda CB400F vs Honda CB500K • A pair of fours from the Big H – but which is the middleweight maestro?

‘A bike’s...