The Classic MotorCycle

Started in 1903, The Classic MotorCycle has more to offer the true vintage motorcycle enthusiast than any other publication, backed by Europe's largest motorcycle image archive.

Welcome

GET YOUR FIX

The Classic MotorCycle

Star of the sand • An aged AJS, with its white-clad rider, was the combination to beat on the beach at Southport.

Odds-on a bargain

Plenty of Motorcycles aiming for the Manor

Big Bike Sunday 2023

NEWS IN BRIEF

A busman’s holiday

Early information for H&H sale at the NMM

THE WAY WE WERE IN JULY

Book Review

All go at Team Obsolete

LE VEL book

Rocking Romney Ride-In

Family outing • This well-laden BSA A10 Golden Flash provides an example of typical early 1950s transport for the whole clan.

We three kings • This 1977 photograph sees Mike Hailwood and Geoff Duke, two of Britain’s all-time racing greats from different generations, with the iconic motorcycle that connects them.

Readers’ Letters • YOUR VOICE & YOUR OPINIONS

Ago tops the bill

Requisitioned, repatriated, restored • Few machines come back from conflict free from battle scars, but this remarkable, shiny-from-new Norton Model 20 managed it.

Reliving the roar • Ardingly’s South of England Classic Motorcycle Show took as its theme ‘The Roaring Twenties and Thirties,’ with some delightful machines on display.

Custom classic • Though far from standard, this Tiger 100 is still made up of all Triumph bits.

Down under double-knocker • With no over-the-counter racer available to those who wanted to race the quarter litre class British in the 1950s, ingenuity was required, with this Aussie example one of the most successful.

Building for the future • There’s a quartet of successful business people and classic enthusiasts who are plotting something special, to hopefully help safeguard our collective hobby.

Top class • There have been many splendid 350cc motorcycles over the years, with AJS of Wolverhampton makers of some of the finest, if not best of all.

Quality Cornet • The 197cc TWN Cornet, a split-single two-stroke, was a high-class offering for the smart commuter.

On with progress • The evolution of motorcycles was neither smooth nor logical, instead it took many random turns governed only by the minds of participants. This month, we look at deflector piston two-strokes, four-valves per cylinder dohc engine design and wired on tyres.

Norton Model 7 Dominator

Little jobs take time • There could be some formula to work out the length of time spent thinking about a task to actually doing it and, inversely, it seems the smaller the task, the longer the thought process…

Sketchbook Travels • MOTORCYCLES, SEEN THROUGH THE SKETCHBOOKS OF MARTIN SQUIRES

Back on the road, end of the road… • Well, that was the big idea. But of course it didn’t turn out like that. Not only is the project Velo not back on the road, its shed-mate is now in bits too.

Diary

Consideration costs nothing but is worth everything • Why is it when normally quiet, reserved and self-contained folk take to the road, the beast within rears its ugly head?

Shows of extremes • Local shows with a Puch Maxi and the ‘big events’ like Banbury and the Pioneer Run are united by one thing – that of being enjoyable to be part of. Whatever your age.

Piston types • The largest loss of power with most internal combustion engines is piston friction. This can be lessened but such work must not diminish the piston’s role of driving the crankshaft to best effect.