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

Taking the high roads • With a heady combination of dramatic tarmac, rider-friendly weather and convivial company, this was the ideal event for owners who love to keep their classics well exercised

Scrambler unscrambled • A new biography of Dave Bickers celebrates the life of a European Champion who went on to a career as a film stunt man. Mike Jackson has read it and reviews it

Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps

Must see events for July

Hey, that’s my bike!

DEALS ON WHEELS • Brilliant buys to get you on the road this summer!

AT LUNCH WITH … Norman Hyde • He worked for Doug Hele at Meriden, started a parts empire and broke multiple speed records. And he’s not slowing down…

HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLCH SPORSTER • Harleys come loaded with preconceived ideas and prejudices, but what happens when you just treat them like any other bike? Rick approaches his first ride on a ’73 Sportster with a teenage dream and open mind...

163 THE WORLD’S FIRST SUPERBIKE KING • 1970s superbike superstar Reg Pridmore has lived quite a life, from being buried in rubble by the Luftwaffe to winning the world’s first three superbike championships...

Soul mate • James Patterson had a thing for Ducati’s early ’90s Supersports – although the bike he took on as a project took tenacity and perseverance to end up like this. But, when your heartstrings are tugged, what can you do?

Splashdown! • Honda’s CL72 landed in ’62 – the first street scrambler, it created stylistic waves that still resonate through the current crop of motorcycles

Rudge bears no grudge • Despite looking like a barn find, Rick’s 1936 Ulster fires up first time after two years under a sheet

Imperial Fixes • Problems Rick cogitates with old onBrits? your imperial Rick can problems help

Metric Fixes • European and Japanese classic bikes sorted with

How to... Fit a Lucas alternator • Here’s how we successfully navigated the task as part of last month’s Triumph Thunderbird project

HPS

Starting over • This motley collection of parts will become a Harris Magnum 2, and fortunately Harris are prepared to help us achieve that goal

Winding it on • Mark and his mates load up a van with their classics, head for the Highlands to get involved in May’s VMCC Highland International Rally and have a high old time

CLASSIC MARKETPLACE

Honda XL250 vs Yamaha DT250MX • We pit this pair of 1970s Japanese trailies against each other to see which one comes out on top as a potential purchase in the 2020s

CHRIS BUNCE

Thumping good buys • AJS and Matchless heavyweight swingarm singles offer some of the best value in British bike ownership

Biddable Six up for auction in July • Half a dozen tasty-looking tempters from Silverstone, H&H, Spicers and Charterhouse

Finishing on a high • Silverstone Auctions’ sale at the MCN Festival signed off in style before moving to a new venue next year. Gez Kane highlights half...