Was Suzuki’s 500cc two-stroke twin doomed to become extinct before its time? John Nutting recalls the bike that started the Hamamatsu factory’s big-bike era and the last of the line.
Kawasaki's Z650 set the standard for four-cylinder middleweights, but the company did it the hard way. Confirmed Suzuki GS750 fan Rod Ker concedes the Z was the bike to beat in the performance wars
Maurice Keen’s love affair with his Honda Gold Wing spans 30 years and two countries. We tracked him down at his home in Eire
The owner of this stock looking and immaculately finished 1980 Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mark II was bike-less for a couple of years, and felt the urge again. But as his workshop had disappeared in a house move, he bought his one already restored
From early sporting leanings in the roaring 20s, Norton’s immortal 490cc pushrod engine developed into a delightful lusty slogger, fondly remembered by many. The ‘Easy’ 2 was a mainstay of the Norton range for over three decades, and it’s not difficult to see why it had such a devoted following
Geoff Duke on the incomparable Gilera, Dave Bickers on a 250cc Greeves in the British MX GP and 'skiing' in Austria. Just some of the images from 1962...
Rod Ker is reminded of breezing along through a blue haze of burnt two stroke oil when he rides the smallest of Suzuki’s three-cylinder trio
Close inspection of the Yamaha twin’s engine internals reveals a relatively happy state of affairs for spannerman Rod Gibson
Rod Gibson completes the Yamaha's engine and gearbox rebuild but it’s not back in the frame – the owner is so pleased with the motor that he’s now going for a full restoration
Stories of 750 owners being traumatised by a well-ridden Yamaha 350 are not the stuff of legend, rather, a very well documented fact. It’s realistically now very difficult to convey just what a complete package the Yamaha 350 was. Ostensibly a 350 in a 250 frame, the model was a performance ground breaker...
• Joan Westbrook interview
• Jerry Thurston column
• Archive photograph
• Which model? (Norton 500cc twins)
• BSA M20 super profile
• Moto Guzzi Bicilindrica – history and test
• Reader’s restoration – Triumph Tiger 100
• Straight from the plate – 1963 Thruxton 500 miler
• Ted Mellors’ reflections
• Bantam engine build
• Restoration guide - Triumph 3T
Where legends come to life...

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