Features

Preparing for the 1910 TT, fascinating pioneer motorcyclist Bert Houlding, with his JAP-powered racer.  On the reverse of this photograph, there’s some brief notes, added at different times, as evidenced by the varying writing implements used and the handwriting styles. The first, beautiful flowing writing, in pencil, describes; “JAP Loxham machine, rider Herbert Houlding, photo…

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Members of The Motor Cycle’s editorial team take to the residential streets, for a noise testing experiment. Image: Mortons Archive   The sound made by motorcycles has long been a source of consternation and debate, one which still rages today, but which, in 1952, The Motor Cycle chose to investigate, using a modern, newly available…

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We all like an excuse to dress up occasionally, especially for a good cause Words and photos by Matt The Distinguished Gentleman’s ride was an idea thought up in Australia back in 2012 for riders of classic-style bikes to dress up once a year in their best attire, go for a ride, and raise money…

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Continuing with his hybrid theme, Frank Westworth, the founder of Classic Bike Guide, looks at the one that got away – Triumph’s TR5T Words by Frank with photos from Mortons Archive   Back in those apparently glorious youthful days when we were all masters or mistresses of the universe, also impossibly vigorous, good-looking and quite…

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It’s refreshing to have a colour photo from the archive for once and Ron Haslam’s smile sums up the love so many have of racing. The scene appears to show a typical club racing scene, with friends helping out. There may be no factory overalls or promo ladies but the Mal Carter Pharaoh team van…

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Fabulous Zenith V-twin transporting a Wimbledon tennis champion and steered by an Olympic gold medal winner. Image: Mortons Archive Published in the May 20, 1915 issue of The Motor Cycle, this picture was shown with the caption: “The late Captain A F Wilding, in the sidecar of Lieut-Commander G W Hillyard’s 10.8hp Zenith machine. Both…

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Covering upwards of 2000 miles, on a 350cc sidecar outfit carrying two full-grown men, in February, sounds like purgatory, though it was in the name of publicity… Image: Mortons Archive   On Monday, February 9, 1925, at approaching 9pm, a crowd gathers to watch the departure of a 350cc OK-Bradshaw, fitted with an OK Number…

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The eight-valve Bonneville twin which could’ve perhaps been original Triumph’s saviour. The ultimate Meriden twin? Perhaps it was, but, like so many things in the final 20 or so years of the ‘original’ British motorcycle industry, 1983’s TSS was more an example of what might’ve been, rather than what actually was. It’s reported that around…

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Slightly mysterious Ariel, ridden by the Cambridge cox, as he arrives for training at Putney Boathouse, prior to the 1946 boat race. Looking at this picture, there are things that don’t tie up, so we sent it over to the ever-helpful Roger Gwynne, at Ariel specialist Draganfly, to try and work out exactly what it…

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France’s Bol d’Or 24-hour race celebrates its centenary this year. Here, we have a brilliant action photograph from the 1924 edition, where solos and sidecars ran together. This rather remarkable action picture is taken from the June 19, 1924 edition of The Motor Cycle, the original caption reading thus: “One of the Rene Gillet drivers,…

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