Features

  Mention ‘Ducati’ and we think ‘Multistrada,’ ‘Panigale,’ ‘Monster’, or perhaps 916, 888 or 750SS. Earlier, and our minds conjure up images of Mach 1s and Elites. But Ducati began manufacturing 50cc cyclemotors and for decades built a range of under 100cc models from the superb to the, well, less desirable… Words: Richard Rosenthal Photographs:…

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Rivalry between Cambridge and Oxford universities has taken many forms. Once, there was a motorsport version too. If one thinks of Cambridge (the ‘light blues’) competing with Oxford (the ‘dark blues’) then the contest which most readily springs to mind is the boat race, first held on the Thames in 1829 and then annually since…

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This unrestored Velocette Valiant is living testament to Hall Green design and build quality. But the surprisingly rorty offering would have needed to be 50cc more and £50 less to succeed. Words and photographs: Steve Wilson Andrew Whiting has lived in the same beautiful Berkshire village for some 50 years. It is an altogether fitting…

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From our 2016 archive Though his primary interest was producing high-quality performance machines, Philip Vincent was keen to look at other opportunities too. Words: ROY POYNTING Photography: TERRY JOSLIN It’s tempting to think Philip Vincent was an impractical dreamer who bankrupted his company making prestige motorcycles that few could afford, but that would be grossly…

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Three motorcyclists reach dizzy heights after much correspondence in the Press. In the April 2, 1931, issue of The Motor Cycle a letter was published, undersigned by three men – P Gjersten, A Peebles and J Byrne. In it they said: “Our attention has been drawn to an advertisement in the Overseas Daily Mail of…

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FROM OUR ARCHIVES If ecomonic constraints had not been such a dominant factor at Hall Green, this very special KSS could have been released under the Velocette name in the 1950s. This one-of-a-kind example was built in period, making it all the more remarkable. Words: ANDY WESTLAKE Photography: TERRY JOSLIN If you’re a connoisseur of…

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Though modern multi-cylinder, multi-valve, electronically controlled motorcycle combustion engines are far in advance of pioneer units, they can all be traced back through their development stages precisely to 1895. Words: RICHARD ROSENTHAL Photographs: GARY CHAPMAN Engine design is now added to these technical columns in the form of an occasional series interposed with the usual…

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Researching Raleigh history from a cycling perspective, I discovered the name of Owen Bridcutt, working, I believe, in a sales capacity. By chance, I found an Owen Bridcutt raced a Dunelt in the IoM TT races. Is this one and the same person? Ian Walton, email. Sorry for the long delay in replying Ian, but…

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The merest mention of wiring and electricity strikes fear into the hearts of many enthusiasts. It’s simple, say the experts… so we used an expert! Words: Tim Britton Photographs: Steve Parrish On the face of it, wiring is a fairly simple procedure on a British motorcycle, there aren’t that many components involved in the typical…

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  Andrew Spicer introduces the new kids on the block in the world of classic vehicle auctions, Yorkshire company Dee, Atkinson & Harrison. Words: Tim Britton Photographs: Dee, Atkinson & Harrison   Thrust into the world of auctioneering straight from further education, Andrew Spicer eventually found himself in the wonderful world of old motorcycles, albeit via…

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