Features

A two-part look at the role of Britain’s service motorcyclists, both men and women, in the harsh days of the Second World War. Words: Steve Wilson Photographs: Mortons Archive If the First World War saw the dawn of mechanised warfare, the Second World War, with its blitzkriegs, massive tank battles on the Russian steppes, and…

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There’s been a big move around of motorcycles at the National Motorcycle Museum. Words: JAMES ROBINSON Photographs: Gary chapman The National Motorcycle Museum houses the largest collection of British motorcycles in the world, with over 1000 machines from 170 different manufacturers spanning no less than three centuries. Of the 1000-plus machines in the collection there…

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Steve Boakes has built an attractive V-twin, using his skills and a collection of parts acquired over the years. Words and photographs: James Adam Bolton The green V-twin special had caught my eye on a couple of occasions at local meets and it always stopped me in my tracks as it didn’t conform, and I…

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On paper it’s often hard to separate the British 650cc twins of the late 1950s/early 1960s, but on the road they can be very different animals. Words: PHIL TURNER Photographs: GARY CHAPMAN The B1107 in Norfolk wouldn’t have been my first choice of road for my first ever outing on two of the finest examples…

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Details of a high-speed ride from Paris, to Geneva, and then on to Cannes. Featuring in a special supplement with the May 12, 1955, issue of The Motor Cycle was the account of Cyril Street and his friend Brian, who took part in the Deuxieme International Trophée Cannes-Geneve-Cannes, on a brace of BSA Golden Flashes,…

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“All I’m going to do is wipe an oily rag over it…” How many times have we heard that? Words: TIM BRITTON; Photographs: TIM BRITTON, STEVE PARRISH, MORTONS ARCHIVE Steve Parrish had only ever intended to service and use what had initially looked a tidy outfit, but having admitted during our chat he doesn’t have any patience,…

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❝Dixon reflected half of what he won from racing he kept, the other half went on his celebrations.❞ Though there are plenty of posed photographs in the Mortons archive, pin-sharp in focus and with the subject looking towards the camera, there’s none better than this one, here reproduced, to capture what was the essence of…

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A look back at the fabulous 2016 GP Rétro du Puy Notre-Dame, held last summer. Words and photographs: Mike Davis Even though it’s a demonstration event, some years Puy Notre-Dame can seem intensely serious and fiercely competitive. In other years, it’s the fun that shines through. In 2016 the sun shone, vintage motorcycles were multitudinous,…

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Despite the flatness of the land, a tough route was devised by the Ipswich and district MCC for its April trial. Words: JAMES ROBINSON Photographs: MORTONS ARCHIVE In fact, the course was so tough that it did for nearly 50 per cent of the entrants, as 20 of the 43 competitors were forced to give…

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When Howard Earle decided to enter for the 1936 Clubman’s Day at Brooklands he had to make two decisions: What bike he was going to ride, and what he was going to do about his mother. The first decision was easy. He bought an Excelsior-JAP TT Replica. Words and photographs: Phillip Tooth Introduced as part…

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