Features

1932 Ariel VH32 Red Hunter “Buy your MPH from Ariel – it costs less” was the sales boast in Ariel’s 1932 catalogue of this model, the VH32 Red Hunter. Testing one in Motor Cycling, 20 January 1932, the scribe noted: “It seemed hardly likely that the rumoured 85mph would be obtained. A 90-guinea TT replica…

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1937 BSA G14 The British heavyweight side-valve V-twin reached its zenith in the 1930s, with models like this G14 BSA proving popular with sidecar men especially. Long of wheelbase and of stroke, the big twins provided plenty of lazy power, delivered with the minimum of fuss – and revs – in a smooth, continuous and…

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Primary drive of Villiers 30C unit The majority of engineers followed one of three distinct paths: variable ratio pulleys, gearboxes and clutches, either singly or in combination. Initial belt-drive pulley development focussed on altering the working diameter of the engine pulley. Opening or narrowing the gap between the angled pulley faces caused the belt to…

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BSA’s classic CB34 Though perhaps not as well known or as easily recognised as the iconic DBD series, the CB is still clearly and obviously closely related to its more famous sibling. The Gold Star story is well known and has been well-documented, right from Wal Handley’s famous 1937 Brooklands triumph on the specially prepared…

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Velocette 350 MAC and 250 MOV Some things in life, like strawberries and cream, go so well together that it can be hard to imagine them apart. Roger and Jane Franklin have overlapped their tastes to such a degree that you can tell, just by looking at them after 34 years of contented marriage, that…

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Zundapp KS750 With an impressive specification that includes hydraulic brakes, shaft drive, off-road and reverse gear, plus heating elements to rider’s hands, feet and sidecar, the Zündapp KS750 was equipped to cope in the harshest of conditions – none more so than those experienced on the German/Soviet Eastern front in WWII. A grim place where…

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Triumph TT Bonneville (T120R) For nigh on a year, I’d been receiving regular phone calls from Hugh Brown at The Bike Shed, which started in the same way. “You been down the gym then?” Hugh would start. “Well, I hope you’re at least hopping up and down the stairs on your right leg…” he’d go…

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1958 Ariel Huntmaster and Garrard Grand Prix child/adult sidecar Unsurprisingly, Tony East’s stunning Huntmaster outfit is a hit with the children. Grandchildren, neighbour’s offspring, friend’s siblings and almost every child who sees the outfit beams. Aged seven when this twin left Ariel’s Selly Oak factory, I’d have taken no prisoners to guarantee first go in…

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February 8-9, 2014 at the Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset Ninety per cent of the show is undercover and protected from the elements and plans are in place to park all vehicles on hard standing and open up additional gates, so there will be no muddy car park moments and minimal queuing. Worst…

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1913 Norton BRS Norton’s first in-house engine in 1907 was a sidevalve single – but of 660cc, though reduced to 633c (in 1908) for production. The first 500 – or 475cc – debuted in 1909, with the famous 79 x 100mm dimensions adopted from 1911. For all the rest of its days, the 500cc sidevalve…

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