Features

Harley-Davidson SS350 The popular image of Harley-Davidson as being a manufacturer solely of large-capacity 45 degree V-twins with ‘potato-potato’(TM) exhaust notes is wide of the mark. Although aficionados are keen to celebrate the firm’s 2003 centenary, some might prefer to develop selective amnesia about the past. The company’s previous offerings include such utilitarian delights as…

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998cc Watsonian-JAP Visitors to the National Motorcycle Museum may well stare in disbelief at the name on the tank (and, for that matter, engraved on the valve covers) of a beauti­ful, pale-green vee-twin. "Watsonian?", they may echo; "But they're sidecar makers, not bike builders!" True enough so far as it goes — yet Watsonian did indeed…

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Royal Enfield Continental GT It’s a funny thing about Royal Enfields; to the great majority of motor cyclisis this was a range of worthy if not particularly exciting models, pro­duced by solid citizens inhabiting farming territory somewhere near Ambridge. Totally unfair, of course, because the firm had a praiseworthy record in events such as the…

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Lawrie Watts’ Isle of Man sketchbook (pdf) We've all marvelled at Lawrence Watts's drawings and, probably, taken them for granted – the detail, the shading, the 'port-holes' which you could peer through to view hidden mechanical detail. All painstakingly drawn by hand – days of work. But look closer at any Watts pen and ink…

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Lawrie Watts profile part two (pdf) Such was the adrenalin generated by the TT atmosphere, everybody was on parade for morning practice at 5am, sometimes going from a party straight to the circuit before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Machinery seen in the cold light of dawn on the Glencrutchery Road was an excellent…

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1934 Ariel Red Hunter VH In the 1930s 250 (LH), 350 (NH) and 500cc (VH) versions followed, then after the cessation of the Second World War, the models returned, minus the 250. Actually, even the early postwar twins were called ‘Red Hunter twins’ such was the popularity of the name among those with a sporting…

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1922 Martinsyde Model B classic British motorcycle "When I bought this motor cycle two or three years ago it was an absolute wreck", says Ken Blake. "The previous owner had had it for 17 years, but I don't know what he did with it." Whatever he did do with it, Ken faced an enormous task…

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Ingenious projected layout for a horizontally opposed two-stroke As there is increasing interest in two-stroke engines, it may be apposite to describe a design which I hope to make when conditions permit. It is similar to Mr. Reid's engine (described in The Motor Cycle for 29 November, 1951), but it is simpler and incorporates a…

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1954 Francis-Barnett Falcon I was still hauling this charming little Franny Bee onto its stand, in readiness for the static photographs, when a bystander came bounding over. “I haven’t seen one of those since 1964,” he said excitedly, “our vicar used to have one just like that!” I’ve always distrusted personal reminiscences since a chap…

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