Features

By 1936, BSA were in a trough. For once, their competition team of Bert Perrigo, Jack Amott, Harold Flook and Marjorie Cottle failed to win a major trial, and sales, although steady, weren’t picking up, as the UK struggled out of the world recession. Time for a different approach. At the Leader’s unveiling, Val Page…

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This BSA Rocket Gold Star isn’t perhaps what it appears to be – but then its owner is perfectly happy to acknowledge that.  Words: ANDY WESTLAKE Photographs: GARY CHAPMAN ‘A Rocket goes into orbit… New clubman’s six-fifty twin from BSA’ was the headline which greeted readers of The Motor Cycle on February 8, 1962, announcing…

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Our book of the week this time around is Taking it to the Limit by the award-winning Peter Starr! With over 40 years experience in and around the motorcycle industry and 35 years as an award winning documentary film maker Peter Starr is very uniquely positioned to champion his favorite sport. His first book is…

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‘Classic’ is in the eye of the beholder and well, it’s time for the new guard to make their mark at Stafford. The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show is back in Stafford this October, and tickets are available here! The brand-new Naughty 90’s hall, in association with Suzuki, will showcase the very best and most interesting…

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Our first book of the week for August is the recently published Classic Superbikes II by Frank Melling. A classic superbike is a motorcycle which has universal appeal, regardless of your age or riding experience. It’s the bike you dream of riding – even if you’re a non-motorcyclist. Bikes like this are inspirational and their…

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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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