The Classic MotorCycle
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Jewel of a motorcycle
This fabulous Royal Ruby V-twin has a rather regal bearing, which issomewhat ironic, as it was the overthrow of the Russian royal familythat most likely led to its non-delivery. Words: Rachael Clegg Photographs: Gary Chapman/Mortons Archive/Colin Wall The Royal Ruby 976cc V-twin stands majestic in Hall One of the National Motorcycle Museum. Its tank –…
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Cockerel of the north
Designed to mobilise the postwar northern Italian workforce, Moto Guzzi’s Galletto offered function in quite a strange form, but it’s not without its charms. Words: Phil Turner Photographs: Gary Chapman Few countries enjoyed a post-Second World War boom quite like Italy. A generous pot of aid courtesy of the Marshall Plan, the demand for raw…
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Special interest
This fascinating, charming and ultra-rare motorcycle comes from the early days of Vincent-HRD manufacture. Words: James Robinson Photographs: Gary Chapman When I was a child, I was obsessed with a book called ‘The Vincent HRD Gallery’ by Roy Harper. I loved that book, mainly as it had pictures of every Vincent and HRD made, and…
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And it was all Velo
For a first ride on a rigid frame, girder-forked machine, what better place to do it than at Mallory Park, during The Festival of 1000 Bikes. Words: Chelsea Borchert Photographs: Matt Hull The rejuvenated Vintage Motor Cycle Club (VMCC) event, The Festival of 1000 Bikes, takes place annually at Mallory Park (this year over July…
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Fowl play
The D1 version of the BSA Bantam is the purest one of all. And it’s still great fun to ride. Words: STEVE WILSONPhotographs: JONATHAN FLEETWOOD When I was in Africa in 2009, I found that any motorbike, irrespective of make, was referred to as ‘a Honda’ in the same way that in 1950s Britain, any…
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My own two Eglis: The same but different
I was very interested in your Egli-Vincents article, and the heading ‘The same but different’ was appropriate. It is also appropriate to my Egli-Vincents as I have a single (Egli-Vincent Comet Special) and a twin (Egli-Vincent Godet Sport GT) and my two are also very different from Jeff Vallat’s. Both are out and out touring…
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Fine French frolics
The GP Rétro du Puy Notre-Dame, held over the weekend of July 20-21, saw a fine, eclectic collection gathered for what is an increasingly prestigious event. Words and photographs: MICHAEL DAVIS Among all the French historic motorcycling events, le Puy Notre-Dame is considered special. Which perhaps explains why this year saw the greatest number of…
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Cullen and the 1971 ISDT
Being a trials man myself I enjoyed the Greeves Scottish story featuring Chris Cullen in the September 2019 issue. The last time I saw Chris Cullen was on a Steam Packet ferry, bound for Douglas and the ISDT in September 1971. I was 17 and on my way to the IoM for my first time,…
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Road trim Jimmy
I enjoyed your article on lightweight military motorcycles (June 2019 issue) and thought readers may be interested in the civilian version of the James Military Lightweight (ML). After the Second Word War ended, James continued to manufacture a civilian version of the ML until 1948, at which point they were able to start developing new…
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Swinging arm conversions
There were quite a few observations about aftermarket rear suspension in your September 2019 magazine. It should be noted conversions were not just confined to off-road machines. Here are some photos of my late father outside the De Havilland factory at Hatfield, on his Hartley Ariel, with a McCandless rear suspension conversion. In those days,…
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