The Classic MotorCycle

Despite some reports to the contrary which appeared on social media, Britain’s National Motorcycle Museum, in Birmingham, is categorically not closing down, though one in Iowa, with the same name, is. See the separate story about the latest NMM raffl

This wonderful picture shows Miss Edyth Foley, aboard a Triumph at the Six days Stock Machine Trial in 1927. The fascinating Miss Foley was the subject of an interview, published December 10, 1931, conducted by correspondent Patric, at which point Mi

The 750cc Dunstall Commando of Wynford Thomas/Bob Newby keeps in front of the Dave Arnold/ Paddy Reid 250cc Ducati Mach III, during the 18th International 500 Mile Grand Prix d’Endurance, to give it its proper name, organised by the Southampton and D

I enjoyed reading your article in the December 2022 issue on the lesser-known Triumphs chosen for display at the Motorcycle Live show. However, I wish to point out that a misprint occurred in referring to the problems the police motorcyclists had in

One of the earliest forms of motor transport, the rare veteran-era tricycle offered from the Bühner collection, was built by Cudell & Co Motorenfahrzeug-Fabrik of Aachen, Germany to a licensed De Dion Bouton design. The names of ‘De Dion’ and ‘Bouton

Small Heath’s 1971 A65L Lightning 650 was born under a bad sign. It issued from a company that had been running out of money since 1969; had been designed at an uncoordinated R and D centre; and was produced at a factory still recovering from the thr

Maserati’s place in Italy’s motorised heritage uncannily parallels that of the equally historic Benelli brand on two wheels. Each was founded by a large band of brothers passionate in the pursuit of mechanical excellence, each won Grand Prix races an

When one Ulsterman complained to Joan Crawford that the Ulster Grand Prix centennial celebration clashed with the Stafford Classic Bike Show, she gave him a withering look and, in that no-nonsense Northern Irish accent, put him straight. “If the orga

Ask a motorcycle historian to name a frame-maker who used triangulation to revolutionise handling and the reply will probably be ‘Lino Tonti,’ but almost 60 years before the Italian designer was positioning tubes around Moto Guzzi’s V7 engine, a stud

The BSA Fury and Triumph Bandit were the last hurrah of the original BSA and Triumph factory design teams, but only two complete prototypes of each machine were found when the factory closed – the models not going into production was seen by many as

Frank Leonard Dolman (‘FL’ in competition riders’ parlance) was born in Fulham, west London. When the Second World War broke out, baby Frank moved with the maternal side of his family to the Cambridgeshire village of Fulbourn and lived, from then on,

There’s something about the number 18 and its deeper significance. If you search the internet for the meaning of the number 18, this, among other things comes up: “In numerology, the number 18 is a powerful number. It is made up of numbers one and ei

After more than four decades of trading, Burton Bike Bits’ expanding product lines have necessitated moves to ever larger premises. Now, a huge inventory of Triumph parts includes new and second-hand items and if parts remain in demand, then pattern

With a new year, the first outing is always a 300-plus-miles round trip to Newark Showground for the Winter Classic. One of the things I love about this show is the strong attendance of scooters, as it always attracts some interesting examples of thi

A control cable, oil lines and electric cables are not the most exciting of components on a motorcycle, yet none of us would deny they are essential. Their jobs are to connect certain parts to other parts which ensure the smooth running. On this part

Apart from the above, pistons act as valves to control incoming and outgoing gases in two-stroke engines and assist similarly for sleeve-valve engines. They draw fuel vapour into engines, push out spent exhaust gasses and compress fuel vapour within

Now, looking at the accompanying picture, one wouldn’t immediately think: “Oh, Eton” but in fact, the four making an (Eton?) mess of the poor old Ariel, were, in 1966 when the picture was taken, all pupils at the prestigious educational establishment