When Percy Tait started work at the Meriden factory the last thing he must have been dreaming of was that one day he’d be riding a Triumph in a World Championship Grand Prix. This is
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Iconic and irresistible
Instantly recognisable and loved by millions, it’s easy to fall for the charms of the original pre-unit Bonneville. Words & photos by Marion Thirsk After the Second World War the American market began opening up
Read moreHonda 400/4 engine build
The original owner of this Honda 400/4 thought he had found a cheap and easy way to make the engine look as good as new. “He took the motor out of the frame, taped up
Read more1987 DUCATI 851S SUPERBIKE: The dawn of dominance
Few new bikes have ever been as eagerly awaited as the production versions of the eight-valve, liquid-cooled Ducati 851 Desmoquattro. The prototype, clad in Tricolore livery, took Marco Lucchinelli to a debut victory in the
Read moreMatchless G3L
You could describe a Matchless G3, or for that matter its AJS 350 sibling, as solid and dependable, but maybe not glamorous. The first models are a good example of a long stroke, long lasting single
Read more1960 Royal Enfield Constellation: TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
Like many British bikes, the American market enjoyed Royal Enfield’s Constellation (badged as the Indian Apache) a year before it came to the home market in 1958. Launched as “A motorcycle for real enthusiasts only”
Read moreFB Mondial 125 hps
An interesting design merging traditional looks with brave, modern styling, means the FB Mondial is one of those bikes you don’t look at and instantly say “Oh, that’s a 125 learner-bike.” There is an Italian
Read moreNew blood Old soul
Tucked away just south of the Suffolk/Norfolk border, is a collection of anonymous farm buildings. These are surrounded by rolling wheat fields, currently being harvested and baled, thanks to the spate of hot weather
Read moreFlash of Lightning
In 1949 Vincent-HRD was having a hard time. Postwar, many companies were struggling with export expectations, meaning the domestic market supply suffered and material supply shortages were common. Vincent may have claimed to produce the
Read moreRickman CR900
EVEN THE MOST dedicated fan of big mid-Seventies Japanese four-stroke bikes will admit that often the handling isn’t up to much, with frames and brakes wildly outperformed by the engine. But even back in the
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