Features

Douglas ditched the strange suspension system of its earlier models and replaced it with another, at least at the front. The engine unit is very neat; turning the drive through 90 degrees for a chain drive is rather less clever NO, IT’S NOT a BMW. If you find the charm of this British-built transverse twin…

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The last of the Plumstead line still make for excellent riding machines. The Classic MotorCycle’s editor, James Robinson, puts a 1965 Matchless G3 through its paces. After the end of the Second World War, Matchless and AJS were in a pretty strong position. Like BSA, and to a lesser extent Norton, their parent company AMC…

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Men and machines contemplating perfect harmony. BSA Bantams… Who honestly hasn’t owned one? I’ll happily admit that I did, in fact it was what I learnt to ride on, a rigid-framed D1 which for some absurd reason I hand-painted white. And gold. But despite their ubiquity – depending on whose figures you believe, between 270,000…

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A view from the primary side. Fuel pipe has been replaced, as you’d hope, but all else is weirdly original 1971. No witness marks on the fasteners. There is a reason why Triumph twins have always been popular. It’s a simple reason. Have you worked it out yet? OK, here goes. The reason Triumph twins…

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Ariel intended that its touring 4-strokes should appeal to the more mature rider (whoever she is) and finished them in mostly sombre shades to reflect this. But they are very well made and grand to ride. THREE OF THE BEST British motorcycle designers of the 20th century had a hand in creating Ariel’s Red Hunters.…

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One joy of more modern motorcycles is that it clearly is no sin to cut ‘n’ paste to achieve the style you like. BEFORE YOU BUY your next bike, it really helps if you know exactly what you want. Sounds obvious, eh? But that’s not how a lot of us roll. We’re spontaneous. Risk-takers. Possibly…

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BSA’s racer for the road, the Rocket Gold Star. They truly do perform as well as they look. IF THERE WAS an award for the most widely faked classic motorcycle in the world, then BSA’s Rocket Gold Star would be a strong contender. BSA only made this beautiful sporting twin in 1962 and 1963, and…

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When BSA introduced their redesigned twins, in both 500 (A50) and 650cc (A65) capacities, the motorcycling world was rather less than completely bowled over. The snag was that although the A10 and A7 twins were getting a little long in the tooth, even by the standards of British motorcycle design, they were very popular with…

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Funny things, wars. They can cause human suffering on a massive scale, invariably have consequences on the disastrous end of the unexpected spectrum and often presage an unmanageable ballooning of a nation’s debt. But just occasionally they produce something interesting or amusing. In the latter department there was Dad’s Army – the long-running TV sitcom…

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The Seeley Condor has acquired an almost mystical reputation among classic bike enthusiasts – partly because of the exotic race heritage, but mostly because it is such a rare beast. So you can imagine his surprise when Colin Seeley saw this Condor at a French circuit. The owner didn’t know who I was,” explains Colin,…

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