Features

The 1960s produced a surge of interest in sprinting, drag racing and record breaking, which carried through right to the late Seventies – a time when straightline racing was afforded almost as many column inches in the weekly bike press as any other form of bike sport. Riders like George Brown, Alf Hagon, Ian Messenger,…

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The July 17, 1924 issue of The Motor Cycle carried the first test of the all-new Matchless overhead camshaft 347cc single – a machine aimed purely at the sporting rider. In the introduction to the test, it was pointed out that motorcycles can possess a charm ‘just as indefinable as that with any human may…

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Harris Matchless G80 Some of us have some funny ideas in this old motorcycle world we inhabit but few are more likely to generate an increase in temperature beneath the collar than the subject of brand loyalty. For example, some reckon real Nortons only came from Bracebridge Street and rotary Nortons aren’t Nortons at all.…

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Matchless 250 G2CSR I am prejudiced. I have a deep affection for the majority of motorcycles, but don’t like BSA C10s, the Norman Nippy, Clubman’s Goldies and AJS and Matchless so-called lightweight singles; I have a prejudice against them, every one. Love the traditional Plumstead singles and had a heavyweight Matchless G80S that went all…

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The competitor in question was the passenger in the outfit of a four-cylinder Henderson and said: “From the beginning we were out to win the cup for, without doubt, we had a machine the qualities of which to withstand the shocks and general wear and tear of a long run were legion. Its four-cylinder engine…

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1950 Royal Enfield J2 The company was the first to offer what we recognise as conventional swinging arm rear suspension on its production models. And when the very competitive world of one-day trials was supported by the big factories in the early 50s, it was Royal Enfield who swam against the stream of convention and…

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But, because the event didn’t run to strict American Motorcyclist Association technical regulations, the governing body refused to sanction the ‘Grand National’ permit so the 1954 event was run independently, with any make or model motorcycle allowed to compete. The meeting took place over two days, with the lightweight classes on Saturday racing over six…

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Harley lookalike! The Motor Cycle expressed disappointment, claiming there to be some 100 different manufacturers in Japan at that time, but offered some hope for the country’s two wheel industry, suggesting, “combined with the steady increase in popularity of motor cycling and the interest aroused by the show, a solid foundation has been laid for…

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Send us your favourite pics! Simply submit your motorcycle related images (details below) and our expert panel will select a top three – with the winning photographer receiving a custom helmet courtesy of Davida, a trophy presented at the 34th Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show at Stafford on April 26-27 (VIP tickets included), a…

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This was BMW’s factory race bike, intended for the 1963 ISDT but late arriving and only put into use for the 1964 off-road season. The new machine was revealed by Peter Fraser in his ‘On The Rough’ column in the April 23 issue of Motor Cycle. He said: “Prototypes of the new lightweight BMW, which…

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