News

The AJS-Matchless OC was formed 60 years ago, following an advert in the Daily Telegraph, posted by the late John Trant, asking like minded AMC riders to meet at the Ace cafe with a view to forming a club. The subsequent meeting in January 1952 resulted in the AMCOC being formed, later changing to the…

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Lindsay & Sons, 1926 Great Ship Street This major figure in Irish motorcycling has collected historic machines, such as the 1954 500cc Gilera ‘Saturno’ racer that once belonged to the father of 1960s Argentinian star Benedicto Caldarella. That one must be a favourite to exceed the auctioneer‘s top estimate of £12,000. A 1939 B24 BSA…

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Classic Bike Guide breakfast coming up Last year’s event saw more than 500 machines try the Parkitt Racing mobile dyno – and the tea, will be back again, so you can see just how many horses your bike actually pushes out, have a look at the new Royal Enfields, check out the new Triumphs on…

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Mark Walker’s been at it again To refresh your memory, 'Big Ned' (named after Ned Kelly, the notorious bushranger) was an outrageous motorcycle built by Australian Mark Walker. Mark, who is dyslexic and has no formal education but has unique engineering skills and can turn his gifted hand to and create projects that others in…

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Available in all good newsagents In this month’s issue of Classic Bike Guide, Nigel C heads north and samples a couple of fun – and suitably immaculate – BSA trailies, Roland Brown focuses on Kawasaki’s golden years, in a celebration of the company’s first 50-odd years of motorcycle production, Alan Turner tells the story of…

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Johan Van der Perre on board 600cc Sarolea Sam will also bring Ronald Agoston’s fabulous RC181 Honda replica. Thundersprint’s resident legend, Jim Redman, will also be out on Clive Brooker’s CR750.  Another big Honda is that of Frenchman Phillippe Hanus’ CBX1300. Phil is bringing two – a road racer and a turbo-charged, nitro burning dragster.…

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1926 Ariel Model D twin port 500cc The first is Training Day South on Sunday, May 6, at Arborfield Barracks, near Reading, Berkshire, followed by Training Day Midlands on Bank Holiday Monday, June 4, at Curborough, Nr Lichfield, Staffordshire. Owners of 1920s and 1930s hand change machines will be available to give instruction in the…

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Mystery tool. What is it? Editor Clarky, on Classic Bike Guide, has inherited this small hand tool shown here and to put it bluntly, hasn’t a clue what it is or for what it’s used. Having passed it around the office, he’s still no wiser and it’s intriguing all who’ve seen it. Knowing who owned it…

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New cafe racer from Royal Enfield? The pre-production model was shown at the Delhi Show recently, but the prototype hasn’t yet been seen in public. The engine used is the latest fuel injected unit Bullet engine but there’s also a potential 535cc job which has an extra four horses. That new cradle frame is a…

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Draper Tap and die set, thread restorer A tap and die set can also be used for cleaning out rusted and dirty threads. What’s more, with a die you can make your own studs, large or small, or conversely with a tap you can rethread a hole to take an oversize screw etc. I’ve had…

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