-
Pa and His Pa: The Norton Founder, a 1921 Photograph and an Extraordinary Motorcycle Adventure
Though always known as ‘Pa’ Norton, this picture shows the company founder with his own pa. Plus, some famous faces look on. Simon Robinson reports… The Norton motorcycle company sprang from the Norton Manufacturing Company, which was set up in 1869 by James Lansdowne Norton to manufacture bicycle chains. It was in 1902 that Norton…
-
Wearwell: The Wolverhampton Motorcycle Pioneer Brought Down by Scandal
From bicycle manufacturing to early motorcycles, Wearwell looked set to become a major name in the British motorcycle industry. But financial wrongdoing brought the company’s promising future to an abrupt end. Like so many, Wearwell started out as a bicycle manufacturer. The Cogent Cycle Co was founded by Henry Clarke and the business included his…
-
Colin Edwards: 20 Years of Hurt – The MotoGP Victory That Got Away
Colin Edwards came close to winning a MotoGP race two decades ago, but didn’t quite manage it… In fact, he was heartbreakingly close… Colin raced in MotoGP from 2003 through to 2014, when he retired halfway through the season. Bertie Simmonds reports… He raced for Aprilia, Honda and Yamaha. He would take 12 podiums in…
-
Ken Craven’s 1966 American Adventure: A Triumph Thunderbird, the Wild West and a Black Widow Spider
In 1966, veteran motorcycle traveller Ken Craven set off alone through the American West on a borrowed Triumph Thunderbird. His adventure took him across desert landscapes, over remote roads and into a Mexican hospital following an unexpected encounter. Once in a while we come across a story from way back that we feel is worth…
-
The remarkable story of Joan Crawford’s Bond Minibyke – and its surprising history
From a chance discovery in a remarkable private motorcycle collection to award-winning appearances at the Isle of Man TT, Joan Crawford’s much-loved Bond Minibyke has a fascinating story. In a letter published in Old Bike Mart, Joan shares how she acquired the little 125cc machine and uncovered its connections to the Bond manufacturing business. For…
-
SURPRISE! Motorcycle racing legend Johnny Cecotto is coming to Stafford this weekend!
Two-time motorcycle world champion Johnny Cecotto is making a special appearance at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show this weekend, giving fans the chance to see the racing legend alongside one of the most important machines of his career – his 1978 Formula 750 World Championship-winning Yamaha OW31. In a fantastic late addition to the line-up,…
-
Hidden Gems: Kawasaki Z650
Steve Cooper takes a look at the Kawasaki Z650, now rather overlooked but with a claim to being one of the best middleweight machines ever built. Most fans of Japanese classics will know the story of the Z1’s development, how Kawasaki was pipped at the post by Honda’s CB750 with its first four, but then…
-
Remembering Rod Pallant: a drag racing original
A couple of months on from the sad news of Rod Pallant’s death, we look back at Keith Lee’s tribute to one of British drag racing’s most memorable characters. First published in Old Bike Mart, the piece below is reproduced verbatim. The drag racing community has lost a memorable bike racer with the passing of…
-
Everything you need to know about the Stafford Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show 2026
The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show sponsored by Carole Nash returns to Staffordshire Showground on October 10-11, with more than 900 traders, dealers and autojumble stands, a huge club presence, famous racing machinery, special guests and the Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale. Staffordshire Showground is preparing to welcome thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts for one of the biggest…
-
October 2026
Welcome to Old Bike Mart, the subscription-only newspaper with a huge selection of classic motorcycle classified ads.
-
November 2026
The November edition of The Classic MotorCycle magazine offers a lavishly illustrated celebration of legendary machines, riders and races, and news, reviews and rare period images from the golden age of motorcycling.
-
National Motor Museum to leave Beaulieu
It has been announced that Beaulieu will not be renewing the lease of the world-famous National Motor Museum which expires in 2030. The museum can trace its origins back to 1952 when Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, put on display five veteran cars as a tribute to his pioneering motorist father, John, 2nd Baron…
-
Wartime DKW emerges from the River Danube
Global warming across the world has resulted in water levels in rivers, lakes and reservoirs dropping, leading to the reemergence of long-submerged buildings and even villages. But in Budapest, a decrease in the level of the Danube has led to a particularly interesting discovery. People walking along the side of river in Batthyány Square opposite…
-
October 2026
Don’t want to miss out on the latest issue of Classic Bike Guide? Get the magazine delivered to your front door by heading to Classic Magazines – you won’t even have to leave the house!
-
Roadskin launches new Ranger Multi-season AAA-Rated Jacket
Roadskin has announced the launch of the new Ranger Multi-season AAA-Rated Jacket, a protective motorcycle jacket designed for riders who want serious safety without giving up comfort or everyday style. Built as Roadskin’s toughest jacket yet, the Ranger combines the highest AAA safety rating with a relaxed olive-green look that feels just as at home…
-
Bazza’s First: Barry Sheene’s Landmark 500cc Grand Prix Victory That Changed Racing History
Fifty One years ago, Barry Sheene achieved one of the most defining victories in Grand Prix motorcycle racing history, securing his first-ever 500cc Grand Prix win — a result that would reshape his career and set the foundations for back-to-back world championships. The victory came just months after Sheene’s near-fatal crash at Daytona, a recovery…
-
Anka-Eve Goldmann: The Woman Behind the Iconic ‘Girl on a Motorcycle’ Image
Anka-Eve Goldmann At the words ‘Girl on a Motorcycle’, many of you will think of the iconic image of Marianne Faithful in the movie of that name. But who was the unwitting inspiration for that look? John Milton finds out. Back in the middle of the 20th century when a female riding a racing motorcycle…
-
Readers’ Tale: A year to remember
John Stevenson (aka 5012094 SAC Stevenson J) looks back on a special year in his life. Many people I think have a special year – always to be remembered. It could be national, such as the 1966 football World Cup or it could be personal. Perhaps trivial, perhaps not. Mine was the latter and the…
-
The day I didn’t say hello to Mike Hailwood: a Daytona opportunity missed
You know those moments when you later think “Why didn’t I do that?” Philip Ridley recounts one of those incidents in his life. I lived in Toronto, Canada, for ten years throughout the 1970s. I was then and still am interested in motorcycle road racing, as is my brother, Ralph. Ralph went to live in…
-
Maico Owners Club to celebrate 100 years of Maico at Stafford
The Maico Owners Club will mark a century of the German motorcycle marque at The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show sponsored by Carole Nash, which returns to Staffordshire County Showground on October 10-11, 2026. Visitors to the club stand will be able to join members in celebrating 100 years of Maico, with the display reflecting the…
-
Iron Offroad: the Leeds parts shop with 115 years behind it and a catalogue that goes back to 1974
It is November, the Evo-class CR250R is on the bench, and the list is the usual one. Piston and rings. Base and head gaskets. Fork seals, because the left leg has been weeping since Farleigh. Rear pads. A chain that stopped being a chain somewhere around the fourth round. None of it is exotic. All…
-
Mike Hailwood’s 1966 World Championship-winning works Honda RC173 offered by Iconic Auctioneers
The works Honda RC173 that carried Mike Hailwood to the 1966 350cc World Championship will be offered by Iconic Auctioneers at its Iconic Motorcycle Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show on Sunday 15 November.
-
Bonhams presents a celebration of motorcycling history at the Autumn Stafford Sale
Championship-winning racers, legendary collections, iconic British marques and more than 200 exceptional motorcycles head to Stafford
-
October 2026
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, the magazine dedicated to the buying, riding and rebuilding of the later classics and Japanese machines, has a fantastic new issue lined up for you this month.
-
Triumph Originals 2026: Seven nations battle it out with ‘Time Capsule’ Scramblers
Voting is now open for Triumph Originals 2026, with seven teams from around the world competing to create the most original custom Triumph Scrambler. Representing Canada, China, France, Italy, Spain, the UK and US, each Triumph team has worked with a locally selected custom workshop to showcase innovative design, build techniques and craftsmanship. Every one-off…
-
Tonkin Tornado: Steve Tonkin’s take on the ultimate café racer
Steve Tonkin took on the task of building the ultimate café racer. After John Tickle sold the rights to Unity Equipe, they would eventually be acquired by Andy Molnar in 1994. A former TT racer who won the Junior TT in 1981, Steve would partner with Andy Molnar to build the Tonkin Tornado. Built to…
-
‘I’d have done the TT but my wife stopped me!’: Racer and TNT Sports’ Sylvain Guintoli admits Isle of Man parade lap was ‘best adrenaline rush’ ever
Popular Sylvain Guintoli has revealed he’d have added the Isle of Man TT to his awesome back catalogue of race experiences had his wife not put the brakes on his hopes. The French rider, a former World Superbike, MotoGP and BSB star, still competes in endurance racing but lists a parade lap on the island…
-
The radical TT motorcycle that almost changed everything
Almond Tinkler was a racer, inventor and engineer whose extraordinary ‘power egg’ motorcycle was unlike anything else at the 1927 TT – but exhaustion, breakdowns and bad luck prevented it from ever making the start line. TINKLER Almond Tinkler was a keen motorcyclist from the time he could throw his leg across a machine. In…
-
An Introduction from the Moto Guzzi Club
We have received payment for the content in this article. Learn more. Who Are We? The Moto Guzzi Club is a welcoming community of riders and enthusiasts brought together by a shared appreciation for one of the world’s oldest and most distinctive motorcycle manufacturers. The club was established in 1976 by a small band of…
-
The Thorough: the short-lived motorcycle that offered unusually long test rides
At the end of the 19th century George Featherstone was an ironmonger living in Bethnal Green but he had a son who was interested in the great strides that transportation was taking. It seems likely that it was John Featherstone who persuaded his father into producing a motorcycle in 1903. By then, John, now in…
-
Ariel Red Hunter: History & Road Test
From the 1930s through to the late 1950s, Ariel’s single-cylinder offering was one of Britain’s most enduring sporting singles.
-
September 2026
Welcome to Old Bike Mart, the subscription-only newspaper with a huge selection of classic motorcycle classified ads.
-
Two generations of Aermacchi racing history heading to Stafford
Two fascinating competition motorcycles spanning very different eras of Aermacchi and Harley-Davidson racing history will be heading to Stafford this autumn – you’ll be able to see them, and hear them running! Owned by Andy Webb, the 1969 Aermacchi-Harley Davidson 350cc Lawton Ala D’Oro and 1974 Harley Davidson-Aermacchi RR250 Grand Prix racer will be among…
-
October 2026
The October edition of The Classic MotorCycle magazine offers a lavishly illustrated celebration of legendary machines, riders and races, and news, reviews and rare period images from the golden age of motorcycling.
-
Hidden Gems: Yamaha YDS6
Steve Cooper looks at a single year model that you can still pick up for not a lot of money. That the Japanese motorcycle industry plagiarised the work of others is well documented. In the modern business world such artifice creates what’s known as a second-to-market product and often such offerings have some of the…
-
Watsonian tackles electric sidecar challenge with Harley-Davidson LiveWire
The latest combination from Watsonian Sidecars is rather unusual. Instead of its usual petrol-engined fare, the Cotswold company took on the challenge of adding a chair to one of Harley-Davidson’s electric motorcycles. A long-standing customer approached Watsonian and said that he wanted to add an electric outfit to his collection of motorcycles, using a Harley…
-
Three September autojumbles every classic bike fan should have in the diary
September is shaping up to be a cracking month for autojumble fans, with three very different events taking place across the country. Whether you’re hunting for that elusive restoration part, looking for tools and workshop kit, browsing potential projects or simply fancy a day surrounded by classic machinery, there are three dates worth knowing: Netley…
-
Vindec Special: The German Motorcycle That Nearly Won the First TT
The Vindec Special was actually built in Germany by Köln-Lindenthaler Metallwerke AG of Cologne. However, it is an interesting footnote in British motorcycling history because its distribution in this country was handled by the South British Trading Company with the assistance and advice of William Huntingdon ‘Billy’ Wells. Wells had moved to London from his…
-
Netley Marsh Eurojumble returns in September
The Netley Marsh Eurojumble is back this September – and for 2026 there’s an important change, with the popular Hampshire event taking place on Thursday and Friday. The Netley Marsh Eurojumble returns to Hampshire on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 September 2026, bringing two days of bikes, parts, spares, tools, projects and plenty to rummage…
-
The Walker Bullpup: The extraordinary one-off motorcycle that refused to disappear
Although not technically a manufacturer – the Bullpup was very much a one-off – we include it here for its interesting story and because it really is ‘once seen, never forgotten’! The Bullpup was built by Farnborough engineer Victor George Walker who started the project in 1924 and finished it a couple of years later.…
-
British Cars & Bikes Classic Display Day comes to ’Normous Newark Autojumble
The next ’Normous Newark Autojumble takes place on Sunday, September 13, with an added attraction for owners of classic British cars and motorcycles. The British Cars & Bikes Classic Display Day will give eligible vehicles the chance to become part of the show itself — with free entry for British motorcycles over 15 years old…
-
September / October 2026
Classic Racer magazine celebrates the greatest racers and racing motorcycles in history, where motorcycle-racing legends truly live on.
-
CADWELL MOTO – the Biggest Classic Bike Festival at Cadwell Park
Cadwell Moto returns over 26/27 September courtesy of the team at Classic Bike Trackdays with a eye-watering mix of the best classic road, track & race bikes all in thundering action around the full Cadwell Park circuit.
-
The Viscount: A rare production-built Norvin with Bonneville pedigree
Marrying a Vincent V-twin engine and a Norton Featherbed frame was a well-known partnership by the end of the 1950s, but these ‘Norvins’ were generally the province of the amateur builder. Then motorcycle engineer Tom Somerton of Somerton Engineering decided that something a little less homebuilt would appeal to racers. One of the most successful…
-
Looking back: Bultaco Owners Club gathers at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum
Looking back to April, the Bultaco Club UK brought more than 50 Bultaco motorcycles together at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, a fitting venue given the close association between Bultaco and Sammy Miller during the 1960s. Chris Mabey was there to capture the day. In glorious April sunshine, the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum was delighted…
-
September 2026
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, the magazine dedicated to the buying, riding and rebuilding of the later classics and Japanese machines, has a fantastic new issue lined up for you this month.
-
From shed-find moped to classic bikes: Pete Chatburn’s motorcycling story
Pete Chatburn tells us about his start in motorcycling (and that’s how he titled his letter – we’re not being rude!) and wonders whether might be buried treasure on a local airfield. It all started for me in 1965 when I found my Granpa’s abandoned 1959 Raleigh RM1C moped in the shed behind his tailor’s…
-
Looking for a Saint? One rider’s search for an ex-Metropolitan Police Triumph
Given his occupation, readers will not be surprised by the title the Reverend John Lines MBE has have given this article, but he will now set the scene for you… In a previous article (Readers Tales, OBM485) I wrote about my beautiful Triumph Thunderbird that I have managed to get returned to the condition it…
-
Hidden Gems: Honda SL350
Steve Cooper introduces us to one of the prettiest – and most underrated – of Honda’s 1970s offerings. Some would argue that, when Honda dropped the hugely successful CB72/77 for its follow up K Series 250/350 it somehow cheapened the brand. To a point that’s correct, but for good reason – the outgoing models were…
-
Barry Sheene replica leathers raise £3,000 for Two Wheels for Life
This weekend saw the annual Two Wheels for Life auction take place at the British round of MotoGP, held at Silverstone. One of the key auction lots was a unique set of Dainese custom-made Barry Sheene replica leathers. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Barry Sheene winning the first of his two 500cc World Championships…
-
Looking back at the sidecar TT
With the news that this year’s Sidecar TT class was cancelled after two massive crashes, Mick Payne takes a look at when Great Britain ruled on three wheels. Mick Payne reports When I introduced the concept of an A to Z of sidecars I admitted it wasn’t likely to be a set-in-stone monthly feature, and…
-
September 2026
The September edition of The Classic MotorCycle magazine offers a lavishly illustrated celebration of legendary machines, riders and races, and news, reviews and rare period images from the golden age of motorcycling.
-
August 2026
Welcome to Old Bike Mart, the subscription-only newspaper with a huge selection of classic motorcycle classified ads.
-
Ride more. Worry less. Advanced Corrosion Protection for Every Motorcycle
For every motorcycle enthusiast, keeping a bike in perfect condition is more than maintenance—it is a passion. Whether you ride through rain, store your motorcycle over the winter, or simply want maximum reliability on every journey, effective corrosion protection is essential. Scandex AG has developed a new generation of multifunctional corrosion protection technology that sets…
-
Stafford VIP tickets offer early entry, lounge access and a £60 cleaning kit
Visitors heading to The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show can now upgrade their day with one of a limited number of VIP packages. The £50 VIP ticket includes show admission, priority parking and early entry, along with exclusive use of the VIP Lounge throughout the event. Tea and coffee are unlimited, a packed lunch is included…
-
The man who made the Manx better: John Tickle’s lighter, faster Norton
John Tickle is a legendary name in the world of Norton, not least because it was he who – whisper it low – improved the Manx Norton. When he had bought the contents of the AMC race shop in 1966, Colin Seeley also acquired all the Manx Norton rights and parts. He decided to concentrate…
-
Time to consider a base in the sun
It started off as an adventure with my wife, a 1954 Velocette MSS and a one-way ferry ticket from Ireland to Bilbao.
-
40 years of the Beast: How Suzuki’s GSX-R1100 rewrote the superbike rules
Suzuki’s beast of a bike – the GSX-R1100G first hit UK showrooms some 40 years ago. Bertie Simmonds looks back… The GSX-R750F of 1985 revolutionised sportsbike design, even if it used tried and tested technology, but by making the whole bike lighter… For the 1986 GSX-R1100, Suzuki applied very similar thinking. This bike weighed in…
-
Historic Ford Model TT bus & classic bikes set for Shrewsbury Steam Rally
Classic motorcycles will once again form part of the varied vehicle line-up at this year’s Shrewsbury Steam Rally, but one particularly well-travelled exhibit is set to attract plenty of attention of its own. From Welshpool and Oswestry to the National Motor Museum, Nick Onions’ Ford Model TT bus has travelled far during its long life.…
-
The girl on a motorcycle
Around Hull there was a legend of a beautiful blonde on a big Harley. But, as her friend Mike Cartlidge, tells us, that was no myth – that was Anita Manley. This is a tribute to a lovely lady who, in her younger days, did not need Bill Ivy or Fred Warr in a blonde…
-
Council car park provision for motorbikes back in focus, one year on
Designated spaces added to accommodate almost 200 motorbikes in council car parks as bikers receive a boost 12 months after grim provision unearthed Pressure from key figures in the motorcycle community is paying off after room for almost 200 bikes has been added to council car parks a year after a damning report. Only 4,241…
-
Singer: the Coventry car maker that began on two wheels
Although best known for its cars, Coventry-based Singer began by making motorcycles, while its connection with two wheels goes back even further. In 1875, George Singer and his brother-in-law, James Stringer, founded a cycle company, and Singer went on to build the world’s first safety bicycle. By 1883, Singer was one of the country’s largest…
-
August 2026
The August edition of The Classic MotorCycle magazine offers a lavishly illustrated celebration of legendary machines, riders and races, and news, reviews and rare period images from the golden age of motorcycling.
-
July 2026
Welcome to Old Bike Mart, the subscription-only newspaper with a huge selection of classic motorcycle classified ads.
-
Two ultra-rare Ducatis set to headline Mecum Monterey auction
A historic 1972 Ducati 750 Imola racer and an exceptionally original 1974 Ducati 750SS Green Frame will lead a tempting selection of collector motorcycles crossing the block during Monterey Car Week. Two remarkable Ducatis with direct links to one of the most important chapters in the Italian manufacturer’s history are set to appear at the…
-
Scooters, classic Fords and free entry for eligible vehicles at ’Normous Newark
Riders of scooters over 15 years old can gain free entry to the ’Normous Newark Autojumble and Ford & Scooter Classic Day on Sunday, August 9, with the Nottingham Ford RS Owners Club also confirming an impressive display. Scooter riders will have an added incentive to head to Newark Showground this August when the ’Normous…
-
Remembering… The Verus
After the First World War Alfred Wiseman began manufacturing motorcycles in his Glover Street works in Birmingham under the Sirrah name (the name came from reversing the surname of the designer, a Mr Harris), motorcycles which used a number of proprietary engines and were aimed at the budget market. However, to complement the various Sirrah…
-
When Whitham and Mackenzie Battled for the 1996 British Superbike Crown
The stars aligned for this amazing British Superbike squad, formed just over 30 years ago to take part in the 1996 series. Bertie Simmonds reports… Run out of the back of Steve ‘Stavros’ Parrish’s former Loctite Yamaha converted horsebox, the group dominated that year’s event. James Whitham took 10 wins overall that year and Niall…
-
Bonhams launches consignments for the Autumn Stafford Motorcycle Sale with ex-Steve McQueen Husqvarna 250cc Motocrosser and important team appointments
We have received payment for the content in this article. Learn more. Bonhams has confirmed that consignments for its two-day Autumn Stafford Sale on 10-11 October at The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show have now opened. Already confirmed is a 1972 Husqvarna 250cc Motocrosser previously owned by actor, Steve McQueen, being sold without reserve with an…
-
Hidden Gems: Honda CB400N
Well, this one should raise some eyebrows! Steve Cooper is, as the young folk put it, dissing one of the Japanese classic scene’s sacred icons and bigging up its oft reviled successor. Honda’s numerous 350/360 twins of the 70s were never the company’s best work and, realistically, they were little more than rehashed existing models.…
-
August 2026
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, the magazine dedicated to the buying, riding and rebuilding of the later classics and Japanese machines, has a fantastic new issue lined up for you this month.
-
Hidden Gems: Suzuki GT500
Steve Cooper looks at a machine which survived because of the failure of another Suzuki model. Those that know – or think they do – might tell you to avoid Suzuki’s biggest two-stroke half litre twin. The mighty Titan, Cobra, Charger, T500/5 et al isn’t a sporting two-stroke in the most commonly accepted format. It…
-
Flashback – Italjet 350
As the Spanish industry suffered industrial turmoil Italy was waiting in the wings. Tim Britton remembers… Designing and building a motorcycle from scratch is fairly simple, everyone knows a wheel is needed at either end and an engine in the middle with some form of tubing to keep them all in the right place. This…
-
How to Keep Your Motorcycle Safe from Theft – and What to Do If the Worst Happens
Motorcycle theft in the UK remains a serious and widespread problem. The latest data from the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) shows theft rates fell 7.9% year-on-year through 2024 – a meaningful drop, but the volume of stolen bikes remains staggering. As MCIA CEO Tony Campbell has warned, the number of motorcycles being recovered after theft…
-
July 2026
RealClassic revels in the nuts and bolts of running, riding and rebuilding real classic motorcycles. Expert and enthusiastic real-life riders from across the world share their passion for old bikes.
-
Motorcycle Legends 2: BSA – Pre-Order Now and Get FREE Delivery
The next chapter in the exciting new Motorcycle Legends series is almost here, celebrating one of the most iconic marques in British motorcycling history: BSA. Following the incredible success of Motorcycle Legends 1: Triumph – which has already sold out – Motorcycle Legends 2: BSA is set to be another must-have collector’s edition for motorcycle…
-
The Amal Carburetter Company has been keeping British bikes on the road for 99 years
Formed in 1927 under the name Amalgamated Carburetters Ltd, Burlen Ltd rescued the Amal brand in 2004 from the brink of collapse. We took on all stock, machinery, customers, and the brand name itself, and started the long process of reviving the Amal brand.
-
Entries Now Invited – Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale | 10–11 October 2026
Following the record-breaking Spring Stafford Sale – which saw two new world auction records established and over £4.2 million realised – Bonhams is now inviting entries for the Autumn Stafford Sale, held in conjunction with the internationally renowned Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show at Stafford, UK. With motorcycle sales exceeding £8 million in 2025 and an industry-leading average 96% sell-through rate, Bonhams continues to…
-
Kempton Park Autojumble returns this July with live Iconic motorcycle auction
Kempton Park Motorcycle Autojumble returns on Saturday, July 18, with an added attraction for classic, modern and retro motorcycle enthusiasts as Iconic Auctioneers brings its London Motorcycle Sale to the event. Taking place at Kempton Park Racecourse, near London, the well-established autojumble is already a firm favourite in the motorcycle calendar, attracting hundreds of visitors and more…
-
Entries Now Invited for Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale
With motorcycle sales exceeding £8 million in 2025 and an industry-leading average 96% sell-through rate, Bonhams continues to set the benchmark for the international collectors’ motorcycle market.
-
Free 100+ page digital magazine celebrates the best of classic motorcycling and scootering
Discover more than 100 pages of fascinating features, stunning photography and expert writing from some of Britain’s leading classic motorcycle and scooter magazines – completely free to read online. IF you’re passionate about classic motorcycles and scooters, we’ve got something special for you. We’ve created a brand-new, completely free digital showcase magazine, bringing together some…
-
‘One-off’ 2009 Millyard Viper V10 to be auctioned
A world record breaking motorcycle, among the most individually famous bikes on the planet, is going under the hammer.
-
Leaping Lena: The daring Australians who built the world’s fastest sidecar
John Milton looks at how a handful of young Australians took on the world to win the sidecar landspeed record. The nickname ‘Leaping Lena’ has been used countless times in all manner of ways – a woman who jumped out of a Philadelphia window to avoid police arrest in 1920, pigeons, racehorses, cars, trains, even…
-
Bazza’s first!
Words: Bertie SimmondsPic: Mortons Archive Some Fifty years ago Barry Sheene took his first 500cc Grand Prix race win. It was just months after his near-death crash at Daytona and his victory set the scene for his two world championships in 1976 and 1977. Suzuki’s iconic RG500 would eventually win 49 races, four riders’ titles…
-
Sparton: the chapel-built British racer that scared the factory giants
For a brief period in the 1970s, one of the most powerful race bikes in the world was being built in a converted chapel in North Wales. Sparton was a collaboration between Barton Engineering and Spondon Engineering. Barton brought the two-stroke engine expertise, Spondon brought the frame-building brilliance, and together they created a machine that…
-
ABC Tricar: the Mini that lost a wheel and became a teenage dream
John Milton takes a look at the ABC Tricar. The ABC Tricar, in short a three-wheeled BMC Mini, was originally created by Ken Heather and Bill Power for Ken’s son, Trevor. Trevor had really wanted a Morgan three-wheeler, but one suspects that, even in the mid-1960s, Morgans were an expensive choice for a teenager. So…
-
July 2026
Don’t want to miss out on the latest issue of Classic Bike Guide? Get the magazine delivered to your front door by heading to Classic Magazines – you won’t even have to leave the house!
-
Len Vale-Onslow: the maverick who gave motorcycles the welded frame
From childhood crashes to the first welded production motorcycle frame, Len Vale-Onslow’s story is one of invention, risk-taking and what might have been. The name of Len Vale-Onslow needs little introduction. Born Leslie Vale-Onslow in 1900, he was introduced to motorcycles in 1908 when he rode a machine built by his brothers. A police constable…
-
How Saracen rose and fell in Britain’s mini trials motorcycle boom
Along with friend and scrambler Frank Underwood, trials enthusiast and school teacher Ron Goodfellow designed, built, rode and sold the Saracen mini trials motorcycles in kit form, inspired by a desire to create an affordable alternative to the then-expensive Bultaco models. Working in a small Cirencester workshop, Mr Goodfellow brazed up a chassis using preformed…
-
July / August 2026
Classic Racer magazine celebrates the greatest racers and racing motorcycles in history, where motorcycle-racing legends truly live on.
-
Yamaha YR2C: when Yamaha joined the street scrambler trend
Steve Cooper looks at how Yamaha took its all-new YR1 and jumped aboard the 1960s street scrambler trend. In 1967, Yamaha’s Iwata factory rolled out its most significant machine since the 250cc two-stroke YDS1 of 1959. The all-new Yamaha YR1 350 two-stroke twin was a ground-up design featuring a vertically split crankcase and a clutch…
-
Suzuki’s TC200 came here by accident…
Steve Cooper looks at the street scrambler that came to these shores by accident… So, as we all know, street scramblers were never sold in the UK, right? Well, why would a company do that when we Brits have always had a reputation for being a conservative bunch when it comes to buying motorcycles? Very…
-
Rebuilt 1973 Triumph Trident T150V
This late T150V Trident, fully and expertly rebuilt by keeper Peter Hall, finally sells your tester on three-cylinder power.
-
Dunlop Debut!
Fifty years ago… the summer of ’76 — the heatwave, petrol at 76 a gallon, Barry Sheene and James Hunt winning world championships on two and four wheels. Punk rock was on its way to shake up the establishment and one J. Dunlop was about to make his debut at the Isle of Man TT…
-
July 2026
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, the magazine dedicated to the buying, riding and rebuilding of the later classics and Japanese machines, has a fantastic new issue lined up for you this month.
-
Rare Japanese Lilac Lancer added to museum collection
The Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum is delighted to announce the latest addition to its world-renowned collection – a rare Lilac Lancer Mk V 250cc V-Twin, a shaft-driven, four-speed motorcycle built by the Marusho Company of Hamamatsu, Japan. The Marusho Company was founded in 1948 by motorcycle engineer Masashi Ito, who would go on to create…
-
R A Jones Classic Motorcycles: a family passion for proper classic bikes
For anyone with a love of British classics, restoration projects and interesting old motorcycles, R A Jones Classic Motorcycles is well worth knowing about. Based in Manchester, close to the Trafford Centre and M60, the business is run by Robert Jones and specialises in classic motorcycles, with a particular passion for British machinery. Whether it…
-
Normous Newark to return with Ford & Scooter Classic Day this August
Normous Newark Autojumble returns to Newark Showground again this summer with an added classic vehicle attraction for visitors, collectors, riders and drivers. Taking place on Sunday, August 9, 2026, the popular autojumble will also host the Ford & Scooter Classic Day, bringing together the usual wide-ranging mix of autojumble traders, parts, projects, tools, memorabilia and…
-
World’s fastest monowheel at Sammy Miller Museum
The latest addition to the ever-growing Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum is ‘Trojan’, the world’s fastest monowheel. The UK Monowheel Team, made up of six dedicated enthusiasts (for ‘dedicated enthusiasts’ read ‘bonkers madmen’!) from Lincoln, Nottingham and Northamptonshire, designed, developed and built the extraordinary machine over a period of ten years. It’s the team’s fourth monowheel…
-
The cult of LC!
From the era that style forgot came a machine like no other: Yamaha’s RD350LC. What made this bike (and little brother and subsequent models) so well-loved? Bertie Simmonds explains… At the start of the 1980s, we were under the shadow of The Cold War, Thatcherism had been unleashed upon us, and unemployment was hitting two…
all
Enjoy more classic motorcycle reading, Click here to subscribe to one of our leading magazines.
