With reference to your Curtis story, Yamaha were never intimately involved in the HL project. Hallman and Lundquist initially experimented with a Husqvarna frame and a standard XT engine before having Profab build them frames

I have been most interested in the photos that you have been printing over the last few issues of Cadwell Park riders of the early days. Although I can’t with any certainty put names to

I really liked Steve Cooper’s article on the TC range. As a bit of a side order I have owned RV 125cc sand bikes since 1974. They came in three sizes – 50cc, 90cc and

At the celebratory dinner for the 105th anniversary of the Scott Trial at the Spa Hotel, Ripon, North Yorkshire, on November 16, Alan Lampkin was a superb Master of Ceremonies, while Nick Jefferies gave a

Dear CR It is nice to see the photograph Nick Nicholls took at the start of the 125cc TT in 1961. And it is nice too, to have mentioned most of the riders, some of

Dear CR Regarding the story in part one of the formation of the CRMC on page 77 of the November/December edition of Classic Racer and the photographs on page 79 – the guy in all

I am writing regarding the photo on the front page of issue 412 of Old Bike Mart. Is it possible that the two lads are picking up their bikes from Boltons Motorcycle of Barrack Corner,

In response to your Royal Enfield GT 650 report in the 2019 October Old Bike Mart, please find attached a couple of pictures of my much-missed 1965 Continental GT. The bike came my way in

Dear CR Please find enclosed photographs of my recently finished restoration: a 1971 RS125 Maico, single cylinder two-stroke disc valve engine, with six gears producing 28hp @ 11,000rpm, with a top speed of 125mph. The

I nearly choked on my Horlicks! On page 19 of the October issue H&H had an advert for the forthcoming auction at the National Motorcycle Museum on November 2. In the advert is a photo

Not many people associate Ducati with cameras and optical equipment, but that’s where they started out. I have a lovely 1951 Ducati Sogno, crafted and largely copied from a Leica but half the size. They

Classic Dirt Bike editor Tim Britton, aged 59 ½, who’s been mostly good this year (he knows Santa checks and categorises into ‘naughty’ and ‘nice’ and the lists are viewed twice) shares his 2019 Christmas wish list.

The recent correspondence about Wildmans – Lincolnshire’s oldest motorcycle shop – prompts me to add my own recollections for the record. While in Daytona in 2004 I had a call to say that Wildmans was

In 1960 I bought a BSA A7 Shooting Star registration number YTC 843. Later that year, my fiancée and I were married in Chester at Holy Trinity Church on July 23, followed by our wedding

Each month I look forward to your A Bit On The Side articles and my normal regime is to scour the classifieds first, casually scan the other pages then focus on my real interest of

Welcome to Classic Dirt Bike magazine, where we celebrate the best in older off-road motorcycles and showcase those who ride them… both now and back in the day.

I have just read about the IT465 update and the sensible decision to fit new rims to the bike. Here are photos of my CR250R original DID rear rim and what happened when I removed

Recently a friend and I have been looking for information on the scrambles (motocross) at Brands Hatch. Today, I got round to opening the September 2019 issue of The Classic Motorcycle and, surprise, surprise, was

A friend and I would like to ride our BSAs around some parts of the 1954 ISDT that was based in Llandrindod Wells as part of our ‘bucket list’ of things we want to do.

I enjoyed the ‘Men who mattered’ piece in the November 2019 issue, regarding H G Tyrell Smith. One small fact missing from the article was that Tyrell competed in the first 1930 Pioneer Run (copy

As a seasoned IT owner and restorer/collector, (I’ve only been without an IT between the ages of 21 and 24, I’m now 53!), I can add a few pointers to the latest edition of your

The Preston & District Motorcycle Club were holding round 5 of their championship races at 3 Sisters race circuit near Wigan on September 8 and, taking part in the Classic and Post Classic races, was

I too have fond memories of going to Cadwell Park. I went with Charlie Freeman in the late 1950s. He raced his Manx and sidecar outfit there and at other meetings, including over on the

Dear CR I have just received my issue of Classic Racer with a wonderful photo of Mick Doohan on his Rothmans Honda (p54/55) and on the lower fairing is a sticker for SAK who were

I enjoyed the article about A E Wildman & Sons in Spilsby, Lincolnshire. The history with this shop is amazing. Perhaps I could add a bit that I think is also amazing, and involves the

The near side seat knob on my Norton Commando had to be removed to allow the seat to be fully lifted up and rest against the seat stay cable. But removing the knob meant that

To finish the images of Colin Clark I conclude with the final three, which show the duel of the twins, at least one of which is a Triumph. The look on the face of rider

I note with interest your feature on the BSA Dandy (TCM, August 2019) and the points issue. Working for a BSA dealer in Nottinghamshire, a Dandy was not giving the service expected, and it was

I read with interest the article on the Douglas 350cc Mark III Sports in The Classic MotorCycle, September 2019. Although I do not know of the whereabouts of the bike featured in the piece (JYT

For the last few months I have meant to email you regarding your article about Police Triumphs (The Classic MotorCycle, April 2019), in particular ELA-registered Saints. My brother Nick and I bought two of them

Dear CR With regards to the ongoing debate about what defines a classic/vintage racing machine, I would like to propose that there be three different types as follows: Completely original (eg: Lansdowne Series, Goodwood Revival)

When wandering around the wonderful Greek island of Spetses I entered an art gallery and found these two machines taking pride of place. One is a Norton and the other is a Sterling. I was

I am writing reference the article on the machine above in your September 2019 issue. I have no information concerning the machine as a whole, but my attention was immediately drawn by two unusual features

Well, not quite my machine but on opening my October 2019 copy of The Classic MotorCycle, I was amazed to see a 1972 Daytona looking just like mine – almost. I was aware of most

I really appreciated the letter from Nigel Megson regarding the great article by Andy Westlake on my Greeves 197cc Scottish in the September 2019 issue of The Classic MotorCycle. In answer to his question concerning

So Arthur Pentney (OBM Letters July) likes his Norton sidevalve solos but not his BSA M20 which was “somewhat heavy and ponderous and lacking cornering ability” – could this be because he was talking of

When Colin’s nephew gave me this batch when we worked for a Lincoln company in the 1980s, he had a huge pile of the card-backed prints. I just wonder what happened to them all if

What a great cover photo on your July 2019 issue: London’s Metropolitan police officers on the Noddy Course. When the Met put hundreds of officers on two wheels in the late 1950s, many of them

This picture (left) could have been taken in 1948 but was actually taken last month. It shows my 1951 BSA C11 next to Tornado, which was the first steam locomotive built in Britain for 50

What’s the best way to stop oil draining into the sump of your old British bike? Phone up Frank Westworth

I was very interested in your Egli-Vincents article, and the heading ‘The same but different’ was appropriate. It is also appropriate to my Egli-Vincents as I have a single (Egli-Vincent Comet Special) and a twin

Being a trials man myself I enjoyed the Greeves Scottish story featuring Chris Cullen in the September 2019 issue. The last time I saw Chris Cullen was on a Steam Packet ferry, bound for Douglas

I enjoyed your article on lightweight military motorcycles (June 2019 issue) and thought readers may be interested in the civilian version of the James Military Lightweight (ML). After the Second Word War ended, James continued

There were quite a few observations about aftermarket rear suspension in your September 2019 magazine. It should be noted conversions were not just confined to off-road machines. Here are some photos of my late father

On pages 6/7 of the September 2019 issue of TCM, the aeroplane is a French-built SNCASE SE 161 Languedoc, powered by four 900HP Gnome Rhone engines. Air France used 40 of them – 100 were

I was delighted to read Andy Westlake’s article (TCM, July 2019) about a 350cc scrambles Matchless and his fond memories of that era. I was a competitor at that time and this was my 1953

Dear CR The article in CR #197 about the making of the film, The Road Racers, got me thinking – always dangerous for a pensioner… I saw the film on BBC2 when first shown and

Regarding the front page photograph of Jim Sandford’s tyre repair in the 1971 ISDT on the Isle of Man. First the people from left to right, on bike number 999, is Ken Heanes, my friend

I was very interested to read in the May issue of OBM,, Steve Cooper’s article on the remarkable emergency development of the Kawasaki H1 500cc triple. Readers may be interested to recall that at the

I was reading the letters in the latest OBM and something stirred when I read the letter titled ‘Nothing’s new’. Rummaging through my old motorcycle mags I came across the attached article. By modern standards

Following the Gold Star vs Thruxton article (June 2019 edition), and my brother (Chris Briston) visiting us last week from the USA, and the June ‘Where are they now?’ letter, I was prompted to write

Dear Dick I’m so glad that you enjoyed the recent Ray Knight and Mick Boddice pieces. I’ve always had a soft spot for the chairs and production racers. They never quite commanded the same status

I’ve read in OBM, and other mags, plaintive messages from older riders who are selling bikes because of difficulty with machine weight, especially when lifting on to centre stands. One method suggested by Tony Groves

With regards to the Louie McLean article in the August 2019 issue and the statement that her husband George “went on to run a motorcycle dealership in Perthshire”. George McLean’s business was in Dundee and

I have just opened my copy of the July mag and noticed that on page 28 you have named the rider on the sidecar as possibly being Bruce Main-Smith. I can say that the rider

With reference to Herman Meier, as featured in You Were Asking in the TCM of August 2019, I met Herman several times. The pictured bike was ridden in sprints by John Kimberley, and I suggest

Dear CR Yet another great mag (#198 July/August) and the where and when picture did indeed get me thinking, so many cross issues to note. To start, the two Nortons made me think 1973 but

Welcome to Classic Dirt Bike magazine, where we celebrate the best in older off-road motorcycles and showcase those who ride them… both now and back in the day.

I was struggling to read the June issue, having just got back from having some swarf excavated from my eye at the local hospital (by the most delightful young lady!) and I chanced upon the

As Cadwell Park hosts the Sidecar Revival Meeting I thought it would be appropriate to include the last three Colin Clark images of sidecar outfits in the 1950s. The first is a Norton outfit (70)

I enjoyed the article on the Ariel VA/VB. Enclosed is a photo of a 1939 Ariel VA that I found in Princes Risborough, approximately 1990. It was one owner and came with tax discs from

I was pleased that the article on the Ariel VB (OBM April) did not concentrate solely on those old side valves as just being able to pull a heavy sidecar around, but were also capable

After speaking to Dave at the Bike Shed Show in London, here’s the pic that I mentioned at the time. The photo was taken in 1934 in Aruba, in the Dutch West Indies, and I’m

I would really like to find out if my Velocette still exists. The DVLA say it’s not on their records so, if it’s still around, it must be in a shed or garage. This is

I found the letters by Bruce M Bennett (July 2019) very interesting as that was the era I started riding and his mention of his employment at Thornton Heath depot reminded me of the following:

I have just realised that there is a small, but significant, error to the write-up to the Morton’s Archive picture on the front cover of the April issue. The rider of the Sunbeam, is I

Nice article and pictures on the Matchless G3LS in the July issue. I owned/restored the bike before selling it on. Specification includes a 7.5 compression ratio piston and SH (scrambles) cams, minor port polishing and

Dear CR Hope this note finds you well and continuing with your great endeavour of producing the wonderful magazine that is Classic Racer. It’s always a good day when my subscription arrives in my mailbox

When I read your excellent article about Rob Fitton in the June 2019 edition of The Classic MotorCycle, it took me back to Easter 1954. Then, I was a 14-year-old schoolboy living in Brigg, north

Here is a photo, above, of the Norton Dominator 99 that Roger Maughfling built for me in 1964. I soon found that the 16” tyres did not last long (500 miles for the rear) and

Dear CR The Roberts boys were involved in motorcycling from a young age, and Kenny senior took them to various northern California events, just to meet some of the motorcycling greats of that time. Dick

I’m enclosing a little poem I wrote about a project I’ve recently completed. I’ve been restoring Triumphs for quite a number of years now and I have to admit, believe me, this was some project.

Thanks again to Dennis Prosser in helping to identify riders from Colin Clark’s images from the late ‘40s and early ‘50s. I will include any details that Colin may have added to these pictures, but

An anniversary that seems to have been forgotten is Roy Peplow’s win in the 1959 SSDT, the first win of such a major event for a lightweight motorcycle. The accepted wisdom of the time said

Having studied with interest Mick Payne’s article ‘Rubber Side Down’ in the May 2019 OBM I’d just like to add my £2.20 pence worth.  Obviously, as you indicate, the practice of fitting car tyres to

With 2019 being the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War and the 75th anniversary of D-Day, I’m undertaking a commemorative ride. I hope to leave the Two Wheel Centre, 50 Westfield

As usual, I read with interest the You Were Asking column in May’s TCM, as always nicely written by Richard Rosenthal. Regarding my dad’s contribution to the hub centre alternative steering system for motorcycles, and

I send my Old Bike Mart papers to my friend in San Diego, US, and he’s replied as follows…

I just want to comment what a great read the mag on Alf was. I’m disappointed I had no idea what a legend he was when I meet him several times as a 20-year-old. I

I was pleased May’s Restoration Guide highlighted the often-overlooked Velocette GTP. More and more of these stylish, practical lightweights are coming out of the woodwork. Over the last few months I have been in touch

Dear CR Excellent magazine as usual,thank you,have been a reader since issue one. Loved the article on Ray Knight and as with the one on Ernie Bryant it brought back memories of BFRC and Racing

I’m hoping you or your readers might be able to help. My dad died 23 years ago, aged 53. I would love to see his 1961 Triumph Bonneville or at least an up-to-date pic of

There have been several recent issues of Old Bike Mart featuring DMW motorcycles.

Further to the feature on Terry Smith’s SAINTs in the April 2019 issue, I have owned my example for 11 years and prior to that there were only two owners. The bike is unrestored and

I see in the news last issue the IT465 is back on the go – you don’t say what the issues with the halt in proceedings were but we’re glad it’s sorted out, as the

I was pleased to see that Steve Wilson polished his shoes before taking a ride on Alex Taylor’s LE (The Ugly Duckling, TCM, May 2019). Motor Cycling correspondent George Beresford did the same when he

Having just flicked through the latest CDB, it seems we have another favourite bike in common, or nearly the same. I’ve got the XR200R’s younger brother, a CRF230F, and similarly it is much more than

I was pleased to see that Steve Wilson polished his shoes before taking a ride on Alex Taylor’s LE.

Your queries resolved with Richard Rosenthal

As ‘The Reynolds Man’ I was interested in a letter in the on ‘Renold and Reynolds’ and feel that it called for an account of the Reynold’s side of the story.

Please forgive the tardiness of this little missive but with mounting concern I reread Neil AC Wyatt’s ‘It’s Time To Wake Up’ in February’s Readers’ Letters, page 14. Among other concerns, the excitable Mr Wyatt’s

Regulars 03   In Balance           All walks of life have their own special phrases that are perfectly logical to those in the know but unintelligible to those who are not. 06   News, views and reviews

Welcome to Classic Dirt Bike’s summer edition! Click to find out what’s inside!

I read the April 2019 edition of The Classic MotorCycle with interest, particularly the article about the Post Office Bantam. I started as a Post Office Telegram boy in 1966 and after a brief spell

With reference to the Jones racer, in the April 2019 issue of TCM, Dennis Jones did indeed make his own front wheel but it was not a disc. The front wheel he made is in

“Good article about the ex-Frank Perris machine in issue 195. A handful of these made their way down under in the late 1960s; Melbourne rider Peter Jones rode one to many wins.”

Just to set the record straight in Tim Britton’s 1927 Ariel story in the April issue. ‘KO 1097’ was never mine; she belonged to my mate Miles, but I was always very jealous! We were

Dear CR Thanks for the excellent article about Ray Knight in CR196. It brought some good memories back for me as I started racing in 1964 on a production Honda 250 CB72, which was also

With regards to EJJ 64 (March issue, p6) I bought it from a Michael Collins (killed in the Junior TT, 1970) for £3 in the mid-1960s. The story was it was owned by the factory