all

Twenty years ago, Goat Maison set off on his 1958 600cc twin to ride halfway around the world. In the previous episode, we’d left him in Iran…

Shed not your tears for the Norton rotary project: there’s no fat ladies singing just yet. Norton Motors has re-surfaced, and they’ve a very special F1 Sport for sale…

Back in 1984, aged 22, Goat Maison set out on a Great Adventure aboard a Norton Dominator. In the first chapter he discovered the M25, then the English Channel, and then Greece…

Got an old British bike? Check. Read ‘Jupiter’s Travels’? Check. Must be time for an extraordinary adventure, then. Goat Maison’s Dominator took him halfway around the world…

Chapter 4. Wherein a letter arrives, a crankcase departs, a gearbox re-build goes awry… demonstrating why Jim Algar doesn’t rebuild classic Nortons for a living…

John Blades always dreamed of owning a Norton Featherbed twin. And now he does: the last of the Dominator line…

Chapter Three of Jim Algar’s Dominator Diary, wherein the engine gets torn down, and the news is… not good. So let’s take the gearbox apart, shall we?

Chapter Two of Jim Algar’s Dominator Diary, wherein the classic Norton twin gets naked (small children to leave the room, please), and the cylinder head gets the better of him. Twice…

Remember Howard’s Big 4 which was undergoing a mechanical overhaul? We can now show you the photos of it. And David Yeats explains how the Big 4 got its name, and reveals his own collection of Norton singles…

Riding a race-replica: Steve Jenkins lets rip on a 1970s JPS Norton – an unusual oldster which gets ridden all year round

Little girls beware; Barry Granger’s Norton Commando is out to get you…

Jim Algar’s Dominator Diary start here: the first (and hopefully not the last) of a sporadic, irregular series of reports, updates, musings, questions, tirades, victories and defeats as an American neophyte takes on his first classic British bike…

We can’t all be expert spannermen. Howard H reminds us what it’s like to be fixing up a classic bike with little mechanical skill (and even less time)…

You know how it’s just… so… easy to click a bid in when you’re visiting an online auction? That’s how Jim Algar transformed a mild midlife crisis into a Featherbed Norton Dommi 99…

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, they say. Andy Sochanik discovered that no knowledge at all is ideal if you’re looking at a Norton lightweight!

After years of hard work, Rob Seedhouse had his wreck of a Norton lightweight nearly ready to run. But then came… the paperwork!

Rob Seedhouse wanted a project to keep him out of trouble for a while. It turned out to be a very long while! But if a job’s worth doing…

Ever have that sinking feeling that something is missing? In Tom Rodford’s case it was all of his Norton Lightweight’s tinware. But he persevered, and built a motorbike out of a pile of bits…

You might think that a 1931 ex-works Norton racer belongs in a museum, and indeed Steve Lacey’s Manx GP bike had pride of place at Brooklands for a while. It was originally raced by Ron Harris, then ridden by Phil Heath, and owned by Titch Allen. Steve tells its story

Roy Workman gets a bit nippy and meets any number of Norman cycles, and the Norman Cycle Club, and a windmill…

Ken Phelp is so keen on this unusual breed of vintage motorcycle that he wrote a book about them. So how did his fascination develop?

Phil Speakman takes an unusual first ride on his latest classic bike. From the middle of nowhere to the other side of the country on one of the coldest days of the year — aka hypothermia for beginners…

After main bearing failure and repair, Phil Speakman finally arrives at his destination in Finland. Now all he needs is an ice-lolly…

Phil Speakman landed in Finland with his MZ’s main bearings knocking louder than his knees. Phil doesn’t speak any Finnish and he was about 150 miles away from the MZ rally he was aiming for. Help?

Phil Speakman starts to clock up some miles on his recently rebuilt 250 Trophy… and promptly runs into trouble. No problems, there’s another MZ in the shed. It’ll be fine to ride to Finland. Won’t it?

It’s in one piece and ready to ride. Phil Speakman does the unthinkable, and actually concludes a rebuild saga. Steady on, Phil…

Phil Speakman considers relativity, a brief history of time, and the benefits of an opposable thumb…

Lots of bits have come back, ready for assembly on Phil Speakman’s MZ rebuild. So he ventures into the Devil’s Kitchen and proves that you should never leave a man alone with a tube of strong adhesive…

Phil Speakman has stripped down his MZ, ready to start restoring it to glory — which involves lots of decisions. To shot blast, sand blast or vapour blast? What sort of finish to opt for? And does copper really have the devil in it…?

Phil Speakman started what should have been a straightforward crank rebuild on his stroker, then suffered a strange interlude with aromatic hair care products. Then the whole job went up in the world…

‘What I did on my summer holidays’. Rebuilding a real classic two stroke single almost earned KarlB an A*, but smoking is not permitted on school grounds…

It’s Bonfire Night, so what better time to catch up with the second instalment of PaulG80’s Diary of a Sadman. Time to start making a big pile of bits; anyone got a light?

Seeking a winter project, PaulG80 sought something… unusual, and settled on a two-stroke export from the old East Germany. The first part, then of the Diaries of a Sadman…

Are you ready to rock? Rowena Hoseason has discovered a collection of motorcycle songs which will probably be the Next Big Thing, go live on stage in a West End musical and end up being filmed in Hollywood with Tom Cruise taking the lead role. Or not…

Nolan Woodbury meets 25 classics from the Ducati Museum, immortalised in this high-class publication…

An unusual 500cc Grand Prix racer goes under the hammer this autumn. But there’s more to the Munch marque than this single machine…

We know how much you like reading detailed, informed, in-depth road tests – but too much indulgence is bad for the soul so you’re not getting one today. Peruse instead, Andy C’s outpourings on the subject of… ahh… our mugs…

Dave Minton discovers what might be the definitive description of the Isle of Man TT circuit…

A high quality hardback review of motorcycling from 1910 through to 1969, showcasing half a century of British bikes and the people who rode them…

What was life like for female riders in the 1920s? Mrs Elk recommends a recent reprint of an inter-war classic book…

In between destroying old bikes, Paul Morgan-Knight pauses a while to read about someone who used to build them, back at the old AMC factory in Plumstead…

RealClassic readers have requested info on those modern bikes which fulfil the role of the classic motorcycle. So, by popular demand, Steve The Toast tests Moto Guzzi’s new middleweight streetbike…

This book will be launched at the Stafford Show on October 19th 2013, on the Panther Publishing stand, with superstar riders including Dave Bickers, Jeff Smith, John Banks, Bryan Goss, Dave Nicoll and Alan Clough in attendance. But even if you miss that event, you can still enjoy their exploits in print…

It runs! Quick, take it to bits again! With a deadline in sight, Martin Gelder’s 1982 Moto Morini 350 Sport finally receives some much needed attention after sitting in the shed for two years…

It’s been a while, but Martin Gelder cracks open the toolbox for part seven of his Moto Morini Saga. Time for a burn-up…

The Morini Riders’ Club were desperate to get their hands on one of the new bikes as soon as they landed in the country. David Marlow and Chris Webber rode the first Corsaro to reach the UK…

With Beezumph looming, Martin Gelder tackled his to-do list. Forks, brakes, chains, sprockets, gaskets and cam belts all needed attention. The front end, the back end, and the bitter end?

Most people tend to plump for one of the well-known Morini Sport or Strada models. But at opposite ends of the scale you’ll find the super-sleek Dart and the rufty-tufty Kanguro. So how did Ken Philp comes to own both?

Martin Gelder gets a bit carried away at his first classic track-day. As does his Moto Morini Three-and-a-half. On a trailer. Oh dear…

It’s a winner! When Graham Holt’s gleaming Morini 350 appears at events it has a habit of stealing the show…

More Morini Meanderings from Martin Gelder; this time it’s rearsets, clip-ons and inevitable Italian illectrics – and a philosophical question for Real Classic bike owners…

It rattles, it squeaks, it bounces, it’s uncomfortable, its electrics are iffy – but it’s loud, it’s red, it’s Italian, and it’s just what the doctor ordered. Martin Gelder exchanges real cash for a real classic…

Martin Gelder goes back to the seventies (inevitably) to explain why his personal idea of a Real Classic Motorcycle is small, Italian and has

Looking for a little latin élan? Something small and perfectly formed in the shape of a Morini 350 might just do the job. Rowena Hoseason has met several of the breed…

How many classic motorcycles can you partly dismantle and carry home on an aeroplane as excess baggage? Matt Little explains how to brighten up a winter’s weekend in Sweden…

If you enjoy drooling over exotic racing motorcycles, then this book captures the gems of the Miller Museum between its covers, and does them ultimate justice with glorious presentation…

Gerry Atric’s restoration of his 500cc twin continues, and we’ve discovered some other info about these bikes, too…

A quarter of a century ago, Gerry Atric started a restoration project on a 500cc Royal Enfield twin. And was ably assisted by… a muppet…

Nearly 25 years ago, Gerry Atric started a restoration project. Finished it yet, Gerry? Gerry? Hello….?…

It’s not the most fashionable of British twins, but the 600cc Matchless has a lot going for it, says Neil Thomas of Classic Bike Provence…

When we feature a bike in the RealClassic magazine, there’s often a whole pile of photos left over which don’t get into print and which no one gets to see. Shame! Here you are, then: a selection of previously unseen snaps for your delectation…

Just imagine: you buy a raffle ticket and then you win the classic bike of your dreams. But can it ever live up to them? BikerMarc says yes, it can…

People scoffed at the Harris Matchless when it was launched, and 15 years later some folk are still scoffing. But, wonders Rowena Hoseason, have they ever ridden one?

Frank Westworth reports from the saddle of a 750 Matchless, and includes a great big chunk of personal anecdote, revealing why he has never been comfortable in a leather hat…

He rode for 20 years in the fast lane, and then PaulG80 discovered an entirely different world with Matilda the Matchless…

This book promises ‘the definitive guide to the repair and calibration of Smiths magnetic speedos and tachos’ so you can ‘fix it yourself and never have to pay or wait for repairs again.’ An intrepid RC reader put it to the test…

In 1932, Robert Fulton Jr set off aboard a Douglas twin on a round the world ride from England to America. The essence of that adventure is revealed in images in this rarely-seen hardback book…

Not your usual history about the usual suspects, says Dave Minton, but the essence of inspiring motorcycling lives distilled for your elucidation…

Mention Brough Superiors and TE Lawrence and you run the danger of disappearing under pomp and circumstance. Not so with this charming, enthusiast’s DVD…

Bru Enzer is best known to the RealClassic world as ‘Laverdabru’, and so it was almost inevitable that this book would land in his lap at some point…

Thinking of buying a 750 Laverda twin? Dave Minton rings the changes between the models and offers shoppers well-proven advice…

In the 1970s Dave Minton first greeted the idea of a high-speed, high-mileage 750cc parallel twin with suspicion, but he was fast won over. Here’s how, and why…

Dave Minton has been riding Laverda triples for over 30 years. Meet his favourite and be surprised: it’s no Jota (but it does make all the right sounds)…

This Laverda triple, says Dave Minton, was a memorial to an heroic age, when mighty power made uncompromising demands and the consequences were thunderous. Boom!

Ken Sprayson’s expertise in the design, fabrication and repair of motorcycle frames is the stuff of legend. This autobiography captures an era of the British motorcycle industry when personal skill, enthusiasm and hard work were highly valued…

Who can catch a Kawasaki? Message board regular Kevin sets the bait for a Z900 but reels in a pristine KZ650B2…

Like Honda, Kawasaki built both four-cylinder and two-cylinder 400s in the late 70s and early 1980s. Roy and Chris Workman have been running a twin as regular transport for nearly 20 years…

With the parts back from the chromers, Kim Henry starts rebuilding his Real Classic Kawasaki. But will it start?

“I thought that restoring something old may be what I needed” said Kim Henry, before starting the rebuild of his Real Classic Kawasaki… About 12 years ago I noticed an ad in the local newspaper to sell a BSA 650 look alike that didn’t cost as much as the real thing. I was talking to…

Easy to work on, good handling, but infested with an electrical gremlin. Is Mark White really talking about a Kawasaki Zed One?

What makes your dream bike so special? Andrew Peek’s first Zed One was too loud and too fast — and too good to be true. Here’s how he met his ultimate streetbike…

Jonny Wellard wants to know if his Kawasaki W650 is groovy and fab, or just grubby and sad. People ask him; ‘what’s the point of having one of those when you could buy the real thing?’ And he has an answer for them!

Three decades ago, Ted Simon rode a Triumph Tiger some 63,000 miles through 54 countries on a journey which took four years. Does the story still seem relevant today?…

In 1990, a one-man-band race team in New Zealand attempted to take on the rest of the world in the battle of the twins series. The Britten V1000 was the result, and this DVD tells the story of the bike and the man behind it…

Another new-old bike hits the street, using a familiar Rotax engine in a classic-shaped chassis. Rowena Hoseason tells us all about it…

Which classic bike would you take to the Isle of Man TT races? Phil Speakman’s 46 year old stroker saved the day – and even saw some high speed action on Mad Sunday…

This handsome hardback aims to captures the spirit, excitement and danger of the world’s most famous motorcycle road race series. We asked Bill Nelson to read it and he went quite quiet (for a while)…

This book aims to give advice to cure leaks, reduce vibes and boost performance. So who better to review it than a professional motorcycle engineer?

An ongoing tale, which as yet has no end in sight, about a girl. And a motorbike. And a misfire! Rowena Hoseason loves her Hurricane but doesn’t get to ride it much…

After prepping his vintage motorcycles so they’re ready to be ridden by the RC Crew, Humbernut heads to Founder’s Day and enjoys a grand day out…

Part of the pleasure in going to a classic bike event is getting your machine ready to ride. Always up for a challenge, Humbernut doubled his trouble and opted to get two vintage motorcycles ready for Founder’s Day…

When you develop a fascination with a rare breed of vintage motorcycle, you just can’t stop finding the things. Humbernut unearths, adopts and revitalises another unusual machine…

Looking for a bike which wouldn’t lead him astray with humungous horsepower, Bob Rodgerson decided on a real vintage motorcycle. This is how he became a true Humbernut…

When you think of classic Honda motorcycles, the CB750 normally springs to mind. However, for some folk, the CB900 is the one to have…

You meet the nicest people on a Honda. And Jim Peace…

When you buy an old bike, you’re also buying a lifetime of history. Carmen Sheppard gets to know her classic Honda…

Fancy a true Japanese classic? Steve The Toast has owned and run most examples of the Bike Which Changed The Worldâ„¢ and offers sage advice for 21st century riders…