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  • Laverda 3C

    Laverda 3C

    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)…

  • Egli Laverda 3C

    Egli Laverda 3C

    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: The Frame Man

    Ken Sprayson: The Frame Man

    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…

  • 1978 Kawasaki Z650

    1978 Kawasaki Z650

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

  • Kawasaki Z440

    Kawasaki Z440

    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…

  • 1967 Kawasaki W1 650 – Part 2

    1967 Kawasaki W1 650 – Part 2

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

  • 1967 Kawasaki W1 650 – Part 1

    1967 Kawasaki W1 650 – Part 1

    “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…

  • Kawasaki Z1300

    It was big. Really big. Really extremely big for the 1980s. Steve The Toast debates the virtues of blunderbuss motorcycling and Kawasaki’s classic six-cylinder machine…

  • Kawasaki Z900 A4

    Kawasaki Z900 A4

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

  • 1973 Kawasaki Z1

    1973 Kawasaki Z1

    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…

  • Kawasaki W650

    Kawasaki W650

    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!

  • Jupiter’s Travels by Ted Simon

    Jupiter’s Travels by Ted Simon

    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?…

  • John Britten: One Man’s Dream

    John Britten: One Man’s Dream

    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…

  • Jawa 650

    Jawa 650

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

  • 1959 123cc Jawa 355

    1959 123cc Jawa 355

    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…

  • The People

    The People

    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)…

  • Improving Classic Motorcycle Engines by Graham Blighe

    Improving Classic Motorcycle Engines by Graham Blighe

    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?

  • Triumph Hurricane X-75

    Triumph Hurricane X-75

    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…

  • 1920’s Humbers: The VMCC’s Founder’s Day

    1920’s Humbers: The VMCC’s Founder’s Day

    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…

  • 1920’s Humbers: Getting Ready To Ride

    1920’s Humbers: Getting Ready To Ride

    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…

  • 1929 Humber 350 OHV

    1929 Humber 350 OHV

    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…

  • 1927 Humber Sidevalve 350

    1927 Humber Sidevalve 350

    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…

  • 1979 Honda CB900F

    1979 Honda CB900F

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

  • 1972 Honda CB350-4

    1972 Honda CB350-4

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

  • 1973 Honda CB350 Four

    1973 Honda CB350 Four

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

  • SOHC Honda CB750

    SOHC Honda CB750

    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…

  • Honda CBX1000

    Honda CBX1000

    A CBX1000 might be an awesome thing to admire in a showroom, but what’s it really like to live with? Long term owner John Hall reveals some useful wrinkles…

  • Honda CB350K4

    Honda CB350K4

    Let’s go back, back, back in time to when flares were cool the first time around, and the Honda CB350K4 was all the rage. Paul Webb has a fascination for Hondas of 1973/1974 vintage — we blame the parents. His dad said ‘no’ 30 years ago…

  • Honda CB400F

    Honda CB400F

    Modern marvel? Mechanical milestone? Or just another mediocre mass-market middleweight? 400 Fours were everywhere in the seventies, and now they’re back. This time there’s a Classic label attached but Martin Gelder had one first time round and isn’t convinced…

  • Hog Fever, by Richard La Plante

    Hog Fever, by Richard La Plante

    In theory this book is about Harley-Davidsons but, as Dave Blendell discovers, the marque is almost immaterial. This could be the funniest book you’ll ever read about motorcycling in general…

  • Hyde Harrier

    Hyde Harrier

    Which bike do you choose if you want an old fashioned air-cooled triple with all mod cons? This one should be on your shortlist…

  • Harley Davidson FXST Softail Standard Anniversary

    Harley Davidson FXST Softail Standard Anniversary

    You want a modern bike with classic style. How do you choose? Steve The Toast explains how he ended up with a Harley Softail…

  • Hard Way Round by Ernest Bell / Ian Whitehead

    Hard Way Round by Ernest Bell / Ian Whitehead

    In 1954, an adventurer set off on an overland ride from Britain to Australia, aboard a Norton Dominator. These are his diaries, which we asked Dave Blendell to read…

  • Moto Guzzi V1000 Convert

    Moto Guzzi V1000 Convert

    These days you can buy a bike from Italy and have an old Guzzi delivered direct to your door. Talbot Coleman gave it a whirl

  • Moto Guzzi T3

    Moto Guzzi T3

    Phil Holloway reckons that he’s spent the equivalent of three or four bikes on his pair of Guzzi T3s, but there’s no stopping a man on his hobby horse

  • Moto Guzzi V35 Mk2 Profile

    Moto Guzzi V35 Mk2 Profile

    When we tested a 350 Guzzi against a 350 Triumph in the magazine, there wasn’t quite space for all the photos and a bit of extra info. So this is what you were missing…

  • Moto Guzzi – Le Mans to Le Mans

    Moto Guzzi – Le Mans to Le Mans

    15 years ago, Martin Gelder decided to ride his Guzzi Le Mans to French Le Mans to watch a bit of Easter endurance racing. Judging by the length of this story, he’s never really recovered from the experience…

  • Moto Guzzi 850 T3

    Moto Guzzi 850 T3

    Warren L Mutz tried to buy a BMW but they wouldn’t sell one to him, so he ended up with a Moto Guzzi T3. And a blister on his toe…

  • Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone

    Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone

    Ask and ye shall receive! Classic Bike Mart readers want more information about the Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone, and few know more than Paul Friday

  • ‘A Guide to Ambassador Motorcycles’ by Michael Easton & Fred Hibbett

    ‘A Guide to Ambassador Motorcycles’ by Michael Easton & Fred Hibbett

    Ambassador built small two-strokes during the 1950s and 1960s. This new book should be hugely helpful to any restorer, says Tony Gutteridge…

  • Greeves: The Complete Story by Colin Sparrow

    Greeves: The Complete Story by Colin Sparrow

    RealClassic magazine contributor Colin Sparrow has been quiet for a while, busy compiling his extensive marque history about Greeves motorcycles. There’s precious little Greeves information generally available, so this book will be a boon to owners and enthusiasts…

  • Greeves Hawkstone Scrambler – Part 2

    Greeves Hawkstone Scrambler – Part 2

    Last episode, Michael Eustace explained how he found his Greeves and got involved in Pre-65 off-road racing. After one race he had a fair bit of work to do over winter…

  • Greeves Hawkstone Scrambler – Part 1

    Greeves Hawkstone Scrambler – Part 1

    Most people ride classic bikes on the Queen’s Highway, but some riders never turn a wheel on tarmac. Michael Eustace took to scrambling…

  • The Encyclopaedia of Classic Motorcycles, by Richard Rosenthal

    The Encyclopaedia of Classic Motorcycles, by Richard Rosenthal

    If you like dipping in and out of an old bike book, rather than following a lengthy narrative, then you probably enjoy the ‘great big list’ formula. Here is possibly the greatest, biggest list we’ve ever encountered…

  • ‘Granville Bradshaw: a flawed genius?’ by Barry Jones

    ‘Granville Bradshaw: a flawed genius?’ by Barry Jones

    The man behind the popular Panther single was also responsible for various aero engines and the Sopwith ABC. Plus he had a passion for toroidal engine design. We enlisted an engineer, Jacqueline Bickerstaff, to read and unravel his life’s story…

  • On a Wing and a Prayer

    On a Wing and a Prayer

    Sidecars are… different. But fun. Real Fun. Anarchy takes a walk around a German Gold Wing Classic Combo…

  • 1961 BSA Goldstar DBD34

    1961 BSA Goldstar DBD34

    When he was 16, Jerry Fiford wanted nothing more than to own a Goldie. 35 years later his dream came true. Was it worth the wait?

  • 1954 150cc Gilera Rebuild, Part 2 (of about 50, at this rate!)

    First rule of restorations: be certain you know what you’re dealing with. Initially, Russ Gannicott was certain he was dealing with a 153cc Rossa. Now he’s certainly… confused!

  • 1954 150cc Gilera Rebuild, Part I (of…?)

    1954 150cc Gilera Rebuild, Part I (of…?)

    Buying a ratty classic bike unseen is always risky but – hey – nothing ventured… Russ Gannicott starts a new project and asks; ‘Can you tell what it is yet?’

  • Precise In Every Part: The world of Francis Simpson, technical artist, in the 1920s and 30s

    Precise In Every Part: The world of Francis Simpson, technical artist, in the 1920s and 30s

    When a treasure trove of vintage motorcycle drawings, press cuttings, notebooks and more were discovered, a classic bike enthusiast resolved that they should be shared with the world. So here’s the cream of the crop…

  • Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone 500, Part 2

    Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone 500, Part 2

    Steve Hodgson fitted his Falcone with electric starting a while ago. All went well until the MoT moment when the electric leg struck back, and the Guzzi single went into perpetual motion!…

  • Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone 500, Part 1

    Moto Guzzi Nuovo Falcone 500, Part 1

    Kicking over classic bikes might be part of the ‘charm’ but not everyone appreciates all the fuss. Steve Hodgson went in search of an electric leg for his single-cylinder Guzzi…

  • Royal Enfield 500 Bullet Electra XR – Part 2

    Royal Enfield 500 Bullet Electra XR – Part 2

    Alan Cole bought a limited-edition café racer, and he’s now spent two months getting to know this very practical modern classic bike…

  • Royal Enfield 500 Bullet Electra XR

    Royal Enfield 500 Bullet Electra XR

    Alan Cole bid farewell to his old classic bikes, and road tested a pre-production special edition Enfield Electra in his search for a really practical classic. Did he like it enough to part with his cash?

  • Royal Enfield Super 5, Part 2

    Royal Enfield Super 5, Part 2

    Every inch of Russ Gannicott’s 250cc Enfield racer has been tweaked and tightened or gas-flowed and lightened. Time to give it a try, then…

  • Royal Enfield Super 5, Part 1

    Royal Enfield Super 5, Part 1

    Russ Gannicott gets a yen to go classic racing, so finds himself an unusual 250cc Royal Enfield and starts prepping it for action…

  • Royal Enfield Bullet 500: Two New Types

    Royal Enfield Bullet 500: Two New Types

    The lean-burn Electra X Enfield isn’t everyone’s cuppa tea, so how about heading back to basics with the Spartan Pre-65 trials bike? Or if you prefer to travel on tarmac, maybe the full-dress touring Sixty-5 would suit you, sir?

  • Bikes: Royal Enfield Bullet Electra X

    Bikes: Royal Enfield Bullet Electra X

    A giant leap for mankind? Or just another new Bullet? Rowena Hoseason takes a quick spin on the latest Royal Enfield to go on sale in the UK…

  • Bikes: Royal Enfield Bullet 500

    Bikes: Royal Enfield Bullet 500

    What happens when you combine classic motorcycle wiring and feminine intuition? Emm lights the blue touch paper and we should all stand well back…

  • DIY Wheel Alignment Tool

    DIY Wheel Alignment Tool

    Even the best classic bike won’t corner correctly if its wheels are out of line. Les Howard has come up with an ingenious high-tech method to ensure one wheel follows the other, exactly…

  • Torquing and Tightening

    Torquing and Tightening

    A combination of modern materials and time-honoured techniques can cause problems when it comes to assembling the bottom end of a classic British bike. RC readers debate the how and the why of it…

  • Bikes: Royal Enfield Sixy-5

    Bikes: Royal Enfield Sixy-5

    You need to possess a certain sort of Something to really enjoy owning and riding a classic bike. Does Steve The Toast have that Something? He’s probably going to self-destruct in the attempt to find out…

  • Royal Enfield Bullet Sixty-5

    Royal Enfield Bullet Sixty-5

    After reading various roadtests, Aged P actually bought one. He shares his first impressions of the Enfield Sixty-5 and gives some Real Classic Motorcycle advice to other prospective returning riders…

  • Royal Enfield Bullet 500. Again.

    Royal Enfield Bullet 500. Again.

    We feel that everyone should be told how Emm’s adventures with her Royal Enfield are progressing (even though we run the risk of becoming RealBullet.co.uk). This time, she gets in a bit of a flap…

  • Royal Enfield Trials Bullet

    Royal Enfield Trials Bullet

    Steve Wilson didn’t really need to ride another Enfield straight away, but we wanted to do the ‘out standing in his field’ joke. So he just had to go a-trialling-oh…

  • Royal Enfield Bullet 500

    Royal Enfield Bullet 500

    Emm collects her new classic bike. Emm loves her new classic bike. The new classic bike wasn’t yet available for comment…

  • Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500-T

    Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500-T

    Big wide bars? Chunky tyres? Single seat? Someone at Royal Enfield is going the distance to tempt her into buying a new Electra, reckons Rowena Hoseason. But she’s more likely to get a T-shirt for Christmas…

  • Shock Absorber Service Tool

    Shock Absorber Service Tool

    As Alan Goff discovered recently, it’s not always easy fit a new set of shock absorbers to your classic bike (particularly if you have just the one set of hands). He built a special service tool to take the strain…

  • MZ Supa 5 Brake Modification

    MZ Supa 5 Brake Modification

    Malcolm Thomason loves his MZ, but its going was definitely better than its stopping. He looked at the front brake with an engineer’s eye…

  • Pukka Paint For Chassis Parts

    Pukka Paint For Chassis Parts

    If you’re restoring a classic bike at home, then you’ll inevitably need to paint some components. Sending everything off to the professionals can be costly, so Laurie Packer investigates a new DIY option…

  • Crankshaft Removal

    Crankshaft Removal

    Classic bikes can create all sorts of problems, especially the more unusual models. Phil Speakman has been puzzling over how to extract a seized crank on his Adler Favorit…

  • Petrol Tank Cleaning and Sealing

    Petrol Tank Cleaning and Sealing

    The sticky business of cleaning and re-sealing fuel tanks can be tricky to get right first time, especially as there are so many cleaners and sealants now on the market. Ian Potter of Tank Care Products shares some of his expertise with us…

  • Tank Badge Repair

    Tank Badge Repair

    A damaged mounting can mean the end of an original component’s useful life. Alan Goff didn’t want to throw away the tank badge for his Triumph T90, so set about fixing it…

  • RealClassic.co.uk – DVDs and Videos

    -> -> DVDs and Videos

  • The Johnny Brittain Story – DVD

    The Johnny Brittain Story – DVD

    Johnny Brittain won more than 50 trials competitions between 1948 and 1965. In this new DVD he tells his own story. Anarchy (partial to a spot of Enfields off-road riding himself) reviews the film…

  • Riding Solo To The Top of The World

    Riding Solo To The Top of The World

    Never mind going from Land’s End to John O’Groats, here’s a great documentary about a man who takes his travelling seriously. Would you ride a 350 Bullet to Tibet?

  • Ducati 1974 GT 750

    Ducati 1974 GT 750

    Trevor (Ozboy) Brooks finds an unusual Shed Surprise, and discovers a mid-Seventies Ducati twin, complete with an unusual optional extra…

  • Ducati 750 Sport

    Ducati 750 Sport

    If you’re a Ducati fan then we have something of a Sport fest lined up for you. And it starts here, when Ozboy encounters a true Ducati ‘passionisti’…

  • Mototrans Ducati 250cc 24 Horas – Part 2

    Mototrans Ducati 250cc 24 Horas – Part 2

    Kel Boyce bought a Spanish-built Mototrans 24 Horas by mistake, believing it to be a Ducati. No problem; it was built to go racing and so that’s what he did with it…

  • Suspension and Handling

    Suspension and Handling

    Spring is here, and obsessive suspension tinkerer Martin Gelder’s enthusiasm is undamped. Rebounding from a succession of old bikes with interesting steering, he weaves his way through a list of suggestions to help get the most out of a bike’s handling…

  • Stretch and Relax: Personal Maintenance for Real Classic Riders

    Stretch and Relax: Personal Maintenance for Real Classic Riders

    Aching elbows, creaking knees and a dodgy back? Neck stiff and wrists giving you gyp after a long ride? A bit of careful stretching can make all the difference, so we got registered osteopath Eileen Fox to bend us into shape…

  • Techniques: Using a Dynabolt to Remove a Blind Bush

    Techniques: Using a Dynabolt to Remove a Blind Bush

    Philip Packham shows us how to use an anchor bolt designed for construction to remove a worn bush from a blind hole. Norton Commando kickstart shaft, anyone?

  • Dynamo Voltage Regulator

    Dynamo Voltage Regulator

    What exactly is a DVR, and why do classic bikes need them? Mike Hutchings explains why he developed a new voltage regulator to suit his BSA A10…

  • On page one:

    On page one:

    The process of getting the paperwork in place to register a pre-1973 motorcycle appears to be pretty intimidating. Actually, says Stu Thomson, it’s quite straightforward. Here’s his handy guide…

  • Petrol Tank Rust Removal

    Petrol Tank Rust Removal

    Always on the lookout for quick and cost-effective remedies, Derek Pickard details a smart way to rid a petrol tank of filter-clogging rust…

  • Mototrans Ducati 250cc 24 Horas – Part 1

    The ’24 Horrors’ has something of an appalling reputation, explains Kel Boyce. He bought one, and took it racing…

  • Ducati SD900 Darmah

    Ducati SD900 Darmah

    We’ve just ridden a much-modded Duke Darmah for the magazine, but back in 1978 Dave Minton rode one of the very first of the breed to leave the factory. And he thought it was really rather good…

  • Mototrans Ducati 125 – Part Two

    Mototrans Ducati 125 – Part Two

    In the first instalment of this short saga, we met Ash Gannicott and his miniature Italian cafe-racer project. Russ (Ash’s dad) Gannicott takes up the tale of a first time classic bike rebuild…

  • Mototrans Ducati 125 – Part One

    Mototrans Ducati 125 – Part One

    Ash Gannicott wanted his own classic bike. One small problem: Ash is only nine. So doting Dad Russ swooped on this ideal opportunity to play with (sorry; rebuild on a tight budget) a miniature Italian cafe racer…

  • Three Italian 350s: Ducati, Benelli & Morini

    Three Italian 350s: Ducati, Benelli & Morini

    What do you call an assortment of three lively Latin classics? Russ Gannicott compares and contrasts the various components of his Red-Eye collection…

  • ‘The Dragon Motorcycle Rally’, by Carol Morgan

    ‘The Dragon Motorcycle Rally’, by Carol Morgan

    Only the brave can boast that they’ve attended the mid-winter Dragon Rally. This book explains how it started and what makes it so special…

  • Petrol Tank Cleaning and De-Rusting

    Petrol Tank Cleaning and De-Rusting

    Les Howard recommends a four stage process for stripping, cleaning, de-rusting and drying the petrol tank on your classic motorcycle. Appropriate clothing should be worn…

  • Techniques: The Oil Truth

    Techniques: The Oil Truth

    There are probably more myths and misconceptions about oil and lubrication than any other subject in motorcycling. Gerry Bristow attempts to set straight some of the errors that masquerade as facts…

  • Norton Oils, Fuels and Other Liquids

    Norton Oils, Fuels and Other Liquids

    Many classic bike specialists run a technical helpline, and they’re often asked exactly the same question. So we investigated: what’s the most common technical question asked about Norton Commandos…?

  • Tony Pearson’s Approach

    Tony Pearson’s Approach

    How would you remove the carbon from an Eastern Bloc two-stroke exhaust? Two RealClassic readers explain how they tackle the task…

  • MZ ETZ 250 Tuning

    MZ ETZ 250 Tuning

    Derek Pickard looks at the stock MZ250 carb situation, tries the alternatives, finds what works and gives the details of how to make your ETZ run super sweet…

  • Moto Morini 350 Cambelt Change

    Moto Morini 350 Cambelt Change

    Changing the cambelt is probably the most difficult part of servicing one of Morini’s modular v-twins. Paul Compton, Paul Morgan-Knight, Mark Bailey and Martin Gelder show how it’s done using high definition shed-o-vision video and greasy smudge photography…

  • Douglas Dragonfly

    Douglas Dragonfly

    Rowena wants a Douglas Dragonfly. Why does she want a Douglas Dragonfly? Why would anyone want a Douglas Dragonfly, exactly?

  • Donington: The Golden Years by Richard V Jones and Bob Zwarts

    Donington: The Golden Years by Richard V Jones and Bob Zwarts

    A chance find of an old album of photographs led to the publication of this book, which recalls the halcyon days of motorcycle racing at the Donington circuit…

  • 1956 Norton Dominator Diary, Chapter 10

    1956 Norton Dominator Diary, Chapter 10

    Jim Algar was galloping on with his restoration on a Norton twin. And then he discovered that his cylinder head has… shrunk!


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