Magazine: Buy Issue 76

Oops. This issue should have gone on sale ages ago. Sorry folks, we somehow failed to notice that August has been and, erm, gone already! However. It's an excellent issue, with Ariels and A10s, Commandos and cammy Velos, and some huge Hinckley twin… Order your copy here...

Bikes: 1980 Honda CM400A, Part One

Automatic motorcycles are really, rare. Automatic antique motorcycles are even more rare. By the time they get to Australia, we're talking hens' teeth. Bruce Kennewell found one... More...

Special Offers: Single Issue Special Deal

Has it been a while since you read a copy of the monthly RealClassic magazine? Or perhaps you've not yet stumbled across it. Here's your chance to read a recent issue, and we'll pay the postage for you... More...

Bikes: Not the Perfect Road - Moto Morini 350K Sport

If I were you, I wouldn't start from here. It begins badly and goes rapidly downhill when Martin Gelder takes his Morini three and a half down the motorway to London. Not the perfect road, then... More...

Insider Info: Eyes Right: Expert Advice

All roads users need clear vision to drive or ride safely, and classic riders frequently suffer from deteriorating vision, too. RC's resident professional eye expert guides us through the available options - starting with getting the most from your eye test... More...

Bikes: Harris Matchless G80 Carb Saga

Derek Pickard wanted to upgrade the carb on his 1980s 500 single. He started with an Amal upgrade but swiftly moved on to Mikuni... More...

Rides and Events: RealClassic Autumn Events: An Invitation!

You don't have to spend a fortune to have some fun with your old bike. Join the RealClassic regulars at one of our classic bike events this autumn, and claim a discount on train rides, show admission and more... More...

Rides and Events: Bill Little's Open Day 2010

The annual Open Day at Bill Little Motorcycles was ushered in by its usual fanfare of rain, more rain and a bit more rain. Richard Jones braved the deluge aboard his Bonnie... More...

Bikes: Ducati Pantah

This ground-breaking 500 twin established the pattern which Ducati would follow for the next 20 years and on. But the best version of the Pantah isn't a 500 at all... More...

Bikes: 1968 BSA A65 Thunderbolt

42 years after it rolled off the production line, owner Tony Clements reckons that it's possible to keep an 650 Thunderbolt in better-than-new condition (and he's got the prizes to prove it)... More...

Rides and Events: A Classic Camping Trip

The Lincolnshire Wolds offer an array of interesting roads to ride and brews to imbibe. Paul the Destroyer joined a camping weekend of RC readers who aimed to explore both attractions... More...

Bike Bargains, Book Bargains and Adverts: Updated!

News: Mystery Motorcycles

We know that RC readers love a challenge, and these photos are definitely challenging! Can you identify a vintage motorcycle or an engine which might once have powered a classic bike?... More...

Books: '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... More...

News: Vintage Motorcycle Clubs

The UK's largest classic bike clubs have been busy. The VMCC has given away an Ariel Red Hunter, while the VJMC want to tempt you with… a Yamaha Chappy!... More...

Rides and Events: The VMCC Festival of 1000 Bikes, 2010

A magnificent weekend at Mallory featured classic and vintage bikes on track, star riders and racers, trials, grasstrack and just zillions of gorgeous old motorcycles. Roy Workman reports... More...

Bikes: Norvil Mk3 Commando 850

We've had our Norton Commando rebuilt by Norvil. Frank tells the full story in the magazine but after a quick spin Rowena reveals just how well it goes, mister... More...

News: Newsround, July 2010

What's new? Bits for Bantams, a high-mileage Triumph Bonnie, the latest version of the V5C, some admin changes at RCHQ, free entry to the Popham Megameet and Triumph Hurricanes galore... More...

Magazine: Buy Issue 75

All of classic motorcycling lurks within the July issue of RealClassic magazine: Brit singles and twins; spanners and hammers in the shed; living with the classic Japanese twin, riding 1800 miles on a Laverda triple and… cheese... Order your copy here...

Opinion: A Classic Introduction

What bike would make the perfect introduction to real classic motorcycling? Vague familiarity or character-building oddness? Paul Miles conducts a scientific experiment on a man called Simon... More...

Rides and Events: The 2010 National Road Rally

Various RC riders who took part in this summer's National Rally noticed a team of Enfield Bullets, blazing a trail between check points. That happy band were on their way to winning gold awards... More...

Norton Challenge: By Norton to Norton (on Orkney)

RC reader John Powell really got into the swing of the Norton Challenge earlier this spring. A chill breeze was blowing when he rolled his Dommi out of the shed at 6am... More...

Technigues: 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... More...

Rides and Events: Swaton Vintage Day 2010

Roy Workman enjoyed a great day out in the countryside with Geoff Duke's Continental and an Oriental Boxer, among other classic bikes... More...

Merchandise: Cool Caps for Classic Riders

By a complete fluke of timing, our summer headgear has arrived at just the right moment to, erm, keep you dry during the July monsoon... More...

Bikes: Moto Morini 350K Sport - Part 11: Finger-Tight

An MOT, an oil leak, four flashers that don't and a little extra padding. Martin Gelder's Morini Three and a Half Sport is ready for action, unless there's something else he's missed... More...

News - Rides and Events: MotoBall bounces into Hamstreet Show

There can be few things more absurd than a dozen grown men chasing a ball around a field. A dozen grown men riding old bikes and chasing a ball around a field is definitely one of those things... More...

Bike Bargains, Book Bargains, Adverts and Events: Updated!

Books:The Case for Working With Your Hands… by Matthew Crawford

If you're happy to mix your classic motorcycling with a little personal philosophy, then this book, subtitled 'Why Office Work is Bad for Us and Fixing Things Feels Good', could be just the job... More...

Norton Challenge: 2010 Norton Challenge, Part 2

You can take any bike and ride it to anywhere with 'Norton' in its name. And that's just what RC readers have been doing on the Norton Challenge this spring... More...

Rides and Events: Royal Enfield Open Weekend 2010

What's the most important item to take with you on a countryside ride to a classic bike event? You might consider packing waterproofs or a map, but fruit cake appeared to be the essential accessory last weekend... More...

Rides and Events: The Uttoxeter Classic Motorcycle Show & Jumble - Preview

If you haven't already booked your ticket for the Uttoxeter Show on the first weekend of July then be quick - weekend camping passes are only available in advance and time is running out... More...

News: Vintage Film Footage Found

Film fan Paul Linton has unearthed some interesting footage of motorcycle sport from 80-odd years ago. Do you recognise any of the places or people?... More...

Rides and Events: The 2010 Festival of 1000 Bikes - Preview

Just three weeks to go before the VMCC's Festival of 1000 Bikes at Mallory Park; much more than a classic track weekend... More...

Bikes: Royal Enfield EFI Bullet 500, Part 4

Jonathan Roy has now clocked up nearly 2000 miles on his 500cc single. 70mph and 80mpg seem to be the order of the day…... More...

Service Stars: Good Service Reviews from RealClassic.co.uk

RC readers recommend the specialists they use to keep their classic bikes in fine fettle. This time; electronic ignition, riding jeans, Hepolite pistons, wobbleless mirrors, spares for Triumphs, Nortons and more... More...

Magazine: Buy Issue 74

The June issue of RealClassic magazine is something of a BSA bonanza, but amid the Small Heath machinery we squeezed in some Ducati singles, a French flyweight, Odgie's new project and a Triumph twin too... Order a copy here...

Rides and Events: Classic Grasstrack Action in August

Classic off-road action is on the programme with memories and masters at Minnis in Kent... More...

Bikes: Moto Morini 350 / 507 'Moreini Special'

Take a humble 350cc Morini Strada and turn it up to 11 by fitting the beating heart of a 507cc Excalibur, then add lightness. Paul Miles liked the Moreini Special so much, he bought it twice... More...

Classifieds Adverts, Events Diary and Classic Bike Clubs pages: Updated!

Summer is here! Go and buy a classic motorcycle, visit an old bike show or join an old bike club. In the freshly updated classifieds we have everything from Gilera Saturno to Sunbeam S8... More...

Bikes: Royal Enfield EFI Bullet 500, Part 3

As winter turned to spring, so Jonathan Roy went pot hole-dodging in south-east Kent, and Dave D offers useful advice on curing false neutrals... More...

Technigues: Dynamic Ignition Timing

Karl Bentley investigates a misfire on his Yamaha XS650 twin, and discovers that it's all in the timing... More...

Bikes: 1975 Yamaha XS650C

Back when winter's chill still laid upon the land, Karl Bentley took his classic 650 twin out in search of straight roads in the Kent countryside... More...

News: Newsround, May 2010

Spares parts for Ariels, BSAs, Triumphs and more, plus news of the AJS Centenary and a great event to visit in Kent coming up... More...

Bikes: Jawa 350 Classic Solo

Jawa still build a traditional torquey two-stroke roadster with considerable classic cred. It's available in the UK and Ireland, and Ger Duhig has just bought one... More...

Bikes: Harley-Davidson MT350

Rowena Hoseason has always wanted to ride to the Shetland Islands. A 30bhp, 350 single is obviously the perfect motorcycle to take on a 2000 mile road trip... More...

Bikes: Classic Motorcycle Bargain Bucket

Ever gone into a bike shop to buy a spark plug and come out with a complete bike? If serendipity is your middle name, you'll love our collection of ending-soon eBay bargain bikes... More...

Bikes: 1977 Morini 3 1/2 Strada

Ian Dyckhoff has restored and ridden his Morini 350 twin in over a decade of ownership. Here's what he has discovered about the breed... More...

Bikes: BSA A10

Although the price of many classic bikes has risen through the ceiling recently, it is still possible to purchase a British 650 twin for something like sensible money. Just to prove it, here are two pre-unit Beesas we fell over last weekend... More...

Bikes: Ural Cross Outfit

The indefatigble Ural 750 twin appears in cross-country trim for off-road adventuring...... More...

Bikes: Triumph Trophy Merlin Outfit

This extraordinary outfit has been through at least three incar-nations, and in its current form it's a concours winner...
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Bikes: Ducati ST2

Simon Lock was looking for an affordable exotic motorcycle. He took a chance on a non-running Ducati V-Twin...
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Bikes: Vincent Black Prince

Examples of the fully-faired Series D V-twins are seldom seen for sale. One of the high-performance, top of the range Black Prince models goes under the hammer this spring... More...

Bikes: Moto Guzzi V50

Who says classic bikes have to be costly? A little over a grand will buy you a fair example of what may be the best bike Moto Guzzi ever built... More...

Bikes: Grindlay-Peerless Tiger / Tiger Cub - Classic Motorcycle Profile

It's widely understood that Triumph created the Tiger range of classic bikes which lives on to this day. Not so; Grindlay-Peerless first used the name in the early 1930s... More...

Bikes: 1975 Norton Commando 850 - Classic Bike Rebuild

If you are considering your first classic bike and wonder whether to tackle a rebuild project, then you should first read Dennis W Lid's story of a restoration, and check whether you have the required dedication to tackle such a job... More...

Bikes: 2009 Royal Enfield EFI Bullet 500 - Part 2

Jonathan Roy introduced his new Enfield Bullet to us in an earlier episode. Now he explains what they've been up to during the worst of the winter... More...

Classic Motorcycle Profile: Norton

We've rounded up all the Norton road tests, profiles, rebuilds, road-trips and stories on the site and in the magazine, and linked them to this one page for your convenience and enjoyment... More...

Bikes: Velocette MSS 500 - Classic Model Profile

If you like the idea of a Velocette MAC but need a little more performance than a 350 provides, then Veloce built your ideal classic bike in the shape of the MSS 500... More...

Bikes: Vincent Comet - Classic Model Profile

Vincent twins are beyond the reach of most classic bike enthusiasts these days. But less than half the price still secures the 500cc single... More...

Bikes: Triumph Tiger Cub Profile

The tiny Tiger was in production for over a decade and nowadays the Cub has something of a cult following. If you're thinking of buying, here's a quick overview of the market... More...

Bikes: 2009 Royal Enfield EFI Bullet 500

The latest incarnation of the Enfield Bullet uses a fuel-injected, unit-construction engine. So far, Jonathan Roy has clocked up over 1000 miles on this more sophisticated single... More...

Bikes: New Jawa 350 Classic and Royal Enfield Woodsman

Classic bike enthusiasts often seek out modern motorcycles to suit their style of riding and which come with some classic cred. The new Enfield Woodsman looks the business, while the Jawa 350 offers a two-stroke alternative... More...

Bikes: 1952 Sunbeam S8

Sunbeam's 'line ahead' 500cc twin always attracts attention. Glenn Hughes' recently restored S8 won an RC award this autumn... More...

Bikes: Yamaha XS750

Jim Peace can usually spot a good old bike, but there are times when even he lands a lemon... More...

Bikes: Hesketh V1000 and Vampire - Part 2

It ain't quite a British Bulldog, but the Hesketh motorcycle still demands respect. Despite near-fatal flaws and fiscal foolishness, it simply refused to lay down and die. Rowena Hoseason rides a Hesketh... More...

Bikes: 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic - Part 2

MZ Mark has had a chance to get to know his Italian 750 V-Twin. So what's life like with a 'modern classic' bike then?... More...

Bikes: Hesketh V1000 and Vampire - Part 1

It ain't quite a British Bulldog, but the Hesketh motorcycle still demands respect. Despite near-fatal flaws and fiscal foolishness, it simply refused to lay down and die... More...

Bikes: Royal Enfield Bullet vs Suzuki SVF650

Dave Wooding is looking for an all-rounder. Does he go for the contemporary classic, a traditionally styled air-cooled 500cc single, or an outright modern V-twin? The choice comes down to the Sword or the Bullet... More...

Bikes: 1959 Triumph Speed Twin

When Tony Clements discovered this 5TA, which had been standing for some three decades, it was in a 'very sorry state'. But the vital bathtub bodywork was complete... More...

Bikes: 1922 Vauxhall 945cc Four

Vauxhall are famous for building cars, but in the early 1920s they experimented with a design for a prestigious two-wheeler. Bill Snelling has ridden it... More...

Bikes: 1907 Model P Triumph

When it was new, the Model P heralded Triumph's transition to mass production methods. For Graham Weatherly, it's been an excellent introduction to vintage motorcycling... More...

Bikes: 1944 Ariel W/NG

Reg Eyre has decided to part with his military Ariel single, and takes it on a final trial to bid a farewell to arms... More...

Bikes: Douglas Light 500

Bill Snelling recalls riding a girder-forked vintage Douglas in various trials over the years, and encountering all manner of mechanical obstacles... More...

Bikes: Ural Retro Solo

However hard you think you've looked to find your dream classic bike, Mick Barker has looked further. And taken a big risk. Here is an updated version of Mick's tale... More...

Bikes: Moto Guzzi Griso

How does a modern Moto Guzzi compare to its classic counterpart? We asked Paul Morgan-Knight, well versed in the ways of the traditional V-Twin, to try not to destroy a modern model... More...

Bikes: DMW P200 De Luxe

Not every concours champion needs to be a mutli-cylindered superbike. Mick Knowles took top honours with his Villiers-powered DMW a little while ago... More...

Bikes: Norton Rotary Prototype

Before the Norton Classic, F1, Interpol II and Commanders were built, a factory mule was used to develop each model. Frank Westworth tells a Ten-Ten-Tale... More...

Bikes: 1966 BSA B44 Victor Enduro

Paul S has only a short riding season to enjoy his old bikes, so he makes the most of it. After many modifications, his BSA Victor is nearly sorted - providing you have some butcher's twine to hand, of course... More...

Bikes: 1983 Yamaha XJ900RK, Part Two

Roger Prosper gets his project 1980s Seca back on the road and it promptly springs a leak. Like they do... More...

Bikes: 1991 Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster

There are those who argue that Harley's Sportster is the natural successor to the Norton Commando and thus ideally suits the classic rider. Jim Peace is intimately acquainted with a high-mileage 1200 which has proved to be perfect for one Britbike enthusiast... More...

Bikes: Buying Early Hinckley Triumphs

Geof Staples has clocked up over 40,000 miles on his early Triumph Daytona, and offers a quick buying guide for anyone looking for an awful lot of motorcycle for not too much money... More...

Bikes: 1977 BMW R80/7 - Part 7: Rooster Booster

The Rooster Booster isn't a Bantam turbocharger, but it is the path to BMW joy and happiness, as Martin Gelder explains... More...

Bikes: 2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic

This retro-styled V-twin 750 gets a lukewarm reception from the mainstream press. MZ Mark took a spin and found himself pleasantly impressed with the machine in the metal... More...