Rides: The 2013 All British Rally

One of the biggest annual gatherings of classic British bikes doesn't happen in Britain. In fact, it's about as far from Blighty as you can get without actually leaving the planet. Derek Pickard explains... More...

Bikes: Laverda Alpino

Most Laverda twin enthusiasts dismiss the Alpino for being bland and short on performance and tend to recommend its rip-snorting sibling, the Montjuic. Yet the original 500 twin has its followers... More...

News and Clubs: British Motorcycle Riders' Club (Oxford)

If you live within riding range of Cassington and have an interest in British bikes, then the BMRC say you'll be welcome at their weekly meetings... More...

News: British Bike Auction Results

Over £1.4 million was spent on classic motorcycles at the Bonhams auction at Stafford last month. The highest bid was, inevitably, for a Vincent Black Shadow, but we were watching the prices of some more down to earth classic British bikes... More...

Bikes and Rides: BSA Bantams go Westward Ho! Part Two

Spring Chicken Week Finale: A trio of BSA Bantams set out on an ambitious overnight navigation trial. The first one didn't last the night. Will the other two reach the end? Phil Keast continues his tale... More...

Bikes: BSA Bantam Booklet

Spring Chickens: The BSA Bantam Club has published an excellent booklet, in which Simon Holyfield explores the background to the breed and shares his experiences with restoring his own eBay bargain. Here's how to send off for your FREE copy, with excerpts from his adventure to get you started... More...

Bikes and Rides: Bantams go Westward Ho!

It's Spring Chickens week on RealClassic.co.uk. To kick start the festivities, members of the BSA Bantam Club venture west to take part in an ambitious overnight navigation event. Phil Keast tells the first part of the tale... More...

Adverts and Events: Updated!

The Bikes For Sale, Bikes Wanted, Bits For Sale and Events pages have just been updated, and if there's nothing in there for you, try our list of eBay Bargain Bucket Bikes that are about to end...

Magazine: Buy Issue 109 - May 2013

Every month, RealClassic features road-tests, owner reports, real-life rebuilds and hands-on restoration projects of brilliant British bikes and international exotica. Here's how to get your paws on a copy...

Bikes: Honda XLR200

Brian Jones explains why he chose to rejuvenate a 15 year old Japanese bike when most people would restore an old Brit, and reveals that even Hondas aren't immune to mechanical mishap... More...

Bikes: Velocette Sports Singles

It's a century since Veloce built the first Velocette, and the firm's sporting singles are still some of the most desirable classic bikes on the planet... More...

Books: 'Motorcycling for Women' by Nancy and Betty Debenham

What was life like for female riders in the 1920s? Mrs Elk recommends a recent reprint of an inter-war classic book...
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News: British Bike Auction Highlights

Hundreds of classic motorcycles will go under the hammer during the Bonhams sale at the Stafford Show on 28th April. Here are a few old Britbikes which the RC Crew will be watching with interest... More...

Places to Go: Stondon Motor Museum

Roy Workman visits a spiffy collection of classic vehicles in Bedfordshire and recalls when he witnessed one of the first Honda motorcycle racers to attack a British track... More...

News: Stafford Show Preview - 27/28 April 2013

Britain's biggest classic bike show takes place this month at Stafford. Look carefully and amid the stunning motorcycles, bulging autojumble, masses of memorabilia, superstar riders and auction action, you'll discover Britain's scruffiest classic bike magazine, too... More...

Bikes: Douglas 90 Plus and 80 Plus

The Dragonfly has become the most easily-recognised Douglas motorcycle. But, for Rowena Hoseason, the 90 Plus was the company's most remarkable achievement... More...

News: MotoGB Take On Royal Enfield UK Distribution

The rumours are confirmed: there's a new Enfield importer. However, the previous incumbent hasn't quite left the building...
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Bikes: Harley-Davidson "Evolution" Sportsters - A Brief Guide

Looking for a modern bike with a modicum of classic character? There is an alternative, argues Martin Gelder, provide you don't mind the taste of Marmite... More...

News: Classic Trackday Update

The first of the season's classic track events gets under way this month, with the Thundersprint on April 21st. Plus a superstar signs up for the Festival of 1000 Bikes, and there's a four-cylinder theme for Beezumph 22... More...

Bikes: BSA A7SS

Dave Winfield's BSA A7 Shooting Star won the RealClassic award at the Spring 2013 South of England Classic Motorcycle Show. Here's why... More...

Magazine: Buy Issue 108 - April 2013

This month's RealClassic magazine features three BSAs, three Triumphs: five singles, three twins, two triples: two Nortons, an Enfield and a really weird Moto Guzzi. How can you resist? Here's how to get your paws on a copy...

Adverts and Events: Updated!

The Bikes For Sale, Bikes Wanted, Bits For Sale and Events pages have just been updated, and if there's nothing in there for you, try our list of eBay Bargain Bucket Bikes that are about to end...

Rides: British Historic Racing at Mallory Park

Richard Jones attends the classic racing motorcycle test day at Mallory Park and presents a visual feast of old motorcycles going quite fast (and some standing still, too)... More...

Opinion: FTW14 - Not All Old Bike Shops Were Great

You might expect that everyone sufficiently fortunate to ride old motorcycles would inevitably be cheerful. Frank Westworth can't understand why not entirely everyone is... More...

Opinion: Riding Reminiscences

What did lads get up to, back when BSA Bantams were the motorcycle of choice for youthful despatch riders in the City of London? Daniel Hicks spins a story which might have a sniff of the truth in it... More...

News: Virtual Classic Motorcycle Show

An online concours competition has been launched for Triumph Tiger Cubs and Terriers. Regular RC readers will recognise one of the judges... More...

Bikes: Square Four Featherbed Special

Folk have been trying to fix the Ariel Square Four's flaws for donkey's years. One solution was to insert the engine into Norton's featherbed frame. An Arton special along those lines goes under the hammer at the Stafford Show... More...

News: Saved from the Scrapyard

Two wonderful old warriors have emerged from hibernation. Do you happen to know anything about either of these classic motor-cycles? More...

Bikes: Triumph T100 Street Comp

In the 1960s, Triumph built a dedicated enduro version of their popular 500cc twin. Most of them were exported to America. Here's one which came back to the UK... More...

Rides: The 2013 Johannesburg to Durban JD Rally

Roger Houghton reports on an amazing sixth win for Velo-riding Kevin Robertson in South Africa's premier classic motorcycle rally... More...

Rides: South of England RealClassic Show, March 2013

The first event of the RealClassic year was a chilly one! Even so, stalwart riders braved the icy weather to join the crowds at the South of England Showground... More...

Magazine: Buy Issue 107 - February 2013

In the new issue of RealClassic magazine we discover what might be the world's first Triton, meet Ariels a-plenty at the house of the horse, consider whether Edward Turner did for Indian, and feature more classic machines from Morini, BSA, Bridgestone and Royal Enfield. Here's how to get your paws on a copy...

Books: The Long Journey Home: the 1932 Motorcycle Voyage of Robert Fulton

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... More...

Adverts and Events: Updated!

The Bikes For Sale, Bikes Wanted, Bits For Sale and Events pages have just been updated, and if there's nothing in there for you, try our list of eBay Bargain Bucket Bikes that are about to end...

Bikes: 1935 Triumph L2/1

A recent article in RealClassic about the Triumph L2/1 reminded Dave Evershed of his experience with this rare 250, squeezing the maximum performance from a pre-war single... More...

Techniques: Decoking MZ and CZ Exhausts and Baffles

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

Rides: Hamburg Motorcycle Show

Wolfgang Weckeck braved the cold to ride to the Hamburg Motor-cycle Show, bringing us some pictures of classic bikes not often seen in the UK... More...

Opinion: Famous Last Words 13: A Little Knowledge

A little knowledge is supposed to be a dangerous thing. Frank Westworth has a little knowledge, but worries about those with less... More...

News: The Typical Britbike Debate

Rowena Hoseason wondered which classic motorcycle best en-capsulates the essence of the typical Brit: a BSA single? A Triumph twin? A Villiers two-stroke? Here's your chance to vote... More...

Bikes: Suzuki G550, GS650, GS750 and GS850

Continuing our theme of buying beefy Japanese classics on a budget, we consider what £2000 might secure in the shape of Suzuki's old air-cooled fours... More...

Rides: 2013 MCN London Motorcycle Show

The Excel motorcycle show tries to be all things to all men, be they interested in custom, classic, adventure or performance. Martin Gelder seeks balance but finds only cheap overtrousers and skull shaped indicators... More...

News: Classic Track Day News

Beezumph is back at Cadwell; the Morini Riders Club are there the day before; the Festival of 1000 Bikes is nearly full, and Thunder-sprint welcomes modern motorcycles... More...

Rides: The Springfields Bike Show 2013

Roy Workman discovers some decent displays of classic motorcycles, and ponders on the practicality of fitting a £35,000 three-wheeler with back-to-front Speedmaster tyres... More...

Bikes: Norton 750 Nomad Special

Aaron Toma's classic 750 has been in the family for nearly half a century. In that time, it's mutated into something a little different to the standard Nomad specification... More...

Magazine: Buy Issue 106 - February 2013

This month's magazine features a bunch of Britbikes, from Triumph, Norton, BSA and AMC; two Italians by Guzzi and Morini, and more steam engines that any other motorcycle magazine we've ever encountered. And here's how you can buy the latest issue...

Adverts and Events: Updated!

The Bikes For Sale, Bikes Wanted, Bits For Sale and Events pages have just been updated, and if there's nothing in there for you, try our list of eBay Bargain Bucket Bikes that are about to end...

Bikes: Honda CB900F

Double-overhead-cam Honda fours: aren't they nothing but trouble? Richard Stiles reveals the reality about owning a 30 year old classic Japanese superbike... More...

Books: British Motor Scooters 1946-1970 by Robin Spalding

After enjoying a hall of classic scooters at the Newark Show, Roy Workman discovers more information on the subject of British-built scooters... More...

Books: Celebrating the Pioneer Run

A new book commemorates 75 successful Pioneer Runs from London to Brighton on (very) old bikes... More...

Opinion: Famous Last Words 12: Chequebook Restorations

We all sneer at chequebook restorers; where's the skill in writing a cheque? Where's the achievement? Frank Westworth contemplates the results of his first chequebook restoration... More...

Bikes: Honda Integra

There are times when even the most die-hard classic motorcyclist needs a two wheeled vehicle that is more... convenient. Honda's Integra maxi-scooter is exactly that, argues Paul Miles... More...

News: 2013 Mid America Las Vegas Auction

The American classic motorcycle market looks to be holding strong, if the first sale of 2013 is anything to go by. Nolan Woodbury reports... More...

News: New Norton Components at Norvil

Norvil Motorcycles have added over 200 new spare parts to their online catalogue, and reduced prices of more than 1000 com-ponents, including many items for Norton singles and Dominators... More...

Rides: The CBG Newark Winter Classic

Roy Workman got lucky with the weather and discovered scooters and outfits and an array of classic bikes at the first major show of 2013... More...

Bikes: BMW K75

David Bullivant applauds the 'vastly under-rated' 750cc BMW K-series triple and offers practical advice to other owners...
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Bikes: BSA Big Singles Buying Guide

Fancy a traditional single-cylinder British classic? BSA made squillions of them, from stalwart sloggers to clubman's racers. So if you're looking for a 500cc single, then the search starts here... More...

Magazine: Buy Issue 105

You won't find the monthly RealClassic magazine on sale in the shops, so if you want to read about old bikes being restored, ridden and rebuilt by real people, then here's how to buy the latest issue...

Adverts: Updated!

The Bikes For Sale, Bikes Wanted, Bits For Sale and Events pages have just been updated, and if there's nothing in there for you, try our list of eBay Bargain Bucket Bikes that are about to end...

Classic Clubs: Clubman's Corner

Big or small; ancient or just old: there's bound to be a classic bike club which reflects your particular interest in vintage motorcycles... More...

Bikes: Royal Enfield Meteor Minor

If you're on a quest for an affordable British classic bike, this oft-overlooked 500 twin might just fit the bill...
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Website: Happy 10th Birthday

Older than You Tube, Facebook and Twitter. Longer lasting than some of our biggest rivals. Bigger and better than we ever imagined. Happy birthday, RealClassic.co.uk... More...

Bikes: Buying a 1970 Triumph TR6

Mal Burgess lives in Australia. He wanted to buy a classic British bike. So he bought one from a dealer in Britain and had it shipped halfway around the world... More...

Bikes: 1939 Ariel NG de Luxe

In the November issue of RealClassic, Philip Tedstone recounts what it's like to restore and own an ancient Ariel. Here's the untold tale of how he came to own this classic motorcycle in the first place... More...

Bikes: AJS Model 20 / Matchless G9

Almost all the major British motorcycle marques built heavyweight parallel twins in the post-war period. There's always plenty said about the 650s, but the 500 twins tend to be overlooked... More...

Bikes: Suzuki T500

In the late 1960s, Suzuki made a decent stab at squeezing big bike performance into a middling motorcycle chassis. These days, the T500 makes for a pleasing practical classic... More...

Bikes: 1939 BMW RS 255

Supercharged racing motorcycles were all the rage in the 1930s. BMW's Kompressor flat twin claimed speed records, gold medals and TT accolades just before the outbreak of war... More...

Bikes: MZ ETZ 250 - Part Three

Rick Howell makes his final preparations for the Exeter and Land's End Trials, and reports on how his budget-bike MZ classic performed in action... More...

Bikes: Triumph 750 Twins

Triumph's T140 Bonneville and TR7 Tiger 750s are the obvious choice for a first British classic bike. Here's why...
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Bikes: MZ ETZ 250 - Part Two

Rick Howell gets his classic MZ ready to ride off-road in the long-distance trials organised by the MCC...
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Bikes: Harley Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight

Could you feel at home on a Harley? Alan O'Newbie tries standard and custom versions of the urban cruiser that could be the ideal modern complement to a Real Classic motorcycle... More...

Bikes: BSA C15

After three decades out of the saddle, David Broughton makes a classic comeback with the bike he rode as a teenager...
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Bikes: MZ ETZ 250 - Part One

Rick Howell was looking for cheap thrills to take on long distance trials. A classic MZ and the motorcycling club fit the bill...
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Bikes: 1950 BSA Bantam D1

The BSA Bantam will be old enough to collect its state pension next year, but it's still the natural choice for newcomers looking to experiment with a certain sort of classic motorcycling... More...

Bikes: Harley Davidson 883 Sportster

Is an Evolution Sportster a credible alternative for the classic motorcycle owner, or just another modern bike? Martin Gelder borrowed an XL883 for a week so that we could find out... More...

Bikes: BSA A7 Shooting Star

BSA's pre-unit 500cc twin offers a very civilised classic ride. In Shooting Star spec, the A7 will put a spring in your step although your wallet may feel a little lighter... More...

Bikes: BMW K75S

The exotic offerings from the 1980s can be expensive to buy and tricky to live with. Mark Holyoake recommends a more affordable motorcycle... More...

Bikes: 1929 Grindlay-Peerless 'Hundred'

The great challenge of the vintage era was to ride for an hour at over 100mph. The G-P Hundred was the first 500cc machine to achieve that aim on British soil... More...

Techniques: Moto Morini 350 Cambelt Change

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

Bikes: 1977 BMW R80/7 - Part 14 - A Day in the Life

A routine service for an Airhead Boxer BMW. What could possibly go wrong? Martin Gelder tells us how it started badly and then went downhill from there... More...

Bikes: 1971 BSA Fury

This prototype DOHC 350 twin dates from the days when BSA went Plum Crazy. Rowena Hoseason tells the tale of the BSA Fury (and Triumph Bandit)... More...

Bikes: Wolf Motorcycles

Before WW2 there were dozens of small British motorcycle manufacturers. In 1932 the Silver Wolf was top of the range for this particular bike builder... More...

Bikes: Suzuki GS1000 Winter Project - Part 2

Duncan Cooper is returning his GS to the road after it spent seven years in storage. While waiting for paint to dry, he tries to inspire it to start... More...

Bikes: Sidecar Outfits, Part Three

Neil Cairns ends his series with a fond farewell to the family conveyance, out of fashion but with much to recommend it...
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Bikes: Bond Minicar 2

Two wheels good: three wheels better? Alan Freke recalls his time with a Minicar, including converting it from Villiers-power to being driven by a four-stroke BSA engine... More...

Bikes: 1977 BMW R80/7 - Part 13 - Not Starting

It was all going so well, but now Martin Gelder's 980cc R80/7 airhead BMW won't turn over. Battery? Starter motor? Sandals?... More...

Bikes: 1977 BMW R80/7 - Part 12 - Going, Stopping, Standing

A new clutch, gearbox, driveshaft and final drive. New paperwork from the DVLA. New brakes. A new sidestand spring, even. Martin Gelder is preparing his 980cc R80/7 airhead BMW for a big trip... More...

Bikes: Ural across the USA

Having completed the updates to his 1997 Ural Patrol, Wizid is heading across the USA with a Suzuki GS500 strapped to the sidecar platform. Yes, you read that right. Here's an update from his blog... More...

Bikes: Sidecar Outfits - Part Two T

Neil Cairns talks us through learning to ride a classic combination, and some technical considerations about choosing the right classic bike to match a sidecar... More...

Bikes: Crocker V-Twins

There's a rare chance to see three 1930s American V-twins on display in the UK this month. For most show-goers, this will be the first time they've heard of Crocker motorcycles... More...

Bikes: 1974 Kawasaki Z1B: Kev's Klassic Kawasaki, Part Three

RC message board regular Kevin had lusted after a Kawasaki Z1B for many years, so when he spotted a bargain on eBay he couldn't resist the 'Buy It Now' button. Is it finally finished? More...

Bikes: Sidecar Outfits - Part One

Whatever happened to the motorcycle-and-sidecar combination? Neil Cairns remembers the family motorcycle...
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Bikes: 1990 Norton F1

The recent auction of an F1 Sport prompted an RC regular to comment that Norton's rotary-repli-road-racer was 'slab-sided and bland.' Once we'd recovered from the shock of such a suggestion, we dug out some photos so you can make up your own mind...

Bikes: Suzuki GS1000 Winter Project

Duncan Cooper wants to sell his 1979 GS1000E. First he has to make it look presentable again...
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Bikes: Ural Sidecar Project

One man's dream sidecar outfit takes shape, starting with a 1997 Ural Patrol and some Grand Designs. The first thing that owner Wizid has to fettle is the budget... More...

Bikes: 1951 Vincent Rapide

If you want to own 'the world's fastest standard motorcycle' then look no further than the cooking Vin Twin...
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Bikes: 1948 Norton 500T

Norton's off-road fortunes were transformed by the introduction of the 500T, which is considered to be one of the world's best rigid trials bikes. Would you like to buy one? More...

Bikes: 2007 Triumph Rocket III

Many people have an opinion about Triumph's capacious cruiser. Brian Oakley has bought two of them, and explains the attraction... More...

Bikes and Rides: BMW K75RT Travels, Part 5

Steve MacGregor completes his Continental trek and reflects on how well the 20-year-old BMW performed over 3500 miles...
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Bikes: Moto Morini Strada 350

Morini's 3½ Sport tends to get the bear's share of the attention. Mark Holyoake offers an argument in favour of the underdog, the Sport's touring counterpart... More...

Bikes and Rides: BMW K75RT Travels, Part 4

Steve MacGregor took his recently rebuilt 750cc BMW triple on a tour of Eastern Europe. After Poland came Prague and Vienna...
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Bikes: 1971 Triumph Tiger TR6R

Not every Triumph 650 twin is a Bonneville. The single-carb 650 of the early 1970s adopted another of the marque's famous names for just a couple of years... More...

Bikes and Rides: BMW K75RT Travels, Part 3

Steve MacGregor head east on his 750 triple, leaving the Czech Republic for Poland, and starts to fear for his safety...
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Bikes: Yamaha TR1

Keith Bennett was looking for classic bike which combined Japanese reliability with the personality of an old Brit. He thinks he's found it... More...

Bikes: An MZ Adventure, Part Three

On a routine trip to a Belgian Rally, first Phil Speakman suffers from sudden deflation, and then his travelling companion's Jawa loses its sparks. What next? More...

Bikes: Benelli 900 Sei

Sold at the time as 'the Italian Alternative', this six-cylinder superbike from the 1970s still offers something radically different for the classic bike connoisseur... More...