Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i The Classic MotorCycle

The caption on the reverse of this photograph reads: “The Roman Trica [sic]… Mechanised version…National meeting of motorcyclists in Lecco, 15-6-49. “History brought up to date as seen in this picture taken during the national meeting of motor cyclists in Lecco, North Italy. This motorcyclist won first prize with his mechanised Roman Triga powered by three motorcycles driven from the Triga.” The man at the controls is Rino Berton, a Moto Guzzi agent and former racer. The chariot is being drawn by three 65cc Moto Guzzi Motoleggeras, the two-stroke model launched onto the transport-craving Italian market in 1946. Something of a departure for Moto Guzzi, both in terms of its small capacity and two-stroke engine, it was, however, a huge success, no doubt helped by the fine name and reputation…

This lovely picture doesn’t appear with much of a story to it, simply captioned: “A travelling workshop catering for motorcyclists in the Plymouth district. These motor vans have been in service for the aid of the car owner for quite a long time, but up to the present, very few garage owners have been sufficiently enterprising to cater specially for stranded motorcyclists.” Looking closely at the picture – published May 15, 1919 – reveals that it probably isn’t posed, as it seems that there’s an inner tube rather tightly wound around the motorcycle’s rear wheel, which also does the job of hiding its rear hub, although it does still look of big enough dimension to be either a hub gear or clutch, perhaps. But clues to the motorcycle’s identity are…

The tribal warfare between Indian and Harley-Davidson, not only in the showroom stakes but on race tracks too, dates back to more than a century ago, when the Motor Company took the fight to its dominant Indian and Excelsior rivals (see following history section) with its all-new Model 17 FHAC 61ci (998cc) eight-valve racer, which made its competition debut at the gruelling Dodge City 300-mile race in 1916 – and won! This was the equivalent then of the Indianapolis 500-miler on two wheels, held on a two-mile oval track in the heart of the Midwest. Harley’s Irving Jahnke won at a record average speed of 79.79mph, including pit stops, with Ray Weisharr, a fellow member of the Harley-Davidson factory team known as ‘The Wrecking Crew,’ third. Jahnke’s victory ushered in…

THE SPECIALIST The AJS and Matchless Owners’ Club offers a full range of benefits to members, activities organised nationally, or by local sections, a monthly magazine, a spares scheme, an active website complete with a busy and knowledgeable forum. Via the club, we are grateful to members Clive Turner and Ralph Brown for help with this guide ■ AJS and Matchless Owners’ Club: 01536 511532; www.jampot.com MODEL HISTORY Notes: This guide refers only to the touring/road going models and not the Competition variants – which are the Matchless G80C/CS or AJS Model 18C/CS. Also, AMC’s model year started after the summer break of the preceding year, so a 1952 bike might be registered in late 1951. Plans for AMC’s 500cc singles were already advanced before peace officially returned to Europe.…

Before looking at solid state regulation devices, the deficiencies of mechanical systems for ignition and electromagnetic types need considering. Mechanical ignition systems • It is difficult to manufacture the ignition cam, heel-to-contact points and required spring to a standard which will maintain accuracy over many thousands of miles. At service intervals, the points will need adjusting to compensate for heel wear and pitting to the points. Often, points can be refaced, but they can also need replacement due to excessive wear (to heel) and deep pitting (to face). • At high engine speeds, centrifugal force starts to affect the efficiency of the contact breaker points action, causing the gap to increase beyond the intended (designed) gap, meaning heel contact with the cam will diminish. And the faster an engine runs,…

This fabulous picture couldn’t be any more ‘Swinging Sixties’ if it tried, and that’s before the identity of its protagonists and where they were headed, is considered. From The Motor Cycle, June 2, 1966, the caption reads: “Chilly, but nice all the same! American film star Sabrina Scharf is a keen motorcycle enthusiast – she has two bikes at home – and what more natural than that she should don her ostrich feather dress and ride to the premiere of the Colombia film The Wrong Box at the Leicester Square Theatre. On the pillion, looking quite content, is Georgie Fame of the Blue Flames pop group.” On looking at the image, there are of course clues to it being something a little out of the ordinary – not just the…

There’s no point in trying to conduct a normal, structured interview with Guy Martin; his brain just doesn’t work that way. Renowned for his riding and engineering abilities, the hugely entertaining Lincolnshire man has also thrilled millions with his TV shows and world record attempts, but sticking to a script is not his way. Any conversation with Guy Martin tends to veer off on tangents, but they’re always tangents worth listening to, and he always remembers to come back to where he started. So, the most interesting way to speak to him is to get a brew on, mention a couple of subjects, then sit back and enjoy the ride. “Classic British bikes were where it all first started for me,” Guy says as he settles down with his first…

BSA | Gold Star DBD34 In my editorial last month, I mentioned about the ride-to-work capabilities (or lack thereof ) of the BSA Gold Star. Well, although it suddenly doesn’t become an altogether easy proposition, the fitting of an electric starter, like on this one owned by Colin Jansen, certainly makes the job a bit easier. Some of you may recognise Colin, as we’ve featured a few of his machines before, including the gleaming pair of BSA twin-cylinder café racers he’d built, which featured in our December 2020 issue. Colin is a man of wide-ranging tastes, with everything from the 1950s through to 2000s and on evident in his garage, with several countries (and indeed continents) enjoying representation too. But BSAs hold a special place in his affectation. And if…

Over 20 years ago I was living and working in Italy, and as a fan and owner of Italian motorcycles, I’d always try and indulge my passion in any way I could. One weekend, I had to drive from Livorno, on the Tuscan coast, to Bologna, for a work opportunity, so I decided to pass by Via Bergami 7 to look at the old Morini factory. Closed for a good nine years by then, the large red ‘Moto Morini’ letters had disappeared from the top of the factory, but apart from that, the old plant, though now a building site, looked more or less the same as it had done when I last saw it, still barely in activity, in 1990 – closing two years later in 1992. Sad to…

It was a chance viewing of the film ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’ one night that introduced me to the determined, obsessive and unique character of Burt Munro, the legendary record-breaking New Zealand motorcyclist. When my Kiwi bother-in-law told a story about when he was a child in the 1960s, going to see Burt Munro race locally, my interest grew. I wanted to know more about Burt Munro’s life before the famous speed runs on the Bonneville Salt Flats, and what led to his obsession with building the fastest bike. It makes sense to refer to Burt Munro by his first name, because that is how he is known around New Zealand, and it’s likely that is what he would have preferred. He avoided formality, was straight talking (and acting) with…

Rebuild | Triumph unit twin Classic life I have a problem with British motorcycle footrests, in that they’re all positioned too far forward for my personal taste. Maybe it’s because of my trials-riding background – this is my 50th active year in the feet-up game – but I much prefer the footrests to be further back and slightly further down than factory setting. There are, or were, footrest kits available for a ‘C’ range Triumph such as the base of this project. Sixties dealer Bill Chuck did a race conversion on a T90 which featured in Motorcycle Mechanics of December 1967, using just such rear sets from his own range. These kits used the pillion footrest mounting lugs on the sub-frame, seemed well made – at least as far as…

Getting set for super Stafford The International Classic MotorCycle Show, held at Staffordshire Showground is almost upon us. Being held over the weekend of April 20/21, star guest on the Sunday is TT racer and TV star Guy Martin, and to whet your appetite we’ve an interview with the man himself in this issue (see page 20). The Lincolnshire rider and daredevil has an interest in all-things motorcycling – well, all things engineering really – and will be an entertaining presence. On the Saturday, Northern Irish 11-time TT winner Phillip McCallen will be on guest duty. In addition, there’s all the club stands, plus trade selling everything from autojumble to sweets, there’ll be a wall of death, an outdoor GP paddock and fire-up area, Classic Dirt Bike hall, outdoor jumble, trials…

Event report | Bristol show For the 2024 edition of this event, Best in Show winner was Paul Cann’s 1970 Yamaha YDS6B 250cc twin, a truly fabulous-looking machine, exquisitely detailed and beautifully presented, appearing on the VJMC Taunton and Bridgwater section’s stand – incidentally, alongside stood Craig Taylor’s Bridgestone 350GTR, which took a prize as Best Vintage Japanese. But Paul’s Yamaha was the one which took the top prize – and the man himself said he was ‘gobsmacked.’ “I never expected a Japanese machine to win Best in Show here,” reckoned Paul, as we stood by the machine he bought in 2017, inspired to purchase it after seeing an identical model at a friend’s house and tracking down one himself – Paul bought his from importers DK Motorcycles, who he’d…

Interview | Norton OCClassic life These days, the idea of a one-make club isn’t so unusual, but a few years ago the situation wasn’t so clear cut. In 1959, when the Norton Owners’ Club (NOC) was launched, the UK motorcycle world was a very different place. Then, the UK industry was flat-out manufacturing and selling everything it could to a motorcycling public which likely still had a local motor club that catered for enthusiasts of all things motorised. Who would want a club specifically for motorcycles, ones which were available on the showroom floor of the local dealer? The answer was quite a few, actually, and, in March 1959, the inaugural gathering of 65 Norton enthusiasts was held. The blessing of Norton themselves meant the fledgling club was off to…

YOUR EVENT SHOULD BE HERE The Classic MotorCycle is anxious to learn all about your motorcycle-related events. Contact us at The Classic MotorCycle, Mortons Media Ltd, Diary Listings, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ or email obmwallplanner@mortons.co.uk APRIL 2024 6 YOUR OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU TODAY 6 Brecon Classic Motorcycle Show, Market Hall, Brecon, LD3 7LA. Tel: 07779 012019. 7 Salisbury Motorcycle & Light Car Club Five Valleys Charity Motorcycle Run, starting from the Barford Inn at Barford St Martin. Email: chairman@salisburymotorcycleandlightcarclub.co.uk; www.salisburymotorcycleandlightcarclub.co.uk 7 Kawasaki Sunday ‘Let the Good Times Roll’, Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. Tel: 0208 961 1000. london.acecafe.com 11 Bike Night, Tav’s Inn Burger Bar, Mill Lane, Walney Island, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria. Tel: Richard Taverner 07971 676935.…