Spoke patterns

Excluding odd exceptions, wooden spoked wheels are spoked radially, with no spoke crossover. And – again with odd exceptions – this practice continued of radially spoked wooden wheels with wooden spokes for early cycle-like machines (hobby horses/ velocipedes etc).

Museum management

It’s been an incredibly tough time for museums – though one establishment has been celebrating its collection of rare foxes.

Store cupboard special

Month four – and more frustration. Problems come to light as reassembly gets underway, but all will be resolved…

Trip to the TT

Riding factory Nortons, Ray Ammwon the 1953 Senior and Junior IoM TT races, Fergus Anderson (Moto-Guzzi) took the Lightweight 250cc and Les Graham (MVAgusta) was the 125cc victor. A chance buy of an enthusiast’s small archive allows us to glance behind the scenes.

Robbing Peter…

Sometimes needs must and cannibalising one bike to forward another is a temporary, necessary evil.

Little treasure

This Bantam D10 Sports has never been restored and stands with 6000 miles on the clock, which we’re sure is genuine.

Yewsix of the Moors

One of the star performers of early 1920s trials riding – a gold medal ISDT winner among many other successes – Billy Moore was later part of the organising team.

Lakeside lovelies

Tucked away in Mandello Del Lario, near the Moto Guzzi factory and by the shores of Lake Como, is a cache of fabulous Italian lightweights.

A long call from Sussex

An AJS with a hidden history led to a long weekend away for its current owner.

New 350 And More

Despite the country and world starting the slide into recession, in the mid-1920s JAP remained outwardly buoyant, as publicity material depicted then modern manufacturing, plating and assembly shops, and even a repairs section for customer motorcycles.

The story of a Greeves

This motorcycle has a direct lineage to its current ownership, which can be traced all the way back to a short-lived 1960s four-stroke scrambles championship…

Resurrection man

Restoring a burnt-out, rare Healey-made Ariel Square Four powered wreck proved a challenging proposition for an experienced Ariel restorer and enthusiast.

Store cupboard special

This lockdown inspired project (of which this is part two) aims to make best we can out of what we have – though of course one soon finds missing parts…

Old Red

This rare, brightly finished, Wideline-framed Norton Dommie 99 has served its current owner faithfully for over 27 years now.

Cool runnings

In the 1920s, some makers were innovative with regarding how to keep the temperature of engines’ down.

Chance meeting with a champion

In early June, I learned with sadness of the passing of Carlo Ubbiali at his home near Bergamo North Italy.

Bickers reigns supreme

East Anglian ace dominates his home round to close in on retaining the European 250cc motocross championship crown.

Third Time Lucky

Will this third BSA side-valve single measure up to the first one? Should you ever go back? Yes, of course you should if it provides a spark of joy.

Store Cupboard Special

Though we’re hopefully nearing the end of lockdown, it’s inspired an apt new project, trying to make a tasty meal out of all the leftovers.

Solo racer

That he was a world champion on three wheels is well documented, but Eric Oliver was also a more-than-decent solo competitor, too.

The golden years

Order a new UK Triumph Thunderbird in 1957 or 1958, and then unless you asked otherwise, it would arrive finished in bronze gold

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO

The Triumph Thunderbird was launched in autumn 1949 for the 1950 model year – after some impressive publicity meant it was much anticipated. It remained a range mainstay for a decade and a half.

Reunification reminiscence

In the summer of 1990, 30 years ago this year, a pair of Vincent enthusiasts set out on a trip to the new, united Germany.

Fetch the family album…

Just before Father’s Day, Noel Clegg’s collection of motorcycle photographs, which were taken at his father Tom’s side as a young boy at race meetings of the 1950s and 1960s, were examined by his daughter, Rachael.

Loyal servant

For over 50 years, this vintage AJS has provided faithful service - and it keeps on doing so.

Dream machine

Although well known for their racing successes, FB Mondial were no strangers to producing utilitarian machines, with this, the Sogno (Dream), one of their more unusual offerings.

A brief chat with... Mike Wills

Though always an active section participant, Mike Wills resisted suggestions that he stand for the VMCC presidency until now.

Just like Buddy

This genuine Ariel Cyclone twin, Sel Oak’s rare export sports 650, goes a well as it looks. And Buddy Holly bought the third one dispatched.

What might have been

The bike with the little engine that might have beaten the best… If it had been built in period!

Dream machine

The combination of a British engine in a Swiss designed frame is still constructed, beautifully, in France.