Innehållsförteckning för February 2023 från Real Classic

Brian Silk's suggestion of using offset, crow's foot wrenches for torqueing Triumph cylinder block base nuts seems an obvious solution. The trouble is that the correct nuts are bi-hexagonal and there is little clearance around them, especially not behind. Even if you used regular hexagonal nuts, I very much doubt you could squeeze even a sparrow's foot in to do the job. An alternative to my admittedly Heath Robinson arrangement is to use a slim, nonoffset, bi-hexagonal ring spanner and pull it down as tight as you can. Martin Peacock, member 453…

Excellent service from Lynbrook Insurance today. I renewed my classic policy for three Moto Guzzis, 1976 to 1990. No premium loading for having an 1100 engine in an 850 bike or DVLA notified health problems. Last year's premium was £210. This year: £214. A great UK-based telephone service. Steve Freeman, member A 5-star review for Classic Transfers. I clicked the'buy’ button at 17:15 yesterday and my purchase arrived on my doorstep today at lunchtime. Dave Barkshire, member 1948 A service star must go to the Norton Owners'Club. I ordered a pair of pistons on Sunday 8th. They arrived today, the 11th. Now that's five-star service! Thank you, NOC. Mick Merrick, member 70…

My best police stop was back in the early 1960s. I wound my Scott up as I left the traffic lights outside West Croydon railway station and headed towards Godfreys Motorcycle dealers about half a mile away. I glanced over my shoulder before pulling across the road to park outside the shop and was horrified to see a speed cop sitting on my tail. Before I had even got off my bike he'd parked and approached me.’ Do you know who your local MP is?’ he asked. ‘No,'I answered. ‘Well, I suggest that you find out, perhaps he'll raise the speed limit for you.’ And with that, he got back on his Thunderbird and rode off. Dave Bushell, member 6734 Brilliant! Frank W…

As usual, I found RC224 a joy to read, not least because of the'thinking man's'(and woman's) humour you bring to the subjects. The article on the modern Royal Enfield Trials Works Replica was quite interesting, but I wonder if tracing its intended lineage solely to the observed trials version, the production version of which was named the Special Bullet Trials, misses the mark slightly. As a modern replica, it more closely resembles the works International Six Days Trial bikes, like that ridden by Sammy Miller in 1956. The works ISDT bikes were one-offs, without a corresponding catalogue model, which comports with the ‘Works Replica’ part if its moniker. To be sure, RE's ISDT bikes used a combination of parts, most of which would have been shared by the original Roadster,…

You get all sorts of BSA-based bikes attending events organised by the BSA Owners’ Club - as this very special V-twin reveals. As well as catering for all the mainstream machines built at Small Heath, the club welcomes BSA enthusiasts who are interested in bikes of the marque from all eras, including the brand-new Gold Stars being built in India. The club is the main custodian of all official BSA records dating back to 1907 and its extensive library also includes despatch records, factory parts books, handbooks, catalogues and service sheets and much more. UK membership costs £25; join online or go along to one of the very many branch meetings or national events. You'll find all the details at: bsaownersclub.co.uk…

WE WANT MORE STORIES about real life classic bikes. We like profiles of a single model or a comparison of two machines. Most magazine features are between 1000 and 2500 words. If your story is much longer then it's probably not for us. Shorter stories appear in the letters section. TO SEE WHAT WE MEAN look at the Norton Dominator,Triumph Trident and NSU articles in this issue.. DON'T WORRY about your writing, grammar or punctuation; we'll make sure that your article reads the right way. Just concentrate on telling a good story and we'll do the rest. INCLUDE AS MUCH INFO as possible. Tell the RC readers exactly what model your classic bike is, when it was built and its history since then. What condition was it in you bought…

After reading the letter about Harley Shovelheads, and being a Harley enthusiast and owner since early 1960s, I seem to remember the 1950s Sportster H and CH models being the first Shovelheads. The reference was to the shape of the rocker covers. Among the big Harleys, the Panhead Hydra Glide was so called because again the ‘pan’ referred to the rocker covers and ‘Hydra’ because of its hydraulic front forks. When it received swinging arm suspension it became the Panhead Duo Glide. When later fitted with electric start and Sportster-type heads it became the Shovelhead Eiectra Glide. Sportsters seem to have acquired the Ironhead name later. Mark Nicholas I disagree with Mr Larsen's nomenclature of the pre-Evo engines H-D twins. While most of the AMF era Sportsters were iron headed,…

In RC225 you have a photo of a James Captain motorcycle with an AMC engine. I was wondering if you know anything about AMC engines? Very little seems to be known about them. I have an AMC engine in a 1960 DMW café racer. Possibly you can do an article about them? Peter Davies As it happens, here's one we did earlier! The James Sport Captain seen here appeared in RC174 in October 2018 (back issues from classicmagazines.co.uk or 01507 529529). And Ken tells us more about his in a minute. Of course, if any other owners would like to share their experiences then it's about time we ran another full-length feature on the subject… Rowena The James Captain article was right up my street. I ‘inherited’ a 1960 Francis-Barnett with an AMC engine…

We often see these ‘where are they now?’ adverts and letters. Has anyone been reunited with the most perfect motorcycle they ever had? Or perhaps been reunited with the worst dog known to mankind? It happened to me a few years ago. At work, I was issued with a brand spanking new BMW R1100RT, complete with a big white fairing, and I proudly made the first entry in the logbook. I carefully ran it in and generally looked after it well. After the K1100LT it was a dream for a classic enthusiast. I always thought it felt like a big trail bike, upright and comfortable. Later I transferred, left behind my old girl and took over the BMW of the previous incumbent. While I was on an enquiry the clutch…

SAT & SUN 11/12 FEBRUARY The CLASSIC DIRT BIKE SHOW is at Telford International Centre, TF3 4JH.01507 529529 / classicdirtbikeshow.co.uk SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY The GREAT NORTH JUMBLE starts 7am at North Yorks Events Centre, Scorton, DL10 6EJ. 07909 904705 SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY The AUTOJUMBLE at Newark Showground NG24 2NY opens 10am. Admission £7.01507 529529/ newarkautojumbie.co.uk SAT & SUN 25/26 FEBRUARY Join the RealClassic crew at the Bristol CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE SHOW at the Bath and West Showground BA4 6QN. There's a definite rotary theme with special guests Ron Haslam, Brian Crighton and Trevor Nation. Prebook tickets £14.50.01507 529529/ bristolclassicbikeshow.com SUNDAY 12 MARCH The AUTOJUMBLE at Mochdre village hall, Colwyn Bay, LL28 5HU opens 9a. Admission £3, refreshments available. bmpsnwales.org.uk / 07592 370572 / 07436 111553 SATURDAY 18 MARCH The GREAT NORTH…

RealClassic OLLIE HULME The thing about running any classic motorcycle is that you'll always need to be doing something to it, which tends to get in the way of what you really should be doing to another classic motorcycle. My Morini needs reassembling, the noisy valve gear on the Starfire needs sorting out, there's the iffy switchgear on the T140 to repair, and the magneto on the AJS needs a rewind. But there was also the £300 Suzuki GS125 which I had bought for my son 12 years ago. Nice little bike, the GS. This one was a bit tatty, but they are simple and largely bulletproof. Son rode it around for three years (he didn't bother to do his Part 1 riding test as it was easier to keep doing…

RC readers write, rant and rattle on… Summat to say? Send your comments, hints, tips, tales of woe and derring-don't to: RCHQ@RealClassic.net It was great to see the Winter Classic show at Newark up and running again. My friend Martyn and I have been coming to it for many years now. It was raining so we got there a bit later than normal and were both surprised at the huge number of cars already parked. This is the first major classic motorcycle show of the New Year and visitors were pouring onto the site. Being keen sidecarists, we often wonder who we will meet here that we know. As we walked through the gate we spotted three friends and wandered together into the first exhibition hall. This housed lots of…

I had to smile at the cover of RC224 while wondering what a ‘snart'suit is. All became clear on page four. When in 1960 I bought my Norton 99 (MPP 600, where are you now?), a glorious vision in black and Nordic grey no one wanted the deluxe wearing a smart suit. But having now seen this fine example in the magazine, I might be swayed - perhaps. Thanks to you all for a great magazine and keep up the good work. Chris Petford, member 14,805 That faint grinding sound you could hear when the issue arrived? That was my teeth. The mistake was corrected by Frank at proof, but unfortunately there are still some circumstances beyond our control. Glad you enjoyed the article! Rowena…

I enjoyed the article from Andy Havill in RC225 about his Honda Transalp. Worry not about the speedo showing 100,000km, Andy, and don't bother trying to restrict the annual mileage. My newly acquired Transalp, also a 1987 bike, shows 100,000 miles and not 100,000km. Mine is higher than I was expecting, but I know the shock is not original so am rather hoping it is set higher than standard. If it can't be lowered then I may have to try and find some oldfashioned platform boots to resolve the problem. Hard to tell by looking at the pictures of Andy's bike, but if the rims are original then they will need replacing some time soon. The early rims rot from the inside, but I suspect Andy knows that and has…

Back in the early 1950s my dad used to go to work on a small Sun motorcycle which would have been purchased secondhand. I still remember the registration all these years later: HOT 643.The bike was red with a tank similar to the early bulbous Bantam D7. Could you possibly publish an article about Sun motorcycles? Robert Habens We know only a little about this marque which built bikes between 1911 and 1961 in Birmingham. Perhaps your dad's bike was a Villiers-powered 197cc Challenger like this one? Does anyone own a Sun and fancy writing about it? If so, start scribbling! Rowena…

RealClassic JACQUELINE BICKERSTAFF It was the night before Christmas, and as PUB rode along the frozen road she spied a café in the mist, and was that a motorcycle parked there… But ghost stories are not a forte of the column, and actually it was the Sunday before Christmas when she had not been out on her bike for around a fortnight, the previous weekend having been too cold and threatening snow. Once again it was too cold, but bravado said go out anyway, even though there would almost certainly be nobody else there. But she was confounded, there was a silly sausage at the Super Sausage, although Dave was not as silly as herself, and came with a stabiliser on his BMW (ie. a sidecar with dog). But now it…