Innehållsförteckning för April 2023 från The Classic MotorCycle

Anniversaries have always interested me, in that they afford an opportunity to recognise and reflect on what has gone before, and the progress since. In this issue, we’ve a bit about the centennial celebrations of the Ulster GP, held at the back end of 2022, which is particularly pertinent given recent announcements regarding the cancellation of all road racing (and trials, come to that) in Northern Ireland, with insurance issues the given reason, though salvation efforts are ongoing. Other anniversaries in my mind of late have included the Norton ‘silver fish’ record-breaking efforts of 1953, remembering it’s 100 years since Manxman Tom Sheard became the first from the Island to win the Senior TT, and that it’s 50 years since Triumph launched its iconic Hurricane onto the market. But it’s…

Triumph | Unit twin rebuildClassic life A control cable, oil lines and electric cables are not the most exciting of components on a motorcycle, yet none of us would deny they are essential. Their jobs are to connect certain parts to other parts which ensure the smooth running. On this particular project machine, the oil needs to get from the storage bit – the oil tank – to the engine. Once in the engine, a series of drillings direct it around the bits which need to be lubricated, then it exits the engine and needs to get back to the oil tank. Helping this happen is the oil junction block, which fits in the space between the gearbox and the engine, then metal pipes are guided under the engine and…

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 MARCH 2023 3 APRIL ISSUE OF THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE IS ON SALE NOW 4 YOUR OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU TODAY 5 Bike Day, Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD acecafe.com 5 Ledbury MCC Autojumble, Bromesberrow Village Hall, Albright Lane, Bromesberrow, near Ledbury, Herefordshire. HR8 1RU. (Start time 9am. £2 admission.) Tel: 01885 483593 6 MARCH ISSUE OF REAL CLASSIC IS OUT NOW 11 VMCC South Dorset, Breakfast Meet. The Three Compasses, Charminster, Dorset DT2 9QT 12 British Motorcycle Preservation Society Motorcycle Jumble, Mochdre Village Hall,…

With a new year, the first outing is always a 300-plus-miles round trip to Newark Showground for the Winter Classic. One of the things I love about this show is the strong attendance of scooters, as it always attracts some interesting examples of this other side of two-wheeled powered transport. This year, I found two interesting scooters that have provided me with more insight into the early years of these low capacity, easy-to-use machines. 1924 Motobecane Type B1B Before we look at the scooters, let’s marvel at this lovely, small capacity machine. Found on the Robin Hood Riders stand, this superb Motobecane is a fine example of the firm’s first motorcycle. Restored by a private collector in Pamplona, Spain, the B1 made its way to the UK via a Bonhams…

NEWS IN BRIEF ■ NMM NOT CLOSING Despite some reports to the contrary which appeared on social media, Britain’s National Motorcycle Museum, in Birmingham, is categorically not closing down, though one in Iowa, with the same name, is. See the separate story about the latest NMM raffle to continue to support the museum, and visit the museum’s website: nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk ■ COLIN DOMMETT Well known off-road competitor and enthusiast Colin Dommett has died. In his varied off-road career, he rode solo trials for the Cotton factory, competed in the ISDT, branched into scrambling and was a classic scrambling commentator. Colin’s biggest successes came in sidecar trials when between 1976 and 1980 he won the British crown four times. ■ BOOK IN TUNE With the help of friend, the late Peter Williams,…

Maserati’s place in Italy’s motorised heritage uncannily parallels that of the equally historic Benelli brand on two wheels. Each was founded by a large band of brothers passionate in the pursuit of mechanical excellence, each won Grand Prix races and World Championships with the result, but each played second fiddle in the public eye, both on the race track, and in the showroom, to the more illustrious products of rival single-minded patriarchs named Enzo Ferrari, and Count Domenico Agusta. Moreover, each tasted success in the marketplace, before falling prey to commercial hardship and, doubly ironically, both ending up simultaneously in the hands of the same Argentinian financial entrepreneur, Alejandro de Tomaso. His efforts to milk their prestige only succeeded in devaluing their appeal even more – but today, after decades…

THE SPECIALIST After more than four decades of trading, Burton Bike Bits’ expanding product lines have necessitated moves to ever larger premises. Now, a huge inventory of Triumph parts includes new and second-hand items and if parts remain in demand, then pattern items are commissioned. The supplier’s comprehensive website helps customers see precisely what they need. Thanks are due to Carolyne, daughter of Burton founder Mick Page, for help with this guide. ■ Burton Bike Bits: 01530 564362; www.britishbikebits.com MODEL HISTORY The Thunderbird of 1950 had made a huge contribution in confirming the Triumph brand as a Stateside major player. Other British 650cc twins were also available, which kept pressure on the Meriden factory. The manufacturer’s response was the appearance of the Tiger 110 (T110) for 1954. Its swinging arm…

Expert advice Screaming Deeks Is there any truth in the claim that when raced at the IoM TT, the supercharged split-single DKW 250 and 350cc two-stroke racers could be heard in Liverpool? Surely far-fetched? Jim Shaw, email. As you write, Jim, a far-fetched tale, which improved on telling after three or four beers! Period sources imply they were the loudest motorcycles ever raced on the Isle of Man, with more realistic claims implying they could be heard 10 miles away. Entering into the history of these well engineered racing motorcycles by DKW, who were then the masters of two-stroke engine development, is a subject for a book rather than a YWA reply. It involved a number of Germany’s leading engineers, including Arnold Zoller, Hermann Weber, who some credit with the…

I’m probably not alone in experiencing a twinge of jealousy when I hear an ex-rider has donated or bequeathed their motorbike(s) to somebody who already has a collection – often of the same type of bike – or to a museum. It immediately brings to mind the phrase from Matthew 13 in the Bible: ‘whoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance.’ I know it’s an unreasonable feeling, because I probably didn’t know the donor, and they probably didn’t know me, so there’s no way I could have been the recipient. And I can’t even disagree with the desire to ensure the donation goes somewhere it will be looked after, rather than broken up or sold on at a profit. But when the ‘somebody else’,…

“So, Jerry, fancy trying a few litres of bio-petrol in one of your silly mopeds?” It turned out that my ‘quick’ Puch Maxi had piqued a small Bio-fuel company’s interest, partly because it is a single speed moped that’s running in the mid-50s mph, which is, frankly, a little silly. But, also, because its ‘rescued from the scrapheap’ story sits well with the whole ‘reuse, recycle’ ethic that surrounds sustainable fuel. Cost also came into the equation. This sort of fuel is very much in the developmental stage, and is currently rather expensive, thus tipping it into a race bike, while showcasing its capabilities, would cost a fortune, whereas doing the same thing with a somewhat more frugal classic moped, would allow them to do something fun without getting through…

Apart from the above, pistons act as valves to control incoming and outgoing gases in two-stroke engines and assist similarly for sleeve-valve engines. They draw fuel vapour into engines, push out spent exhaust gasses and compress fuel vapour within combustion chambers. While serving these roles, they get hot and suffer large variations of heat as they are much hotter on their crown and top land than at their skirt’s base. They can travel at more than a mile per minute and have to withstand large inertia forces. Early piston history Steam and 19th century town gas engines relied on cast-iron for one of their primary engineering materials. It was later used by pioneer developers of internal combustion engines, who employed it for cylinder barrels, cylinder heads or blind barrels (head…