Classic Motorcycle Mechanics February 2021

happy 400th, cmm!

So it’s the night after yet another lockdown has been announced, and I’m still going to be positive. Why? Well, Classic Motorcycle Mechanics hits its 400th issue with the very magazine that is in your hands right now. Of course we had plans – big plans – to give away a FREE Allen Millyard special to EVERY reader; dancing girls were to leap from each and every one of the 400 pages handing every reader a pint of cask ale and a plateful of Chocolate Hobnobs. Sadly (ahem) Covid-19 has put those plans on hold. Okay, so maybe I was being a bit fanciful about the gifts I’ve mentioned, but it’s fair to say that, like everyone out there, we are finding it tough in the current economic climate and any plans…

peter williams: innovator, racer, gentleman…

Peter Williams, who sadly passed away in December, was more than just a talented motorcycle racer, he was also an innovator whose influences can be seen on modern machines to this day. Williams will be forever linked to the John Player Norton team and the Isle of Man F750 win in 1973, as well as his win at the 1971 350cc Ulster Grand Prix and 4th in the 1967 500cc World Championship; but he was so much more than that. With his background in engineering – he was the son of Jack Williams, who headed up development at AMC which at the time owned both AJS and Matchless – it was understandable that Pete would be very technically minded. Andrea Coleman, Pete’s sister, who runs the Two Wheels for Life charity, even…

the latest riding kit, top tools, tyres, retro clothing and more!

ARAI QUANTIC HELMET Many still consider the Arai helmet to be one of the best brands out there and this is their new helmet for 2021. The Quantic sits somewhere under the sporty RX-7V and above the Profile-V, and is billed as more of a sports-touring helmet. It’s the first Arai to pass the more stringent ECE 22.06 regulations. Design highlights include a new, luxurious brushed-nylon lining, a venting system which is incorporated in a 3D Arai logo (that sounds cool), as well as a smoother, rounder and tougher outer shell. As the touring label suggests, it’s ready for communication systems and even has an integrated wire pocket in the neck roll. It will come in sizes XS-XXL and will also come in a range of colourways – which are £100…

riding kit worn, tools twirled & tyres turned

ALCOSENSE PRO FUEL CELL BREATHALYZER I’ve banged on about this product before and it’s a winner in my eyes. Now, I’ve never suggested we bikers drink and ride – we can’t, we’d fall over and off the bike! But, for the ‘morning after’ whether you’re on a scooter, a bike or in a car, you’d be surprised at how much alcohol can stay in your system on ‘the morning after’. Way too many of my very sensible friends have fallen foul because of this – especially over the Christmas period – albeit when we were actually allowed out. I had an original AlcoSense Pro back in 2017 and this is the latest model. Once more I did the same series of tests as I did before. On several weekends when I wasn’t planning on…

lockdown and you

The new lockdown, similar to the one we went through last March, will mean non-essential businesses closing alongside schools until at least February 19, maybe longer, with PM Boris Johnson saying this may be extended further. But can we ride our classics? While we may consider ourselves ‘socially distanced’ on two wheels (especially without a pillion) and we are fully covered with PPE, even if we really want to ride to ‘get away from it all’, it seems that riding our classic may go against the current Covid-19 guidelines and could see us risking a fine. The Government’s website states that you must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may only leave the home to: Shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person Go to work,…

nmm raffle!

A miserable 2020 was made less so for these lucky winners of the National Motorcycle Museum’s Covid-19 raffle appeal! The first prize of a brand new/ old-stock 1977 Norton Commando was won by Craig Lee, from South Yorkshire. The second prize of a restored 1948 Ariel NG 350cc was won by Phil Sherratt from Staffordshire. The 1959 BSA B31 third prize was scooped by Stewart Bramham of Cornwall. Lucky fellas one and all! The money raised by the raffle will – eventually – help to see the museum opening once more, for a limited time, when lockdown restrictions are lifted again. Sadly, the NMM hasn’t been open since March last year. So, for 2021 get this: ‘The Triumph Over Adversity Recovery Appeal Raffle 2021’ will also help raise funds for the museum. As of…