Real Classic

Somewhere in The Shed there was a fuel tank for a Norton Commando. I know this because I put it there. It's a big fat Interstate tank and was badly in need of a good coat of paint when I stored it carefully away. Snag was that I probably stored it carefully away over a decade ago, and although fuel tanks are large objects, I would have wrapped it in a plastic bin liner or two before parking it on a shelf along with other oddly-shaped items in bin liners. Time for an expedition, then. Gloves, hat and face mask. You think I'm joking? As well as being a rusty rest home for sundry worn-out motorcycles, The Shed is also some kind of magnet for weary wasps. And solitary bees.…

The USA can surely contain no more dedicated an Anglophile motorcyclist than my American mate Jeff Craig – a fellow bike freak whom I teamed up with to share a flat when he moved to London at the end of the Swinging 60s, Beatles era and all. Jeff toured Europe several times on a BMW R69S, German reliability and shaft final drive having won him over. He did validate that decision by getting a burnt valve on one cylinder replaced off their parts shelf by the Portuguese police motor workshop in downtown Lisbon, after being led there by a traffic cop aboard a similar bike, who was concerned by the amount of smoke pouring out of the British registered BMW’s right exhaust! A former dirt oval flat-tracker back home in…

PO BOX 66 BUDE EX23 9ZX FUEL FORETHOUGHT I've read lots of articles about ethanol over the years, most of them utter hysterical rubbish. Rowena Hoseason's article in this month's subscriber newsletter was possibly the most informed, balanced and realistic I've come across. I have carburettor and fuel injection bikes and Rowena's comments chime exactly with my experience. I use a stabiliser plus E5 for 16 weeks over winter. I drain the carburettor float bowls and I run a dehumidifier. Just a cheap domestic one. I believe this controls the humidity in the atmosphere and therefore the moisture that is available to the fuel to be absorbed into the fuel system. Even with these measures my Hinckley T100 fuel-injected Bonneville runs a bit rough until it gets a tank of…

Sir, I beg to differ. Your highly bigoted and distorted piece in RC227 on BSA / Triumph's delightful 250cc scooter offering disappoints. While the photos capture my better half's 'Wow! That's beautiful' sentiment and the technical and marketing content is most welcome, the riding experience is poorly represented. My own BSA Sunbeam was a joy to ride. Its quirky, whirring motor, light gearbox and more-than-adequate suspension were good enough to take me to BSA club camping weekends 100-plus miles from home. Ideal for Cornish roads I imagine. Well done for owning your intolerance. May I suggest you strap it to the sturdy rear rack, place any excess in a bag hung on the thoughtful 'handbag hook' (secure with aerolastic if need be), put on your pumps, and give it another…

To my great joy there was an article on the Norton Dominator Model 7 in RC226. More years ago than I care to remember, a friend allowed me to ride his Model 7. After my first two motorcycles - a 1939 Matchless-engined OK Supreme followed by a 1936 HRD Meteor (wish I still had it) - the Model 7 was a revelation. Some time ago a friend 'gifted' me a Model 7 for restoration. I have taken on some projects in my time but this one was a challenge. The engine came with a 10TT9 carb: makes you wonder. The motor was seized at the top end of the stroke which made for an interesting teardown. After many months of toil I think the final results were pleasing. I enjoyed…

We have for many years insured our mix of old clunkers and modern motorcycles with Lynbrook, so greeted the news that they'd merged with Kingfisher Insurance with a tiny bit of trepidation. Turns out we need not have worried. When the moment came to insure Frank’s ‘foreign’ Norton Commando, they came up with a competitive price within 12 hours of being contacted, and sent a cover note rapido so the process of getting the machine registered wasn’t slowed down at all. Thanks, folks! It’s also reassuring to know that they’re happy dealing with riders aged 21 to 79 – or older for existing clients. Worth bearing that in mind for the future… Rowena Hoseason, member 002 I am reaching the end of the restoration of a Velocette Viceroy and ordered…