Real Classic July 2020

Magazine deadlines are always a source of entertainment in this household. For instance: further on – right at the end, in fact – you will learn that my elderly and considerably eccentric Matchless CSR is running again. Huge hurrahs, of course, and huge plaudits to Jacqueline PUB, who actually provided the electric impetus which allowed it to become mobile. However, magazine deadlines being what they are, in fact it’s been a runner for several weeks – a couple of months, to be honest. It’s been off the bench for a time long enough for me to haul more than one other ancient relic from the far back wall of The Shed. These are bikes from the dwindling collection of lots of bikes which we somehow acquired for no logical reason apart…

Magazine deadlines are always a source of entertainment in this household. For instance: further on – right at the end, in fact – you will learn that my elderly and considerably eccentric Matchless CSR is running again. Huge hurrahs, of course, and huge plaudits to Jacqueline PUB, who actually provided the electric impetus which allowed it to become mobile. However, magazine deadlines being what they are, in fact it’s been a runner for several weeks – a couple of months, to be honest. It’s been off the bench for a time long enough for me to haul more than one other ancient relic from the far back wall of The Shed. These are bikes from the dwindling collection of lots of bikes which we somehow acquired for no logical reason…

What is this you see before you? A 1977 Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide. An iconic name if ever there was one. AMF’s (American Machine and Foundry) range-topping heavyweight cruiser, which is obvious from the letters in the model designation: F, for the big ohv twin engine; L, for Hydra-glide style front forks and wide front tyre, and H, for Highway – which refers to the touring frame. Alternatively, you can find that FL stands for the heavyweight engine, in this case 74cui, and H is for hand shift (erm, I don’t think so), high performance (erm, again), or heavy duty (heavy, certainly). This confusion typifies Harley ownership; there is an established nomenclature and machine specification, but over the years there have been so many variations that the exact meaning…

What is this you see before you? A 1977 Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide. An iconic name if ever there was one. AMF’s (American Machine and Foundry) range-topping heavyweight cruiser, which is obvious from the letters in the model designation: F, for the big ohv twin engine; L, for Hydra-glide style front forks and wide front tyre, and H, for Highway – which refers to the touring frame. Alternatively, you can find that FL stands for the heavyweight engine, in this case 74cui, and H is for hand shift (erm, I don’t think so), high performance (erm, again), or heavy duty (heavy, certainly). This confusion typifies Harley ownership; there is an established nomenclature and machine specification, but over the years there have been so many variations that the exact meaning…

SAILING BY In the BSA article in RC193, the caption under the photo of Len Page riding his M20 surely should read; ‘Len Page and his old salt sailing forth’, as the RN on the tank and the bike’s blue colour must surely mean that this forces machine was Royal Navy and not army. You could also have added ‘fair winds and following seas’ or would that have been over-egging it? Alan Deacon, member FAMILY ALBUM This is my uncle Keith with his 1928 (?) HRD Model 90. I have not seen one of these, so I imagine they are not that common. I wish it was in my shed. Joe Perfect EXPERT ANNEALING Recently PUB seemed to be a bit unsure on this subject so here are words of wisdom (?) from a very old engineer.…

SAILING BY In the BSA article in RC193, the caption under the photo of Len Page riding his M20 surely should read; ‘Len Page and his old salt sailing forth’, as the RN on the tank and the bike’s blue colour must surely mean that this forces machine was Royal Navy and not army. You could also have added ‘fair winds and following seas’ or would that have been over-egging it? Alan Deacon, member FAMILY ALBUM This is my uncle Keith with his 1928 (?) HRD Model 90. I have not seen one of these, so I imagine they are not that common. I wish it was in my shed. Joe Perfect EXPERT ANNEALING Recently PUB seemed to be a bit unsure on this subject so here are words of…