Real Classic April 2021

RealClassic magazine features the very best British motorcycles from all eras, plus charismatic Continental machines (and the odd Japanese classics crops up occasionally, too). Long term classic riders will recognise many of the members of the RC team, which includes authors, historians and journalists like Steve Wilson, Dave Minton, Matt Vale, Odgie, Jacqueline 'PUB' Bickerstaff, Rowena Hoseason and editor Frank Westworth -- but the magazine's key feature is that it is firmly grounded in the real world. Our articles are written by real life riders and reflect far more than a simple road test ever can. We're never scared of getting grubby in The Shed (and we even admit it when things go horribly wrong!)

7,12 $(TVA Incluse)

dans ce numéro

RCREGULARS

FROM THE FRONT

I am well aware that other views are available, but speaking entirely personally I have missed being able to get to events. It came as a mild surprise, not least because if asked – as happened a lot – whether I actually still enjoy going to old bike shows, jumbles, ride-ins and the like I would tend to temper my enthusiasm by reminding inquisitors that manning a magazine stand is actually work. This never came as a surprise to those stalwart type who man club stands, but to lots of others it always did. ‘But you get in for free!’ was always a common response, and is certainly true. ‘But you get paid to be here, because it’s work!’ usually came next, and is sadly untrue. Manning a stand is voluntary;…

3 min

IN THIS ISSUE

TOUR DE FORCE

Roll forward and take a bow, Suzuki Cavalcade. Hustle your 34 year-old, chrome laden, 870lb (62 stone!) mass over this way so we can take a good look at you. Don’t worry about that scratching noise; it’s just your twin radio masts grazing the garage ceiling. Ignore that unkind heckling from the back row. You may not be a contender for the Banbury Run or drool the contents of your sump across the garage floor in the time-honoured fashion but, as far as I’m concerned and despite your relative youth, you deserve a place in the pantheon of classics and some space in my garage. Indulge me for a moment and I’ll explain. Ever since I’d sold my Suzuki Burgman 650 scooter to pay for engine and gearbox repairs to my Moto…

12 min

RCREGULARS

INCOMING!

ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT If you’re looking for even more RealClassic reading, you’ll discover extra articles on our website at Real-Classic.co.uk . These are brand-new features which we couldn’t quite fit into print but happily the internet is almost infinite! This gives our expert and experienced contributors a bit more elbow room to explore their subjects in depth. Norton enthusiast Bruce Tinworth has done exactly that in his series of stories about the extremely unusual Dominator twins which were exported to Australia in the early 1950s. From its launch, Norton’s unapproachable Dommi came equipped with rear suspension, right? Not so, says Bruce, and shares his extensive research on the subject of the rigid Dommi… You’ll find these articles alongside book reviews, news and top tech tips on our site: just scroll down the homepage to…

17 min

IN THIS ISSUE

SECOND CHANCE Saloon

Before I sell a bike I usually take a stack of photos of it. This is not entirely to remind me how much I disliked it – surely the only real genuine reason for sale? Mainly I’m nostalgic about bikes I’ve owned for a while and then sold, but only rarely do I understand a genuine reason for buying it back again. In fact, I can think of only two – maybe three – bikes I really do wish I’d hung onto for longer. None of my oily-frame Triumph twins is among that number, although, like regrets, I’ve had a few… I have a love / hate relationship with the later Triumph twins. I love the idea of them, but not the reality. I love short rides; ownership, less so. And…

14 min

IN THIS ISSUE

Smooth! Stroker

The British formula for establishing a motorcycle company frequently entailed family ties. Take Matchless, Velocette, AJS or Greeves, for example, all with two or more siblings running the show – whereas in Germany it was invariably large corporations which owned the two-wheeled marketplace, firms like BMW, NSU, DKW or Zündapp. But one German concern was a standout family affair: Maico. For fans of 1970s off-road racing, when ‘Maico-maniacs’ like Adolf Weil, Åke Jonsson and Willy Bauer gave Husqvarna, CZ and the Japanese factories the hurry-up in winning GP races and peopling Motocross World Championship rostrums, it’s often a surprise to learn that the West German company was also a successful road bike manufacturer in its own right, always with two-stroke motors of its own design. Founded in 1920s Germany by the Maisch…

16 min

IN THIS ISSUE

SUPERBIKES OF THE 70s

I suffer from ED. No, not that one, the other one. The English Disease. This has led to a number of Triumphs (Spitfire, TR6, GT6, T140, T150) and some tribulations (Austin Healey 3000, Norton Commandos, Minis) on my way through a life filled with Joe Lucas, Strombergs, SU carbs, cars and bikes. I make no apologies. No quarter asked. I’m not a mechanic by training. My classics don’t get treated to full restorations. I’m not interested in 100% originality, if indeed there is such a condition. I don’t believe it’s ‘all original’ anyway if the frame has been powder-coated, or Proud Owner used a Mikuni rather than the Amals it came with; improperly placed tank eyebrows, polished to within an inch of holiness, etc, etc. I believe there’s a place for…

11 min