Tabla de contenidos para May/June 2025 en Motorcycle Classics

The Texas M/C Revival has become the go-to late-season vintage motorcycle show in Texas. Now in its fifth year at the Motorheads Museum in Burnet, the November show attracted 119 entries from across Texas featuring bikes from all eras and continents. Represented were 1930s American iron to Italian Benellis and Moto Guzzis, with big contingents of British and Japanese bikes from the early ‘50s to the ‘80s. That eclectic collection was reflected in the two main show winners: People’s Choice going to Ron Anderson’s 1927 Flat Track Indian and the Ronnie Lundsford Memorial Award going to Duncan McCulley’s 1970 Honda CB750. Added attractions for the 1,000-plus visitors were the participation of multiple vintage motorcycle groups including the Vintage Scooters and the Lone Star Section of the Vincent Owners Club. It’s…

After my dad died in 1996, Father’s Day has been a sad day for me. He was my role model for so many things, but particularly for my getting into motorcycles; specifically, vintage motorcycles. My father, Donald W. Barnes, was a motorcycle racer in the late 1940s, riding an already 20-year-old 1929 Indian 101 Scout. But since I was not born until 1949, I did not get to see any of that. My dad’s father, my grandfather, Glen Barnes, had a bicycle shop before the war, and Dad said that he took the worn-out Scout in trade for a new bicycle. The bike sat until dad came back from serving in an anti-tank unit during the Battle of the Bulge in Germany. Like many soldiers who fought, Dad never talked…

The Honda Bimota 1 was the first Bimota design, wrapping a SOHC Honda CB750 engine in a classy Italian chassis. Sold as a kit, only 10 were produced, but we’ve managed to track down Number 4. Bimota is the builder of ultra-expensive, exclusive, and beautifully built motorcycles that are way beyond the bank balance of most motorcycle enthusiasts. But that has never stopped anyone from drooling over the Italian exotica whenever they see one parked up, or dreaming of owning one after being overtaken through a series of curves just a little too easily. Although Bimota has a formidable reputation thanks to the way its motorcycles handle, the company only came into being because Massimo Tamburini crashed when he found out that the engine of his Honda CB750 had more…

Several years back, well-known vintage racer Allen Siekman had a job with one really nice perk — his commute was along nine miles of scenic road. At the time, his commuter of choice was a 1984 Honda Interceptor, making for a great start and end to the day. A fellow employee lived nearby, and the two would often ride to work together. One day they traded bikes, and Siekman fell in love with his friend’s Yamaha FJ1100. “I felt that it was made for me. Someone had gone to great lengths to make sure the handlebars, footpegs, and the seat were right for me. The Interceptor was a great bike, but I felt the FJ1100 was custom made for me. The seat was somewhat lower, and there was more performance.…

So, you’ve acquired what many consider to be one of the finest motorcycles ever built — a Brough Superior. It’s in excellent “rider condition,” but not quite up to your standards. Where do you turn to find the right person or shop to restore it? Hopefully, you’re not too concerned about the cost or the timeline because, for some collectors — like the owner of the featured Brough Superior 680 Black Alpine — restoration is about bringing the machine back to its original glory, no matter how long it takes. John Young’s journey into restoration began at an early age. At just 5 years old, he was already pumping gas at his father’s station, and he grew up learning the trade in his dad’s auto body repair shop. Surrounded by…

5/16 Head to the 57th Annual Hanford Cycle Swap and bike show, May 16−17, at the Kings Fairground in Hanford, California. Enjoy the classic motorcycle show with awards in a dozen-plus categories, more than 150 vendors, a parts exchange and sale corral, RV hookups, food, and more. www.hanfordcycleswap.com 5/18 Take a trip to Mount Airy, Maryland, Carnival Grounds for Classic Motorcycle Day. Motorcycles built through 1985 are welcome with this year’s feature being Classic Singles. This one-day show will take place rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To learn more visit classicmotorcycleday.org 5/30 Head to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the MotoAmerica Superbike Series & Vintage Motofest. Superbikes races are returning to America’s National Park of Speed on May 30 to June 1. Attend the…

Historians tell us that to know your future you must know your past. American race fans know that years ago, the FIM 500cc Grand Prix World Championships were dominated by American racers. Beginning in 1978, Kenny Roberts won the first of three straight 500cc GP championships, followed by Freddie Spencer’s two, Eddie Lawson’s four, Wayne Rainey’s own three-peat, and solo titles for Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jr. Following the FIM’s shift to MotoGP, another American, the late Nicky Hayden, was 2006 MotoGP World Champion. But American racers have been practically non-existent on the FIM’s world stage ever since. That could change, and it might be racing’s past that helps American racers regain center stage on the winner’s podium. The link to the past? Mini-bike racing, much like what the…

CL72s and the spirit of adventure Really enjoyed the latest Motorcycle Classics story titled “Scrambler Summer.” As an owner of multiple CL72s, Drew is my hero, as he actually accomplished such a challenging adventure on a vintage bike. This difficult excursion reminded me of the March 1962 U.S. introduction of Honda’s CL72 Street Scrambler by the upstart American Honda. Experienced off-road riders Dave Ekins and Bill Robinson Jr. were recruited. There was interest from start-up Cycle World magazine and an air support team with fuel for the 952.7 miles of primitive trails on the Baja Peninsula from Tijuana to La Paz. Dave did it in 39 hours and 54 minutes, a record since it was the first time for a motorcycle record run and well before the famous Baja 1000…

If you’re in Burnet for the Texas M/C Revival, make sure to carve out some time to visit the nearby Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force. Located at the Kate Craddock Airfield, this museum is a gem for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike. The Highland Lakes Squadron is dedicated to preserving and restoring historic aircraft, many of which played significant roles in World War II. The collection includes some remarkable planes, such as the 1943 T-6 Texan, a training aircraft used to prepare American pilots for combat. The T-6 is still in working condition, maintained with care by the CAF team. The museum also houses the C-47 Sky Train “Texas Zephyr,” a transport plane that served during the war. Their biggest event is the annual Bluebonnet Airshow…

Many — most? — fans of British bikes will agree that the Triumph parallel-twin in various capacities is the most significant model produced by any British manufacturer. Except, it’s also become the popular belief that Triumph’s chief designer Edward Turner personally invented such a model with his 500cc Speed Twin. Launched at London’s September 1937 Earl’s Court Show the year after Turner joined Triumph, it set the order books alight. However, the man who conceived this platform wasn’t Turner, but his courteous, calm, and meticulous predecessor Valentine “Val” Page. He did so four years earlier while leading Triumph’s R&D department, after briefly working with Turner at Ariel. Born in 1891 in Hackney, East London, Page apprenticed as a motorcycle engineer with nearby JAP. There, he designed the 986cc four-camshaft OHV…

If you weren’t there, you missed it, but it only lasted minutes. Still, five minutes with the thrilling Las Vegas showgirl “Cammy Jugs,” dressed in her signature yellow, vanquished any pain from the slog to Sin City. Twirling on Mecum’s signature roundabout stage under hot lights, the 1915 Cyclone roadster tucked hundred-thousand dollar bills under her garter until eager fans popped the million dollar cork for the first time ever in the full public scrutiny of an auction. Gentleman callers had been rumored to privately slip seven-figure hush money to the handlers of such rare beauties as Rollie Free’s “bathing suit” Vincent and Crocker serial #1, but asking these men — always men — directly about their spending habits is quite rude, so their stories float through the motorcycle scene…

The clutch: Always used, often abused, it doesn’t get the respect it deserves. That’s somewhat ironic, given the clutch’s role in ensuring you get from A to B. Yet it’s somewhat understandable, as clutches are typically undercover and out of sight — and out of mind. The typical motorcycle multi-plate wet clutch is made up of two sets of alternating discs; a fiber-faced set driven by an outer clutch drum and a set of metal discs keyed to an inner clutch hub. A spring-loaded pressure plate bolted to the inner clutch hub clamps the discs together, coupling the clutch drum and clutch hub together to transfer power from the engine to the transmission, and then the rear wheel. When you pull on the clutch lever, linkage pulls or pushes the…

It’s fair to argue that 1968 was a watershed year for the three remaining British and American motorcycle makers: Harley-Davidson, BSA-Triumph, and Norton-Villiers. Harley continued its then-11-year production run of Sportsters with steady improvement, while the Brits launched two new OHV 750s, the badge-engineered BSA Rocket 3 / Triumph Trident, and the vibration-quelling “Isolastic” Norton Commando. But the jungle drums were also signaling that a revolutionary new contender would soon arrive from the east. Were the big three ready for a 750-class superbike showdown? As Norton had discovered with the 1962 Atlas 750, stretching a parallel twin beyond 650cc led to unacceptable levels of engine vibration, and Norton’s planned replacement, the overhead cam P10 engine, proved no better than the Atlas. As a result, Norton developed the Isolastic engine mounting…

For anyone who appreciates the beauty and history of motorcycles, a visit to Hill Country Motorheads is a must. Located just outside Burnet, Texas, the museum offers a wonderful collection of vintage bikes, along with the opportunity to experience the camaraderie and passion of the motorcycling community. The Texas M/C Revival is the perfect time to visit, offering not only an expanded museum display of about 140 motorcycles but also the chance to meet legends of the sport and connect with fellow enthusiasts. From the meticulously restored motorcycles to the welcoming spirit of the Revival, Hill Country Motorheads captures the essence of motorcycling’s golden age and offers a glimpse into the world that Pat and Janell Hanlon have so lovingly preserved. Hill Country Motorheads: 2001 West State Hwy 29, Burnet,…

More than half a century ago, the first-ever national championship for mini-bike racers was held in Southern California. The racing got underway at a new motorcycle venue, Saddleback Park, in then unincorporated Orange County, California. Initially, though, mini-bike racing had subtly established itself at a secluded track carved within the confines of nearby Huntington Beach. Fittingly called Huntington Beach Cycle Park, it was a rather basic and elemental TT course suitable for full-size motorcycles and mini-bikes alike. Other racetracks could be found within and beyond the vast Los Angeles skyline, too, among them Trojan Speedway, Indian Dunes, Lions Raceway in Long Beach, and El Toro Speedway and Escape Country in Orange County. Many of those tracks were within an hour or less drive time from Saddleback and shared similar racing…

Having won the Maudes Trophy in 1933, Triumph management was eager not to rest on this particular Iaurel. In searching for further promotional opportunities, Harry Perrey noted that The Motor Cycle offered a trophy for the first British multi-cylinder machine of under 500cc to cover 100 miles in an hour on British soil. The weekly magazine’s earlier trophy for the first rider to achieve this feat was won by Bill Lacey on his self-tuned Grindlay-Peerless 500 in 1928. So, in 1934, they decided to put up another award for the first multi-cylinder British motorcycle to achieve this feat. Several firms and tuners decided to prepare machines to target this prize, including Triumph. The only place where an attempt could be made was Brooklands, then the home of many clever tuners…

A trade and some cash netted motorcyclist and collector Don Rosene of Anchorage, Alaska, this exquisitely restored 1930 Brough Superior 680 Black Alpine. Granted, it wasn’t so nicely restored when he acquired it some 25 years ago, but it was a motorcycle with history, and the machine deserved a complete resurrection. Don wasn’t in a rush for the Brough Superior to be finished, but like many important things, it took time for the project to reach a conclusion. Don began his riding career at 12 years old aboard a diminutive 1.5-horsepower Doodlebug scooter, first rolling down the alley behind the family home in Rockford, Illinois. When he turned 14, he got a Cushman scooter. “Then, when you’re 18, it’s not cool anymore to ride a scooter,” Don chuckles, and continues,…

THE COMPREHENSIVE VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE 'CLE PRICE GUIDE 2025/2026 EDITION Compiled by the Motorcycle and Model Railroad Museum of Wisconsin, this is the 21 st edition of the Comprehensive Vintage Motorcycle Price Guide. Through hundreds of hours of research and data entry, formed by the opinions and data gathered by more than 450 worldwide dealers, auctioneers, collectors, and experts in the vintage field, we believe this is the most accurate price guide available. Includes data through 2006 for more than 115 well known and lesser-known marques. #12563 $22.95 Members: $21.95 THE BSA BANTAM BIBLE The BSA Bantam is one of the definitive postwar British bikes, perhaps THE definitive British lightweight built after World War II. It was certainly the most popular, with over 400,000 built over a 23-year production run —…