Classic Bike August 2020

Flip forward to page 40 for our Münch Mammoth IV road test SOME TEN YEARS ago, my partner Helen and I were wandering around the streets of Paris, just off the Gare du Nord where we were staying, when I spotted a movie poster on a lamppost. The thing that caught my eye was the motorcycle the guy in the poster was riding - a Munch Mammoth, which was probably why the movie was simply called Mammuth. Now, Munch Mammoths are a rarity at the best of times, but as a focal point of a new movie? This I had to see. Back home, I eventually ordered the DVD, but I’m ashamed to say it sat on the shelf unopened until this past month when the Münch Mammoth road test from Klaus…

With the cancellation of the (already twice postponed) Classic Motorcycle Show at Stafford later this month, Bonhams have opted to go it alone with what should have been their spring sale. Their summer sale takes place on the same weekend – August 14-16 - that the show was last rescheduled to before its cancellation. The new venue is Bicester Heritage, the home of Bonhams’ motorcycle department, and lots will be on view in a massive 50,000sq ft hangar at the former RAF bomber airfield. With the safety of buyers, vendors and Bonhams staff being absolutely paramount, the sale will be conducted behind closed doors, using a brand new, live online format which was trialled very successfully by Bonhams at a recent combined car and bike sale at the venue. Essentially, it’s…

Bonhams are hoping they’ll be able to return to their traditional Stafford venue for their Autumn Sale on October 10-11. Some fascinating machines have been consigned already, including the 1979 Bimota KB1 below (estimate: £9000-11,000). The most successful Bimota of the Tamburini era, 827 KBls were produced between 1978 and 1982. Powered by Kawasaki’s 1015cc dohc Z1000 engine, only a handful were sold as complete bikes, with the rest being supplied as chassis kits for the buyer to assemble using a donor Z1000. The well-preserved machine formed part of a private collection and is being offered with an original dual seat (not fitted) and was last run by the vendor’s mechanic in 2017. Sold requiring recommissioning/ restoration before use.…

Fifty years ago, American publishing magnate Floyd Clymer passed away after suffering a heart attack while working in his office at home. He was 74 years old. Mention Clymer now and it’s likely classic bike enthusiasts will recall his name for one of two reasons: an extensive range of motorcycle workshop manuals bearing his surname, or his long-term bid to relaunch the Indian motorcycle brand which reached its zenith with the beautiful, Leopold Tartarini-styled, Velocette-powered Indian Velo. Impressive though those achievements were, Clymer achieved so much more in his busy life. Born in Indianapolis in October 1895, his family soon moved to Colorado where Floyd Clymer didn’t exactly have a regular childhood. His father was a doctor and young Clymer learned to drive the family single-cylinder Oldsmobile car at the age of…

WHILE THERE’S STILL huge uncertainty surrounding the classic bike events scene, a few organisers are gearing up for a return to action. And, following the (slight) relaxation in lockdown advice, autojumbles are able to make a tentative return. While we’d still advise contacting event organisers before travelling, here’s a snapshot of the current situation for August. YES… August 1 Rufforth Autojumble, Rufforth Park, York One of the first regular jumbles to commit to reopening, with the June event being the first. Social distancing to be observed at all times on site. rufforthautojumble.com August 30 Autojumble, Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, Bashley Cross Road, New Milton Hampshire It’s impossible to keep a good man down. Not content with overseeing the completion of the new, 10,000sq ft extension to the museum, Sammy and his team have been busy…

AT EIGHT YEARS of age I found a rusty old bike in the corner of my uncle’s shed, which turned out to be my father’s 1947 Matchless G3L. When I quizzed dad, he related stories of when he bought it new as a 20-year-old - he had ordered a 500cc, but the shop had offered him a 350cc or a six-month wait for the factory to build the next batch of 500s. He chose the 350. As a child, my mother insisted I was not to be a biker and “mad like my dad” (how mad can you be on a G3L?). And this from someone who regularly held on as pillion on the back ‘bumpad’ seat of dad’s bike in a headscarf and circular skirt! On this basis I sold the…