Classic Bike September 2020

Welcome SEPTEMBER 2020 • ISSUE #488 UNDER SHEENE’S SPELL IT’S STILL INCEDIBLE when you recall the effect Barry Sheene had on motorcycling in the 1970s and ’80s. His charismatic personality and his undoubted talent on a bike created so much public interest in motorcycling at the time. But you all know that. Interesting, then, to read Mat’s piece on his early years in this issue. I wasn’t really aware of Sheene’s really early days in the GP pitlane before he was known as a racer (see page 34). What’s weird for me is that, although I saw him racing that ex-works Suzuki 125 at British nationals, and his name ultimately became synonymous with the Suzuki brand, one era that really stands out for me was probably one of his least…

IT’S STILL INCEDIBLE when you recall the effect Barry Sheene had on motorcycling in the 1970s and ’80s. His charismatic personality and his undoubted talent on a bike created so much public interest in motorcycling at the time. But you all know that. Interesting, then, to read Mat’s piece on his early years in this issue. I wasn’t really aware of Sheene’s really early days in the GP pitlane before he was known as a racer (see page 34). What’s weird for me is that, although I saw him racing that ex-works Suzuki 125 at British nationals, and his name ultimately became synonymous with the Suzuki brand, one era that really stands out for me was probably one of his least successful years. It was the 1972 season, when he signed…

Classic World MUSEUM RAHMI M KOÇ MUSEUM Mr Koç’s toy box Turkey’s capital is not only the gateway to Asia, but also a classic bike time portal, as this Istanbul museum of historic motorcycles demonstrates WORDS: BRUNO CIANCI PHOTOGRAPHY: BRUNO CIANCI & ALI KONYALI ‘ALMOST 40% OF THE COLLECTION IS BRITISH’ Beyond its wealth of architectural wonders, and the world-famous Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul’s tourist trail should, for the classic bike enthusiast, include a visit to this fascinating classic bike collection. Founded in 1994 by the Ankara-born industrialist Rahmi M Koç, after whom it is named, this museum covers 27,000 square metres (equivalent to St Peter’s Square in Rome) and contains delights ranging from classic bikes to a 96-metre submarine. Koç, an 89-year-old automotive entrepreneur, recalls the birth of the museum:…

‘ALMOST 40% OF THE COLLECTION IS BRITISH’ Beyond its wealth of architectural wonders, and the world-famous Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul’s tourist trail should, for the classic bike enthusiast, include a visit to this fascinating classic bike collection. Founded in 1994 by the Ankara-born industrialist Rahmi M Koç, after whom it is named, this museum covers 27,000 square metres (equivalent to St Peter’s Square in Rome) and contains delights ranging from classic bikes to a 96-metre submarine. Koç, an 89-year-old automotive entrepreneur, recalls the birth of the museum: “When I was a child, my father bought me a Märklin electric train as a gift from Germany,” he says. “That’s how my passion for collecting toys, mechanical and industrial objects began. Later, the passion grew to the point that my houses, offices and warehouses were no…

THIS BIKE IS sharp in many ways. Dubbed ‘Schiavona’, the word for an old Italian fighting sword, the Guzzi special is based on a 1983 SP1000 – SP (by luck or by judgement) standing for Spada, which is also Italian for sword… It’s owned by a customer of Bournemouth’s Siderock Cycles, who shipped the bike to the UK in an articulated truck from his home in Gibraltar. His brief for Pete Hodgson, the owner of Siderock, was to hone it into a classy, high-spec, comfy roadster. “It was a low-mileage (13,000km) Spanish bike in really good condition with no corrosion,” says Pete. “So there was little we had to do to ‘restore’ the bike prior to the custom work.” Pete started in the belly of the beast, with serious attention being given…

YES… September 5-6: CRMC race meeting, Anglesey Circuit, Anglesey Depending on advice from the Welsh government, you may just be able to catch some classic race action at this stunning circuit. Do check before travelling, though. crmc.co.uk September 5 Rufforth Autojumble, Rufforth Park, North Yorkshire The jumble scene is back in something like full swing, and Rufforth is one of the north’s best. rufforthautojumble.com September 12 Kempton Park Autojumble, Kempton Park Racecourse, Middlesex If you’ve been missing out on your jumbling fix, fear not: Kempton is back. classicbikeshows.com September 13 Poachers Pre-65 trial, Goulceby, Lincolnshire Spectators aren’t permitted, but it’s high time you dug your pre-65 trialler out of the shed to enjoy a socially-distanced gallop round the gorgeous Lincolnshire Wolds. poacherspre65trials.co.uk September 13 Romney Marsh Classic Bike Jumble, Hamstreet, Kent Following the success of their July autojumble – their…