February 2020

RealClassic

Frequently fabulous; occasionally awful, but always interesting

RealClassic3 min read
From The Front
I am deeply indebted to Ollie of this parish, noted scribbler and good chum also. Why? Because he suggested that we meet up and complain very loudly about absolutely everything in the entire world so we’d feel better and could then go back to our sep
RealClassic9 min readAutomotive
Halfway House
First impressions are important, especially where motorcycles are concerned. Thrills mix with need at speed on a big road bike, and the better it is, the better you are. The track-ready Ducati 900 SS was a truly memorable superbike of its time, and w
RealClassic15 min readAutomotive
Incoming!
I found Paul Miles’s feature on vintage bikes in RC188 very interesting, to say the least. I’ve never ridden a flat tanker so cannot comment on that score, but having owned a mid-1930s Sunbeam Model 9 for a few years, I concur with his statement abou
RealClassic4 min read
Backwards Glance
The letter about DMWs in RC182 brought back memories of how I came to race one of these machines in the 1967 Diamond Jubilee Isle of Man TT, despite being an out and out Greeves man. After several years’ trials riding, I started road racing in the la
RealClassic9 min readAutomotive
Small Heath Survivor
The regular reader will recall the story of my friend Brian’s cammy Velocettes in RC186, which made more than passing reference to Brian’s old A7. Having hopefully piqued your interest, it seemed only polite to go back and get the fuller story. As al
RealClassic14 min readAutomotive
The Holy Grail
Rumours of Royal Enfield’s big twin circulated for years. When the Interceptor and Continental GT 650s finally arrived last year, everyone was talking about them. We took a quick spin, intending to follow up with an in-depth feature a little later. L
RealClassic9 min readAutomotive
Super Single...
I was highly entertained to receive a lengthy grump from a German Frank – he was called Frank and was a German, so there’s nothing subtle going on here. Frank was grumpy because – among many other things – I’d never written up a Tiger 750, the single
RealClassic1 min readAutomotive
Talking Point
‘This is the fourth motorcycle that I have owned and the only one where people wave me down to talk about it,’ says Scott in Ohio, USA. ‘These twins have such a classic look that I was instantly drawn to them. It’s possible to build a café-style bike
RealClassic2 min readAutomotive
No Deal
I WAS VERY impressed apart from a few minor niggles. The footrest gets in the way when you put your foot down and the handlebar angle is all wrong for me. But it was very smooth and comfortable and with plenty of performance. Good brakes, slick gearb
RealClassic1 min readAutomotive
Big Deal!
I HAD ONLY BEEN RIDING for a year and soon got bored and wanted more power. I knew straight away the Enfield was the right bike and ordered the Interceptor without even test riding it. My rides are through winding hilly vineyards and forest country.
RealClassic6 min read
Six Days In Wales
A handful of photos of motorcycles crossing the picturesque hills of long-ago rural Wales intrigued me. How many of these scenes from the 1949 International Six Day Trial would be recognisable today? These thoughts became a plan to retrace the route
RealClassic10 min readAutomotive
The Pint-size Panther
Recently, I sorted out a Panther to get it going well enough to be a reliable ride for Frank, its owner. I have already brought two 600 / 650 Panther singles back to life, but this was the first time I had encountered a Model 70. It dates from 1947 a
RealClassic2 min read
Write 4 Real
➤ WE WANT MORE STORIES about real life classic bikes. We like profiles of a single model or a comparison of two machines. Most magazine features are between 1000 and 2500 words. If your story is much longer then it’s probably not for us. Shorter stor
RealClassic4 min readAutomotive
Outward Bound
➤ There’s an AUCTION of classic motorcycles, spares, collectibles and memorabilia at Pugh’s Saleroom, Ledbury, HR8 2AQ. Viewing from 8am, bidding starts 10am. hjpugh.com ➤ The Sunbeam MCC host their GORDON JACKSON TRIAL at Frensham Vale near Farnham,
RealClassic5 min readAutomotive
PLUGS & LEADS
Triumph-engined featherbed specials will take pride of place at the South of England Classic Motorcycle Show at Ardingly on Sunday 29th March this year, where Dave Degens is the show’s special guest. Recognised as one of the UK’s leading tuning speci
RealClassic2 min read
Identical Twins ?
Looking back on the photographs I took of this engine, I’m still puzzled about the apparent lack of history and for which type of product it was being developed. For the former, we need some nonagenarian gentleman to read the articles and say ‘I was
RealClassic3 min read
Breaking News!
One of those improbable revelations has just happened – a factory blueprint of the 1947 engine has turned up! Although I’ve only recently seen photographs of parts of this drawing, I’ve no doubt that is a genuine blueprint copy of the Bracebridge S
RealClassic2 min read
Classic Techniques
I am often amazed by how little people tackle engineering tasks or even basic maintenance themselves. You might see a nicely restored bike where the owner says they ‘did it themselves’. A little questioning and it transpires that the majority of the
RealClassic9 min read
Pub Talk
This time last year PUB was disappointed to announce that the New Year’s Day Vintage Stony (Buckinghamshire) on which she reported was to be the last one. The organiser had run ten of them, and was unsuccessful in soliciting new and additional help,
RealClassic4 min read
Ollie’s ODDJOBS
Who among us has not been bitten by the bug of wanting to relive some dear dead days beyond accurate recall? And thus we surf the internet, semi-casually hunting for bargains, and pore over the classified columns in search of some relic of our past w
RealClassic11 min read
Tales From The Shed
This is a sad and familiar winter’s tale. I spend decades perfecting the perfect winter motorcycle – in this case the noble Royal Enfield Bullet, of course – and after diligent and indeed tireless effort and expense I get it ready for the road. The B

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