Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2025 i Classic Bike

June 1967, 50cc TT, Isle of Man The 50cc TT was unusual in having a massed start, with Hans Georg Anscheidt (#1) on a works Suzuki twin taking the lead from Brian Gleed’s Honda (#22). Suzuki were the only factory team in the race – their two-stroke twins were 20mph faster than anything else, so they were confidently planning a 1-2-3 finish with Yoshimi Katayama (#4) the chosen winner. After three laps, they had a 1-2-3 – but not the one they’d wanted. Katayama’s bike only fired on one cylinder, so he soon dropped, stopping to change a plug after Quarter Bridge. It took a full lap for him to catch his obviously dawdling team-mates Anscheidt and Stuart Graham (#2) and move into a pre-planned lead. It didn’t last long……

Restored and utterly resplendent 827 of these Kawasaki Z1-engined beauties – a comparative glut for Bimota – and this is the coveted A-model with Brembo Goldline stoppers and Marzocchi forks. Everyone has a favourite Bimota. For many it’s the mildly zany Suzuki-powered SB2, others prefer the Ducati-engined examples; the YB5 with Yamaha FJ1200 propulsion has its fans, yet it must be the KB1 that marries the best of Japanese power and Italian running gear. Kawasaki’s Z1 was still the pre-eminent big-inch power unit in 1977 (although Jota fans will argue that). Up from an initial 903 to 1015cc, it was both potent (90bhp) and durable. All it needed was a decent chassis to harness its unburstable urge. Bimota’s trellis frame in Columbus chrome molybdenum tubing wrapped around the wide four-cylinder…

Fifteen years ago, esteemed custom builder Larry Houghton saw an air-cooled Norton rotary sitting on the grass at the Netley Marsh autojumble and was transfixed. “I thought it looked like something that would power the Starship Enterprise,” he tells Classic Bike. “It stuck in my head.” And now, finally, he’s built the bike he’s been mulling over for all those years. “I’ve been building bikes for a long time and been to a lot of shows [Larry’s being modest here – he’s won a lot of those shows] and it’s hard to do something different. That’s why I finally started the Norton build.” Larry bought a 64,000-mile 1988 Interpol 2 off eBay and started work. After rebuilding the engine with a friend, he made his own frame and bolted on…

Dresda Honda GL1000 Goldwing Just two years after its 1975 launch, the mighty Gold Wing was being repurposed into a Formula 1 TT contender. Well, not much of a contender – it endured an unrewarding practice experience and failed to make the grid for the race. This was no ordinary Wing. Dave Degens, of Dresda repute, had wrapped some lightweight tubing around the big flat-four, and AP Lockheed calipers were employed to help scrub speed off the monster when required. A Wing might seem a somewhat perverse choice for the Island, but back in ’77 it was still an actual motorcycle as opposed to the luxo-touring leviathan it has morphed into today. With 75bhp and 60lb ft to waft this lightweight version along, experienced TT rider Hugh Evans would surely…

Some people take in injured or unwanted animals,” says Bob Harris, as he opens his garage door. “I’m a bit like that. But with bikes. I can’t resist a project or an unloved oldie that needs doing-up and putting back on the road.” The evidence of Bob’s confession takes up almost every inch of his modestly proportioned single garage. It’s crammed back to front and floor to ceiling with bikes – some complete, others part way through restoration or awaiting attention – plus tools, spares, and the bounty of online purchases made to further his habit. “I’m running out of room – as you can see,” he smirks, wheeling the just-restored 1988 Kawasaki GPX750R we’ve come to see out into the spring sunlight. Bob’s daily rider, an R1250RS, takes up…

Norton engines were copies of the DKW “The motor on the left is a Norton twin rotor, based on the F1 road bike. The one on the right is the single-rotor DKW 2000. The F1 was produced in the late ’80s, first being air-cooled and appearing in police bikes, and later water-cooled. The DKW engine was produced from the early ’70s. It’s so easy to pull one of those DKWs apart – I can do it in 20 minutes, because it’s air-cooled so there are no hoses to negotiate. And you can separate the rotor housing from the gearbox and leave that in the bike. I built it as a sort of test bed to try out ideas that we might use in the Norton, because it’s basically half a…

‘At last!’ I thought. After all those hours working on the Henley in the shed, I was finally out in the sun at Brooklands, with the bike underneath me and my mate Raymond by my side. There we were, waiting to climb the venue’s famous Test Hill at April’s ‘Veteran and Vintage’ day. Conceived as the ‘Sunbeam 100’, celebrating Sunbeam MCC’s centenary, its success ensured a position in the Brooklands annual calendar. It’s worth looking out for next year. As things worked out, I’d only just got the tank water-tight in time to load the bike in the van for Brooklands. Knowing that petrol is far more searching than water, I left it empty while in transit. Henleys did race at Brooklands-although the only known photo is of Martin O’Reilly,…

think this is the summer of 1980 and I’m about to get my feet very wet as my off-road riding ability fails to match my ambitions. The bike is a 1974 Yamaha DT175 and I’m attempting to ride it through the mill stream at the back of my friend Will’s house. It was my first proper bike after a Puch Maxi and a troublesome Fantic TI sports moped that had six gears and five neutrals. I think the other picture was taken some time earlier. The Yamaha had some ignition issues (and not just because I Araldited in the spark plug when the thread stripped) and had broken down. I’m taking out the front wheel so that we could squeeze the bike into Will’s dad’s Morris Minor that we borrowed…

£7130 1978 Yamaha RD250E German-market bike restored to UK spec (including mph speedo); no expense spared. Stacks of NOS and quality reproduction parts fitted, Dream Machine paint and Newtronics electronic ignition. All receipts provided. handh.co.uk £54,050 1972 works Triumph F750 Formerly campaigned by Tony Jefferies. Believed to be the last Trident racer built by Triumph’s Experimental Department, it’s had just two triple-specialist owners since and remains in exceptionally original condition. bonhams.com £4600 1975 Ducati 250 MkIII This valve-spring MkIII, finished in Desmo Yellow, is from the final year of production. An earlier restoration in fine cosmetic condition, it has been off the road and will require thoroughly checking over before use. bonhams.com £10,350 1960 BSA DBD34 Gold Star The definitive Goldie superbly restored, with engine work undertaken from 1998-2003 by…

Four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty will headline a huge celebration of World Superbikes at this year’s Festival of Speed on July 10-13. More than 40 race bikes and dozens of riders from WSB’s golden era will be loitering in the paddock, and Foggy will thrash up the Goodwood Hill on his 1995 championship-winning Ducati 916. “I’ve had such a great time at the Festival of Speed over the years,” says Foggy. “I haven’t seen my 1995 916 for a while, so I’m looking forward to being reunited with the bike across the weekend. “It’s great that World Superbikes is getting a moment in the spotlight and fans can see the bikes up close in the paddocks before they take to the hill.” • Goodwood tickets available from goodwood.com…

Yes, you read that right. A 1980 Honda CB400F2 with two push-miles on the clock sold for a record £17,250 at the Bonhams auction at Stafford last month. That exceeds the previous record of £15,975, set by a one-mile 1978 F2 that went for auction in 2022. The CB you see here was bought new by the seller’s late father, who started it to make sure it ran and then put it in storage. It hasn’t even been registered, although the ignition key has managed to go missing. Not that anyone will be riding it anyway… bonhams.com…

REVIVED Relaying the joy I took this 1997 Triumph T595 off my brother John’s hands two years ago. It had been sitting in his garage for around 16 years due to an electrical problem that was draining the battery. Thankfully, he stored it well, so I set about repairing the loom (new ones are no longer available). I had always been wary of electrics, but with a good wiring diagram, a multimeter, electrical connectors and ratchet crimping pliers, I actually grew to love doing it. The sense of satisfaction when it was fully fixed was incredible! I located a fault to an incorrect relay for the headlights. Now, with an aftermarket ABM top yoke and Renthal 758 ’bars giving a roomier riding position, the bike is getting a regular run…

Dave Collister 1978 A first-year pupil at St Ninian’s High School 2025 Renowned Isle of Man photographer “My secondary school, St Ninian’s High School, was at the top of Bray Hill. Back then, we weren’t allowed time off school during the week of practice, which was mainly mornings and evenings back then. Thursday was the first afternoon practice, so it was a big deal and we all were itching to watch. In my first year at the school, the scary deputy headmaster Mr Masterton (who’d previously caned me for something), stood up in assembly and said: ‘I’m warning you now, we all know it’s practice this week, and no-one is bunking off – you WILL be in’. He was right; no one dared bunk off… Funny to think that, 35…

Tony Cooper took over the TMS shop on Nottingham’s Carlton Road in 1971 and was dealing in Triumph bikes and spares from the outset. Every week he would travel the 50 miles to Triumph at Meriden to stock up on parts, so he was well known at the factory. Sometimes, his assistant Martin White made the journey, too. Discarded projects and prototypes caught Tony’s eye and, as Meriden Motorcycles sank into dire financial straits, he saved some of these secret rarities from the scrap merchant, and helped factory cash-flow by buying them. Meriden finally closed down in 1983, by which time TMS had acquired some remarkable pieces of history. “Towards the end, we paid cash, as cheques would have been swallowed up by the bank,” Martin recalls. Rare Triumph prototypes…

1 Tyre pressure gauge Correctly inflated tyres are fundamental to a bike’s performance so an accurate tyre gauge is an essential item. Don’t rely on the integral gauge on your footpump, they’re notoriously inaccurate. Same goes for air lines on garage forecourts. Digital gauges are OK, but they require a battery and often lack a release valve. Pencil gauges are OK if they are accurate, but a decent analogue dial gauge is best. Ideally you want a pressure bleed button, so that you can release air pressure from the tyre without removing the gauge, plus a function that allows the needle to record the high pressure and then be re-set manually to zero. Venhill (venhill.co.uk) do a nice 0-60psi version available for around £30; they also offer a 0-15psi version…

In the April issue, I airily claimed I had sorted out the wiring on my newlypurchased 1981 Morini Kanguro 350, and was moving on to tackle the smoky engine. I also predicted that the whole bike would be ready in time to take part in April’s Lands End Trial. Benjy Straw, the Gandalf of Morinidom, was pretty sure the engine smoke was nothing more than rings. With a workshop (and work ethic) unsuited to oily delvings, I had no intention of finding out. So I offloaded responsibility to my friend Rupe Farnsworth. If you’ve ever read the children’s book Uncle by JP Martin (and you should), you’ll know the One-Armed Badger, whose chief characteristic is a boundless enthusiasm for carrying heavy loads. Farnsworth is like that – but with engines.…

These are photographs of me and a few of my mates from Fleetwood, Lancashire on what we were modifying and riding back in 1976. There are a couple of me on my Yamaha RD250C purchased from Queens Park Motors in Manchester for the princely sum of £525. I had just stepped up capacity from a Popsicle Purple FS1-E moped which had been stolen. Within minutes of getting the RD home, I had put a pair of Ace handlebars on it and sprayed my brand new Bell full-face helmet into a Jarno Saarinen replica. Most importantly, the fork legs were modified with the addition of yellow Michelin race stickers (which attracted more attention than the bike). I was like a big kid, warming it up with just two fingers and a…

Have you just bought a new project? Or have you finished a project, taken part in an event or just been for a ride? Do you have pictures of you or your friends from your biking past? Or can you identify the riders or a face in the crowd from the Startline image on page four? Please write and tell us Startline How many riders from the 1967 50cc TT startline can you identify? Letters Want to start a conversation about bike values or commend good service? Your classics Just acquired a new project, completed a restoration or been for a great ride? The Way We Were Have you got pictures and a story from your biking past? Let us know. Contact us at… letters@classicbike.co.uk Get 3 issues for £5…

£15,995 1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR Stunning example of H-D’s rare, sought-after factory café racer. An original low-mileage matching-numbers machine from the first year of production, imported in 2019 and has remained in a private collection since then. Dealer sale anthonygodin.co.uk £1500-2500 1961 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 A modest estimate for this totally rebuilt and restored Redditch-built Bullet. Engine, gearbox and clutch rebuilt, frame powder coated, carb refurbished, fresh paintwork, many new parts and 12V electrics. charterhouse-bikes.com £2500-3500 Circa 1966 Velocette Venom One of four Venoms found alongside a stash of spares. This complete but scruffy single looks an ideal candidate for restoration or recommissioning. A relatively budgetfriendly entry point to Brit classic ownership. bonhams.com £9950 1976 Triumph T140V special This T140 has been totally rebuilt and re-imagined in the workshop of…

’How much?’ Gez Kane on classic values Prices of Small Heath’s post-war twins have always lagged a little behind those of their rivals from Meriden. However, while classic bike prices across the board remain lower than they have been for some years, there are signs that values seem to be levelling out. Anyone hankering for a BSA twin might just do well to get in now. Just about anyone who has ridden a well-sorted Brit twin will tell you how much fun they are – and with decent, useable A65s regularly turning up for sale at around the £3500 mark, there probably won’t be a better time to find out for yourself any time soon. Prices of the 500cc models seem to have held up better than the 650s, with good…

First £1m motorcycle A 1915 Cyclone sold for a world record $1,320,000 (£1.06m) at the recent Mecum auction. The American-built V-twin beat the previous record of $935,000 (£780,000) for a 1908 Harley ‘Strap Tank’ single. The biggestselling post-war bike was a 1974 Ducati 750SS that went for £159,800. Training pioneer dies Graeme Chatham, the man who fought to get compulsory rider training for young riders, has died aged 84. Graeme was a dealer in Edinburgh, and started his campaign when six youngsters he had sold bikes to were killed in the same week in 1978. He adopted a ‘no training, no bike’ policy, and fought for it to become law – battling no end of resistance from within the motorcycle industry. Eventually – in 1989 – training became compulsory before…

Goodwood have only been it as the 82nd event. We’re not sure how that works, but it’s become the best of the three meetings that they run during the year. It’s a fantastic start to the classic race season – there’s not the frenzy of the Festival of Speed and there are no fancy dress requirements like the Revival. Tickets are expensive and just buying them requires some hoop jumping, but it’s worth it. Though with only one bike race on each day, it helps if you like cars, too. This year’s event was blessed with dry weather both days and attracted a strong entry for the combined 250/350cc twostroke and F750 four-stroke race. Many bikes were getting their first outing after winter rebuilds. Both races were closefought battles for…

1 1977 Jubillee TT Yamaha TZ750, 1h 23m 10.6s/108.86mph (four laps/150.92 miles) 2 1980 Classic Yamaha TZ750, 2h 00m 29.8s/112.72mph (six laps/226.38 miles) 3 1983 Formula One Honda RS850, 1h 59m 06.4s/114.03mph (six laps/226.38 miles) 4 1984 Formula One Honda RS750, 2h 01m 37.0s/111.68mph (six laps/226.38 miles) 5 1985 Formula One Honda RVF750, 1h 59m 12.0s/113.95mph (six laps/226.38 miles) 6 1985 Junior Honda RS250, 2h 03m 35.0s/109.91mph (four laps/150.92 miles) 7 1985 Senior Honda RVF750, 1h 59m 28.2s/113.69 (six laps/226.38 miles) 8 1986 Formula One Honda RVF750, 1h 20m 09.4s/112.96mph (four laps/150.92 miles) 9 1987 Formula One Honda RVF750, 1h 58m 04.45s/115.03mph (six laps/226.38 miles) 10 1987 Senior Honda RS500, 1h 30m 41.2s/99.85mph (four laps/150.92 miles) 11 1988 Formula One Honda RC30 750, 1h 56m 50.2s/116.25mph (six laps/226.38 miles) 12 1988 Junior Honda RS250, 1h 20m 56.6s/111.87mph (four laps/150.92 miles) 13 1988 Senior…

Danny Pullen IoM resident since 1993 Bikes owned: 38, including Suzuki T20, TR250, T500, Terry Shepherd aluminium-alloy-monocoque-framed TR250, Yamaha TD3, TR3-engined Yamsel, Terry Shepherd monocoque-framed Yamaha TZ350, Rickman Weslake 500, Rob North BSA Rocket 3, 2 x Matchless G45 replicas, Triumph T160 Slippery Sam replica, Triumph TR65 Thunderbird, Royal Enfield 350 Bullet, 2 x Honda NC30 and various Matchless and AJS machinery Favourite spot to watch from: Waterworks DANNY IS PLAINLY very handy with the spanners. “My mate who does a fair bit of mechanical work wouldn’t say so,” says a self-deprecating Danny. Now living in Andreas in the north of the Island, he only works on his own extensive haul of pedigree motorcycles. “I don’t have time to work on anyone else’s bikes; it’s actually time to start thinning…

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When I wrote about the Henley oil tank last month, I thought I’d given my best advice on fixing difficult leaks – but my subsequent attempts to fix the petrol tank made it clear I’d barely scratched the surface. With replacement tanks not available, any leaks would require drastic repairs… I’d been avoiding filling the tank, because I suspected trouble. Tank leaks are the bane of vintage bike ownership – and after decades of grappling with porous vintage tanks, I not only know but fear my enemy. Originally made from thin tin-plated steel, they were literally ‘tinned’ to aid soldering together – but with the passage of time, the plating will often be replaced by rust. Ironically, the corrosion is often caused by the flux used in assembly – and…

Unlike the later Amals, the pre-1955 separate float chamber carburettors have no name, just numbers – Type 4, 5, 6 and 29 in ascending size. Introduced in 1929, the Amal incorporated the design features of three old carburettor makes – Binks, B&B and AMAC – and became the standard fitting on virtually all British motorcycles and several Continental ones for the next 50 years. Even the Mikuni began as an Amal copy – Mikuni and early Amal main jets can interchange. Type numbers changed slightly as these carbs evolved. Type 6 became the ‘76’ and finally ‘276’; the 29 became ‘89’ and then ‘289’. Problems can arise when similarlooking but not interchangeable parts are mixed – especially jet blocks. These are numbered, but the number is not usually listed in…