Classic Bike Guide - September 2017

EVERYTHING YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT BUYING THE HINCKLEY CLASSIC

THE BIKE S SURTEES MADE HIS MARK ON

PLUS XX

+ VELOCETTE MSS BUYING GUIDE + ‘STROKERS’ – THE STORY BEHIND THE TWO-STROKE + VINCENT COMET BUYING GUIDE + SWM SILVER VASE 440

CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE || CONTENTS

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FROM THE ARCHIVE We take you back to the golden time, Earls Court

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motorcycle show, 1960

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RIDING LIFE A brand-new flat-tank, Foggy hurts himself sliding and you

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE Modern classics don’t come customise or easier to ride than the Hinckley-built Bonneville.

SUBSCRIBE! Save money and bask in the knowledge you get it delivered,

SHOWS We report back our findings on

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the Goodwood Festival of Speed

LETTERS What would you like to know,

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you like? We love to hear.

BUYING GUIDE –

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are they really like to live with?

BUYING GUIDE –

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you can’t buy a fake!

any good, we let you know.

MARK WILLIAMS Tales of a time long since

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BUYING GUIDE – VINCENT METEOR AND COMET Singles give more than you think.

OLD EMPIRE MOTORCYCLES Beautiful craftsmanship, proper engineering, labours of love.

NEW BIKES – FB MONDIAL Old name, funky new 125.

NEW BIKES – SWM SILVER VASE 440 Intriguing new single from SWM. NEW BIKES – BULLIT HERO AND SPIRIT 125 They’re new, they’re cheap

gone about the wonders of

and they’re over here. One’s a

scooters from his youth.

scrambler, the other a café racer.

PAUL MILES Paul looks to the future for the Vintage Motorcycle

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PAUL D’ORLEANS A wonderful story shows it’s not the bikes, but the

VINCENT GREY FLASH The fascinating story of the single-cylinder Grey Flash,

FROM THE ARCHIVE Surtees on his Grey Flash. In colour. Surely

RESTORATION – KAWASAKI Z1B A Zed comes back from the dead. And it’s beautiful.

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TWO-STROKES Our resident lover of two-stroke peers through the smoke and explains what it’s all about.

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Vincent’s last racing success.

RICKMAN CR 900 Every one is different, so

We test them and if they’re

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stories around them.

BSA DBD34 GOLD STAR We all like the idea, but what

CLASSIC PRODUCTS

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Club. Where do we go?

what have you found, what did you like and what didn’t

030

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BUYING GUIDE SPECIAL –

easier to live with, easier to

and Copdock Motorcycle Show.

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still hard to start.

can win ‘On Any Sunday’.

get it in the shops. Hurrah!

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Still lovely, still expensive,

What more do you want?

for free, before anyone can

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BUYING GUIDE – VELOCETTE MSS

READER ADVERTS You tempt us, we pay you, so you can be tempted again.

Is that how it works?

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FRANK WESTWORTH Frank rides two identical bikes, only to find them totally different.

one for the shed wall.

CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE || SEPTEMBER 2017 3

RIDINGLIFE || ARCHIVE

Earls Court Motorcycle Show

November 12-19, 1960

THIS GLASS PLATE image really takes you back to the golden era of British motorcycling. The marques are varied, the stands stylish and the photograph shows how bikes gelled with bicycles, more than cars, as our world does today. The image concentrates on Triumph, which had a separate stand for the Tigress scooter in the foreground and was possibly taken on the press day, due to the quiet crowds.

In other images the show is absolutely packed, with Motorcycling Weekly publishing a ‘guide to survive the Earls Court show’ in its preview.

In the year that both John Surtees and Geoff Duke announced their retirements from motorcycle racing, Ariel released the Leader range, complete with cut-out model on the stand and BSA showed the new B40 350 Star. “Brisk, handy and economical” Motorcycling Weekly described, after their road test. New engines were more prevalent than bikes, with the Matchless 500cc G50, Royal Enfield 700cc Constellation and Triumph Tiger Cub engines all on release.

But away from the limelight was the 50cc Cub, from a small Japanese manufacturer called Honda. Little did anyone at Earls Court that year know that this little bike would go on to be the longest-running, most successful twowheeled machine in history – and no one would realise what impact it would have on the British motorcycle industry.

There are thousands of incredible and unique images available to buy like this one, from www.mortonsarchive.com.

4 SEPTEMBER 2017 || CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE

CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE || SEPTEMBER 2017 5

CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE || EDITORIAL ||

WHO’S WHO ||

EDITOR || Matt Hull editor@classicbikeguide.com PUBLISHER || Tim Hartley thartley@mortons.co.uk SENIOR DESIGNER || Kelvin Clements DESIGNER || Michael Baumber PICTURE DESK || Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield EDITORIAL ASSISTANT || Jayne Clements PRODUCTION EDITOR || Sarah Wilkinson DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER || Billy Manning ADVERTISING || Leon Currie 01507 529413 lcurrie@mortons.co.uk ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES || Jane Skayman 01507 529423 jskayman@mortons.co.uk SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER || Paul Deacon CIRCULATION MANAGER || Steven O’Hara MARKETING MANAGER || Charlotte Park PUBLISHING DIRECTOR || Dan Savage COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR || Nigel Hole

MATT HULL

AGE KNOWS NO BARRIER AS YOU MAY have read last month, Frank Westworth has now stepped away from creating Classic Bike Guide. Rumours that decades of perfecting the skill of kicking over his trusty steeds taking its toll, are greatly exaggerated. But fear not, our Frank will still be contributing to CBG every month with his always entertaining column, so we can all keep tabs on what he’s up to out there. And together with his better half, Rowena, Frank will still be editing Real Classic magazine.

This month in CBG there’s a great mix of machines. I enjoyed reading the fascinating story behind Vincent’s Grey Flash racer, the bike that would inevitably be the swansong of the esteemed manufacturer. Up against some fearsome opposition from the likes of Norton and always under the shadow of difficult financial times which eventually took its toll on the company, the single not only put up a good fight, but also helped launch the career of a young racer by the name of John Surtees.

There’s plenty of buying guides – if the Grey Flash tickles your fancy, we look at Vincent singles, the Meteor and Comet. If something easier to live with is your choice, then our feature on the Hinckley Bonneville range will be of great use, while there is also Velocette’s MSS, a tasty Rickman CR900 and everyone’s favourite naughty boy, BSA’s DBD34 Gold Star.

Hide your wallet.

There’s a plethora of new, classic-styled smaller bikes, for those who are looking for minimal fuss at minimum money. We’ve ridden

the Bullit café racer and scrambler 125, SWM’s Silver Vase 400 and the beautiful FB Mondiale hps 125. Then we get dirty, with two-strokes and a restoration of a Kawasaki Z900 – that should get you putting the mag down and heading for the shed.

Age may bring experience, but we take a good look at the young guns at Old Empire Motorcycles, who are creating some stunning custom bikes with a classic feel. They use ageold techniques and skills with their builds and are even helping to bring back another British marque that was long-gone.

It’s great to see younger riders enjoying the classic bike scene – whether that be customs or classics, riding, building or restoring. We can learn from them, as they learn from us. At my local bike meet – the Whitwell railway in Norfolk – I see the diverse range of bikes and ages of riders, mixing and mardling (Norfolk term for gossiping and telling tales) about rides, bikes and their adoration for each other’s machines. It may be my pint of mild, but the comradery gives me a warm feeling.

Hope you enjoy this month’s magazine and then get out there – whether that’s the shed or the road. Myself? I'm off to buy a B31 I’ve heard of that’s done 2000 miles in the last 25 years. Oh, and let us know what you think of Classic Bike Guide, we’re always interested in what you want to read about.

As Frank would say, that’s it. See you out there.

Matt Hull editor@classicbikeguide.com

CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE Steve Cooper, Rob Davies, Paul D'Orleans, Paul Fincham, Ryan Goodyear, Oli Hulme, Richard Jones, Paul Miles, Phillip Tooth, Stuart Urquhart, Frank Westworth, Mark Williams, Nolan Woodbury EDITORIAL ADDRESS Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR WEBSITE www.classicbikeguide.com GENERAL QUERIES AND BACK ISSUES 01507 529529 24hr answerphone Email: help@classicmagazines.co.uk Web: www.classicmagazines.co.uk SUBSCRIPTION Full subscription rates (but see page 10 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £50.40. Export rates are also available – see page 10 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. DISTRIBUTION Marketforce UK Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HU. 0203 787 9001 USA SUBSCRIPTIONS CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE (USPS:002-674) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK. USA subscriptions are $54 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921.

Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft, WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com PRINTED BY || William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton.

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6 SEPTEMBER 2017 || CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE

RIDINGL LIFE NEWS || EVENTS || LETTERS

ON ANY SUNDAY DOCUMENTARY, RERELEASED THIS MONTH ... and you could win a copy!

A BRANDNEW FLAT TANK? with ABS on the 250cc version and ITALIAN BIKE FIRM, The Black combined braking on the 125cc. It can Douglas Motorcycle Company, has carry a pillion and weight is claimed at released details of a remarkable new “just under 100kg”, so although lacking bike range, the Sterling. in horsepower, the lack of weight gives Made in both 125cc and 250cc it a decent pace, especially compared variants, the Sterling is hand made, to the prewar bikes it imitates. with a rigid steel cradle frame, two There is a small catch – all this gallon (nine litre) aluminium flat tank hand-made loveliness comes at a price. and girder forks.

This curiosity has details everywhere, The 125 Sterling starts at £8950, with the 250cc at £10,550. That’s a lot for from carefully routed electrics a small bike, but where else can you get through the handlebars, to the use a pre-war-style bike to use every day? of Ergal alloy in the front suspension. www.theblackdouglas.com Remarkably it’s Euro 4 compliant,

ON N ANY SUNDAY was described by American maagazine, Ride Apart, as “One of the best mootorcycle movies ever made”. It featured and waas co-produced by Steve McQueen and is one of those films that many riders blame for their pursuit of motorcycling.

Shot by Bruce Brown in 1971, it followed different bike racing pursuits, including the Baja 1000, with the characters of the different disciplines coming out in a very Seventies, surfing-style way.

It also used unorthodox filming techniques for the time – including the use of 24-volt batteries on 12-volt cameras for high-speed footage and helmet-mounted cameras.

On Any Sunday is beiing released agaiin on August 21, costs £15.99, with extra features included. See www.amazon.co.uk And we have a copy in the office! To be in with a chance of winning it, get over to www.classicbikeguide.com/win (closing date 27/09/2017 – UK entries only).

Motorcycles and art at the seaside IF CUSTOMS AND art inspired by biking sounds up your street, then get down to the Baker Mamonova Gallery, Norman Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, on September 2/3.

More than 25 custom bikes will be on show, together with some interesting art and photography. There will also be a small cinema screening short bike-inspired films, as well as rideouts around that beautiful part of the country. Tickets are £10, with the film screening £9. www.revoltmotorcycles.com

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8 SEPTEMBER 2017 || CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE

DIRTQUAKE 6 July 6-8, King’s Lynn WHAT SORT OF weird world are you in when you see Guy Martin racing a chopper, Carl Fogarty battling a Triumph, Steve Plater wrestling a Harley-Davidson and Neil Hodgson piloting a Royal Enfield? Sounds like the Wacky Races... which is probably the best way to describe Dirtquake, the unique dirt track racing meeting.

Dirt track racing has taken off in the UK in recent years. Raced on speedway tracks, it differs from speedway by using motocross-derived bikes with a rear brake, suspension and different tyres. They also race over more laps and have more bikes per race.

But Dirtquake takes this formula and adds a fun element to the equation. Run at King’s Lynn speedway stadium and now in its sixth year, the less appropriate your bike, the more you’ll fit in. This includes races for choppers, scooters and ladies, with all makes and types of bikes being used to get around the shale oval as fast as possible.

The atmosphere this year was very relaxed, the

racing exciting (with many riders in fancy dress) and there were some great bikes to be seen, including several BSA Thunderbolts, old Harleys and Seventies Honda twins mixing it with more modern machines.

Unfortunately, as they say ‘motorsport is dangerous’, and so it was ‘Foggy’ found his competitive nature getting on the throttle a little too early, shooting over the top of his Hinckley Triumph, breaking ribs, a shoulder and puncturing a lung. Until then, the multiple world Superbike champion and TV celebrity had been really competitive. Hopefully he will make a full recovery quickly – get well soon, Carl.

Dirtquake 7 will be here in 2018. For more information, see www.dirtquake.com

Cheltenham Festival of Bikes September 24, 2017 If you enjoy the Revolt show at the beginning of the month, try or like anything a little different, get yourself to the Centaur main hall at Cheltenham Racecourse, GL50 4SH. For one day only

there promises to be over 100 unique bikes on show, with bikes from both professional and home builders.

The obligatory coffee and grub stalls will be there, as well as a bar and a diner. And if you're going by bike, the roads around Cheltenham and Gloucester make for some incredible riding.

Tickets are £8.50 in advance from www.thecustomshow.com or £10 on the day.

CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE || SEPTEMBER 2017 9

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RIDINGLIFE || EVENT REVIEW

GOODW WOOD

Festival of Speed

Chichester, July 1-2 THE ANNUAL GOODWOOD Festival of Speed is simply motorsport nirvana. Now in its 24th year, it just gets bigger and better.

It’s so big that the car industry now has the festival instead of a national motor show as it’s annual show-off.

Predominantly a car event based loosely around a hillclimb – itself the main drive to Goodwood house for the majority of the year – it may not be ultra-competitive competition, but being able to see cars and bikes in action heading to the top of the 1.06-mile-long course brings so much more spectacle to the many exotic machines that are normally buried in static collections.

The festival celebrates all things motorsport, with four, three and two wheels participating. The weight of an invite from Goodwood owner, petrolhead Lord March, has the largest names from racing asking

to take part at his automotive garden party. Owners, collectors and even manufacturers dust-off some amazing bikes from around the world.

Goodwood is refreshing in its ability to allow access to the owners, riders and celebrities. Looking relaxed, TT racers Bruce Anstey, Gary Johnson, Dan Kneen and Jim Moody chatted with Freddie Spencer, multiple 500cc and 250cc World Champion (he raced and won both classes in the same year in 1985!), double World Superbike champion Troy Corser, Trevor Nation, Paul Smart and Honda stalwarts, Neil Tuxworth and Dave Hancock could all be found for autographs and chats.

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