VINTAGE

Motorcycling with Rod Hann

MARCH IS NOW with us and the worst of the winter is behind us once more. The promise of better weather means making more use of the bikes. I have kept riding throughout the winter but with less frequency, and as I get older I do seem to feel the cold more easily so the prospect of warmer temperatures fills me with joy and anticipation for the riding season ahead.

March does see a slight proliferation of events to enjoy. The Somerset Section start the month with their club night at Cossington on the 2nd. This will be a talk by Jacqi Furneaux on her travels with an outfit. She is always an entertaining and interesting speaker. On the 10th they have their Annual Dinner and Awards and this is followed on the 12th by the Spring Run from Nether Stowey Church Centre. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, will be the Spring Autojumble held at the Bath and West Showground on the 25th. The Wessex Veteran and Vintage Section have their monthly meeting at Silton on the 13th.

The Dorset Section commences activities on the 4th with the March Hare Run which starts at Blandford. Next will be the club night on the 8th at Pulham and this will be a guest speaker. On the 19th they hold the Spring Run which will start from the Warden Hill Trading Post. As always more details on any of the above events can be had by ringing 01935-872528.

You may well have seen in the local press that the Wells Classic Motorcycle Club are to be congratulated on a successful 2022 when they raised lots of money for local charities. Their main event for raising these funds is their annual Tortoise and Hare Run which this year will be held on the weekend of the 14th to 16th July. Always very enjoyable and very worthwhile in raising charitable funds. You might consider taking part and helping with their efforts as well as having a jolly good time. More details are available on the club's website.

I have always had a soft spot for Italian motorcycles. Indeed my first motorcycle was a 125cc Bianchi. The Italians always seem to design pretty bikes and the engineering side of things are well made. For example their engine cases and wheel hubs are beautifully cast in aluminium and highly polished. The Italians have always had a certain flair for style and design. A reputation for poor quality chrome work and electrical components is probably ill founded if looked after properly. My picture this month shows a typical Italian machine. It is a MV Agusta 350cc twin cylinder bike dating from 1970's. MV Agusta is a very interesting company.

Agusta were well established helicopter manufacturers and in 1946 they decided to branch out into motorcycle production. Owned by the Agusta family they first produced small capacity machines. They always made a high quality product but were always destined to be a small volume producer. They quickly gained some sporting successes and Count Agusta soon learnt that success on the track reflected in greater sales figures. Development continued and in later years this small company won many world championships in road racing. Amongst the big manufacturers the achievements of this small concern are truly remarkable. The motorcycle business has since been sold off but they continue to make machines to this day and still of great quality and exclusitivity. Agusta of course continue to make helicopters, as witnessed at their Yeovil factory.

With spring around the corner you may have thoughts about the purchase of a new motorcycle or car. Well I have a word of caution about some news I found rather concerning. A man treated himself to a new motorcycle and it was a top of the range machine with all the whistles and flutes obtainable. He was very pleased for six months but then found that the heated handlebar grips were not working nor was some of the electronic dash displays. Back to the dealers for some warrantee work.

At the dealers he was told that everything was in order but certain items had been switched off and could no longer be used. Unless of course he commenced to pay a monthly fee to keep them switched on. Astounded he could not believe that features he had paid good money for could be switched off by a third party. He paid the fees to keep all the features working as some, if not all, could all be implied to have safety consequences. Apparently this practice is becoming common to many motorcycle and car producers.

I could hardly believe this story so tried to contact some manufacturers for confirmation. No information has been forthcoming. So if you are in the market for a new vehicle you had better read all the small print first. If I were considering such a move then I would walk away from any deal with such conditions attached.