Testing values
Within moments of stepping into any modern motorcycle show or dealership, you’ll often hear the question ‘How fast will it go, mate?’ or words to that effect and the sales team will display these vital statistics on every new machine.
Often if buying a new motorcycle, we may be more interested in touring capabilities, comfort, handling, braking, steering, reliability, spares back-up and maintenance schedules. While we won’t be interested in its ability to pull wheelies or scribe doughnuts, sooner or later we’ll ask its speed potential. Recently, two older enthusiasts viewing my son’s 1960 BSA A10 Golden Flash were overheard discussing speeds with one stating: “She’ll be good for the ton.” Speed was clearly a consideration to them and a glance at the 1950s road tests of their youth confirm speed figures – including outright and through the gears –were regularly quoted. But was this always the case?
The slant of five weekly magazine road tests from the Blue Un and Green Un were chosen at random – well, sort of – covering the period 1912-1938. To add extra interest, rather than pick tests of better known models, the products of four smaller makers – Calcott, Martinsyde, AJW and Zenith – were chosen, along with a late example New Imperial, because your scribe is biased.
Lightweight Calcott, The Motor Cycle – April 11, 1912
There was a gentlemanly introduction to this road test: “A few days ago we received an tester with a 2¾HP version, with an enlarged 292cc engine.
