Yamaha YL1

THE BIKE TICKS OVER WITH BARELY CONCEALED enthusiasm, burbling away gently through a pair of seamed silencers. A whiff of throttle sends the revs rising and the little motor snarls its approval at another opportunity to get its skinny tyres turning once again. Clutch in, tap the gear pedal down, increase the revs and let the clutch out... we’re off and in some style.

Knocking the pedal down again into second has the simple iron barrelled motor picking up the pace and then comes third with an increase in revs as the bike comes on pipe. Where before there was some admittedly enthusiastic crackling, there’s now an almost high-pitched banshee scream as the tiny twin gets the bit between its teeth. As 40mph comes up on the oval gauge, a final downward tap has the bike in top (fourth gear) and from here on