Jewel of a motorcycle
The Royal Ruby 976cc V-twin stands majestic in Hall One of the National Motorcycle Museum.
Its tank – as rouge as its moniker – bears the Royal Ruby name, one which proved to be among the most elusive in British motorcycle history. Little has been published on the marque and the number of specialists can be counted on one hand – if that.
Yet, in spite of Royal Ruby’s relative obscurity, its 976cc JAP V-twin machine became embroiled in one of the biggest political events of 20th-century history.
Indeed, it is with good reason that this machine became known as the Royal Ruby Russian.
Ancoats, Manchester, has had many facelifts throughout the last
