BRITISH BEER

Would you wear plus fours? No, because your friends would laugh at you. Similarly, you wouldn’t wear a top hat (unless you were a throw-back MP) as you would look foolish. However, you would probably wear a pair of old jeans, simply because they are cool. And 1960s Triumph Bonnevilles have this cool factor.

To this I could attest when a couple of young hipsters both rolled up on such machines at a Haynes ride-in. One had a 1967 and the other a 68 Triumph Bonneville, and they were rightly proud of their steeds. But why would they choose a 60s Triumph over a modern machine? Style, of course. However, not everyone wants the unreliability of a classic bike, especially if you have one or two already. Factor in the high price of old machines, sometimes well into five figures, and a modern machine starts to look attractive.

Can you have all the style of yesteryear and the reliability of a modern bike? If so, which modern bike would you buy? I’ve a few classic bikes in the stable but wanted something with the style of yore and modern mechanics; a retro. Back in the day, forward-thinking manufacturers would think of going futuristic. And, of course, the result would be anything but. Such designs were never very popular – Ariel Leader or Triumph bathtub, anyone? Nowadays manufacturers think retro, and retro works because the lines and styling cues are well tried and tested. Moreover it gives the buyer that warm and fuzzy feeling only nostalgia can bring. So a retro it is. Which to choose?

The Royal Enfield Interceptor looked interesting, but fell at the first hurdle. Sure, you get the wonderful British styling from the era of cheesecloth shirts and loon pants, together with a modern