Motorcycle Classics

lthough cold winter temps are A here for most of the U.S. by now, that doesn’t mean all your moto-related fun has to come to a screeching halt. If you have the time and the means, two upcoming weekends in January are sure to be full of great gearhead

Editor’s note: Reader Steve Breese has recently purchased a Harley-Davidson XLCR that was raced in the late 1970s through the early 1980s. See his note and send him an email if you have any information on the bike you can share. Do any readers of Mot

Most of today’s motorcycles insulate us from the sound of the 4-stroke cycle. A multitude of cylinders, liquid cooling and efficient muffling mean the characteristic tenor of Nicolaus Otto’s invention is often lost in the engine’s general thrum. But

Pick up a September 1963 issue of Cycle World magazine, flip to Page 18 and you’ll read these words by contributor Boyd Reynolds: “The 1963 Laconia Silver Anniversary Road Race will be recorded in history as one for the high-tension events of the cal

Though not a contemporary of the SR and FT, the Bullet connects them to the big singles of the past — yet outlived both of them. The Bullet was groundbreaking in its day, pioneering swingarm frames and telescopic forks. Numerous successes at the Inte

I“It’s astounding how well it works,” says Dan Thorsen, who was the owner of this Italian single until his recent sale of the bike to a friend, Danny Aarons. Thorsen was a well known local racer in the Eighties and Nineties and understands good handl

The Moto Talbott came from a junction of two passions of its owner, Robb Talbott — wine and motorcycles. Robb grew up not too far from the Laguna Seca racetrack, near Monterey in central California, and developed a love for speed and noise early. He

The 1970s bred a worldwide generation of “shadetree mechanics.” These were people with the self-taught skills of certified mechanics and engineers who undertook hobby projects in their basic backyard workshops. Some of their often crazy ideas worked:

It’s hugely ironic that Kawasaki, which ever since the 1969 creation of its H1 Mach III 2-stroke triple has almost permanently led all other Japanese manufacturers in the pursuit of performance for its street bike range, should have started out its l

In 1960’s Britain, riders of lesser machines regarded Velocette’s big singles with awe and their owners with envy. Though not quite in Vincent territory, they exuded tradition, build quality and longevity — and commanded a premium price to match. Esc

It was touch-and-go in the days leading up to the 2021 edition of Barber Vintage Festival. On the Wednesday before the event, thirteen inches of rain drenched Birmingham, Alabama. But by Friday, Mother Nature had relented, fans began swarming in and

Hey, somebody thought you might have a Whizzer project for sale.” My friend Ron Nichols mentioned that in 2019 at the Millarville Vintage Motorcycle Swap Meet, and he wasn’t far wrong. I had, over the years, accumulated parts and pieces to put togeth

BMW motorcycle nomenclature has always been about “numbers.” Since 1923, all models have been referred to numerically, such as R32, R69S, R90S, and R1200GS, with the “R” standing for rad or cycle in German. However, there is one moniker you won’t fin

Competitors in the challenging International Six Days Trial events during the 1960s had some worthy motorcycle brands to choose from. But if they wanted a guaranteed shot at earning an ISDT Gold Medal, smart money was on riding a Bultaco Matador 250.

When I bought my 1988 Ducati Paso 15 months ago, I acquired a low-mileage, cosmetically cohesive but mechanically uncertain survivor that hadn’t turned a wheel since 2003. Fifteen months later, it’s now a fine running machine, and getting it there ha

Q: Hi Keith, my pre-unit Triumph restoration is nearing completion, including a complete engine overhaul. Should I use a certain type of engine oil for the break in, and what weight and type after that? Thanks. Smitty in Ohio A: My personal opinion i

This Motorcycle Classics T-shirt will quickly become an old favorite! Made of super-soft material, this shirt is perfect for wearing on your rides or when you’re working on your bike. Emblazoned with an outline of a Norton Commando and our slogan, “R

Ricky Bobby, the hapless yet charismatic character of the stock car racing movie Talladega Nights is probably best known for his line, “If you’re not first, you’re last!” But back in 1963, motorcycle racer Jody Nicholas could have twisted Rickie Bobb