January 2023

RealClassic

Frequently fabulous; occasionally awful, but always interesting

RealClassic5 min read
‘We’re Making Joy Machines’
In June 2022 Christian Gladwell, 48, was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of Norton Motorcycles, charged with 'building upon the brand's heritage, delivering unique and inspiring customer experiences, and leading the Norton brand into the future'.
RealClassic1 min read
Real Classic
HAPPY NOODLES! This fabulous first issue of RealClassic magazine in 2023 was assembled by Frank Westworth and Rowena Hoseason of the Cosmic Bike Co Ltd. Chris Abrams of AT Graphics hit a nigh-on impossible set of pre-festive deadlines, while Mortons
RealClassic3 min read
From The Front
Time was, Gentle Reader, that I would pride myself and bore my friends with my noted status as a year-round rider. Heroic, me, as I'm (almost) certain you'll agree. You might also prefer the adjective ‘foolish’, but that's less flattering. In any cas
RealClassic18 min read
Incoming!
We're very sad to inform you that Dave Minton, writer and rider extraordinaire and good friend to many of us, passed away in November 2022. We'll miss him. Rowena and Frank Just returned from a three-hour ride on my BSA A10, wearing my newly acquired
RealClassic6 min read
Hack It!
Is a 1987 Transalp 600 a RealClassic? It's certainly RealClassy! This old Honda has become one of my favourite bikes out of the 45 I've owned so far, and it's not hard to understand why. Ten years ago I retired early and moved to France, which meant
RealClassic9 min read
Asbo bsa
Generally speaking, I am a fan of unrestored bikes. Just thought I’d get that out of the way first. My absolute favourite machines are those which have somehow survived since they were manufactured almost untouched by anyone – apart from being ridden
RealClassic8 min read
Practical CLASSICS
‘Big Jim’ is a 1951 James Captain de Luxe. It is powered by the top Villiers engine of the day, the 197cc Model 6E driving a 3-speed gearbox. It was James’ top of the range bike that year and was the first James to sport rear suspension. It has an od
RealClassic1 min read
Rear End Rebuild
Some fun was had with the plunger rear suspension. It was a horror of internal corrosion when stripped. That was sorted with two bronze bushes and a new steel centre rod per side. Look carefully and you will see an added grease nipple atop the centre
RealClassic1 min read
Front End Fun
The tele forks were James’ first attempt at making their own. They didn’t quite get it right. They were rather too soft, leaving little more than an inch of movement when riding. I thought the springs had collapsed but had accumulated several other s
RealClassic10 min read
New-Born Twins
Britain's most historic sporting brand, Norton Motorcycles, is in the process of being reinvented by the management team recruited by its owners TVS, the Indian manufacturer which acquired the bankrupt company in April 2020 from the ashes of former C
RealClassic1 min read
Back Issues
ORDER AT 01507 529529 / CLASSICMAGAZINES.CO.UK
RealClassic1 min read
Out Of The Archieve
Many thanks to RC regular Robert Murdoch for scouring the club's archive to uncover these images from the Model K's ancient history. The first images show the actual prototype of the 1930 KL, L being the designation for the optional Lucas electric li
RealClassic9 min read
A Ride to REMEMBER
Royal Enfield built a few V-twin machines before and between the two world wars, the last of them being the mighty KX of 1140cc. Last year I found myself undertaking a full engine rebuild among other work on a 1930 Model K 1000. This seemed a little
RealClassic1 min read
Join The Owners Club
Members of the Royal Enfield Owners' Club celebrate some of the marque's heritage at Forge Mill Museum in Redditch. Forge Mill is the only surviving complete needle factory and is very significant for Royal Enfield, which evolved from one such factor
RealClassic2 min read
Write4real
➤ WE WANT MORE STORIES about real life classic bikes. We like profiles of a single model or a comparison of two machines. Most magazine features are between 1000 and 2500 words. If your story is much longer then it's probably not for us. Shorter stor
RealClassic5 min read
Outwardbound
➤ The CBG WINTER CLASSIC is at Newark Showground, NG24 2NY. Advance tickets £12. 01507 529529 / newarkclassicbikeshow.com ➤ Join author and adventurer Steph Jeavons as GUEST SPEAKER at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu. 7.30pm to 10pm, tickets £1
RealClassic4 min read
Flat Out!
PART TWO Last month we made a bit of a start on the frame, but it ain't no good without summat to make it go, and I chose BSA's mighty B50 motor. I'll expand a little on why.The A65 is great, and at 270lb it's as light as an A65 can be. But not as li
RealClassic8 min read
Kraft Werk
PART THREE Exactly two months to the day after I’d bought the bike, the brand new V5C landed on my doormat. I informed my insurance company and ordered a numberplate from Chestnut Registrations. One week later the new numberplate arrived and was duly
RealClassic8 min read
If It Ain't Broke…
PART THE LAST A problem with the clutch adjustment surfaced after reassembling the clutch. Fitting a new cable failed to produce a well-adjusted clutch. Closer inspection showed the threaded boss in the new pressure plate I had fitted previously was
RealClassic5 min read
Pub Talk
At the time of writing the weather is rapidly getting back to normal wintry conditions for the time of year, and today’s ride was decidedly cold! However the relatively mild weather had continued a little later than usual, which was good for riding,
RealClassic10 min read
Tales From The Shed
Somewhere in every gothic graveyard there should be a tomb labelled: ‘Best Laid Plans’. Probably next to another with a neat stone sign saying ‘Good Intentions’. We all know about that road to hell, and what it’s paved with, but I suspect that those

RealClassic

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