July/August 2023

Motorcycle Classics

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Motorcycle Classics2 min read
Harley-Davidson turns 120
The fine folks at Harley-Davidson are big on birthdays. Every five years it seems there’s something to celebrate, and why not? It’s a great excuse to throw a big ol' motorcycle party. This summer H-D turns 120, and by the looks of it, Milwaukee, Wisc
Motorcycle Classics1 min read
Motorcycle Classics
LANDON HALL, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF lhall@motorcycleclassics.com CHRISTINE STONER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR RICHARD BACKUS, FOUNDING EDITOR JEFF BARGER • JOE BERK • ALAN CATHCART NICK CEDAR • DAIN GINGERELLI • ANDREW MARVAN CLEMENT SALVADORI • MARGIE SIEGAL ROBER
Motorcycle Classics7 min read
“I Took It To Barber Last Fall And Rode It Around For Two Days — What A Hoot!”
I read the excellent story in my March/April 2023 issue of Motorcycle Classics about Jen Tacy and her 1963 CB77 Super Hawk. I always found that bike to be a real winner and hers is perfect! The reason I’m writing is to tell you that during my combat
Motorcycle Classics3 min read
Mix and Match: 1971 Harley-Davidson FX Super Glide
The meaning of the word “custom” in automotive design has shifted significantly over the years. Originally describing a car or motorcycle that was modified by its owner, now it may simply describe a street standard with a stepped seat and pull-back b
Motorcycle Classics2 min read
Contenders
If the FX was a happy merger of two distinct motorcycle styles, what inspired the Hi-Rider’s aesthetic? A bicycle? Four years before the Hi-Rider appeared in 1971, Britain’s Raleigh bicycle company launched the Chopper, a clear adaptation of custom m
Motorcycle Classics8 min read
Young At heart
“I was pretty young when I first saw a CBX,” says Scott Steele. “It was around 1979 when they first came out. I saw one coming down the street, and thought, “Holy cow, look at that engine.” I have a vivid memory of that bike — it was red. What I reme
Motorcycle Classics9 min read
Pride And Joy
In 1950, decorated World War II veteran Carl Frank Schmidt was playing cards. Instead of cash, one of his poker buddies wagered a 1941 Harley-Davidson EL “Knucklehead.” We don’t know the hand Carl held — it could have been four aces — but whatever he
Motorcycle Classics1 min read
Mystery Ship No. 5
As mentioned in the main story, Jim Balestrieri of the Throttlestop Museum bought Mystery Ship No. 5 first and calls it the “promo bike” as it’s seen in several images of Vetter’s glossy marketing brochure. According to the printed “Mystery Ship In-H
Motorcycle Classics7 min read
Craig Vetter And The Mystery Ships
Wind-cheating guru Craig Vetter has long lived by the maxim, ‘Do more with less.’ It’s a philosophy that inspired the legendary designer from an early age, and it’s what initially drew him to motorcycles. Craig was a teenager when he acquired a Cushm
Motorcycle Classics7 min read
Something On The Side
Motorcycles have been designed for and adapted to many and varied purposes. They can offer transportation; provide fun, sport and adventure; go racing; perform haulage and delivery tasks; and keep armies moving. They have even been used as pace vehic
Motorcycle Classics1 min read
Ariel Model Lettering System
What’s the meaning of the letters VG on the timing case? Ariel’s model letter coding is not the easiest to unravel, especially as its interpretation changed over the years: but in the late Thirties, the company made 250, 350, 500, and 600cc singles.
Motorcycle Classics7 min read
Rickman xt500 Metisse
What do you get when you take a classic motocross frame, bolt in a Yamaha engine and bring it bang up to date with an electric boot? A bike that gets Derek Rickman’s approval, that’s what. Throw a leg over the Rickman Metisse, squeeze the valve lifte
Motorcycle Classics1 min read
The Nuts And Bolts
Hervé Hamon and Philippe Hurtel designed starters for Vincent twins and Norton Commandos before turning their attention to the XT500. “It took only a few minutes to imagine the solution for making a starter that would work,” says Hervé. “The geared p
Motorcycle Classics11 min read
Matt Capri And His Triumph Street Dragster
American Triumph tuner Matt Capri, now 82 years young and finally retired from the drag strip and Salt Flats, has been a serious speed-hound all his life. For two decades from 1995 to 2015 his South Bay Triumph dealership on the Pacific Coast Highway
Motorcycle Classics5 min read
Brief But Successful
It is one thing to build a successful motorcycle, another to market it. When Honda presented their low-piped road-oriented CB160 back in 1965, it met with reasonable acclaim as a sporty small bike at a small price of $550. In 1966 the high-piped stre
Motorcycle Classics2 min read
Matt Capri’s Triumph tags
When Matt Capri lived in Rye, New York, he raced each weekend at the Westhampton Drag Strip on Long Island. Races were held there from June through October every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a $10 per day entry fee for as many runs as you could
Motorcycle Classics1 min read
Nostalgia: The Owner’s Story, By Larry Coolidge
“This was my first bike — not this one, but one just like it. I got it when I was in high school. When I turned 16 my parents were hesitant to put me on their insurance since I hadn’t completed my driver’s education yet, which did provide a discount
Motorcycle Classics1 min read
Open Road Tour — Prelude to The Party
Harley-Davidson officially launched the 100th Anniversary Celebration with 10 preview events known as The Open Road Tour, held worldwide through late 2002. To help get the word out, members of the international motorcycle media were invited for a 3-d
Motorcycle Classics5 min read
Harley’s 100th Anniversary, 2003
Editor’s note: As Harley-Davidson owners and fans prepare for Harley’s 120th Anniversary gathering in Milwaukee July 13-16, 2023, we take a look back at the 100th anniversary celebration through the eyes and ears of motojournalist and MC contributor
Motorcycle Classics2 min read
Get Your Motor Running
With the grand finale concert scheduled for Sunday evening, the final day remained quiet. Few events were listed, so I decided to spend the day riding the 2003 Sportster Sport that Harley had issued me for the occasion. The first bike I ever road tes
Motorcycle Classics14 min read
Tale Of the Toad
Maserati’s place in Italy’s glorious motorized heritage uncannily parallels that of the equally historic Benelli brand on two wheels. Each was founded by a large band of brothers passionate in the pursuit of mechanical excellence, each won Grand Prix
Motorcycle Classics1 min read
The Skinny
What: The Flight 93 National Memorial, 6424 Lincoln Hwy, Stoystown, Pennsylvania, 15563, (814) 893-6322. Open every day from sunrise to sunset (the Memorial is closed on Christmas). Admission is free. How to Get There: Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Motorcycle Classics3 min read
Don’t Miss These Upcoming Events!
Motorcycle Classics wants to know about classic motorcycle shows, swap meets, road runs and more. Send details of upcoming events at least three months in advance to lhall@motorcycleclassics.com 7/7 Find your next bike, part or accessory at the 4th a
Motorcycle Classics2 min read
Rides And Destinations
September 11, 2001 was a dark day everyone remembers. The early morning news was riveting: A plane had hit the World Trade Center. Not knowing what happened and while glued to the television screen, we saw another plane hit the second World Trade Cen
Motorcycle Classics2 min read
Racers Never Quit — Or Do They?
Retirement is a nasty word among racers. Retirement means you’re quitting for good, giving up, and successful racers do neither of those. A racer might lose a race, but will never quit a race. As Harley-Davidson’s race director for many years, the la

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