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1947 Ariel Red Hunter
1947 Ariel Red Hunter 1947 ARIEL RED HUNTER BACKGROUND The 1930s were indeed the Golden Age for the British motorcycle industry. At the time, nearly all of them relied heavily on one basic engine architecture: the air-cooled, pushrod OHV single, and most marques had built their lineup of 350 and 500 singles. World War II …
1966 Matchless G12
1966 Matchless G12 1966 MATCHLESS G12 BACKGROND In the 1950s, Matchless and AJS were the diamonds in AMC’s (Associated Motor Cycles) crown, but by the 1960s, their fortunes had turned for the worst. Matchless had launched the G12 and AJS Model 31 650 twins in 1958, with high hopes for big sales in the US …
BSA A7
ABOVE: This 1952 BSA A7 featured plunger rear suspension, the transition between earlier rigid frames & the swing arm frames to arrive in 1954. BIRTH OF THE BSA A7 By the onset of World War II, BSA was one of, if not THE largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world. They were making great success of …
Triumph Tiger
1939 Triumph Tiger 100, first year for this hot new model. Note Rigid frame & girder front suspension. A TIGER IS BORN The Triumph Tiger was the natural evolution of the constant & relentless quest for more & more power. The <a href=”https://www.classic-british-motorcycles.com/triumph-speed-twin.html”>Triumph Speed Twin</a> had literally changed the motorcycle world in 1938, and was …
1939 BSA Silver Star
1939 BSA Silver Star 1939 BSA SILVER STAR BACKGROUND The brilliant engineer Val Page designed BSA’s new 500 single in 1937, while at the same time bringing some rationale to BSA’s complex product lineup. It was now made up of 250 and 350 singles in what was called the “B-class”, and the top-of-the-line 500 heavyweight …
1966 Triumph TR6
1966 Triumph TR6 1966 TRIUMPH TR6 BY THE NUMBERS For the 1966 model year, the model lineup were TR6, TR6R, TR6SR, TR6SS, TR6C & TR6SC, all called “Trophy”. Engine & Frame Numbers ran from DU24876 to DU43161, with build dates running from August 6, 1965 to July 8, 1966. The TR6C was essentially a standard …
1955 Ariel Red Hunter
1955 Ariel Red Hunter 1955 ARIEL RED HUNTER BACKGROUND The 1930s were indeed the Golden Age for the British motorcycle industry. At the time, nearly all of them relied heavily on one basic engine architecture: the air-cooled, pushrod OHV single, and most marques had built their lineup of 350 and 500 singles. World War II …
1970 Triumph TR6
1970 Triumph TR6 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 BY THE NUMBERS For 1970, the Triumph TR6 was again known as “Tiger”, as the single carb twin would continue to be known, even beyond the switch from 650 to 750. But for the 1970 model year, there were 4 models in the TR6 lineup: The standard TR6, Roadster …
1965 BSA A65
1965 BSA A65 1965 BSA A65 LIGHTNING The Lightning was the high-performance roadster in the 1965 BSA A65 lineup, with twin Amal Monobloc carburetors and downswept pipes. In 1965, it was still running 6 volt electrics, its last year before converting over to 12 volts in ’66. The new-for-1962 unit-construction engine had started out rocky, …
1973 Triumph TR7
1973 Triumph TR7 1973 TRIUMPH TR7 BY THE NUMBERS 1973 was the first year for the new 750 twins, in both the single-carb Triumph TR6 and Bonneville lines. When punched out to a 750 (724cc or 744cc), the 650 TR6 Tiger became the Triumph TR7; and the 650 (649cc) T120 Bonneville became the T140 Bonneville …
Harley Davidson: World, Meet The Sportster® S
Harley Davidson has given us a sportbike – and not just any sportbike. World, meet the Sportster® S – a trick in HD’s hat that’s been blessed with the Revolution Max powertrain and, like the Pan America, boasts enough torque in the lower powerband to feed a small family for a week. The reveal came at 10am …
[REVIEW] Gryphon Moto Indy Pants
Introduction I will start by saying I am all for All The Gear All The Time (ATGATT). However, I’ll be honest and say that I often wear most of the gear all the time, as I often switch out riding pants for jeans. I am hoping the Gryphon Moto Indy pants change that. The Indy …
Triumph Tiger
1939 Triumph Tiger 100, first year for this hot new model. Note Rigid frame & girder front suspension. A TIGER IS BORN The Triumph Tiger was the natural evolution of the constant & relentless quest for more & more power. The <a href=”https://www.classic-british-motorcycles.com/triumph-speed-twin.html”>Triumph Speed Twin</a> had literally changed the motorcycle world in 1938, and was …
KOTB: Kyle Wyman Crowned King Of The Baggers at Laguna Seca
Kyle Wyman has had his hand full (pun intended) since he crashed at Road America, sustaining multiple fractures to his left elbow. Given his new title of King Of The Baggers a scant four weeks after seven shiny titanium screws were introduced to his Olecranon bone (elbow), we’re pretty sure he’s not keen on sitting around. The …
Triumph Trident
TRIUMPH TRIDENT: AHEAD OF THE CURVE? The story of the Triumph Trident and her sister-bike, the BSA Rocket 3, is one of the most interesting, and at the same time most exasperating, tales in all the annals of Classic British Motorcycles. Interesting because the Triumph Trident might actually have been one of the few instances …
Velocette Motorcycles
WHAT’S IN A NAME? Velocette Motorcycles, the company, was originally called Veloce Ltd. Founded by John Goodman (born Johannes Gutgemann, then changed to John Taylor, and then finally to John Goodman) and William Gue in 1905 as “Taylor, Gue Ltd.”, it’s first motorcycle was called the “Veloce”. Within a year, they had renamed the company …
BMW Performance Center Has Riding Courses For Every Motorcyclist
Way down, south of dear Carolina, comes a motorcycle course to Greer, SC. It’s a bird, it’s a plane – it’s BMW, and they slapped the state with a fully stacked motorcycle course stuffed with the world’s best of the best. This past Sunday, the BMW Performance Center housed the BMW U.S. Rider Academy – …
Shiny Side Up by Ron Davis: A Review
If you’re a motorcyclist and you enjoy reading about motorcycles, then there’s a good chance that you’ve already worked your way through the classics. You can’t go wrong with Jupiter’s Travels, Che Guevara’s Motorcycle Diaries should be on every rider’s bookshelf, Long Way Round is always an inspiring read, and I think pretty much everyone …
Indian Creates Patent For Vehicle-Sensitive Radar System
When it comes to safety on the road, WebBikeWorld promotes all things ATTGAT – and a rider’s safety is made that much easier when companies like Indian Motorcycles decide to add safety to the list of gears and gadgets that go in a bike. Take the most recent news from CycleWorld, for example. According to …
The Best Motorcycles of the 1980s
As we continue our journey through the decades, it’s time to take a look at the best motorcycles of the 1980s. While every decade in the industry’s history has been a transformative one, the 80s was on another level. It was a decade of immense vision, with motorcycle manufacturers pushing the boundaries of design and …
Volcon Powersports: The USA-Based Company With Dreams As Fat As Their Tires
With energy efficiency on the rise, it was only a matter of time before an American somebody decided to marry off-roading elements with clean energy in pursuit of the ultimate motorcycle mountain goat – and Volcon Powersports has done just that with the release of their electric motorcycle lineup. Purported on their website as …
Riders Share Motorcycle Rental Program Now Offers Off-Road Bikes
Riders Share is a motorcycle rental company that offers rentals to riders from all walks of life – and now their diverse showroom has expanded to include off-road motorcycles. According to Guillermo Cornejo, owner of Riders Share, the rental program not only offers the newest models (for all terrains) from giants such as BMW, Ducati, …
Rent a Chief With Expansion of Indian Motorcycle’s Rental Program
America’s first motorcycle company has just expanded their Rental Program – and they’re putting their best foot forward with this one. Indian Motorcycles will be offering this rental program to 14 new affiliates, available in Canada and the United States – providing a total of 25 locations, including San Diego, Sturgis, Austin, Nashville, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Panama …
[REVIEW] Bell Moto-3 Full-Face Helmet
Retro MX Design for the Street Following the nostalgia craze and riding the waves of the retro and cafe racer surge all across the motorcycling industry, Bell Helmets crafted the Moto-3 to have simple, clean, retro lines. It’s actually a rebirth of a helmet of the same name and style from the 1970s, but now …
Wolfman Luggage B-Base WP, Mount and Packing System [REVIEW]
Wolfman’s Versatile Luggage Range Ah, another review of motorcycle luggage and one of many that I hope wBW will ask me to do for 2021, even though many of us are not (yet) getting to implement either the near or long term or distance-based travel we have and are planning for; patience and understanding are, …
New Comfort Seat Now Conditions Cabooses For Indian Challengers
If I had been told as a kid that motorcycles would eventually receive the luxury of air-conditioned seats, I would have tried to call someone’s bluff. After all, the concept of a cool set of cheeks on a sweltering day is the stuff that every motorcyclist covets, at one point or another. And Indian Motorcycles …
The Best Kawasaki Ninjas Ever Made
As one of the Big Four Japanese manufacturers, Kawasaki has had a storied history in the world of motorcycling. From their classic UJM W1 to their nearly indestructible KL series of dirt and off-road bikes, they have always been there to ruffle the feathers of the other three of the Big Four and always in …
A Cup of Tea with Rich Ellis: Motorcycle Enthusiast, Racer, & Shop Owner
Among the millions of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world, there are always a few die-hards that help the growth of the moto community. These individuals do so by hosting track days, opening up motorcycle shops, teaching new riders, and hosting events for anybody interested in becoming a better rider – or racer, as is …
Zero Motorcycles ‘Cash For Carbon’ Program Incentive
Zero Motorcycles has just reported that their highly successful ‘Cash For Carbon’ incentive program is back at participating dealerships – and the timing is impeccable. The clever trade-in incentive began as a method for gas-powered motorcyclists to upgrade their rides for a more energy-efficient and low-carbon experience. Today, unprecedented times have created a wealth of …
The Best Motorcycles of the 1970s
While every decade has its icons, the 1970s have so many good models to choose from. It was a time when the Japanese were really stamping their authority over the scene, flexing muscles and cylinders with each other, and driving once-mighty international brands into obscurity. Despite the changing landscape, the 70s created some of the …
Torrot Invests in Powersports Families with Electric Dirt Bikes for Kids
A French manufacturer has just launched the new lineup of off-road electric bikes for kids, and they’re the smartest gadgets I’ve seen today. Founded in Vitoria by Don Luis Iriondo in 1948, Torrot started as a company by manufacturing sturdy touring and road bicycles. This lineup eventually expanded to more cc-hefty staples (such as the …
Honda Signs On With Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki to Secure Battery-Swapping System For EV
Hot on the heels of the news of battery-swapping networks built through Gogoro’s partnership with DCJ and Yadea comes a cry from Honda on the usefulness and efficiency of swappable batteries – and with their goal to have four electric bikes on the market by 2024, plans are shaping up to provide power to those …
Ducati Plays “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” With New Augmented Reality Program
Ducati is taking advertising to the next level by creating a mobile-friendly augmented reality simulator that runs tech used in popular games like Pokemon-Go and Jurassic Park. This simulator – similar to the schematics required in their recent Monster Contest – will give clients the ability to place a digital Ducati Monster anywhere in their living …
BMW Strikes Gold with Bolt-On Carbon Fiber Frame Brace System
Until now, most of the moto-industry has stayed away from using too much carbon fiber in motorcycle frames. Carbon fiber is a solid material, but the g-forces needed for sound structural chassis components in motorcycles make the creation of a reliable, durable light frame extremely expensive – and not a few chassis have been tossed …
Yamaha Releases the All-New 2022 YZF-R7
This morning featured one of the most anticipated unveilings from Yamaha Motor Company – the silk sheet has officially been pulled off of the 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7. The new supersport comes packing Yamaha’s 689cc, inline twin, CP2 engine. This is the same engine featured in the Yamaha MT-07. The engine has been tried and tested …
Simpson Speed Bandit: Hands-On Review
*Photos in this review are courtesy of Brian Buchsdruecker. See more of his work here: Instagram / Bookstrucker Photography Unboxing the Simpson Speed Bandit had me feeling like a kid on Christmas morning, giddy with excitement. Simpson Performance Products dates back to the late 1950s as a safety products company for the racing world. Legends …
Forma Trace Touring Waterproof Boots: Hands On Review
Anyone that’s been around to do with motorcycles has heard the name Forma. Purveyors of fine touring and ADV boots, the sole focus of the company lies below the knee. As such, when I was looking for a suitable boot for this season of riding, the name Forma was on the tip of my tongue …
[REVIEW] 2017 Zero DSR – 600 Miles of Electric Fun
Introduction I’m the guy who can often be found eating dessert before the meal or breakfast at dinner time. So I’m going to start off by saying the Zero DSR is an incredible experience. There, saved everyone loads of time. Haters can start bitching right away and fanboys can say I told you so. Simple …
In the Name of Safety: BMW is Now Working on Adaptive Traction Control
There has been lots of coverage lately on manufacturers filing patents, committing research and development on lots of interesting safety tech lately. BMW has been added to the list of brands focused on safety advancements. According to VisorDown, BMW is working on an Adaptive Traction Control feature for future models. BMW’s Adaptive Traction Control system …
Huge Success for KTM’s #UltimateRider Contest
KTM’s cry for contestants to “put up their dukes” in the Ultimate Duke Rider Contest has been wildly successful, with over 1500 entries logged – and every entry is stoked to show the world why they deserve the crown. The contest came as a welcome reprieve from the monotony of social and economic limitations. There …
