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1971 BSA A70 Lightning
1971 BSA A70 Lightning 1971 BSA A70 LIGHTNING IS BORN BSA wanted to enlarge their 650 twin to a 750 to compete in the open class in AMA Class C racing. But the rules required that the races bikes be based on an actual production bike that the public could buy. The magic number was …
1966 Norton Atlas
1966 Norton Atlas 1966 NORTON ATLAS HISTORY The story starts not with a Norton at all, but with the 1938 Triumph 500 Speed Twin, the world’s first “modern” vertical twin. The rest of the British motorcycle industry went nuts and rushed to field their own 500 twins. But WWII got in the way, putting things …
1969 Triumph Daytona
1969 Triumph Daytona 500 1969 TRIUMPH DAYTONA – WHAT’S IN A NAME? Triumph derived the name of this bike from Buddy Elmore’s win at the 1966 Daytona 200 at Daytona Beach FL riding a Triumph T100T Tiger 500 twin. It was Triumph’s first-ever Daytona victory, with an average speed of 96.6 mph. By 1967, it …
1963 Triumph TR6
1963 Triumph TR6 1963 TRIUMPH TR6 BY THE NUMBERS The only model for 1963 was the Triumph TR6 S/S (Street Scrambler). Engine numbers ran from DU102 to DU5790 with build dates running from Sept. 29, 1962 to August 14, 1963. UNIT CONSTRUCTION FINALLY HITS THE 650s Unit Construction, all the rage in the late 1950s …
Egli-Vincent
FRITZ EGLI & THE EGLI-VINCENT Fritz Egli was born in Switzerland in 1937, spent his early years motorcycle racing and building motorcycles, including frames of his own design. He opened his own shop in 1965 and began building modern cafe racers with 998cc Vincent Black Shadow V-twin engines and Egli-designed-and-built frames, dubbed the Egli-Vincent. Three …
Matchless G9
MATCHLESS G9 BACKGROUND Like everyone else in the British motorcycle industry at the time, when Triumph rocked the world with their 1938 Speed Twin, the world’s first modern 500cc vertical twin, AMC (Associated Motor Cycles), parent company of Matchless, and AJS, developed a new 500 vertical twin for both brands. As always, there would be …
Norton Manx
NORTON MANX BACKGROUND The Manx was developed in 1937, in both SOHC and DOHC form, to compete in and win the Isle of Man TT. Before fully developed, World War II intervened, and production of the Manx was delayed until 1946. The Manx quickly gained a reputation for its speed and reliability, allowing it to …
Velocette Thruxton
VELOCETTE THRUXTON BACKGROUND By the 1960s, the motorcycle market had clearly shifted away from practical, economical commuters, and toward high-performance bikes with sporting aspirations. Triumph and Norton were killing in this market, and by the mid-60s, the Japanese were taking a major bite out if it for themselves. Velocette, never having developed a vertical twin, …
Matchless G12
MATCHLESS G12 BACKGROUND Just prior to World War II, Triumph rocked the world with their seminal 500 Speed Twin, but the world had to wait for the war to end before the rest of the industry would have a chance to catch up. At war’s end, BSA was first to respond with their own 500cc …
Norton Model 7
NORTON MODEL 7 BACKGROUND Following Triumph’s lead, Norton, along with nearly every other British motorcycle manufacturer, entered the parallel twin race with its own new 500 twin in 1949. Known as the Model 7 and also the Model 7 Dominator, it was Norton’s first twin, and the first in the storied Dominator line. It was …
Norton Commando
ABOVE: 1974 Norton Commando 850 Roadster. BIRTH OF THE COMMANDO While the Commando was a direct descendant of the the Norton Atlas & the Dominator line before that, the Commando was definitely not evolutionary. It was revolutionary, a true game-changer. Not because of some amazing new engine, not because it was all that faster than …
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 KTT
VELOCETTE KTT BACKGROUND Velocette built the KTT expressly for racing, hence the “KTT” designation. “K” for Kammer, which is German for ‘cam’, which indicated an Overhead Cam (OHC) in Velocette’s parlance. The “TT” differentiated it from the other Velos in the K-series, TT denoting its purely racing intent. They were essentially factor racers which were …
Triumph 350 Twins
BACKGROUND OF TRIUMPH 350 TWINS Triumph rocked the world with the introduction of their seminal 1938 5T Speed Twin. Designed by the legendary Edward Turner, the first ‘modern’ parallel twin was copied by nearly every other British motorcycle manufacturer, but World War II intervened before any reached production. But when civilian production resumed in 1946, …
Shooting For The World’s Fastest Tilting Trike
Arcimoto Inc. and Lightning Motorcycles have just made a pact to create the world’s fastest tilting trike – and both companies are stacked to succeed. The collaborative effort is live as of today, with both companies hoping to blast through a few records in the process. I know what you’re thinking. “Why on earth would I want …
[REVIEW] Sena 10C EVO-01: “Integration at its Best”
Getting to Grips with the Sena 10C Evo As so many of us gear up for a new riding season, with related planning that goes with it, there is obviously a new or renewed appreciation for the ability to just get out and ride, whether alone or together, locally, or farther afield. We all have …
Eye Candy: A Bike Company Plays Pea-Shooter with the ABC 500
I’m not typically one to yoink two thumbs up for minimalist motorcycles – but even I have to admit that the ABC 500 is a pretty machine. The bike’s stark design, ‘everything is carbon fiber vibe and homage to the rich heritage of American racing history, has created a heady cocktail keeping viewers coming back …
Engineered For Riding: The SHAD TERRA Full Product Line Review
Introduction First introduced in the fall of 2019, at EICMA to be exact, we got first-hand news regarding the new SHAD TERRA product line via email from the Director of SHAD USA who was at the show and participated in the unveiling. The official press kit and a link to an initial promo video also …
Keith Hale: 40 Years With a 1974 Ducati 750 Super Sport
At the root of every good marriage is a strong partnership – and the bond between Keith Hale and his 1974 Ducati 750 Super Sport is nothing short of heart-warming. According to a report from MotorcyclistOnline, San Francisco-based artist Keith Hale purchased the Ducati from Jack’s Motorcycles in Fresno, California, at the green age of …
1952 Ariel Square Four
1952 Ariel Square Four 1952 ARIEL SQUARE FOUR BACKGROUND The original Ariel Square Four was created by legendary engine designer, Edward Turner in 1930. In its original form, it displaced 500cc and had four cylinders arranged in a ‘square’. It was unusual in that it had two crankshafts, one behind the other, each with two …
1926 Brough Superior SS80
1926 BROUGH SUPERIOR SS80 WAS AN EARLY BIKE Brough Superior was established by George Brough in Nottingham, England in 1924. He bucked convention and rather than mass-producing huge volumes of identical machines, he designed every bike to meet the exact specifications of the customers. The bikes were literally ‘fit’ to the riders’ size, weight, needs …
New BSA 650 Twin In Final Stages To Leave The Lab
I don’t know about you, but there’s something so delicious about old-world motors. And when it comes to quality made at mass-production rates, BSA had the cat in the proverbial bag. Now, after nearly 50 years of waiting, they are ready to break the silence – and it’s going to be a big bang, from …
1913 350cc AJS Put to Rest in New Gallery
It’s not every day that you see a blast from the past in such impressive shape as this one. Built by British manufacturer A.J. Stevens & co. of Wolverhampton, the 1913 AJS was one of five machines from AJS to be raced in the 1914 Junior TT – and is considered the only model to …
Curtiss Motors Pays Homage to American Heritage with EV Curtiss One
There’s something so stylish about the future meeting the past – and nobody takes an electric aesthetic to town quite like Curtiss Motors. If you’ve never heard of them, Curtiss Motors is an electric brand previously affiliated with Confederate Motors. The company pulled away and established itself as a separate electric motorcycle brand upon the …
Ducati Museum in Italy Reopens to the Masses
On May 21st, The Ducati Museum will be reopening to the general public of Bologna, Italy – and the nostalgia is hitting people in all the right places. It’s been a rough time for institutions that rely on in-person pedestrian traffic to spread wonder, knowledge, and intrigue. And while virtual tours are still available to …
[REVIEW] SW-Motech Pro GS Tank Bag & Pro Tank Ring Kit
Introduction As long time advocate of and for tank bags, well before ‘tank bags’ were typically available or marketed as such (yes, that long ago) some form of small usable container, preferably soft or semi-rigid that could be securely and even safely strapped to or around the tank was used; some of my earlier experiments …
Can-Am Launches Virtual Campaign in Support of International Female Ride Day
International Female Ride Day (IFRD) has fast approached and its annual event takes place on Saturday, May 1st. IFRD is a call-to-action for women to “Just Ride!”, no matter what they ride. Can-Am’s goal is very much the same as IFRD and that is to promote an inclusive environment for any and all riders. On …
Valentino Rossi’s Personal MotoGP Team To Join 2022 Season
VR46 Will Be Present On the Grid Valentino Rossi plans to host his own team’s MotoGP debut for the beginning of the 2022 season. Rossi has already established himself as a track god when it comes to motorcycles. The Italian motorcycle racer has accumulated a total of nine world championships under his belt in his …
Vance & Hines Unveils New V-twin for NHRA Racing
At the tail end of 2020, Harley-Davidson cut ties with Vance & Hines. Throughout 18 seasons, the duo was able to rack up 107 wins and 10 championships with the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle team. After the split, HD jumped back into the racing scene with the Screamin’ Eagle King of …
2021 Suzuki GSX-R1000 [Model Overview]
The King of Sportsbikes: The 2021 Suzuki GSX-R1000 Contents Model Overview Specifications Features Photos Videos Links The Suzuki GSX-R1000 is one of the most famous Suzuki motorcycles ever made, and one of the most famous motorcycles of all time! It’s a powerful and recognizable sportsbike with a long and illustrious history. The 2021 Suzuki line-up …
Harley-Davidson Has A New Video Detailing Pan Americas Rolling Off Production Line
The Pan American Dream Nears Completion After 120 years of V-twin cruiser excellence, Harley-Davidson has finally changed the course of their ship and stepped into the unknown with the introduction of their new 2021 Pan America ADV motorcycle. Although H-D has made a few non-cruiser projects (namely the Livewire) in recent years, it’s even a …
2021 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 [Model Overview]
The 2021 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 Goes from the Dealer to the Track in One Easy Step Contents Model Overview Specifications Features Photos Videos Links The 2021 RSV4 Factory 1100 is Aprilia’s top-of-the-line superbike, as close to a race bike as a consumer can buy. A new double-fairing design eliminates the need for external winglets …
2021 Aprilia RSV4 [Model Overview]
The 2021 Aprilia RSV4 Brings the MotoGP Experience to the Streets Contents Model Overview Specifications Features Photos Videos Links The 2021 RSV4 is the less expensive version of the RSV4 Factory, and nearly the same as the Factory to boot. The new double-fairing design shared by the RSV4 bikes eliminates the need for external winglets …
2021 Ducati Superleggera V4 [Model Overview]
Superlight Sports Performance: The 2021 Ducati Superleggera V4 Contents Model Overview Specifications Features Photos Videos Links If you want unparalleled performance and money is no issue, then the Superleggera V4 is the motorcycle in the 2021 Ducati line-up for you. It’s one of the most advanced Ducati motorcycles ever made, featuring cutting-edge technology and engineering, …
2022 Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse [Model Overview]
Indian’s Blacked-Out Chief Bobber: The 2022 Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse Contents Model Overview Specifications Features Photos Videos Links Naturally, there’s a Dark Horse version of the new Chief Bobber as part of the 2021 Indian line-up. The Dark Horse variant from Indian Motorcycle takes the already impressive Chief Bobber and gives it a blacked-out …
2021 Harley Davidson CVO Tri Glide [Model Overview]
The 2021 Harley Davidson CVO Tri Glide: One Of A Kind Contents Model Overview Specifications Features Photos Videos Links The most-requested model in the history of Harley Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations, the CVO Tri Glide sets the bar to a whole new level. Pure American-made luxury, attitude, style, and sound tickle all your senses from …
2021 Honda Gold Wing / Gold Wing Tour [Model Overview]
Revised For 2021: The Honda Gold Wing and Gold Wing Tour Models Contents Model Overview Specifications Features Photos Videos Links The Honda Gold Wing is one of the most famous Honda Motorcycles ever made, and thanks to a selection of handsome upgrades, it’s set to be one of the stars of the 2021 Honda line-up. …
2021 MV Agusta Superveloce 800 Alpine [Model Overview]
The 2021 MV Agusta Superveloce 800 Alpine: The Latest Special Edition Contents Model Overview Specifications Features Photos Videos Links The 2021 MV Agusta Superveloce 800 Alpine is an extremely limited edition motorcycle that celebrates the return of a classic French racing company to the modern roadway. Much like how much of the Italian manufacturer’s history …
2021 MV Agusta Superveloce 800 [Model Overview]
The 2021 MV Agusta Superveloce 800: Cafe Racing Has Never Looked So Good Contents Model Overview Specifications Features Photos Videos Links The 2021 Superveloce 800 is a look back to the 1970’s for MV Agusta. During that time in the company’s history, it was producing bikes that were often modified from their street versions into …
2021 Harley Davidson Iron 883 [Model Overview]
The 2021 Harley Davidson Iron 883: Stripped Down & Blacked Out Contents Model Overview Specifications Features Photos Videos Links The Iron 883 carries on the legacy of over 60 years of HD history. An American-made classic, the Iron 883 delivers a simple, pure, stripped-down riding experience. An experience benefiting from modern technology, yet keeping things …
