Real Classic

RealClassic magazine features the very best British motorcycles from all eras, plus charismatic Continental machines (and the odd Japanese classics crops up occasionally, too). Long term classic riders will recognise many of the members of the RC team, which includes authors, historians and journalists like Steve Wilson, Dave Minton, Matt Vale, Odgie, Jacqueline 'PUB' Bickerstaff, Rowena Hoseason and editor Frank Westworth -- but the magazine's key feature is that it is firmly grounded in the real world. Our articles are written by real life riders and reflect far more than a simple road test ever can. We're never scared of getting grubby in The Shed (and we even admit it when things go horribly wrong!)

Real Classic

FROM THE FRONT

THOR’S Thunderbike! • The USA boasts a long and impressive history of motorcycle building, with several entertaining machines. Alan Cathcart encounters Thor, a most appropriately named motorcycle…

INCOMING!

OUT-STANDING

SIDEPANEL SOLUTION

SUPERSIZE SUPER METEOR

FLASHBACK

CLUCKED UP!

FLASHBACK FASTBACK

SPRING EVER LASTING!

THE SPICE OF LIFE

SERVICE STARS

NOT QUITE CHROME

LETTER FROM AMERICA • The NorSaki Neverwozza: the bike which didn’t arrive in the showrooms in late 1970…

The Same, BUT DIFFERENT • Back in 1975, Triumph built a bright yellow, three-cylinder, electric-start sportbike called the Trident T160. Fifty years later, Triumph build a bright yellow, electric-start sportbike called the Trident 660. Philip Archer owns one of each…

END TO END • Bill Butler first planned to ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End back before the pandemic. Four years and two new knees later, could he still take on the challenge of a ride of a lifetime?

ELECTRIC TOURIST • Many riders consider BSA’s Gold Star to be an ultimate British sports bike. Frank Westworth has never been a fan. Maybe a Touring version will change his mind?

SHAKEDOWN • Back in RC251, Andy Havill constructed a creation from undead components. Now it’s time to unleash the Frankenstein MZ upon an unsuspecting world!

INHERITANCE TRACKS • A family bequest meant that a classic race fan could give a genuine Seeley competition machine a new lease of life on the other side of the world. Stuart Francis explains how this happened…

SAFE SILENT SPEED • Safe? That depends who’s riding. Silent? Hardly, not an Ulster when it’s prepped and ready for the race track. But speedy? Oh yes, as Rowena Hoseason discovers…

OUTWARD BOUND • Adventures, autojumbles and rides on great roads: point your wheels this way!

PLUGS & LEADS

The nicest PEOPLE • Simon Huntington had restored dozens of old Britbikes, but what to choose for his first classic Japanese project?

Muddy Makeover • This episode was supposed to be all about Odgie riding his new off-roader to see wot it’ll do mister. Turns out that what it does is stop. Running, that is…

WRITE 4 REAL

PUB TALK • PUB passed some of September at Cassington and Founder’s Day…

Ollie’s ODDJOBS • Suzuki’s 3-pot stroker GT550 was intended to be an almost sensible tourist. Ollie’s discovered something a little more radical…

TALES FROM THE SHED • Finally Frank feels that the Beezer is finished. It looks pretty much as he hoped, starts and runs. But how well does it ride? And how dare he invite a second opinion?

Members’ Enclosure • The newsletter for RealClassic subscribers only