Features

Following last month’s feature about motorcycles powered by Villiers two-stroke twins, Pete Kelly raids the Mortons Archive to bring road tests of Excelsior’s 1951 244cc Talisman, featuring its own two-stroke twin engine, and Cotton’s 1956 322cc rotary-valve twin powered by a British Anzani two-stroke. Smoothness, torque and brisk acceleration have always been desirable characteristics of…

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Steve Cooper investigates the launch of what many people termed as being the Japanese Brit twin. Fifty years ago, in 1969, came the announcement of possibly one of the most contentious motorcycles to be made in Japan up to that point. Yes, indeed, Honda had already announced the game-changing CB750/4 and, to many, it looked…

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With the excesses of the season behind us, and the January sales well under way, we thought it might be a good time for a little light-hearted entertainment with a new year quiz. Collated by Mick Payne, it’s a sort of sidecar-focused ‘Mustymind’. There are no prizes, just a few sidecar-oriented questions to test your…

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Far too young to remember the original, Ross Mowbray turns simian with a retrospective look at an influence on one of Honda’s recent releases. Pictures: Honda Europe and Mortons Archive With its chunky tyres, mini-‘ape’ style handlebars, minuscule fuel tank and big, squashy seat, the Honda Monkey is arguably one of the most iconic motorcycles…

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Following last issue’s focus on Moto Colombres Rally in Spain, Robin Dawson writes to tell us of his experiences in Spanish road rallies There I was, on all fours in the back lane pitch black, feeling my way under the bike for the bike keys, praying they hadn’t slipped down the drain, perilously close to…

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Following last issue’s ‘Frozen in time’ feature, Colin Rider digs out some old paperwork! I am always drawn to anything to do with the Royal Flying Corps, no more so than when I read your ‘Frozen in time’ article, especially the workshop photo – I could picture my Grandad Joe working in a workshop like…

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Half a litre Brit bike beater. Steve Cooper asks if you’re a fan of twins Suzuki’s largest motorcycle to date was launched in 1968, and what a class act it was. Five hundred cubic centimetres of best two-stroke allied to five gear ratios, so perhaps it’s not too surprising that it was billed in the…

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In a chance remark to our new editor, Mick Payne mentioned the remaining sidecar dealers in the UK, which prompted the reply “I thought there was only Watsonian left?”, a not unusual comment. This brought about the idea that it might be a good time to profile those companies still supporting our love of three…

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Pete Kelly searches through the Mortons Archive for road tests and photos of the many British motorcycles that had Villiers two-stroke twins at their heart in the 1950s and ‘60s. The part played by Villiers engines in the development of the British motorcycle is incalculable. Founded in Villiers Street, Wolverhampton, as a maker of bicycle…

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In the September 2018 OBM, readers were invited to submit details of “What’s your hidden pleasure?” and, prompted by this request, Arthur Pentney penned the following … A couple of years ago I decided to put two fingers up to the ridiculous prices now being paid for old machines and instead look for something less…

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