Features

  • How BMW G/S concept led to all-terrain sidecar styling

    How BMW G/S concept led to all-terrain sidecar styling

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    Back in 1980, BMW introduced a new motorcycle concept in the R80G/S, the G/S standing for Gelande/Strasse, or basically cross-country and road, writes Mick Payne. It proved a highly-successful model with iterations still being manufactured today, but for Keith Wash, the head man at Hedingham, the rugged looks sparked a few ideas of his own,…

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  • Salt of the earth, these motorcyclists!

    Salt of the earth, these motorcyclists!

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    Harry Stanistreet recalls a nightmare trip to the Elephant Rally with his young wife Lesley and a group of friends in 1970, when just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong – but the kindness of people they met along the way ensured that everything turned out all right in the end. The…

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  • Suzuki’s little firecracker – the GT185

    Suzuki’s little firecracker – the GT185

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    Following Suzuki’s sometimes puzzling marketing philosophy of the 1970s, Steve Cooper traces the birth and development of the GT185 two-stroke twin. Back in the day, the way in which Suzuki divvied up new models was somewhat haphazard to say the least. Some models enjoyed long life spans and often morphed into more modern machines, the…

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  • Empire of the Sun

    Empire of the Sun

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    Sun motorcycles were manufactured from 1911 until 1961, but their roots go back to the Victorian Birmingham brass foundry of James Parkes & Son. We delved into our archive to show some of the motorcycles, autocycles and scooters that proudly carried the Sun name. The ‘Sun’ brand name, which first appeared in 1885, was inspired by…

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  • Flying the flag for British bikes

    Flying the flag for British bikes

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    Revolving around those who love riding British motorcycles, the Exeter British Motorcycle Club organises several enjoyable outings each year, including the Exe Valley Run, and promises a warm atmosphere on club nights. The aims of the Exeter British Motorcycle Club are to foster, encourage and maintain an interest in British motorcycles, provide technical assistance to…

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  • The world’s fastest Tigger?

    The world’s fastest Tigger?

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    MARCH 2017 PREVIEW: Pete Kelly visits Chris Davies at West Midlands Triumph Tiger Cub specialists Meriden Off Road, to learn about his latest product plus preparations for his forthcoming speed record attempt on Pendine Sands in South Wales. Triumph Terrier and Tiger Cub machines must still be coming out of the woodwork, for ever since…

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  • Salt of the earth, these motorcyclists!

    Salt of the earth, these motorcyclists!

    by

    MARCH 2017 PREVIEW: Harry Stanistreet recalls a nightmare trip to the Elephant Rally with his young wife Lesley and a group of friends in 1970, when just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong – but the kindness of people they met along the way ensured that everything turned out all right in…

    Continue reading »

  • Suzuki’s little firecracker – the GT185

    Suzuki’s little firecracker – the GT185

    by

    MARCH 2017 PREVIEW: Following Suzuki’s sometimes puzzling marketing philosophy of the 1970s, Steve Cooper traces the birth and development of the GT185 two-stroke twin. Back in the day, the way in which Suzuki divvied up new models was somewhat haphazard to say the least. Some models enjoyed long life spans and often morphed into more…

    Continue reading »

  • Empire of the Sun

    Empire of the Sun

    by

    MARCH 2017 PREVIEW: Sun motorcycles were manufactured from 1911 until 1961, but their roots go back to the Victorian Birmingham brass foundry of James Parkes & Son. We delved into our archive to show some of the motorcycles, autocycles and scooters that proudly carried the Sun name. The ‘Sun’ brand name, which first appeared in 1885,…

    Continue reading »

  • What happened to the Roamer?

    What happened to the Roamer?

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    An email from Stephen De’Ath, recalling a sensational sidecar outfit built by two of his now-deceased uncles in the 1950s, gets us delving into the Mortons Archive… Do any mature Old Bike Mart readers in North Essex remember a Rover flat-twin car engine-powered sidecar outfit called the Roamer that was built by brothers Leonard and…

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