A few issues ago you asked for images of couples who were still together on bikes after many years, and these photos of my long-suffering wife Jackie and me were taken in 1966 at Little
Read moreA biking marriage made in heaven!
Category: Letters
The long and convoluted story of a Francis-Barnett police bike
After reading about the auction of the Heartbeat police Francis-Barnett in the last issue, please find attached pictures of a real Francis-Barnett patrol motorcycle. It’s a 1964 Cruiser 89 250cc twin that was first registered
Read moreWhat’s happening to our pastime? A plea from the heart
In the June OBM ‘Pete’s Prattle’ discussed an important matter – the decline of riding numbers. It’s a subject that is on everyone’s lips at present, and clubs, organisers, riders and the press all mention
Read moreMemories of 1953 with my Francis-Barnett trials Falcon
Reading about how the Francis-Barnett pre-dated all trail bikes (OBM April) took me back to 1953, when the specification for the 197cc Falcon trials bike listed a ‘four-inch’ rear tyre and a four-speed gearbox. Before
Read moreWho could forget Fred and his racing Bantam?
It was great to see the piece about Fred Launchbury and his racing Bantam in the last issue. I bought the bike from Fred on January 15, 1970 for £175 – a record price at
Read more‘Flying Vicar’ strikes again – with a trike!
Some time ago, I decided to build a sidecar and trailer to attach to my D14/4 BSA Bantam with successful results, but then I started thinking about my next project – or two. I’d always
Read more‘Arrow’ hybrid identified
In response to Malcolm Ranieri’s photos of the four-cylinder two-stroke hybrid in Readers’ Letters (May), I’m pretty sure it’s the same bike that called in a couple of years ago at Fosse Garage, near Harbury,
Read moreA blast around the cinders on Ivan Mauger’s 500 Jawa
Following the sad news of the passing of Ivan Mauger at the age of 78 on April 16, I’d like to mention my wife Hilary’s moment with him in 1973. For my sins, I was
Read morePresteigne ‘fill-up’ trials rider identified
I enjoyed the ‘filling up at Presteigne’ picture on page 20 of OBM (May). Having lived there for about four years I immediately recognised the garage, although it’s looking a bit sad these days. I
Read more‘Clockwork Mouse’ at Cannock gathering
I came across this 1943 James ML ‘Clockwork Mouse’ in military livery at a Cannock Truck Stop Commercial Vehicle Gathering on Sunday May 13. I believe it’s quite rare, and thought your readers would like
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