The Classic MotorCycle

Started in 1903, The Classic MotorCycle has more to offer the true vintage motorcycle enthusiast than any other publication, backed by Europe's largest motorcycle image archive.

Welcome

The Classic MotorCycle

Enfields on trial • This one-make event was open only to machines made by Royal Enfield; alas, unlike the Scott Trial, which had similar origins, it proved to be a seemingly short-lived affair.

News & Events

Dave Degens (1939–2026) • The legendary racer and constructor who enjoyed success across many years, particularly in production racing, and often on his own-made machinery.

Unsung scramblers • Two of the lesser-known – and less successful – machines used for off-road speed work, in action at a mid-1950s event.

Readers’ Letters • YOUR VOICE & YOUR OPINIONS

Exploits on the National Rally • Though this came in as a letter, there was too much ‘good stuff’ in it to cut it down to fit, so we’ve afforded it a couple of extra pages.

Viva Las Vegas • Mecum’s January 2026 motorcycle auction saw 1800 machines sold over five days, with total sales of more than $20 million.

Back to the future • On its late 1968 launch, the BSA Rocket 3 was all about space-age styling and looking forwards to the next decade. Until one looked at its mechanical specification.

Rear view

A good day’s sport • The Talmag Trophy Trial has long been an important event in the off-road calendar and long may it continue to be so, providing what it was set out to do.

Red Hunter rising • From the 1930s through to the late 1950s, Ariel’s single-cylinder offering was one of Britain’s most enduring sporting singles.

Rear view

Vintage luxury • With four cylinders, footboards, electric lighting and balloon tyres, this glorious vintage multi is a sumptuous specimen.

New lease of life • During the 1950s, this was one of the efforts made to keep the ageing Velocette KTT competitive.

From the vault

Living history • Fancy something with a hint of the 1920s about it, but possessed of modern practicalities? This might be the answer.

Ex-WD: Made for war, useful in peace • Just after the Second World War, as the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (VMCC) was founded, it was a case of ‘make do and mend’ when it came to motorcycling attire.

STOCK Motorcycles BSA Bantam

Nifty 50 • Though it’s been owned for 30 years, this neat miniature Morini hasn’t run since a brief try-out round the garden three decades ago. It’s time for that to be rectified.

Diary

Sounds good to me • There’s something deeply satisfying about the sound of a heavy-flywheeled big single, not just to owners but seemingly to other motorcyclists too.

Guardian of the greats • Though it started as one man’s collection, the National Motorcycle Museum has become a motorcycling nirvana that all can visit and enjoy.

Cam do attitude • Motorcycle engine tuning relies, so say some, on the three Cs: camshaft, carburettor and compression ratio. If only it were that simple... Here, we look at cams.