The motorcycle world was in the midst of an arms race in the early 1970s. Performance was king, and manufacturers were locked in a battle to build the fastest, most exhilarating machines for petrol-crazed riders. Honda had just dropped the CB750, a smooth, sophisticated four-cylinder revolution that brought superbike power to the masses. Yamaha was…
Read more »
Everybody loves an underdog story, and besides being one of the most influential motorcycles of its kind, this BMW-based sidecar racer is probably the most unlikely hero on three wheels. It was constructed and piloted by a German privateer named Helmut Fath, and spawned the next generation of sidecar racers known as ‘kneelers.’ A holy…
Read more »
The R27 showed up in the stable courtesy of our good friend and artist Christopher Myott. It’s a DeLorean, an underpowered time machine that couldn’t hit 88 mph if my life depended on it. And though the records may show a top speed of 81 mph, I managed to hit 70 and it was reaching.…
Read more »
The 1930s proved to be a golden era for V-twin-powered American motorcycles, and if you’re fortunate enough to own one, you’re sitting on a substantial pile of dough. Harley-Davidson’s 1936 EL Knucklehead is regarded by many as the single most desirable classic HD and the right Indian Four will net over $200,000 these days. But…
Read more »
The early 1970s were trying times at Harley-Davidson. The effects of AMF’s takeover in 1969 were trashing the company’s reputation and finances,…
Read more »
Some partnerships are just meant to be. Take Union Motorcycle Classics out of Nampa, Idaho, for instance, as the pairing of Mike…
Read more »
In relative terms, it wasn’t so long ago that it was somewhat rare to see motorcycles on the highways and byways of…
Read more »
Be it bobbers, baggers, beamers, or what-have-you’s, there’s a bike for everyone, imbuing the rider with the Steve McQueen or Peter Fonda…
Read more »
On August 11, 1973, during the GP race at the Silverstone Circuit in England, New Zealander Kim Newcombe found himself in the…
Read more »
If you’re obsessed with vintage motorcycles, take note. The International Classic MotorCycle Show takes place next weekend, at the Staffordshire County Showground…
Read more »
The early 1970s certainly were a golden era of motorcycling. Who can deny that the Kawasaki Z1 or H2, the original SOHC…
Read more »
SEVERAL OF US know of Mike Wolfe from his “American Pickers” TV show, where he travels the states looking for long-neglected treasures.…
Read more »