Alf Berry’s “Little Buzz”
Wartime ingenuity and Alf Berry’s mechanical skills combined to produce a little rocket. Story: Wayne Berry On the night of the 22nd September 1944 Alf Berry a fitter Motor Vehicles Trade Group One with the […]
Bikes
Norton 16H – What did you do in the war, dad?
79mm x 100mm may well be the most famous bore and stroke in motorcycling history. Countless Norton singles, beginning with the 1911 490cc side valve, belt-driven Model 16, shared the configuration which lasted until the […]
The Honda CX500 – 40 years on
40 years after its launch, Derek Pickard retraces the career of Honda’s most unusual motorcycle – th eHonda CX500 – and explains why such an innovative design was ditched after a brief but successful career. […]
A Seeley Velocette – Phil’s vision
Former top road racer Phil O’Brien has bent a lot of tubes for customers, so he thought he’d bend a few for himself. The result is a very special Velocette. Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Dick […]
Marusho Magnum Electra – From Hamamatsu via Bavaria
Besides the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers that exist today, there were plenty of smaller producers who left the scene, particularly in the late 1950s. They went out of business, merged with other companies, were taken over, […]
1911 Zenith Gradua – Unfair they cried!
Since the year dot, manufacturers have exploited success in competition, loudly proclaiming their latest victory in the endless race for sales. Yet one company took a reverse approach, crying foul to the extent that until […]
Bridgestone 175 DT: The mini twin
For a brief time in the ‘sixties, a nippy 175 twin gave plenty of 250s a hurry up. Story and photos: Jim Scaysbrook There’s an old saying; it’s not the size of the dog in […]
1971 Benelli 650S: From Pesaro with love
A Latin alternative to the Triumph Bonneville? It sounded like a good idea at the time… Story and photos: Jim Scaysbrook It’s fair to say that upon its release in 1969, the Benelli 650 (it […]
Ariel Square Four: The Squariel
Story and photos: Jim Scaysbrook The basic design spanned nearly 30 years of production, and the Ariel Square Four has legions of fans more than half a century after the last one was made. The […]
Moto Guzzi Airone 250: Birds of a feather
Moto Guzzi had a thing about birds. Their famous motif that adorns virtually every petrol tank features the eagle emblem of the Italian Air Force – a throwback to the flying skills of Carlo Guzzi, […]
