British Classics Archives - The Vintage Idiot

The BSA DBD34 Gold Star and Matchless G80CS earned their reputations through competition. But these two examples show that a high-performance British 500 single could also make a surprisingly convincing…

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British Classics

Bike Of The Week: BSA Y13, The V-Twin Birmingham Never Forgot

If you spot a V-twin wearing a BSA badge it’s almost certainly going to be a BSA Y13. Go and have a closer look – it’s a rare piece of…

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British Classics

Matchless G80CS: The Desert Sledgehammer

There are motorcycles that impress on paper, and then there are motorcycles that earn their reputation the hard way. Blood, dust, sweat and the sort of mechanical honesty that borders…

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British Classics

Bike Of The Week: 1937 BSA Empire Star, a pivotal classic but I missed it!

Kick, kick, kick… no, not a reluctant starter but me for not paying attention to this beautiful 1937 BSA Empire Star which came up for auction during H&H’s sale at…

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British Classics

Over the ton and still going: early Rudge and BSA

There’s something very appealing about motorcycles more than 100 years old. The century or ‘ton’ is a milestone in cricket speed, cricket and probably several other activities but especially age.…

1927 Scott Flying Squirrel — water-cooled ingenuity meets inter-war British sporting spirit. A rare survivor from one of motorcycling’s most innovative marques.

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British Classics

Bike Of The Week: Scott Flying Squirrel – Two-Stroke Royalty

In the history of great British motorcycles, the Scott Flying Squirrel sits slightly apart. While other marques of the 1920s boomed, barked and thumped their way along, the Scott arrived…

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British Classics

The Curious Case of the 1970 Indian Velocette Venom 500

In the twilight years of the British motorcycle industry, when storied marques were either folding or floundering, an American entrepreneur named Floyd Clymer attempted to write one last heroic chapter.…

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British Classics

Fancy a bit of Hollywood history? Bud Ekins’ Matchless G80S

If ever a motorbike could wear sunglasses and a leather jacket, this would be it. This 1952 Matchless G80S isn’t just a handsome slab of post-war British iron — it…

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1928 BSA Sloper: A Jolly Green Giant is calling

There’s a certain quality and star status afforded classic motorcycles with girder forks. Partly it’s because many date from a ‘Golden Age’ of motorcycles when there were dozens of manufacturers…

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British Classics

A Proper Motorcycle: The 1937 Vincent-HRD Rapide Series-A

Motorcycles are wonderful things. They allow you to enjoy the open road, go quite fast, and in some cases, terrify yourself. And if there’s one bike that does all three…

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British Classics

World record for Olympia Vincent at Bonhams £3.2m autumn auction

A new world record price was set at Bonhams’ Autumn Stafford Sale in October for a very famous motorcycle: the 1936 Olympia Motorcycle Show Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide. The price?…

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British Classics

Triumph’s very first ‘unit’ construction twin: the 1957 350cc ‘Twenty-One’

A seismic change in British motorcycle design happened in 1957: the introduction of ‘unit’ construction combining the engine, primary drive and gearbox in one case. The first Triumph twin to…

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British Classics

‘Special’ Brough Superior SS100 sells for £241,500

A very special 1938 Brough Superior SS100 sold for an incredible £241,500 at the Iconic Auction staged at the NEC Classic Motor Show, Birmingham on Sunday, 12 November 2023. The…

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British Classics

Bike Of The Week: Triumph TR5, The original ‘Trophy’

Over the years, Triumph has bandied around the name ‘Trophy’ willy-nilly. Sometimes it’s attached to a trail bike but more often to a tourer – as recently as 2017 –…

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British Classics

Brough Superior SS100 Pendine replica sells for $220,000

Top of the top ten results at the Mecum John Parham auction earlier this month was a 1927 Brough Superior SS100 Pendine Replica, said to be one of the finest…

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BSA Bantam GPO: the Little Red Rooster

Mess with institutions at your peril and few have been messed around more than the UK Post Office. Established by King Charles II in 1660, the Royal Mail service was…

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British Classics

Nearly new JMC Norvin classic motorcycle up for auction

A new Norvin… is that even possible? A new Vincent 1,000cc vee-twin engine in a Norton Featherbed frame with modern cycle parts? Yes, and one is coming up for auction…

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British Classics

UK’s National Motorcycle Museum acquires surviving BSA Vetter triple

The sole surviving roadworthy BSA Vetter Rocket 3 – prototype of the Craig Vetter designed triple that became the Triumph X-75 Hurricane – will join the collection of classic motorcycles…

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British Classics

Rare John Player Special Norton Commando in online auction

Live in-person sales aren’t the only way to bid at auctions. Car & Classic is a sales website mainly aimed at classic cars but it also has a large motorcycle…

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British Classics

Is this 1987 Matchless G80 the ‘Great Pretender’?

If the heart of a motorcycle is its engine, then it’s hard to say with conviction that this 1987 Harris G80 really lives up to its Matchless name. However, it…

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British Classics

California Dreaming! Stunning BSA X-75 Hurricane up for sale

The early 1970s were a torrid time for the British motorcycle industry. Famous brand names had disappeared or were closing. Others were struggling with out of date motorcycles thanks to…

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British Classics

Historic Triumph Ricardo that changed engine design

A truly historic Triumph motorcycle is up for sale at the H&H classic motorcycle auction at the National Motorcycle Museum on Wednesday, 12 July. It’s a 1923 Triumph Ricardo –…

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British Classics

Three Nortons from ‘Norton George’ collection up for sale

Norton George… what a great name! Evocative and intriguing at the same time. And it rang a distant bell, though I’m still not sure from where. Probably my mate Miles…

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British Classics

Pre-WWI Douglas 350 for sale at Shuttleworth auction

The First World War from 1914 to 1918 was vile. It was the war that should have ended war, so bloody was it particularly across an area of northern France…

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British Classics

Brough Superior SS100 sells for £281,750 at Bonhams auction

A very special 1931 Brough Superior SS100 sold for an amazing £281,750 at Bonham’s Spring Stafford auction at the International Classic Motorcycle Show on 22 April 2023. The Brough Superior…

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British Classics

Brough SS100 outfit at Charterhouse Auction

Among the 85 motorcycles listed so far in the Charterhouse Classic & Vintage Motorcycle Auction at the Haynes Motor Museum on 30 March is an extraordinary 1936 Brough Superior SS100…

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British Classics

In praise of older motorcycles: The Velocette Venom

I absolutely love motorcycles and motorcycling. Not just the nuts & bolts of the machines but the riding, the experience, the camaraderie. It’s just so immersive and full-on fun. Over…

British Classics

Fast 500s with somewhere to put your socks: BSA DBD34 Gold Star and Matchless G80CS

Bike Of The Week: BSA Y13, The V-Twin Birmingham Never Forgot

Matchless G80CS: The Desert Sledgehammer

Bike Of The Week: 1937 BSA Empire Star, a pivotal classic but I missed it!

Over the ton and still going: early Rudge and BSA

Bike Of The Week: Scott Flying Squirrel – Two-Stroke Royalty

The Curious Case of the 1970 Indian Velocette Venom 500

Fancy a bit of Hollywood history? Bud Ekins’ Matchless G80S

1928 BSA Sloper: A Jolly Green Giant is calling

A Proper Motorcycle: The 1937 Vincent-HRD Rapide Series-A

World record for Olympia Vincent at Bonhams £3.2m autumn auction

Triumph’s very first ‘unit’ construction twin: the 1957 350cc ‘Twenty-One’

‘Special’ Brough Superior SS100 sells for £241,500

Bike Of The Week: Triumph TR5, The original ‘Trophy’

Brough Superior SS100 Pendine replica sells for $220,000

BSA Bantam GPO: the Little Red Rooster

Nearly new JMC Norvin classic motorcycle up for auction

UK’s National Motorcycle Museum acquires surviving BSA Vetter triple

Rare John Player Special Norton Commando in online auction

Is this 1987 Matchless G80 the ‘Great Pretender’?

California Dreaming! Stunning BSA X-75 Hurricane up for sale

Historic Triumph Ricardo that changed engine design

Three Nortons from ‘Norton George’ collection up for sale

Pre-WWI Douglas 350 for sale at Shuttleworth auction

Brough Superior SS100 sells for £281,750 at Bonhams auction

Brough SS100 outfit at Charterhouse Auction

In praise of older motorcycles: The Velocette Venom

Triumph’s new Bonneville T40: Half the cylinders, all the style?

Honda CB1000F: will the retro Fireblade match original CB900F?

The BSA Bantam 350 flies again

BMW R 12 S: Boxer with a Dash of Daytona

Purpose Built Moto’s Royal Enfield Bobber

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