Real Classic

RealClassic magazine features the very best British motorcycles from all eras, plus charismatic Continental machines (and the odd Japanese classics crops up occasionally, too). Long term classic riders will recognise many of the members of the RC team, which includes authors, historians and journalists like Steve Wilson, Dave Minton, Matt Vale, Odgie, Jacqueline 'PUB' Bickerstaff, Rowena Hoseason and editor Frank Westworth -- but the magazine's key feature is that it is firmly grounded in the real world. Our articles are written by real life riders and reflect far more than a simple road test ever can. We're never scared of getting grubby in The Shed (and we even admit it when things go horribly wrong!)

Real Classic

FROM THE FRONT

Bullnose Bulldog! • A 1927 Sunbeam racer for the road? Alan Cathcart has far too much fun…

INCOMING! • RC readers write, rant and rattle on…

LETTER FROM AMERICA • A schoolboy dream of Italian exotica becomes an adult encounter with a potentially cataclysmic cyclone…

TO ONE THE HAVE? • What to do when you finally buy the bike of your dreams and it won’t actually work? Mike Powell tracked down his Trophy, and Paul Henshaw got it going again…

IN THE WELSH WORKSHOP

Roadster Blue • The Plan had been to borrow a T140 Bonneville with an electric starter, but there happened to be a self-starting Norton nearby. Frank Westworth chose the latter, inevitably…

THE GILDED LILY • You can over-egg a pudding, hold a candle to the sun or butter those parsnips past perfection. Or you can spoodle a C11 beyond reasonable expectation, as Neil Cairns discovers…

STRIDING HIGH • When you need a long-distance mile-muncher that absolutely won’t let you down–even on Canada’s gravel tracks – a six-cylinder 1500cc Aspencade might not be your first choice. It wasn’t quite what Nick Adams had planned, either…

WRITE4REAL

Original & Best • Recommissioning and riding a motorcycle which is more than century old brings with it a unique set of challenges. John Lay was more than ready to take on the task…

THREE WHEELS GOOD • Last month, Ace Tester Miles experienced a less-than-inspiring ride on a Moto Guzzi V7 combination. This time, David Brindley fares rather better…

Muddy Makeover • Odgie had enough bikes. Odgie didn’t have any room for any more bikes. Odgie already had three bikes too many. The last thing Odgie needed was another bike. Odgie bought another bike…

PUB TALK • After almost a year of inactivity the Léon Bollée rides again–for the 2025 VMCC Banbury Run – and the Flying Flea has another outing

Ollie's ODDJOBS • Spotted on the Sunbeam club’s always excellent stand at Stafford, our Ollie encountered a slightly marvellous Sunbeam with a Moto Guzzi heart transplant…

TALES FROM THE SHED • Frank’s seemingly endless wrestling with the BSA’s simple wiring harness replacement continues. One day we’re sure it will be complete. Or not…

Members’ Enclosure • The newsletter for RealClassic subscribers only