Features

  • Moto Memories: Going green

    Moto Memories: Going green

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    Photo: Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive www.mortonsarchive.com With the entries for both the full Scottish Six Days Trial and the Pre-65 two-day version now closed, the trip to the Highlands is uppermost in many trials riders’ minds. Having a glance through Nick Nicholls’ SSDT archive brought to light this great shot of Peter Salt…

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  • It’s not just for decoration

    It’s not just for decoration

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    When painter and decorator Roger Simkin wanted a Beezer that looked good and went even better, it was Mick Bennett he went to. Words and pics Tim Britton Ever regretted selling something? I bet you have. In Roger Simkin’s case it was a neat Triumph engine Cotton, reputed to be an ex-Arthur Lampkin machine. Roger…

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  • Life after COVID-19: Lessons from past pandemics

    Life after COVID-19: Lessons from past pandemics

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    With lockdown restrictions easing slightly in UK, this is perhaps a time to reflect on the past months, and look forward to what a world could look like once the COVID-19 pandemic has gone, if ever. Life after COVID-19 investigates past epidemics and their aftermath, seeking to draw parallels with the world of today and…

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  • Ballyblack CMXdN 2016

    Ballyblack CMXdN 2016

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    It’s a team thing this Classic MXdN. Words: Mark Dunseath Pics: Ian Cairns The International Classic Motocross circus visited Ballyblack in Newtownards in September, for the 2016 Classic Motocross des Nations International event, promoted by the Northern Ireland Classic Scrambles Club (www.niclassicscramblesclub.com). The venue and track at landowner Leslie Wright’s farm was classic motocross utopia…

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  • Tech feature: Top tank

    Tech feature: Top tank

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    The lighter the bike, the easier it is to ride – the CDB pre-60 MXer sheds more pounds. Words and pics: Tim Britton There are a number of ways to reduce the weight of a typical British road bike if it is going to be used in off-road sport. The easiest way is to pull…

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  • Apollo 11: The Mission to the Moon

    Apollo 11: The Mission to the Moon

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    This Thursday (16/07/20) marks the 51st anniversary of the Moon landing and AllMyReads has the perfect book to discover the story behind one of the most important events in space exploration. Check out this preview from the fantastic bookazine, Apollo 11.

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  • From the archive: 1974 Kawasaki MX – Lean, mean and lime green

    From the archive: 1974 Kawasaki MX – Lean, mean and lime green

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    Kawasaki’s advertising slogan in the Seventies made much of the light weight and colour of their MX models, we check out an SR400 which epitomised the advert legend. Words and pics: Tim Britton It is a fascinating world in which factory team bikes live, and there are three separate elements to that world. Naturally there’s…

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  • From the archive: Shop Window to the World

    From the archive: Shop Window to the World

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    The ISDT often showcased future developments in our industry and proved they would work too. Naturally the press were there. Words: Tim Britton Pics: Mortons Archive This is a little bit of personal indulgence on my part here… and I suppose I ought to apologise for that…. but it’s probably obvious to regular readers that…

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  • From the Archive: Super Profile – A works TriBSA

    From the Archive: Super Profile – A works TriBSA

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    Though still fielding machines based on production bikes, the UK team for 1966 had some good kit. Words: Tim Britton Pics: Nick Haskell To perform well on the world stage was always the aim of the UK’s motorcycle industry throughout its existence and the International Six Days Trial was tailor made for this purpose. When…

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  • From the archive: You need a… Matchless trials bike

    From the archive: You need a… Matchless trials bike

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    You probably don’t realise it, but a big four-stroke single is what you need in your life right now and the AMC versionis pretty damned handsome. Surely everyone must know the story of how the upstart lightweight bikes came along in the Sixties and knocked the big bangers off their seemingly unassailable perches? Yes? No?…

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