CLASSICS
WORDS AND PHOTOS:
Rhys Jones
THIRTEEN CLASSIC
YEARS
T
his column, the 160th since the first in
February 2007, is a milestone for several
reasons. After thirteen years we are of
course much older, and some of the bikes
that were not considered classics have
become so since the start. So, the classic
pool expands as every year passes. Many of
the classic British, European, and American
models that owned the title ‘classic’ for many
years have become so valuable that they
now rarely preside outside of museums and
carefully guarded collections. Some of the
classic race bikes, however, such as Manx
Nortons, are very much alive and kicking at
classic race meetings around the world.
It is sometimes difficult to define what a
‘classic’ motorcycle is, and how and why it
is given the lofty title. I suppose the most
common way to categorise machines, and
establish whether or not they are classics, is
by the date of manufacture. But of course,
some will say, “I don’t care when it was made,
if it was rubbish then, it’s still rubbish”. When
all is said and done, the classification of
classic bikes must be left to the owners, or
if competition is involved, then an agreed
code and set of acceptable rules. Let’s all be
generous and say a classic is in the eye of
the beholder. The proud owner of a 1950s
Vespa can rightfully claim classic status, in
the same way that the owner of Vincent
Black Lightening can. Of course, so can the
Kawasaki 2-stroke triple.
Restored by Graeme Crosby MV Agusta Sport 1976
BMW 3-cylinder K75 1986 BMW 4-cylinder K100RS 1988
78 KIWI RIDER