In 1962, Kennedy was in the White House, Ray Charles was singing “I Can’t Stop Loving You” on the radio, and the Italian motorcycle company known for its high-performance racing machines premiered an on/off-road motorcycle for the American market. The Ducati Scrambler wasn’t the fastest bike on the track or gnarliest in the dirt, but…
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Every motorcyclist grows up dreaming of the bike(s) they will ride one day. But how many of them end up owning the exact machine that sparked their passion when they were young? Very few, but that’s the story behind this well-worn 1955 BSA Gold Star. The bike’s current owner used to spot it on the…
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UK-based photographer Del Hickey has a talent for uncovering unique machines, built by highly skilled individuals that would otherwise fly under the radar. This time, he’s dug up a real zinger—a modified Ariel Leader from a small village in Gloucestershire, England. It’s the work of Ivan Counsell—a retired engineer and designer with little internet presence…
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We often ruminate on the pros and cons of restoring vintage bikes rather than customizing them. Whichever path you choose, there’s another question worth considering; how do you treat patina? Must every last nut and bolt shine, or must the machine wear its history with pride? “I personally live on both sides of the restored…
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The motorcycle world was in the midst of an arms race in the early 1970s. Performance was king, and manufacturers were locked…
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When it comes to Harley-Davidson design, the 1971 FX Super Glide is one of those bikes that people either love, or love…
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Everybody loves an underdog story, and besides being one of the most influential motorcycles of its kind, this BMW-based sidecar racer is…
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An old saying in aviation says ‘If it looks right, it flies right,’ summarizing the idea that the most ideal mechanical designs…
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The R27 showed up in the stable courtesy of our good friend and artist Christopher Myott. It’s a DeLorean, an underpowered time…
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The 1930s proved to be a golden era for V-twin-powered American motorcycles, and if you’re fortunate enough to own one, you’re sitting…
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The early 1970s were trying times at Harley-Davidson. The effects of AMF’s takeover in 1969 were trashing the company’s reputation and finances,…
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Some partnerships are just meant to be. Take Union Motorcycle Classics out of Nampa, Idaho, for instance, as the pairing of Mike…
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A motorcycle like the 1974 Ducati 750SS simply couldn’t be manufactured and sold today, and it’s a small miracle that it even…
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In relative terms, it wasn’t so long ago that it was somewhat rare to see motorcycles on the highways and byways of…
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Classic motorcycles attain desirability for any number of reasons, but every once in a while we come across one that checks every…
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