Chapter 1: 1970 TT Winning Crooks Suzuki Production Racer
I fell in love with Eddie Crooks’ fabulous Suzuki T500 Proddie Racer – and it was a machine which changed my life forever.
The T500 is a big beast for a race bike – but very beautiful
The Crooks Suzuki handles really well for a Proddie Racer
Frank Whiteway flat out on the way to winning the 1970 Production TT – and saving my nascent career as a moto journalist
Chapter 2: Monte Generoso
Where I, very briefly, became six times World Champion
Having brought Jim Redman’s borrowed bike back in one piece I was a very happy bunny – so was the Honda’s owner Fiorenzo Tommasi
Every type of classic race bike in creation takes part in the Generoso
Chapter 3: Ariel 3
The final nail in the British bike industry’s coffin
Melling tucks in whilst attempting to break the magic 30mph barrier
BSA splashed the cash with highly paid celebs to promote the Ariel 3, but the trike was a disaster from the moment it was born
Chapter 4: Cheney JBR Thumper
The best ever British motocross bike
I love the Cheney. It brought me a lot of race success – and a lovely new wife.
I’ve still got the bike today.
“Who could ask for anything more?”
The Thumper has a wonderfully austere elegance – minimalist engineering at its best.
Chapter 5: Honda CBX 6
The most honest motorcycle ever made
I just love the purity of the CBX
The CBX is truly a Grand Tourer
Chapter 6: BMW Type RS54 Rennsport
Pure German race magic
I loved riding the Rennsport but I would have taken a Manx every time had I been a professional racer in the 1950s.
The Rennsport is an absolute GP thoroughbred
Chapter 7: The Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum
One man’s incredible dream
Sammy Miller – my hero
The supercharged AJS V4 is so rare that even I haven’t been allowed to ride it!
Sammy’s museum is jammed with unique bikes from all over the world – and there’s a plethora of British machinery too
Chapter 8: Panther 600
The working man’s limousine
The big Panther has a wonderfully unique sense of purpose and dignity
Okay, the Panther was not exactly a Rolls Royce – but for working class families, a reliable sidecar outfit fulfilled their dream of independent personal transport
Chapter 9: Matchless G15CS
The original desert sled
The G15CS was one of the great missed opportunities at the end of the British bike industry. The machine was there. The technology was there. The market was there. Only a management with a molecule of ability was missing.
Mike Francis dominated desert racing on the big Matchless
Chapter 10: Suzuki RGV 250
A racer on the road
What an utterly lovely little bike the RGV is
“Pass us the fags and two-stroke oil.”
The 1980s in living colour
Lucky owner Jo Jones loves her RGV
Chapter 11: Honda CB1100RS
So near but no cuddly toy
What a beautiful bike – and so near to being excellent it made my mouth water
The big Honda handled really well. With another 30hp, and some attitude, it could have been one of the world’s best retro bikes.
Here is Mitsuyoshi Kohama’s initial concept sketch for the CB1100
Chapter 12: BSA M20
Vastly better than getting shot…
The M20 is ruggedly handsome
The M20 wasn’t BSA’s best motorcycle but it did the job in the toughest conditions
There were vast numbers of surplus M20s after the war and they were available for scrap prices.
Chapter 13: Ducati Silverstone
When I’m a big boy, I want to ride a Ducati
At a time when little bikes were slow, dull and boring the Silverstone was in a class of its own for beauty, speed and desirability
Taglioni’s Desmo single has to be one of the most beautiful engines ever created
Chapter 14: Rocket Gold Star
Grrrr. Touch my oil tank and I’ll bite you
I just love the looks of the Rocket Gold Star which does exactly what it says on the tin: an authentic road burner
Although never as highly rated as a Triumph Bonneville I think that the RGS is a better bike
Chapter 15: Yamaha SRX
Nearly, but not quite, one of the best bikes to come out of Japan
I have owned four SRXs, which must say something about the bike, but none of them has made it into permanent residence
If the SRX had been made in England, it would be a legendary machine
All SRXs handle beautifully
Chapter 16: Velocette KSS
The gentleman’s sporting steed
If you were a wealthy young man in the swinging 1930s, the KSS was the bike to have
The KSS handles so well and is a real delight to ride
Chapter 17: Yamaha OW01
The first of the new era of GP machines
What a lovely race bike
The OW01 is supremely raceable
Wyrd bið ful aræd
PLEASE NOTE
If you would like your book signing, or a short dedication,
please get in touch at: penguin@thundersprint.com