Greetings to you, one and all!

From all at Classic Bike Guide, we hope you are all keeping as well as can be expected, and still smiling. Despite the world trying its best, we’re still going, and when fixing, building, cleaning, writing about or riding a bike, the situation that affects us all seems so very far away. I truly hope all our readers haven’t suffered and are adapting to this new environment. Everything we know has been affected this year. Speaking to James Hewing of the National Motorcycle Museum earlier, he revealed how they are starting a campaign to help the museum survive, as it is heavily dependent on its sister businesses, which are in the hard-hit hospitality industry. Read more about it on how you can help on page 20. While some outside shows are promising to be held, most are falling foul of being able to open safely, while also trying to guess the appetite for people to come back out, after being filled with fear to stay in. No one has the right answer (though many claim to!) so I just hope common sense and respect for fellow people prevails. It’s also interesting to see how the world is starting to open up. My friend, Chad, went to Italy recently to test the brand-new, £75,000 Ducati Superleggera V4 – a surefire future classic, as well as the lightest, most powerful and most expensive new bike out there, and said how it was an odd experience with all wearing masks and gloves; but the bike, around Mugello, was worth it. I’m very jealous, Chad! Personally, I’m utilising the time I would often spend at shows and events in the workshop. My Opel car projects I’ve had since a kid are coming on with the engine going back together. The Norton was moving slowly but steadily until I was an idiot and rushed it, and the new BMW is great to ride out, despite looking somewhat odd and still utilising a tank I’ve borrowed from Neville’s hoard. It’s strange trying to get 1980s injectors sorted one evening, while rebuilding a 1950s engine (and 1930s design) the next and trying to remember the 1980s tourer (a 1970s design) is still a classic and not to be thrashed! Speaking of the BMW has led me to a question that may have several answers; what is a classic bike? Is there a cut off, like the VMCC has – 25 years old? Sounds reasonable, or is it as simple as personal taste? Is it looks? Just because a life-long rider who has always worked on his own bikes finds a lighter bike with electric start easier and safer now, does that make them less of a rider than a weekend warrior on a Triton that he had someone build for him? Why do we judge folks on what they ride? My good friend, James, has a Honda Deauville to ride most days, but only to save his collection of incredible vintage bikes. John, on page 38, has been riding his BSA M33 since he was a boy – they’ve been together forever! It’s no concours winner, and isn’t even rare – but with such a wonderful connection, such memories, the M33 will always be a classic. It’s a lovely story, and makes me wish I’d kept some of my earlier bikes.

Another treat I had this month was to see two-stroke genius, James, and his Jawa racebike. The way a poor, Eastern Bloc company made a competitive machine is great (apart from the tragic loss of Bill Ivy), but seeing at what lengths you have to go to keep these things going and reliable is a real labour of love, especially when the guys take it to the Czech Republic to race regularly. I could look at that V4, 350cc, two-stroke engine for hours – like James does!

So it seems that this pandemic may have kept many at home, but that has got a lot of projects moving. And my answer to what makes a classic? That, is purely down to you, whether you like it or not – not what others think. Dirty and unrestored or concours, ridden daily or tucked in the garden room, kick-start or press a button; it’s how it makes you feel.

Thanks for the many emails, and keep sending in your stories and photos of your bikes – they are great to see.

Be good