Old bikes needing young riders

The country’s largest club for vintage and classic motorcycles, the VMCC, has recently revised its membership rates which have taken effect from last month. One of the changes to rates (which had remained unchanged for the last six years) is the introduction of a special young member category, designed to encourage potential members under the age of 30 to discover the joys (and possibly the frustrations) of owning, restoring and riding old motorcycles, for just £20 per year.

Classic motorcycling is generally the preserve of older riders – owning the machines of their youth which they either owned or aspired to – and it can be quite an expensive pastime, but there are still plenty of older machines that don’t command such high prices.

These may well be the humble commuter bike from the 1970s and 80s which now can be picked up relatively cheaply with plenty of spares, and would make a great introduction to the classic world.

Getting hands-on with a classic machine can also be a barrier, particularly the older vintage and veteran bikes with strange things like advance and retard levers, air levers and foot clutches, so for 2021 the VMCC will host a number of rider experience days to give both younger and older riders the chance to gain experience in a controlled and safe environment.

Another advantage of the VMCC is the huge network of local sections where new members will get a warm welcome and plenty of advice and support to get into the world of classic motorcycling.

To find out more about the VMCC please go to www.vmcc.net/Join-Us