MORE ABOUT MODERN BIKES

HHave you tested or do you hhave any plans to test ride the new Royal Enfield Interceptor? I am on the waiting list for a test ride and am avidly looking at any reviews and am watching rides on YouTube. I am really looking forward to having a ride and probably placing my order for one.

I already plod around on my Bullet and if an Interceptor would make me smile as much as the Electra does then it could only be good. As always, your thoughts and insights will be valued. Paul Hughes, member

I have to take issue with John Hulme’s comments in RC178 about including modern motorcycles in RC. The issue is ‘what classifies as classic’? Ask 50 people and you will probably get 50 answers so there is no point in taking that route.

RealClassic is the only magazine that I tak ke as it always features an electic selection of bikes ranging fro om PUB’s De Dio on to a modern Tri umph. All the oth her classic ma ags seem to concentrate on pr re-1950 bikes, no one of which I am m particularly in terested in or w ould wish to own. I am quite happy tto read about them in RC because turning the next page I will probably find something from the 1970s / 80s / 90s which is more to my taste. I have just turned 73, have been riding since I was 15 and currently own five bikes ranging from a trials Tiger Cub to a 650 Kawasaki Versys. My main love revolves around my two 1970s MZs… are they considered ‘classic’? In addition to enjoying both older and modern motorcycles I also enjoy music but I don’t restrict that to just one genre. BBC6 Music has opened my ears to 1920s jazz and also rap / hip-hop. Keep an open mind and enjoy both old and modern, they both have something to offer. Tony Bishop, member 7623

As a long time reader / subscriber I thought Frank was a little harsh in his reply to John Hulme regarding the Triumph article in RC177. I too think nine pages is much too much space devoted to a modern bike. It’s not by any standards a ‘RealClassic’ by a long way and all the new stuff is covered in the other new bike press.

By all means show new, retro style, bikes but limit the space used to a short description and brief riding impressions. Please, please, don’t try to be ‘all things to all men’ as this approach, in my opinion, never really works. Arthur Bayley, member

RC’s content has changed very little in the last 15 years: we’ve always covered a few – maybe three or four – modern bikes each year because, as seen here, a significant proportion of the RC readership asks for our views on some specific motorcycles. A classic rider’s perspective of a machine is going to be very different to that of a modern roadtester, and an RC feature is nothing like an article in the modern bike press. And I really don’t mind one way or t’other if a bike is considered ‘classic’ or not. That’s not actually our criteria for inclusion in the magazine, although many people seem to think that it is. We select bikes to appear in RC if we think that RC readers will enjoy reading about them. No other justification needed! So yes, we have an in-depth review of the RE twins planned; one which looks at these new bikes from a classic (ahem, possibly ‘older’) rider’s perspective. It will also include comments from other RC riders who’ve ridden them. Not the sort of story you will find in any other bike magazine… Rowena