SPECIAL REQUESTS

Am I allowed to make suggestions for bikes that I’d like Frank or Rowena to test on our behalf? Assuming that this is indeed the case, then top of my current list would be a Harley Sportster XLCH 883 from the late 1960s when they still had a certain elemental rawness to them. Kickstart only, magneto ignition, that peanut tank...

Some years ago, I was passed by a fine example of such a machine while coming down off Rannoch Moor into Glencoe early one July morning. There was not a cloud in the sky, and it was uncannily warm. There was a wall of sound and a massive sense of vibration as this red thing flashed passed us, probably nudging 80mph or more by my reckoning (we were doing nearly 60 in our Rover).

Later, we caught up with the machine at a petrol station near the bottom of the glen. I had hoped to find out more about the bike but its rider, rocking a very convincing US Marine look with buzz cut and tatty canvas deck jacket, didn’t look like the type to trade small talk about marginal brakes and excessive fuel consumption. My loss, no doubt.

Other bike suggestions would be a side-by-side giant test like they used to do back in the 1970s and 80s, for those of us old enough to remember, comparing a Suzuki T500 Cobra and a Yamaha SR500. Chalk and cheese? Or more similar than one would imagine. Never been on either myself.

I’ll leave that with you to ponder upon, no pressure obviously. Great magazine. Phil Holloway, member 185 We’re absolutely always open to suggestions like this – it’s really helpful to know which machines people would like to see featured. Turning those requests into reality often depends upon the Cosmic Supply Co and whether the relevant model is available in the right place at the right time, with an owner who is willing to indulge us!

Head-to-head tests can be doubly difficult to arrange so they tend to be a rarity – two owners, two old bikes which need to be running just right; and a journalist, and a photographer, and a sunny (or at least dry) day. There’s lots of scope for that to go sideways… But we’re always willing to give it a go. Mind you, I’m curious about whether the pairing you suggest is a genuine buying choice for today’s classic rider. What say you, RC people? If you were considering a Cobra, would you be happy with an SR500? Or vice versa?

As it happens, we have a couple of features lined up for this winter which almost (but not quite) match your requests. Ace Tester Miles has been thrashing around on a Suzi twostroke middleweight, while Stu Thomson shares his experiences of an 883 Evolution Sportster. Not quite what you asked for; close enough for now? Rowena