Sump is closing its news pages It had to happen sooner or later, and now's the right time. Sump Publishing was launched way back in 2009 essentially as an information portal for classic bike riders and enthusiasts. We quickly created and posted hundreds of features ranging from buyers guides to event reports to road tests to opinion columns to product reviews to whatever else seemed pertinent. It was all a little haphazard, fuelled by our eclectic interests and style. And as we've said many times, Sump was always intended as a magazine for motorcyclists and not "merely" a motorcycle magazine. A news page was also quickly added, and since then we've written hundreds of thousands of words detailing the various happenings and antics in the classic two wheeled scene—most of it as seen from the UK perspective. Then we moved laterally into modern bikes. Well, we've looked around and, if we say so ourselves, we can't see that anyone has done it better. To date, we estimate that we've got well over one million words out there in the ether, and that's a pretty fair innings for a small outfit such as this. But time takes its toll, the grey gets greyer, and the scene isn't what it used to be; not by a long way. Most of the classic people from the "golden era" (whatever that means to you) are long gone. A new generation is out there, and the scene is shrinking. Or perhaps just changing. Either way, it's not a scene that we really identify with. Moreover, we've got other commitments around here, and many other private interests (including plenty of beer that we still haven't drunk). Meanwhile we've got a lot of travel planned that we want to get done—including another cross-USA jaunt). So we're quitting while we're ahead. As such, Sump will stay online for an indefinite period; months, years or decades (we really haven't looked that far ahead). It's still a great resource, after all, and much of it continues to be very relevant. But we won't be adding any more news. So if something significant happens, you'll have to read about it elsewhere. We've still got a few T-shirts and metal signs and whatnot in stock, and we'll be running them down over the coming weeks and months. But there won't be any more fresh news from this channel, and we won't be adding any more features or events either. The email, meanwhile, will remain open until Elvis finally leaves the building, etc. If we've learned anything about life (and we haven't actually learned all that much really), it's knowing when to tip your king and bow out with as much grace as you can muster. And that moment has arrived, and we're gone already. We're not particularly tearful, by the way. But these things are usual tinged with a certain regret. Change comes hard sometimes. Are we right? Finally we want to thank all those guys and gals who have supported us over the years, especially those who've bought Sump products. Beyond that, we've got nothing significant to add, so goodbye, bon voyage, get your motor running, and ride safely one and all. It's been quite journey, but it's over. Sump out.     
Footnote: Since this announcement (just yesterday) we've been inundated with goodwill messages from around the world. We can't reply to them all, of course (still got plenty of beer left to drink first, you understand), but we are noting every single one of the messages, and we're very, very grateful. Thanks again to all. 
www.britishdealernews.co.uk New owners for Premier Bikes (Abingdon, Oxon, Triumph, KTM)
NMM going LIVE [Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th October 2023]
Yamaha celebrates milestones for the Ténéré and R1
www.motorcyclenews.com Classic climb all in a good cause [Lincs Wolds Vintage Hill Climb, 3/9/23]
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial What Motorcycle Can I Ride? - A Guide To Motorcycle Licence Categories
Bennetts High Performance Award | Safest motorcycle clothing database
www.visordown.com 
Henry Cole, Allen Millyard. New two-up bike land speed record [183.5mph]
London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion now in force 29/8/23
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Ride to the Wall (RTTW) Oct 2023 7th October 2023 to be exact 9am - 5pm Some of you Sumpsters won't still know what this is all about. But most probably will. Ride to the Wall is an event intended to pay homage to the personnel killed and injured in the various armed conflicts of the past 100 years or so—which includes WW1. Here's what the organiser says: Ride to the Wall sees thousands of motorcyclists from around the UK come together to remember the names engraved on the walls of the Armed Forces Memorial.
Since 2008, motorcyclists of all ages have participated in this annual pilgrimage from across the country. During the day, a Service of Remembrance takes place at the Armed Forces Memorial, allowing participants to take a moment to remember and reflect.
It would be of enormous help to both the Arboretum and RTTW teams, if those wishing to arrive at the Arboretum by motorcycle could register their attendance in advance with Ride to the Wall and participate in one of the organised rides.
A donation of £10 has been suggested. All vehicles booked in advance will be charged £4 parking, or you can pay £6 on the day. The address is: National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire DE13 7AR. www.thenma.org.uk
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We're talking, of course, about the Brighton Speed Trials Cars only at this event for 2023 We've had a request to make it extra clear that the 2023 Brighton Speed Trials to be held on Saturday 2nd September will NOT entertain any bike racing. Why is this not clear from various notifications currently in circulation? Well, it seems that the Brighton & Hove Motor Club which organises the event is (at the time of writing this) still listing bike racing on its website. But that's an error. By all means attend the trials this year and/or have a great day out in Brighton. Just don't expect to see organised bike racing. Es claro? Good. See the link below for an earlier reminder of the event. Brighton Speed Trials: Still no bikes
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July 2023 
New Zealander Burt Munro is inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame
Save Perranporth Motoring Events petition; your signature is required
Band guitarist Jaime Royal "Robbie" Robertson OC: 1943 – 2023.
Wales to launch 20mph zones in 8 shared pedestrian/vehicle communities.
‘Travel Like You Know Them’: new government "Think!" campaign starts
Graham Wallace (Peter Starr) 1942 - 2023 motorcycle film maker
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Packard Chitty sells for £174,375 Replica movie icon fetches big money H&H was the auctioneer It was estimated to sell somewhere between £160,000 - £180,000, which proved to be on the nail. Then again, auction estimates are very often nothing but price tags. The general public, after all, usually has only a hazy notion of what things are really worth, no less so when it comes to reproduction vehicles. Or should we get on message and say "evocations"? Either way, this is one of the better replicas, and we've seen a few over the years. The original movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was based upon an unknown chassis and powered by a Ford Essex V6 engine. Actually, we should clarify this statement by explaining that there were in fact various Chittys built to suit filming needs, some of them without engines. 
Since the movie, dozens of examples have been fabricated, some of them significantly more convincing than others (and one or two of them pretty awful). But what makes this one significantly different is that it's claimed to be the only one built around pre-1930s components (therefore closer to the Edwardian era in which the film was set). The chassis, we're told, dates to 1924 and is registered as a Packard. It was originally a left-hand drive frame, but a little jiggery-pokery soon sorted that out; essentially by rotating the front axle 180-degrees and reworking the steering linkage to suit. The engine, meanwhile, is an undated 5-litre six-cylinder Studebaker sidevalve. 
There are no details of the transmission, but it's clearly manual with a period-correct clutch-accelerator-brake pedal layout. Brakes are diabolical (bands on the outside, and shoes on the inside; on two wheels only). Other details include a 1913 Cadillac windscreen surround, 1909 electric headlights, and artillery wheels (which we note are 12-spoke instead of 10, if that matters to anyone). The project took four months to complete and was ready to roll in early 2019. The registration is FLY 539. A V5C is present. Overall, we think the car gets a 9 out of 10. But close up inspection of the images show the vehicle to be a little tatty in places. Nothing really significant, Just signs of wear and tear and use. What we'd really like to see is a replica of the movie race-Chitty; the Grand Prix example in the title sequence that crashed in flames. No lights. No screen. No bling. Just an engine, chassis, petrol tank, seat and wheels. Anyone up for building that?
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Warwickshire auction house changes its name Next bike auction on Sunday 12th November 2023 at the NEC Re-branding a company is pretty much inevitable if a given firm stays in business for any length of time. Norwich Union became Aviva, Thomas Cook became TUI. Vosper Thorneycroft became VT Group. Facebook has recently become Meta. And so on. Well, Silverstone Auctions has lately been bitten by the re-branding bug and now wishes to be known as "Iconic". Smart move? Probably. Things change, and commercial enterprises need to change with it. And "Iconic" sounds like a reasonable moniker. Silverstone Auctions was founded 12 years ago by Nick Whale. Most of the business relates to sales of classic cars and racing cars, but motorcycles sales are an important element. The firm is based at Ashorne, Warwickshire, CV35 0AA. www.iconicauctioneers.com
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1949 HD WLC 45 to charity auction 750cc Flathead must sell A cancer charity will be the main beneficiary The charity is Look Good Feel Better. You might have heard of 'em. We hadn't, but then we don't get around like we used to. Who does? The important thing here, however, is the fact that the bike (immediately above and below)—a 1949 750cc Harley-Davidson WLC Flathead—is going under the hammer courtesy of auction house Silverstone. The date scheduled is Sunday 30th July 2023, and there's no reserve. So the bike is likely to attract a fair number of bidders, and might prove to be a great bargain (not that that's the intention here). If you're not familiar with these flatties, they can be a bit of a handful at times. They clank and klunk and often have irascible personalities, but once you ride them the way they want to be ridden (meaning with measured timing) they're rewarding machines. There are plenty of spares around including a lot of new parts being remanufactured, plus some performance upgrades. 
The "lipstick red" bike, we're told, was donated to the charity by Kiehl’s which is part of the L’Oréal Group. It was on display in Kiehl’s flagship store in Regent Street, London until the store closed last year (2022). The bike was hanging around Holland for part of its life, then was bought and brought to England by Attington Classics Ltd in Oxfordshire. Kiehl’s in turn purchased it on 5th September 2014, and you more or less know the rest. The Auction takes place at Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EP. There's public viewing on Saturday 29th July 2023. If you do buy it, show it some regular tarmac if you can. A bike like this can turn a good day out into a great day out. And you can take that to the bank (if you can find a bank that's open anymore).
Follow this link for more details of the HD Auction.
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June 2023 
Reunion and Cafe Racer ride out ... and don't forget the Brighton Burn Up The posters will tell you pretty much all you need to know. But you might be interested in the motivation for these events. Firstly, the organisers wants to remind us of the date of the opening of the Ace Cafe when it was a lorry transport cafe. That was way back in 1938, just before WW2 kicked off. And that was 85 years ago, which makes 2023 the 85th anniversary. The next date is 1969. That was when the Ace Cafe closed as a transport cafe. Twenty-five years after that, in 1994, the first Ace Cafe Reunion was held to draw all the old Rockers back to the place where so much happened in the heady days of the 1950s and 1960s. Well Sunday 3rd September 2023 will celebrate the 29th Ace Cafe Annual Reunion. What's that you say? It's not 29 years since 1994? Well you're right. A couple of years were missed, The point is, the event is still a fixture on the annual biking calendar, and your presence will be very welcome regardless of what you ride. Meanwhile, it's the 22nd anniversary since the cafe fully reopened in 2021. 
There's a lot happening including a ride out or two, a cafe racer competition, a 'Blessing of the Bikes' service (which is laying it on a bit thick for us; but each to his/her own). And if you want another date to put in your diary, it's the 62nd Blessing of the Bikes service which coincides with the opening of the world famous 59 Club in 1962 which was just about when The Beatles got started. Sound like your kind of weekend? Okay, Check the posters and visit the Ace Cafe website for route details. Mark Wilsmore, the head honcho at the Ace, seem to have got it all worked out. All it needs is your presence, energy and enthusiasm. And don't forget to give the bike a good shakedown before you set out. Sitting at the side of the A23, or wherever, waiting hours for a recovery truck is no way to spend any part of a weekend. Ride safe, etc. https://london.acecafe.com
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Velocette: The Three Twins New book from Veloce Publishing Fans of the LE, the Roarer, and the Model O look this way We're going to keep this news item neatly trimmed because there's simply no point in labouring it. If you're one of the target buyers/readers, you'll know more or less instantly if you want to purchase this tome—or if you don't want it (and it's not as if there's a huge choice of books on this subject). Meanwhile, if you're not a fan of the more obscure offerings from Veloce Ltd, you probably won't be too interested in reading further. For most classic bikers, however, the LE needs little introduction. The famous "Noddy bike" was produced from 1948 to 1971. There were three iterations; the Mk 1, Mk 2 and Mk3. The engines started out at 149cc and grew to a heady 192cc. There were four gears. British police forces bought around half of the production run, and the water-cooled flats twins were still being used by some police forces into the mid-1970s. The LE (Little Engine) project was aimed at the mass commuter market which, in the early post-war years, was poorly served with regard to basic transportation. Quirky and radical, these pint-sized flat-twin sidevalves, with their water-cooling and pressed steel chassis, have in recent years developed something of a cult following. The Roarer, meanwhile, was built for racing, but was all but stillborn. With its 498cc, SOHC, air-cooled, supercharged, twin-cylinder engine backed by Velocette's justifiable reputation for designing and building some pretty formidable motorcycles, the bike was intended to combat the likes of Norton, BMW, AJS, MV and Gilera et al. Features included two contra-rotating crankshafts, a four-speed transmission and shaft drive. Power was rated at around 54bhp. The top speed was a claimed 140mph. The gears numbered four. The project begun in the mid to late 1930s, but WW2 arrived with a bang—with a lot of bangs, actually—and the Roarer was never really tested in competition battle. It wasn't aimed at mass production, and there were insufficient funds and commercial momentum to carry the project forward. So the Roarer was quietly shelved, and largely forgotten. The Model O, however, was aimed at mass production. But once again, the war and chronic financial issues stalled the project before it was really begun. Features included a 588cc, twin-cylinder, air-cooled engine with contra-rotating and geared cranks, twin Amal carburettors and a four-speed 'box. This new book from Veloce Publishing (no relation to Veloce Motorcycles Ltd) explores the relationship between these three bikes, and looks closely at the technological developments whilst exploring the culture at the firm that was owned at operated throughout by the Goodman family. There's also an interesting insight into the Valiant and Vogue models, plus a glimpse of the LE industrial engine. The book itself is, in typical Veloce fashion, a little unimaginative in terms of production. Some of the images are dull and not very sharp. The text is perhaps slightly smaller than many will feel comfortable with. But on the plus side, it appears to be very informative and will probably satisfy the vast majority of buyers, if not all-comers. The authors are Brian Agnew and Ivan Rhodes, both of whom are time-served engineers with a clear passion for the Velocette marque. The ISBN is: 978-1787119000. The book is hardback. There are around 120 pages. The price is around £25 depending on where you can grab a copy. The book comfortably fits a niche within a niche, but if you're serious about Velocette, you'll just have to get a copy. www.veloce.co.uk
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1954 650cc BSA A10 £3,000 - £4,000 is the estimate None of us here at Sump has ever seen any episode from the TV series Father Brown. But we're told it is/was fairly popular and featured a fairly original looking 1954 650cc BSA A10. According to the press release: "Set in the 1950s, Father Brown’s character was a Roman Catholic priest based in the fictional village of Kembleford in the Cotswolds, who used his distinctive skills to solve various crimes.
In the episode ‘Wheels of Wrath’ a motorbike gang, the Ton Up's arrive in Kembleford and one of the gang, Roger Norton, seems to be on a pilgrimage, lighting a candle in St Mary's. When he is killed by barbed wire strung across the road Father Brown investigates, wishing to know why Roger Norton had lit a candle in church. With sergeant Goodfellow's help he discovers that Turner and Norton were involved in the death of a young girl." Fascinating stuff, huh? Well maybe not. But either way, the Beeza is going to be auctioned at the Silverstone Auctions Shuttleworth Sale on Sunday 30th July 2023, and the lots can be viewed the day before. We can't tell you anything else about how the bike was used and featured in the show. Was it a one-off performance? Or a regular star? Answers on a postcard, please. 
There's little else to be said about it. No details of the bike's history before becoming a minor TV star. But we can tell you that this plunger framed parallel twin is said to be in good running order, is carrying its original registration number, and a V5C is present. And one more thing; don't forget there's a buyer's premium of 12.5%, and VAT on the premium at 15%. www.silverstoneauctions.com
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Triumph Speed 400 & 400X Scrambler Smallest capacity Hinckley Triumphs so far Indian built bikes scratch an old itch Well it's about bloody time. We've been waiting years for a lighter weight/lower capacity Triumph to appear in the showroom, and Hinckley has finally produced the goods in the shape of the Speed 400 (image immediately above) and Scrambler 400X (immediately below). Not that the bikes are quite light enough for us. They weigh in at around 179kg (393lbs), which is just under the weight of, say, a 750cc Meriden-built Triumph Bonneville circa 1979. But there's around 40bhp on tap which is a respectable, if not startling, number for a 400cc single. Yes, 400cc, and that makes them the lowest capacity motorcycles so far to issue from the Hinckley, Leicestershire factory (well from the company's Indian factory actually, but that's a secret best whispered than proclaimed with gusto). 
There are two options: The clumsily named Speed 400, and the Scrambler 400X, which is more an obvious name than clumsy (but it hardly carries any exciting connotations). With their "baby Bonneville" looks, both machines are pretty safe designs, and once again the Triumph engineers must have shifted quite a lot of metal around to consolidate that image. But you can't really blame 'em for that. A fresh look might have been preferable for some, but selling the bikes is what it's all about, and we figure that most of the likely buyers will happy with what they see—and evidently so does Hinckley. Features include the usual ABS (switchable on the Scrambler 400X), traction control, LED lighting, a digital/analogue instrument display and a creditable 10,000 mile service interval. Colours for the Speed 400 are Carnival Red, Caspian Blue and Phantom Black. We're also told that the bikes exceed Euro 5 thereby helping make them future proof. No prices yet. Speed 400 Specifications Type: Liquid-cooled, 4 valve, DOHC, single-cylinder Cubic capacity: 399cc Bore & stroke: 89 x 64mm Compression ratio: 12:1 Power: 40 PS/39.5 bhp (29.4 kW) @ 8,000 rpm Maximum torque: 37.5Nm @ 6,500 rpm Exhaust: stainless steel Fuelling: 37.5 Nm @ 6,500 rpm Gears: 6-speed Clutch: wet multiplate, slip assist Final drive: X-ring chain Chassis & suspension:spine/perimeter, tubular steel, bolt-on rear subframe Swinging arm: twin-sided, cast-aluminium alloy Front fork: 43mm upside down big piston forks with 140mm wheel travel Rear suspension: Gas monoshock RSU, external reservoir with pre-load
150mm wheel travel Front wheel: Cast aluminium alloy 10 spoke, 17 x 3 inch Rear wheel: Cast aluminium alloy 10 spoke, 17 x 4 inch Front brake: 300mm fixed disc, 4-piston radial caliper, ABS Rear brake: 230mm fixed disc, floating caliper, ABS Seat height: 790mm (31 inches) Weight: 170kg (374lbs) Scrambler 400X Specifications Type: Liquid-cooled, 4 valve, DOHC, single-cylinder Cubic capacity: 399cc Bore & stroke: 89 x 64mm Compression ratio: 12:1 Power: 40 PS/39.5 bhp (29.4 kW) @ 8,000 rpm Maximum torque: 37.5Nm @ 6,500 rpm Exhaust: stainless steel Fuelling: 37.5 Nm @ 6,500 rpm Gears: 6-speed Clutch: wet multiplate, slip assist Final drive: X-ring chain Chassis & suspension:spine/perimeter, tubular steel, bolt-on rear subframe Swinging arm: twin-sided, cast-aluminium alloy Front fork: 43mm upside down big piston fork with 150mm wheel travel Rear suspension: Gas monoshock RSU, external reservoir with pre-load
150mm wheel travel Front wheel: Cast aluminium alloy 10 spoke, 19 x 2.5 in Rear wheel: Cast aluminium alloy 10 spoke, 17 x 3.5 in Front brake: 320mm fixed disc, 4-piston radial caliper, ABS Rear brake: 230mm fixed disc, floating caliper, ABS Seat height: 835mm (33 inches) Weight: 179kg (393lbs) Overall, we quite like the look of the bikes. As ever, Hinckley Triumph knows it needs to get it right more or less every time—certainly when it comes to knew directions. Whether the bike has an impact on the target markets depends largely on the price. Certainly, the Triumph badge won't be a handicap. So far, so good, we say.
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May 2023 
16th July 2023 is the date Stickney, Lincs is the location When it comes to car and motorcycle shows in the UK, classic or otherwise, Lincolnshire has less than its fair share. That's possibly at least partly because it's a rural county that's badly connected to the rest of the country. So we decided to give this event a little boost with a few timely words here on Sump. The flyer above tells you most of what you need to know, but we'll repeat some of it here for the benefit of the internet spiders. It's a one-day event which will be held on Sunday 16th July 2023 at Stickney, Lincs which is a ten minute drive or ride up the A16 from Boston. Entry is £5 per person, and that includes a raffle ticket—but it's not clear what's being raffled. Then again, when it comes to a free lunch, you'd best just eat. The post code is PE22 8AG. That should put you within a few hundred yards of the event. 
Expect to find an autojumble, vintage cars, classic cars, custom cars, hot rods, military vehicles, display stands for traders and clubs, trophy fun and games and, best of all, a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). That's subject to availability on the day and, of course, the whims of the weather. And yes, we did adjust the image to bring the aircraft closer together. We can't see that there's anything at this show specifically for bikes. But car autojumbles can sometime be good pickings for the motorcycle fraternity. Right? Finally a word of caution; Lincolnshire has some of the worst roads in the country, not least in the Stickney area which is on the Fens. The roads have all but collapsed in places, and many folk drive like lunatics, so be aware. The event, incidentally, is being organised by the Mablethorpe & District Motor Club.
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Jools Holland Velocette for sale Ex-Squeeze band member and TV music personality bike offered 500cc Velocette with a mean estimate That's not the best photograph we've ever seen of TV personality Jools Holland. But then, he always looks a bit awkward and uncomfortable. Some folk do. And the reason why he's appearing here on Sump is that a 1959 500cc Velocette Venom once owned by him is about to be offered at auction. The estimate is £5,000 - £7,000. That's where Silverstone Auction has pitched this bike, and we think that's a little mean given Jool's fame and status. Then again, celebrity bikes and cars don't always hit the expected numbers. We've seen that many times (check out this Fonzie's Triumph story). Moreover, the bike isn't being sold directly from him. There's a buyer/seller in between. Does that really make a difference? We think so. Regardless, Jools bought the bike in 1988 and sold it in 2013. That's a very respectable duration of ownership, if that matters to anyone. The bike will form one of the lots at the Shuttleworth Motorcycle Sale on July 30th in Bedfordshire. You can find Shuttleworth in Biggleswade, SG18 9EA. 
Around 5,721 of these bikes were produced between 1955 and 1970. In 1961 a factory-prepared Velocette Venom and a team of riders set the 24-hour world record at a speed of 100.05 mph in France. It was, apparently, the first motorcycle to average over 100 mph continuously for 24 hours.
Not untypically, the bike hasn't been used for the last few years, so it might/will require some recommissioning, but we're told that it turns over freely with good compression. The Rodark panniers are included in the sale. And if the Velocette doesn't interest you, there will be around 100 bikes at the sale.
www.silverstoneauctions.com
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Sunday 5th November 2023 is the date 70th anniversary of the movie Clearly not really a biking story, but there's plenty of crossover between vintage two, three, and four wheelers. So we felt this was worth at least a brief mention on our hallowed pages. 
The famed London to Brighton Run will this year see its two most illustrious entrants get back out on the road and reprise their amusing Technicolor cinematic journey from Hyde Park to Madeira Drive, and those vehicles are the 1904 Darracq and the 1905 Spyker as campaigned in the 1953 movie Genevieve starring Kenneth Moore, John Gregson, Dina Sheridan and Kay Kendall. It's actually the 70th anniversary of that movie, and naturally none of the original cast will be in attendance, all having since died—the last survivor being Dina Sheridan who made her final exit in 2012 aged 92.  Meanwhile, early bird entries for the 2023 RM Sotheby’s sponsored event are now being sought, with the start being Sunday 5th November 2023.
The French-built Darracq has actually been a fairly regular entrant on the run, but the Dutch-built Spyker hasn't been widely seen for many years. Might be nice to see a passing brace or two of vintage motorcycles to add a little extra colour (and possibly drama) to the event. And remember, you don't have to be an official entrant to cover the route. You can just wing it. If you're interested in riding the route on the day, need we remind anyone to stay well clear of the old crocks? You know the score, etc. Sounds like a memorable day out. www.veterancarrun.com A Darracq called Genevieve
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Silverstone May 2023 motorcycle sale £600,000 turnover Lack lustre auction, but with one or two interesting lots £600,000 with 74% of lots sold and setting "A New UK Auction record for Lot 338, a Kawasaki GPZ1000RX" which "sold for £6,862, thereby doubling its auction estimate". That's the Kwacker immediately above. And okay, it looks like a pretty decent enough bike, but is this really the best that Silverstone has to crow about? Just shy of seven grand? Certainly seems so, and this 7,700 mile machine is what topped the press release detailing the firm's recent sale at the Devitt MCN Festival of motorcycling held on May 14th 2023. That sale took place at the East of England Showground near Peterborough, Cambs, and we've no doubt it was a pretty good shingdig which was actually a two day event (13th-14th May).
But arguably, a more interesting lot was Lot 372 which sold for £33,314, "well over its lower estimate". The bike (immediately above) is a 2013 Confederate Hellcat. Less than 10 were built at the Alabama factory, we're advised, and only two landed on these shores. Designed by Pierre Terblanche, the 2,163cc V-twin Hellcat boasts features that include: a full carbon wheelset, a 240 Metzler rear tyre, billet aluminium components throughout, 4-pot Beringher calipers, Marzocchi forks, 121bhp on tap, an aircraft-grade 6061 aluminium crankcase mated to a drag-racing, 5-speed transmission. The bike is showing just 100 miles on the clock and was lately kept primarily "as a display piece". And what did this exercise in human excess sell for? £33,314 which was "well over its lower estimate." 
We also notice a dozen or more speedway/grasstrack bikes, one which sold for "an undisclosed sum"; specifically, a c1973 Hagon "Speedway Springer" Jawa Grass Track Bike 500cc (Lot 309), and there was a so-so interesting c1995 Honda XL500 500cc Triumph Special (badged as a Trida/Lot number 325) which sold for ... well, also an "undisclosed sum". Seems to be in vogue at Silverstone (see the image immediately below). 
Beyond that, nothing really exciting stands out. But a £600,000 turnover is respectable enough, and in the current trading climate with plenty of footshuffling indecisive buyers and plenty more poker-faced sellers asking outrageous sums, Silverstone is probably happy enough with what it trousered on the day. www.silverstoneauctions.com
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Eight riders Available now for a tenner Pull up your favourite/usual search engine, key in something like "MOTORCYCLE STAMPS" or "STAMPS WITH A MOTORCYCLE THEME", then hit the ENTER or RETURN button. With luck, you should quickly be presented with a large assortment of results featuring motorcycles on postage stamps—which, of course, is yet more evidence that bikes punch above their weight when it comes to visceral thrills, automotive kicks and commercial treats. Well, a new batch of motorcycle themed stamps has just hit the market, and you don't have to be a philatelist to buy and enjoy them. The set of eight is headlined "Grand Prix Legends" and it celebrates 100 years of the Manx Grand Prix and features an assortment of machines and riders who've raced on the 37¾ mile Isle of Man Mountain Course since1923.
Riders include Len Randles, Albert Moule, Ron Langston, Chas Mortimer, John Knowles, Dave Roper, Carolynn Sells, and Nathan Harrison. The collection, we're advised, is a collaboration between author David Wright and "local" graphic designer and illustrator Tracey Dean. We don't know what factors underpinned the selection process, but no doubt there's a rationale behind it. If you fancy a set, contact the Isle of Man Post Office, and be prepared to hand over ten quid plus change.
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Henk Joore: 1956 - 2023 Founder of the world's best motorcycle forum has died He was a BSA sidevalve man right through to the crank The world's best motorcycle forum? We mean that. But don't take our word for it. Just check it out, especially if you're into military bikes. The site (www.wdbsa.nl) was founded by Henk Joore who, we're very sad to report, has died at the age of 66. The site carries well-informed posts on the minutiae of war bike ownership, and is always ready to help via well informed and genuine like-minded souls. Photos, charts, parts lists, related military equipment, regimental markings, replica spares and much more. If you ride an army motorcycle, or if you aspire to, this was, and still is, the place to go. We tune into Henk's forum from time to time, and we knew him a little—but only in a detached email/forum post way. He'd amassed a huge knowledge of military bikes, especially BSA M20s which were his favourite mounts. He occasionally bought and sold spares, some of them very rare. Modest, affable, helpful and always courteous, Henk was well known on the military re-enactment scene and was a popular figure at such events. He was also into Citroen 2CVs and travelled widely in them. In recent years his health was in decline. Consequently, he looked ahead and found other forum members ready and willing to pick up the gauntlet and keep the site running. Henk took a back seat and became less and less visible on the site, and then of course we received the sad news.
Some years ago we carried an interview with Henk which offers some more insight into the man and his modest views and philosophy—not that he'd ever consider himself as anything but an ordinary bloke getting on with life in a quiet and relaxed way. He was just Henk. Henk Joore, and he will be hugely missed. He leaves behind a wife and two children. www.wdbsa.nl Interview with Henk Joore
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April 2023 
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NMM Summer Raffle. 1974 850cc Norton Commando. £10 for 5 tickets
H-D launches 2023 Electra Glide Highway King. 1,750 units. $32.5k
Ducati opens news store in Bournemouth, Dorset. 7.000sq-ft. BH21 7PT
NMC: "Registered historic bikes exempt from London Congestion Charge."
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jnr: 1938 - 2023. Canadian folk-pop songwriter
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Motorcycles are off the menu Confirmation of the 2023 event is pending ... The VMCC Sprint Section has once again announced that bikes will, for the foreseeable future, not be allowed on the starting grid. The sprint section has long been running the event by invitation of the Brighton & Hove Motor Club. But that's come to an end. Why? Well, the press release doesn't specify. However, there have been increasing Brighton Council concerns (hysteria?) regarding safety and concomitant insurance issues. We've covered this before. The 2023 event is/was scheduled for Saturday 2nd September 2023, but it's not clear if the event is going ahead without the bikes with only four-wheelers. We'll look into it. Meanwhile see Sump Classic Bike News August 2021 for more on this. Or check this VMCC statement link. Update: The September event has been confirmed
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Rare 1977 Honda CBX "sandcast" Rare 1,000cc pre-production model seeks a fat wallet Only three "sandcast" engines have survived We're advised that (a) there are only six pre-production examples left in the world, (b) they were hand-built by Honda, and (c) this one is powered by a sandcast 1,000cc engine—as opposed to a diecast motor. But truth to tell, we don't really understand the difference between "die" and "sand" (not to talk intelligently about it, anyway). Yes, we looked it up and had a gander, etc, but it was all technical and complicated and we gave up worrying about it and went for a beer. But others are worrying about it, not least Silverstone Auctions which will be offering this bike for sale on 14th May 2023 at the Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling at the East of England Arena, Peterborough, Cambs. Around 41 pre-production CBX's were supposed to have been built, but what will all those cylinders and valves and saki guzzling and whatnot, someone lost count, and the number "six" was agreed upon. Most of the pre-production examples are in museums, we're also told. But one or two are in private hands, and only three are sandcast. We think we got that right, take note, but press releases ain't what they used to be. This example was originally sent to Belgium, but it's now in the UK and has had its speedo switched from KPH to MPH. The engine and frame numbers match. There's a "letter of authenticity" from Honda. And its ready to rock'n'roll. The CBX was, to us, always something of a (dare we say "silly"?) factory gimmick as opposed to a serious piece of riding hardware (and Honda Motorcycles was always ready with a new gimmick). But then, we at Sump were weened and raised on oily British singles and twins which makes us a world away from the average CBX man or woman. It's hardly surprising that we just don't get the concept, not as a going concern, anyway. With those six cylinders acting like a barn door, the bike was pre-empted by the 750cc Benelli Six (or Sei) which arrived five years earlier, and was superseded by 900cc Benelli Sei in 1979—both of which looked way better than the CBX. 
Weighing around 550lbs and with 105bhp on tap, the CBX 1000 was, on paper if not always on tarmac, good for over 130mph and needed a firm hand and a steady nerve on anything less than a laser-straight highway. But it was smoooooooth and reliable, and it grabbed the headlines in the manner to which it was intended. And today, these motorcycles are still able to turn heads and start a vicious argument. Around 41,000 were manufactured. Bike Magazine, writing in 1978, apparently said: "The CBX was quite simply a marvellous revelation which has genuinely elevated the status of motorcycling. Few people will be able to afford to run one, but then the best is never cheap. Above all, such a motorcycle should not be condemned because it's an excess." And if that doesn't sound like a lot of motorcycling flannel, you probably need to wash more often. The estimate is £25,000 to £35,000 UPDATE: The CBX didn't sell. www.silverstoneauctions.com
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March 2023 
Remember when you used to read all this stuff before you got into bikes? Well take a little time out to feel young again... Now calm down everyone. Pop another valium or take another swig of your favourite poison and hear us out before you brick your computer monitor or stamp on your smartphone. Every once in a while we get an email from a puzzled Sumpster—and sometimes a slightly irate and puzzled Sumpster—asking why the fuhhhhh we're carrying this feature or that feature when said feature patently has nothing whatsoever to do with motorcycles. And generally speaking we patiently explain that Sump was never intended purely as a motorcycle magazine. It was, rather, intended as a magazine for motorcyclists—and, more specifically, for motorcyclists of a certain generation or mindset or bent. We're talking about guys and girls who grew up listening to bands such as The Kinks, and the Beatles, and Manfred Mann, and The Move, and The Who, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Guys and Girls who recall the live TV thrill of the 1969 Apollo moon landing, and OD-ed on Audie Murphy and Randolph Scott westerns. Guys and girls who remember when Henry Cooper sensationally floored Ali, and recall when the first Jump Jet and Concorde took to the air, and watched with puzzlement/horror the nightly news bulletins about the latest Vietnam war body count. In short, guys and girls who are now in their sixties and seventies and eighties. Guys and girls who've got a lot of interesting and varied stuff in their back catalogue. And that doesn't necessarily exclude Sumpsters of a later generation. You can't help being young, can ya? And that's why anyone who's anyone, or even no one in particular (like us) is welcome to visit these pages. 
▲ Superman beating up some bikers. We couldn't actually find this old yarn on the free comics website, but maybe you'll have better luck. Either way, the moral message is clear. Motorcycles contribute to juvenile delinquency, which is at least partly why we all rushed out to get on two wheels and have some teenage fun. 
And that's why we're tipping you off about the online Superman comics we've been reading whilst waiting for something decent to pop up on the telly. If you grew up in the sixties and seventies and even eighties, chances are Superman featured fairly prominently in your life—and if he didn't, you probably didn't have much of a life (so send us your name and address and we'll have a whip round). Here at Sump, we used to read Superman to death. Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern and all the other Lycra and Spandex heroes from the DC stable. And yes, we read Marvel comics too (albeit with slightly less enthusiasm). But the Man of Steel was the king of the heap (with the Dark Knight running a very tight second). Well, we found this Superman comics site a year or more ago (time flies when you're getting old, right?). And over a few beers we read a few tales. And then we forgot, and then we remembered again. So now we're telling you so you can enjoy a few super-yarns. 
▲ Check the look on Lois Lane's face. Cat fight tonight, wethinks. Meanwhile, spare a thought for the artistry that goes into creating these minor masterpieces of juvenile fantasy and adventure. Trivial stuff on the surface, yes. But behind that superficiality are some very talented artists, inkers, writers and editors.  If you get it, you've got it. If you don't get it, move onto the next story further down the page. For our part, we're drinking more beer tonight and curling up in front of the computer and doing what we can to reprise the days and the feelings we had when we were young and there was all to play for. You know what we mean. Also remember to check out the adverts for Trick Soap and X-Ray Spex and BB Guns (which didn't feature very prominently in the UK). The only thing missing is that old comic smell.
Pity. So join us if you will and follow the link below. We've landed you on the current comic we're looking at (1964), but you can mosey around the site and choose whatever you want. It appears to be all free. We're interested more in the sixties and seventies stuff, but there's plenty more going on. And if you can make a donation or something, please do. Someone went to an awful lot of trouble to create this site in order to roll back a few years and make us feel a little younger for a while. Get it while it's going, we say. And remember, as with any site on the www, you have to take your own risk when following a link. Best we can say is that it works for us. TAKE ME TO THE SUPERMAN COMICS SITE
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk 
Norton begins deliveries [V4SV] & Test Ride to You scheme announced
Alan Stoole [motorcycle dealer, 1943 - 2023]
Lings Group set to open new Norwich showroom
Zero kicks off demo rides tour
www.motorcyclenews.com 
Norton announce flagship London Bike Shed showroom + five other sites
Northern Ireland riding schools in crisis [insurance cover issue]
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial Honda CB750 Hornet (2023) - Review
www.visordown.com 
Harley-Davidson adds new Adventure Centre dates [Llangynog, Wales]
Yamaha "halfway" to self-stabilising production goal
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1960 Hailwood Ducati "newly found" Campaigned by Mike 'The Bike' Hailwood for one racing season Expected to sell for £95k - £120k One of the star attractions at the upcoming Bonhams' Bumper Spring Sale at Stafford on 22nd - 23rd April 2023 is the above 1960 Ducati 125cc Desmodromic 'Barcone' Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle. Carrying an estimate of £95,000 - 120,000, this we're told was one of four such machines produced for that year’s racing season. What makes the bike extra special is that it's been newly identified as the mount "campaigned by future Motorcycling World Champion Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood." Our racing knowledge is thin enough to scribble on the back of a head gasket, so we've no comment on the provenance of the bike. But you can check it out for yourself if you're so minded and motivated. 
Of particular interest to tech-heads is the fact that the four Ducati contenders "featured the final evolution of chief engineer Fabio Taglioni’s famous desmodronic (positive closure) valve technology introduced in the late 1950s. The resulting higher revs and increased power afforded many victories in period for Mercedes-Benz’s successful racing SLRs and for Ducati, which still uses the system today." That was Bonhams talking, by the way. Not us. The story further goes that Mike's dad, Stan (Ducati's then UK distributor), acquired the Duke from the factory in 1960. But the following season Mike signed with Honda, so the Ducati was offloaded and bought and sold various times by collectors and/or investors. More recently, motorcycle writer Ian Falloon identified the bike as the true Hailwood machine citing various identifying features such as: a boat-like crankcase (hence the 'Barcone' or 'Barge' moniker) a narrow, finless sump integral six-speed gearbox the cylinder inclined forward a taller fuel tank and thickly padded seat "Mike then won nine 125 races with the bike, with further victories later in the season, including at Oulton Park, becoming winner of that year’s British 125cc Championship." That was Bonhams speaking too.
Meanwhile, the bike is being offered in an "as found" condition, which in this case probably means a more upmarket shed. Update: The bike sold for £138,000 including premium www.bonhams.com
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The Slug needs an anniversary refurbishment £300,000 is the target fund It was built in the late 1920s with one objective in mind; to break the 200mph land speed record. And it did exactly that by hitting an average of 203.79mph with British serial speedster Major Henry Seagrave at the wheel. The location of that speed run (actually two runs in the usual way) was Daytona Beach, Florida USA. On 29th March 1927 the bright red rocket instantly entered the history books, and in 1958 it became a permanent exhibit at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire, England. Powered by two V12 aero engines and pumping out around 1,000hp, the three ton colossus, nicknamed The Slug, wowed a crowd of over 30,000 people. With 22.5 litres per engine, the roar was tremendous as the vehicle battled side winds which, at one point, forced Seagrave into the sea. But like all determined speedsters, he was focussed on his goal and managed to complete both runs without serious incident. 
Well, 2027 will the the 100th anniversary of that run, and to commemorate it, the National Motor Museum is planning to take The Slug back to Daytona in order to reprise the fabled event—albeit at what we suspect will be reduced velocities. However, the engines (in particular) have suffered from much corrosion and need a major overhaul. To that end, an appeal has just been launched which is begging donations and hoping to hit a £300,000 target. So if any of you Sumpsters out there want to be part of the Sunbeam 1000hp Restoration Campaign, follow the links and see where they get you. But does it really matter if this Sunbeam ever turns another wheel? You can answer that for yourself. For our part, we might fork out a couple of quid. Or maybe we'll hand it over to a Ukraine Fund. Hard to say right now. We're fickle like that sometimes. 
Henry Seagrave (1896 - 1930) was killed on Lake Windermere in England's Lake District whilst successfully achieving a water speed record. Then, as Sir Henry Seagrave, he was piloting Miss England II and hit 98.76mph before fate hit him back; a fitting end some would say, and one that in 1967 also punched Donald Campbell's ticket on nearby Coniston Water—an event that many of you reading this will no doubt well remember. National Motor Museum Trust donations
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£10k 5T Trumpet finds a new home Complete bar the rear stand There are probably always going to be shed finds. The sheds might change. The incumbent precious metal might change. The years will come and go with total indifference. And the rusty excitement will roll over to the next generation. Of course, the perversity of man (and woman, if you must) is likely to remain as it's always been; specifically that the worse the condition, the greater the thrill of rediscovery—as long as the bike/car/truck or whatever is complete. And even then, a manky crank, a footrest, and a bent frame (with only the headstock missing) is for many hardened shedsters a great beginning. 
With all that in mind, we've been looking with appropriate interest over the above 1938 500cc 5T Triumph Speed Twin recently listed as a shed find and claiming to be complete—with only the rear stand missing. Better yet, the engine apparently does turn over, boasts perceptible compression, and all gears are said to be selectable. According to Messrs H&H auctioneers, the bike had been "sleeping" for decades and will require a total overhaul. But the numbers are correct, a V5C is present, and (bad luck for some) it just sold (at the National Motorcycle Museum sale on 29th March 2023 for £9,890. As much as we love Speed Twins of all years, that sounds like way too strong money in what is unquestionably a falling market. But someone wanted it, and that's that. You can't argue with market forces. 
Meanwhile, given the ongoing demand for chronically neglected motorcycling hardware, we wonder if we're missing a trick or two here. Notably, we've got a few Triumphs in the shed at this moment, both of which are complete and look ripe for a little accelerated ageing backed by a plausible "undiscovered" back story. A few years down the road, who knows what they might fetch if we can nudge them to within a few atoms of a meaningful existence. Makes ya fink, boyos.
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February 2023
Final show for MCN Festival at East of England Arena May 13 & 14 2023
Government notification: Driving test examiners strikes in March 2023
Harley-Davidson £500 finance offer ends on 31st March 2023
Sheffield clean air zone, February 27th 2023. Private cars/bikes exempt
Custom Royal Enfield "Bootneck" 650cc Interceptor raises £60k for charity
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Wednesday 29th March 2023 is the auction date Some very low estimates here ... H&H Classic Auctions will be celebrating 30 years behind the auctioneer's rostrum on 29th March 2023 when the company holds its next motorcycle sale at the National Motorcycle Museum (NMM) in Solihull. One of the coolest lots, we feel, is the above (and immediately below) 1954 Triumph Tiger 100 which is carrying an estimate of £7,000 - £9,000 and is said to be one of the last 250 made in 1953 (if that makes a difference to anyone). 
This sprung hub 500cc all aluminium alloy twin is registered OLP 999 and began thundering down the road in January 1954 courtesy of Eleanor Motors of Hackney, London. Having spent most of its life in the London area, it was restored in the mid-1980s and, we're advised, still looks pretty fresh up close. Better yet, it's apparently leading a fairly active life around the capital, and recently showed a leg at one or more Taverners Trials—and also made a trip to the IOM TT. Woo-hoo. New tyres were fitted last summer. A sheaf of documents/photographs will accompany the bike. And a V5C is present. The appeal of these Speed Twins on steroids is the fact that, sprung hubs notwithstanding, they're still very usable classics inasmuch as they handle well (or well enough), enjoy a sprightly 55-70mph cruising performance, are easy to work on, are reliable, return 55-65mpg, and are generally capable of keeping up with modern traffic under most circumstances. In short, £7k - £9k is a very fair exchange for a sorted example, and long after you've forgotten the price you'll still be reliving the thrills. 
Moving on, we note that the bike with the highest expectations at this sale (pricewise, that is), is the immediately above 1936 1265cc Indian 4. "Sympathetically restored" this inline four motorcycle was refitted sometime in the 1980s and is said to be running well. The engine/frame numbers correspond to the company production records, and a V5C is present. Of course, some Indian purists wouldn't accept that this is in fact a true Indian. And here's why; William "Bill" Henderson and brother Tom were among the pioneers of Yankee straight fours. The Henderson company was established in Detroit in 1911. Their first bike was introduced in 1912. Five years or so later the redoubtable Ignaz Schwinn (who had purchased Excelsior) bought the Henderson outfit and absorbed it into his own growing manufacturing empire. 
Within a few years of moving to Chicago, the bikes were being marketed as Excelsior-Hendersons, and the marque continued for around 12 years. Generally dissatisfied, brother Tom exited the bike manufacturing business leaving William/Bill to found Ace and further develop the inline four concept. However, after many years of financial uncertainty, Ace was snapped up by Indian which gradually consolidated the marque into its own Springfield, Massachusetts brand. But call it what you will, the Henderson brothers' fingerprints are all over this motorcycle—and a long, convoluted and fascinating story it all is. Find a book. Read up. So what price this bike? Well, H&H is anticipating £54,000 - £58,000—which in today's financial climate might be a little optimistic, especially when the same auction is estimating a 1,210cc c1947 Indian Chief (see image immediately below) for just £6,000 - £8,000. True, this bike was in the process of a full restoration and will need a fair bit of reassembling—plus the purchase of a few parts. Nevertheless, it looks like good value and is a few thousand quid below what we would have expected just a few seasons ago. Then again, we're talking estimates, not sale prices. So we'll have to see what goes down on the day. 
And while we're talking about low estimates, a c1980 500cc Egli Vincent Comet (third image above) is anticipating £7,000 - £9,000; a 1972 750cc R75 BMW "brat" bike (second image above) is anticipating £2,500 - £3,500; and a 1953 500cc Sunbeam S8 (image immediately above) is expecting just £3,000 - £4,000. Of course, you need to get up close to fully establish the financial credentials of these machines. But if the hammer falls according to the estimates it will further reinforce our view that the classic bike scene is continuing its slow decline. However, that decline probably won't last forever. If we've learned anything about old crocks, it's that the wheels keep turning. So take heart and don't panic. Not yet, anyway. www.handh.co.uk Update: The Tiger 100 sold for £8,970 The Indian 4 sold for £65,550 (highest selling lot) The Vincent sold for £7,590 The BMW "brat" sold for £4,600 The Sunbeam S8 sold for £3,450
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk 
Fowlers [of Bristol] takes on Enfield and BSA
Danny Cork: 1925 - 2022 [long time Leeds bike dealer]
David Milliken: 1966-2022 [long time Northern Ireland bike dealer]
Dave Moore: 1934-2022 [long time Hertfordshire bike dealer]
www.motorcyclenews.com More moggy protection: IAM RoadSmart backs Road Traffic Act changes
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial Best motorcycle helmets in 2023 | Full-face, modular, flip-front & adventure
www.visordown.com 
Man saved by smartwatch after falling from cliff on motorcycle
FB Mondial Spartan 125 readying for release this year [2023]
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January 2023 
650cc BSA Gold Star on offer The draw is to be held in April 2023 What you're looking at (immediately above) is a 2023 BSA 650cc Gold Star Legacy Edition. Of course, it's not a "real" Gold Star, or so some might say—and vociferously are saying. But rightly or wrongly, this motorcycle has inherited the much lauded Gold Star crown, and that's that. Take it or leave it. We haven't road tested one of these. We might get around to it, but we're not in any rush. However, don't let that put you off if you like the cut of its jib. To that end, the National Motorcycle Museum (NMM) is raffling one of these Indian take-aways for the entry price of £10. That will actually buy you five tickets. The odds of winning are unknown (the NMM hasn't supplied details of how many tickets are generally sold). Suffice to say that the chances of having one of your five numbers come up is considerably greater than winning the National Lottery. 
It's billed as the Winter Raffle 2023 (which started in October 2022), and the winning ticket will be drawn on Sunday 23rd April 2023 at the Stafford Bike Show. And if you miss out on the jackpot, you might yet come up lucky with the second prize which is a 1968 BSA 175cc Bantam Bushman (a real BSA some might say). Third prize is a bunch of Sealey workshop tools. All the profits will be used for running the museum. Or so we're told. And why would we not believe that? Of course, whether the museum is worth running, or is being run as well as it might be, is yet another argument that we've heard strident opinions on from both camps. But we ain't going there, except as neutral (or neutralish) observers. One more thing; the raffle is open to UK residents only, and that excludes Northern Ireland. www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk www.bsacompany.co.uk
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Two limited edition models up for grabs Note that neither bike was actually used in the movies Silverstone Auctions is fielding two motorcycles associated with the long-running James Bond franchise and will be offering them for sale at the firm's next auction which, if things go to plan, will be staged at the MCN London Motorcycle Show Sale on the 18th February 2023. Immediately above is the first, a 2022 888cc Bond Edition Triumph Tiger 900 (based upon the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro). You might be forgiven for thinking this machine was actually used in the movie. But it wasn't. It's simply one of 250 motorcycles built by Hinckley (in conjunction with the Bond movie producers) to cash in on the film's over-hyped publicity. This example is number 146, and it's estimated by Silverstone to fetch £23,000 - £25,000. That sounds steep to us (especially in the current climate), but Silverstone's Rowan Huntley has been quoted as saying, "If this is not a future classic, we don't know what is." Well we don't know what is a future classic then. Because, to be blunt, this motorcycle strikes as more as a cheesy and over-priced product-placed lash-up. Don't get us wrong, mind. It's a very nice bike, but it will take more than a wave of a James Bond publicity wand to elevate this to anything really special. Any old Rally Pro straight off the peg would serve us just as well. There are six delivery miles on the clock, incidentally. And the bike has all the expected gold accents and Bond-badges and motifs and whatever. Do we sound jaded? Put it down to a cold January. We'll feel better by June. 
The other offering is a 2020 Triumph 'Bond Edition' 1200 XS Scrambler (image immediately above). This is a one-owner machine and is estimated to sell for £20,000 to £25,000. Of the two bikes, we'd pick this one, but not at that price. If you saw "No Time to Die", you would have witnessed one of these doing the kind of stunts you wouldn't get even in a cartoon. But hokum is hokum, and it couldn't have done Triumph exports any harm. And in case you were wondering, this XS is number 130 of 250. And of course there will be appropriate certification for both models.
Meanwhile, if neither motorcycle lights your fire, Silverstone will be auctioning another 120 bikes at the same sale. www.silverstoneauctions.com Also see: Bond bike auction raises £138,600
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Long time classic bike parts dealer has retired Andy Johnson has taken over Sheffield Motorcycles Many classic bikers will know "Bantam" John Phelan (pictured immediately above) who for many years has been a familiar sight (and sound) at British bike jumbles and whatnot. Well, we've been advised officially that his business, operating as Sheffield Motorcycles, is now in the care of Andy Johnson. It confirms the long standing rumour/scuttlebutt regarding John's health which has been suffering. We haven't spoken or otherwise communicated with John, but we're satisfied the information is correct. Consequently, if you need to contact Sheffield Motorcycles, the number we've been given is: 01246 281344. There's also an associated email which is listed below. Bantam John has attracted a fair bit of criticism over his occasionally irascible manner, but we've always found him cheery and helpful. Either way, we hope that his health worries are manageable and that's he's otherwise comfortable. andy@sheffieldbritishmotorcycles.com
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The world class R&B guitarist Jeff Beck has died aged 78 Ex-Yardbirds, ex-Jeff Beck Group, exceptional talent The world's greatest rock guitarist? There are any number of axemen lined up to collect that six-string trophy. But if Jeff Beck, in the eyes and ears of most serious guitaristas, doesn't take gold, he's certainly due silver or bronze. Jeff, whose inimitable style and sound has kept our ears vibrating for decades died on 10th of January this year, and when we heard the news we had to sit down, figuratively if not necessarily physically. He was born in Wallington, Surrey (now a London borough) to an ordinary working-class family. At the age of six he first became aware of the sound and sight of an electric guitar. A borrowed instrument followed, and early attempts at making his own was soon rewarded by the real thing. Following school, he attended Wimbledon College of Art and took on various workaday jobs including groundsman, paint sprayer, and painter and decorator. It was at around that time that he became friends with Jimmy Page who would go on to huge fame and success with Led Zeppelin. Jeff's musical influences, he's been quoted as saying, included Les Paul, Lonnie Mack, Steve Cropper, Chet Atkins and B. B King (is there a rock/blues guitarist anywhere on Earth who wasn't influenced by B. B? And Chet Atkins, come to that?). 
Famously, having been part of a few early local R&B bands and whilst working as a session musician, he was invited to take Eric Clapton's place in The Yardbirds. Jeff in fact was recommended by Jimmy Page, and the recommendation was justified—at least as far as talent was concerned (he was later sacked for failing to show up at a US tour, and for having a tinder dry temper). Jimmy Page eventually became part of The Yardbirds and formed a twin guitar sound that helped propel both players up the ladder of success. In the mid-1960s, under the guidance of the late Mickey Most (record producer), Jeff recorded his most famous song, Hi Ho Silver Lining (which is a bit like having Elvis singing Happy Birthday To You. In other words, that tuneful little ditty gives little indication of Jeff Beck's underlying skills and musicianship. The Jeff Beck Group followed, a band that included Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. Following the disbandment (no pun intended) during the early seventies, Jeff Beck became musically involved with the likes of David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, George Martin, Alvin Lee, Jan Hammer and many more artists. 
▲ Jeff Beck was more closely associated with his huge collection of classic cars and hot rods, but he spent a few miles in the saddle of various motorcycles during his five or six decades in the spotlight. We can't possibly list all of Jeff Beck's achievements. There simply isn't the space—and some of it isn't exactly printable. Suffice to say that over the next few decades he continued to hone his skills and develop his style, often by employing a huge repertoire of string-bending, tone-twisting, and soundshifting habits and devices. In short, he was more of a guitarist's guitarist rather than a player for the hoi polloi. But he could rock'n'roll with the best of them. He lived a very full life that featured numerous trials and tribulations, most of which no doubt manifested themselves in one way or the other within his unique and endlessly experimental sound; a very English sound that kept many of us on a roll throughout the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties and beyond. Jess Beck was 78 years old, and if raw talent was rewarded by human longevity, he'd be around for another 78 years. www.jeffbeck.com Note: We're also marking the death of Byrds-man and Crosby, Stills & Nash-man David Crosby (1941 - 2023). He was a singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer, and died on 18th January 2023 at the age of 81.
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