Brough Superior Bert Le Vack tribute model. 997cc. 100bhp. Mid-2021
Motorcyclist and charity fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore dies at age 100
Joe Biden administration refuses Anne Saccolas extradition (Harry Dunn)
EU flag removed from all UK number plates & licences (1st January 2021)
International driving permit not needed for EU (inc Switzerland & Norway)
Norton Motorcycles opens new manufacturing plant in Solihull, West Mids
Stafford Show shifted (again) to 5/6th June 2021 (was 24/25th April 2021)
Motorcycle racer & engineer Peter Williams dies aged 81 (1939 - 2020)
Long established AMC man Ernie Merryweather dies aged 86 (1934 - 2020)
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1961 Dommie 600 and a 1951 AJS 500cc Model 18 to sell But note the change of date from Feb to April The Canterbury Auction Galleries has announced a change of date for its next auction. It was to take place on 6th - 7th February 2021. But Covid-19 has had something to say about that. So it's been shifted to 10th/11th/12th April 2021—subject to whatever government anti-virus regulations are in force (and if any of us are still alive). Two highlighted bikes include the immediately above 1961 600cc Norton Dominator 99, and the immediately below 1951 500cc AJS Model 18 CS replica. Both are being sold by a hardcore VMCC man who's clearly kept these two gems in fine fettle. 
Fifty years ago the Norton was bought by the vendor from Alan Trow Motorcycles of Welling, Kent. Listed as "in stunning original condition", the bike has matching frame and engine numbers, plus its original registration number, plus its original Dunlop steel wheel rims, plus an optional extra fully enclosed rear chaincase and a pair of original Paul Dunstall Gold Star silencers that were fitted from new. It's not exactly a "time warp" motorcycle. But it's nevertheless a beautiful example of the marque, and it's gotta hurt the vendor by letting it go. If we were the kind of people who went around saying stuff like "I really feel your pain, man," we'd probably say something exactly like that. But we ain't, and we won't. Still... Back in 1961, this dove grey classic cost £317 2s 10d including tax (£288 5s 10d pre tax). The lesser known auction house reckons that it will sell for somewhere between £5,000 and £7,000.
Meanwhile, the 1951 500cc AJS Model 18 CS (Replica) is advertised as being fully refurbished, certainly as far as the big bits are concerned. The bike has been around at numerous VMCC events, and it's been "extensively breathed on", and it's geared for road use. And if it matters to you, these wheels have "stormed the Hardknot and Wrynose Passes, and Snaefell on the Isle of Man!" 
How that for cred? The estimate for this motorcycle is also £5,000 to £7,000. If either interest you, call Dave Parker at The Canterbury Auction Galleries, on 01227 763337. Tell 'em Sump sent ya.
www.thecanterburyauctiongalleries.com
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More powerful and torquier than ever £15,100 is the price The new Triumph Speed Triple RS has just been launched and is being hyped by Hinckley as the most powerful, lightest and best performing to date.  The engine, now completely redesigned, has been hiked from 1,050cc to 1,160cc (nominally 1200). The power has been boosted by almost 30bhp taking it up to 177.5bhp (180ps). Torque also gets a boost to 92lb-ft or 125Nm @ 9,500 rpm (that's an improvement of 5.9lb-ft). The redline has also been raised by 650rpm to—wait for it—11,150.
Ask the Triumph tech-heads and they'll tell you some other salient stuff, such the new Shift-Assist hardware, the new compact stacked gearbox, the Brembo Stylema brake calipers (with 320mm front discs), the Metzeler RACETEC RR tyres, the 198kg wet weight, the Optimised Cornering ABS, the switchable Optimised Cornering Traction Control (with IMU), the Front Wheel Lift Control, the Öhlins suspension, and the Cruise Control. There is also a 5-inch TFT instrument display. Full keyless ignition. LED lighting all over (c/w self cancelling indicators). And, while we remember, the service interval is every 12 months or 10,000 miles. 
So what's the downside? £15,100, which is going to push this roadster well out of reach of many of the guys and gals who it's aimed at, and an engine note that's either a cracking, raucous, full-on trackster scream, or just a high-pitched whine without any of the boomy richness that some of us prefer. But then, at 11,150rpm you probably can't really expect much more. It seems that Triumph has produced another fabulous update on a tried and trusted theme, and the Triple certainly looks every bit as good as it ever did (but, okay, without the initial cheeky in-yer-face impact of the first bug eye model). However, it just might turn out to be the right bike for the right people at the wrong time.  Meanwhile, take note that it's the only Speed Triple now in the Triumph fold. So either pay the fifteen grand, or sink your hook somewhere else.
The bikes are shipping by the end of Feb 2021. But Triumph dealers are standing by to relieve you of your deposits.
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Top Mountain Crosspoint Museum has suffered huge damage Over 200 motorcycles trashed We've commented before about the obvious folly of putting hundreds of rare and collectable motorcycles in the same museum. But we take no delight in discovering that our prognostications (such as they were) have now been rewarded with a huge fire; in this case at the Top Mountain Crosspoint Motorcycle Museum which is located at Timmelsjoch Pass (linking Austria with Italy). The fire, we're hearing, started at 4.40am. Local firefighters were summoned and arrived reasonably quickly. But the building was apparently already seriously ablaze. 
Until the preliminary investigation is completed, the museum management is contemplating the loss of over 200 machines from Brough Superior to Vincent to Zundapp to Flying Merkel to Harley-Davidson to most of the usual suspects. The museum was founded in 2016 by twins Alban and Attila Scheiber. Long time collectors of classic bikes and classic cars, the brothers dreamed of creating a suitable venue for display of their machines. The museum subsequently became known as the highest motorcycle museum in the world at 2,175 metres (for what that's worth to you). It quickly became a popular destination for "petrolheads" crossing the Italian/Austrian border. The attractive Alpine style museum was designed by architect Michael Brötz who clearly wanted to invoke memories of board track racers from the pioneer days of the last century. Hence the copious amount of wood which is very easy on the eye, and even easier on a fire. 
We don't want to comment further on this incident. It's simply not the right time for recriminations. And in any case, the facts are not yet clear. But the loss to the classic motorcycle world is likely to be very significant, and we're hoping that the management in similar venues take whatever  lessons from this that they can and organise some contingencies. In September 2003, the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, Birmingham UK was hit by a huge fire which damaged around 650 motorcycles, some of them irreparably so. Three of the five exhibition halls were wrecked. Many of the exhibits were, of course, irreplaceable. www.crosspoint.tirol
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Oz actor-director-biker Hugh Keays-Byrne dies aged 73 (Mad Max/Stone)
New motorway tailgating cameras. 26,000 hits/2 months. Warnings given
NMM raffles 3 Triumphs. Covid-19 fund. Tickets "£6 each". Check details
New Triumph Speed Triple 1200RS expected by end of January 2021
Ducati California Mountain View office raided. "30 FBI agents" (17/12/2020)
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