86% sell-through rate Vincents top the sales H&H Classic Auctions is claiming a sell-through rate of 86% for its National Motorcycle Museum sale held on 20th July 2022 at Solihull, Birmingham. The top selling lot was the immediately above 1953 Vincent Black Shadow which returned £63,250. The bike, which was restored 12 years ago from "large lumps" and requires recommissioning, was one of three Vincents at the auction. The other two Vincents were, respectively, a 1947 Series B Rapide which sold for £51,750 and another Black Shadow which sold for £41,400. 
Of extra special interest was the immediately above 850cc five cylinder Kawasaki built by the inimitable motorcycle engineer Allen Millyard. Fabricated from two 500cc 1976 KH500 triples, Allen hacksawed the engine cases, waved a magic wand, and re-joined the cases with five inline cylinder bores instead of the usual three. The crank was suitably reconceived with a 1-5-2-4-3 firing interval. The gearbox shaft was also extended. The oiling arrangement was modified, and ... well, the whole thing was thrown back together. Thrown? Okay. Hardly. Allen created a motorcycle that Kawasaki itself would be hard to deny the manufacture of. And just to prove that it was no fluke, there are two others just like it motoring around somewhere on the planet. Allen made the exhaust system, incidentally, by snipping steel and hammering the components around scaffold tubing (and probably whatever else came to hand). And if you known anything about Allen, a regular face on TV these days we note, you'll know that he does much of his work "by eye" whilst employing lots of feel. But given the visual and technical quality of his work, we're pretty sure that a vernier gauge and a micrometer was involved somewhere. The bike—known as the KH-Five—finally sold for £47,150. 
Another lot of interest was the immediately above 1941 Norton Big 4 which sold for £27,600. Fully restored with lavish attention given to period detail  (including a gas mask and a rifle). Of the 100,000 or so Norton motorcycles sold to the military before and during WW2, 4,700 were Big 4s.
Overall, it certainly looks as if H&H did okay at this sale. There were no huge financial shocks, and classic bike prices appear to be reasonably steady. There were a lot of scooters, however, and we're not really au fait with scooter values. So we can't comment on that. The next H&H motorcycle sale will be on Wednesday 7th December 2022. That will also be at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, Brum. www.handh.co.uk
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Indian Motorcycles Sheffield. New dealer at Steel City Classics, S41 9EH
6th July 2022. Mandatory speed limiters on new EU cars. No UK plans yet
Triumph Trident 660: top selling UK large motorcycle (June sales figures)
Fraser Scott: 1935-2022. Founder & driving force of Scottoiler has died
Kickback Show reminder. 18th September 2022. Gloucester Prison
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Cancelled for a second year Paint (again) seems to be the problem  There's no need for us to labour the entire story here. You can get most of that by following the link below. Suffice to say that the 2022 Brighton Speed Trials is off the menu as far as motorcycles are concerned. It's the second year running that this has happened.
Why? Because, we're told, there's an ongoing concern about marking paint on the "track" (i.e. Madeira Drive) that, it's feared, will cause problems for speeding two wheelers transitioning from ordinary tarmac to paint to tarmac. Furthermore, it's whispered, the Brighton and Hove Council had promised to provide technical data regarding the paint to enable tests to be done, or questions to be resolved, or whatever. But the data has not been forthcoming, so the organisers of the trials have canned the whole thing for another season. The cars will still be running, mind. So it's not a complete loss for "petrolheads". But the bikes are going nowhere. 
The date was to be Saturday 3rd September 2022, incidentally; the day before the Brighton Burn Up. The Brighton Speed Trials is considered by some to be the longest running motorsport event in the world (dating to 1905).  True or false, it's not boding well for the future. They say that there's no progress without friction. Well, this Brighton fiasco certainly seems to underline that assertion. 2021 Brighton Speed Trials: No bikes https://www.facebook.com/vmccsprint/
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Great day safely tucked away Attendance reported (by some) as slightly down on previous years We were planning to attend this year's Banbury Run. It's been a long while since we were last there. But in the event (no pun intended) other urgencies prevailed. However, from general accounts received, it was another great event that went down without incident. Billed as the largest world gathering of pre-1931 motorcycles, over 400 entrants scrubbed the tarmac this year. Around 100 autojumble pitches were available, but we've no information on how successful that was. The weather, however, was favourable. And overall, it was another day to remember. 
 Meanwhile, if you want to get a few more glimpses of the run, or get a shot of yourself, photographer Peter Wileman was snapping away and capturing pretty much everything that was moving; everything with an engine, anyway. So follow the link and see what's on offer. The 3MP images start at £4 each. Discounts for "bulk" buying.
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Destination Kensington, London Site of the old Bristol Cars showroom
Indian Motorcycles has opened a new "Brand Experience Centre" in swanky Kensington, London W14. If you've ever lingered at the traffic lights at 368 Kensington High Street and leered at the Bristol cars that for years were prominently displayed there, you'll know exactly where this store is.
The complex that it's a part of is actually the Hilton Olympia Hotel. Indian is evidently trying to foster an upmarket image and wants this to be a destination centre in much the same way as Warr's Harley-Davidson in Chelsea. 
Importantly, we should mention that this is actually a tie-up between Indian and Krazy Horse which operates stores in Suffolk, Oxfordshire and South London, and is the country's biggest Indian dealer. Spread over two floors, visitors can expect to find bikes for sale, demonstrators, clothing, accessories, ephemera and whatnot. You know the deal. Visitors might also encounter a few traffic wardens if the store management hasn't incorporated suitable parking facilities. So watch out. https://krazyhorse.co.uk https://www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk/
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk 
Triumph takeover at OSET [electric off-road bikes for children]
Steve Harris Funeral [24th June 2022, founder of Harris Performance]
Anti-tamper turnaround? [government "backing down on legislation"]
Government OST (Online Sales Tax) consultation closes [levelling up plan]
www.motorcyclenews.com 
Order books open for Norton’s V4SV superbike
Two-wheel drive Ultra Bike promises road and water-based fun £2400
2022 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride smashes global fundraising targets
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial 
Attack of the Clones. Shineray [Chinese brand] revives the Sportster engine
www.visordown.com Sinnis SM-XE: A 15 horsepower 125cc dual sport for £3000
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Wot no comments about the Ultra Bike? Well, permit me! Now, this is a great idea with so many applications. Is it a bike? Does it float? Is it a craft or a boat? Could it pass a Boat Safety Certificate. it seems to tick most of the boxes. Tired of crowded roads? This looks like the ideal way to cruise down the local canal. Able to sneak up on fish yet outrun uppity swans. It's electric so its green & clean. Its the way forward. Build more canals! —Roj, Sheffield
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Sixties actor and singer gets a mention,,, ... and some news about this year's Brighton Burn-Up Mike Sarne is almost forgotten now. But in the 1960s he was a very popular figure on and off the TV and movie screens and appeared in films such as A Place to Go (1965) and Two Weeks in September (1967). And he also directed the movie Joanna (1968). Or if you were a fan of The Avengers or Man in a Suitcase, you might have seen Mike Sarne pop up here and there. He got around, ya know? HInt: ask Brigitte Bardot. However, he was arguably best remembered during that momentous decade for his brief stint as a pop singer when he recorded the hit Come Outside with actress Wendy Richards backing his vocals and voicing occasional disinterested interjections and female protestations. If you're familiar with the song, you'll know what we mean. If not, it ain't that important, so move on. For bikers, however, it was perhaps his 1963 hit record "Just for Kicks" that fired their motors and helped propel the leather boys into the fast lane with lyrical gems such as: If there's one thing that I like
It's a burn up on my bike
A burn up with a bird on my bike
Now the M1 ain't much fun
Till you try to do a ton
A burn up on my bike, that's what I like or: We meet the other ton-up boys at Fred's Cave
every night
We just drop in to see the birds and have a bite
We spend a couple of hours just tunin' our machines
With our black leather jackets and our oily
greasy jeans And if that doesn't sound like bleedin' Shakesworth or Wordspeare, we don't know what does (and at least it rhymes). Meanwhile, the underlying (or is that overarching?) story is that the anniversary of this 2 minutes and 21 seconds Parlophone single is going to be celebrated/marked this December. That said, we were sent a press release by the Ace Cafe with this event in mind, but it's not clear at all exactly how the anniversary will be marked. So we suggest that you contact the Ace management and see what's what. But we can tell you that this year is the 28th Rocker's Reunion, and the 21st anniversary of the full reopening in 2001. So, between 2nd and 4th September there will be three special rides over three days to mark the moment, 
Moving on, all this talk of the Ace segues neatly onto the next item about this year's Brighton Burn-Up which will be laying down a lot of rubber on Sunday 4th September 2022. It starts at the Ace, and follows this route: A406, A40, M25, M23, A23. It ends, naturally, at Madeira Drive which is on the Brighton Sea Front. The bikes depart at 10.30am sharp. And if you can't make it all the way to the Ace, you'll just have to work out where to attach yourself en route. One final thing, in case you were wondering what happened to Mike Sarne, we're pleased to say that he's still above ground and is aged 81.
https://london.acecafe.com
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Three deaths at this year's the IOM TT, 29 May - 10 June 2022 [now 5]
Bike Shed claims 19,000 visitors at Tobacco Dock show May 27th - 29th
177.88 pence per litre average UK petrol price 9th June 2022 (£8 per gallon)
Department for Transport; new high-tech noise trials (bikes and cars)
Colin Longfellow: 1943 - 2022. Trials/enduro rider/Parkroad MCs, So'ton
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▲ 1961 Lambretta Li150 Series 2 Dual Control. Yes, dual control. One of only two Series 2 dual control ‘trainers’ known to survive. Original livery from the era, we're told. Good provenance. £10,000 - £12,000. 10 scooters to go under the hammer The National Motorcycle Museum is the venue Look away now if you hate the sight of scooters (okay, not everyone all at once, please). But we think they're pretty cool—albeit nowhere near as cool as motorcycles. The story here is that H&H Classic Auctions has 10 of these hairdryers coming up for sale on 20th July 2022 at the NMM. We can't talk very intelligently about scooters because we don't know that much about them; not up close and personal stuff, that is. So we'll just give you the basics... 
▲ 1966 100cc Vespa 90 Gori racer. Holder of a 1967 world record: 151.936 km/h on a quarter mile. 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. 15.6 hp at 9,700 rpm. 
▲ 1950 Vespa V13T Bacchetta. £9,000 - £12,000 is the estimate. Apparently, it's one of only 5 V13T models known in the UK. The engine has been refurbished (in Italy) and it's ready to roll. Correct numbers. Two of the bikes in the sale are outfits, and one is a racer. The estimates range from £8,000 - £10,000 at the bottom end, to £25,000 - £30,000 at the top. And if those numbers seem high, you might be interested to know that on 5th April 2022, H&H sold a 1965 Lambretta TV 200 for £12,535, and a 1966 Vespa SS90 Super Sprint for £28,175. Yikes. See the news item immediately below for more on the July sale
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318cc two-stroke £6,000 - £8,000 is the auction estimate
"It's the only known example to date." That's what we're told by H&H Classic Auctions which will be looking to sell the immediately above two-stroke flat tanker on Wednesday 20th July 2022 at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.
In case you missed the headline, it's a 1919 Neal Dalm, and it's about as obscure as they come. The manufacturer was S. G. Neal of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, a company that was founded in 1910 and threw in the towel just 12 years later in 1922—at least as far as motorcycle manufacturing was concerned. 
Neal Dalm, like many motorcycle manufacturers of the era, bought-in most of the required parts and assembled their bikes in the then conventional style. Two-stroke engines of varying capacity were supplied by Precision. But towards the latter part of the company life, a 318cc twin-port two-stroke engine (73mm x 76mm) came courtesy of engine manufacturer, Dalm; specifically, J. C. Dalman and Sons, of River Street, Birmingham. Actually, it wasn't an unmitigated disaster for Neal Dalm. The company's primary interest was in bicycles, and they continued in that line until... well, we don't know when. History hasn't been kind to this outfit, and reliable information isn't (so far) available. We checked. This bike, we hear, has been owned by the same family since 1964, and it was restored in 1980. It appears to have spent all its time in Monmouthshire, Wales. It's been standing for a while, and will therefore need some re-commissioning. There are also some documents and handwritten letters, and a V5C is present. The estimate for this motorcycle is £6,000 to £8,000, and we've no idea how plausible that is. It looks like one for the collectors, or maybe a descendant of S. G. Neal (or James Charles Dalm) will be interested. We love the livery, incidentally. It puts us in mind of Edwardian garden machinery, which is usually pretty cool stuff (if you're into old lawn mowers and static engines and pumps and whatnot). We are. Well, up to a point. UPDATE: The bike sold for £8,970
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Get a Spanish licence asap Or be a tourist If you're an ex-pat Brit (and over 300,000 people are), you probably already know what we're about to say. But if not, draw close. There's a minor row (disguised as talks) going on between the UK and Spanish legislators which has put thousands of motorists and motorcyclists off Spanish roads. As from the beginning of May 2022, if you live in Spain and haven't exchanged your British licence for a Spanish one, you've lost your entitlement to drive or ride. It's because post-Brexit talks aimed at bringing in a new agreement to keep the UK ex-pats mobile have hit the buffers. Those talks have lately been ramped up. But Spain being Spain (and for that matter Britain being Britain) means that it could all take a few more manyanas to sort out—never mind that the UK exited the EU back in January 2020 (which should have been plenty of time to address this relatively minor mutual recognition issue). Meanwhile, if you took up residence in Spain after January 2022, you've got six months from your start date to get a bona-fide Spanish licence, or a bus map and timetable. And getting a Spanish licence, we're told, is not exactly cheap. First you have to register with a driving school, and that can cost around €200. Lessons are €30 per hour (which doesn't sound particularly expensive anymore). And a test costs €130. Then you need to pay €100 to have the licence issued. You'll need to speak at least some Spanish for the practical part, incidentally, but the theory component can be in English. And there's a mandatory physical examination. Wonderful. On the other hand, if you're a tourist, and if you're in Spain for less than 90 days, you can use your UK licence without problems. That's the official line, anyway. And while we remember, if you're from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you need to get up against the wall with the rest of the Brits. Our advice? If you live anywhere in the UK, stay here. Just be  a nice tourist wherever else you go in the world, and nip in and out of your chosen foreign haven in accordance with whatever rules are in force. Works for us. So far. UPDATE: Apparently, ex-pat Spaniards resident in the UK are facing the same problems (albeit with cheaper driving lessons and a slightly cheaper test fee).
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1955 5T Speed Twin gets a new home Second prize winner, Graham Povey, gets a 1958 Triton
The winner of the National Motorcycle Museum 2021/2022 Winter Raffle has been announced, and his name is Andrew Quicke. He's riding away with a 1955 500cc Triumph 5T Speed Twin which was restored by the NMM. The ticket number was 0995809.
Second prize was a 1958 Triton 650cc Café Racer which was also restored by the museum. That was won by Graham Povey; ticket number 1327897. That's it. Message ends. See: NMM Winter Raffle 2021/2022 details
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£804million added to Bloor's fortune Number 85 on the list Last year Triumph supremo John Bloor was said to be personally worth around £1.2billion. This year, his fortunes have jumped by a massive £804million. But who exactly says so? The Sunday Times newspaper. That's who. Each year, the newspaper pokes its snout into the bank accounts and investment portfolios and piggy banks and whatnot of the British elite and tries to figure out where all the money's gone (as if that's really possible). And each year, the paper publishes the information so that the rich can look extra smug (or disappointed), and we little people can congratulate the wealthy and/or whinge and plot the revolution. So where exactly on the list is Bloor? Well, last season, out of 1,000 people currently resident in the UK (not all necessarily British citizens, note), JB was ranked 129th. This year, he's accelerated all the way to number 85 in the queue with a claimed £2.079billion bulging/dripping from his pockets. What's that? You think it's an obscene amount of money for any individual to amass? Well we agree. But not everyone does. We're pretty sure that a sizeable number of people, not least bikers (and not least many Triumph bikers), feel that Bloor is entitled to every bloody penny—never mind the poor, the destitute, the homeless, the bikeless, the folk awaiting expensive life-saving medical treatment, etc. Bloor worked for his money, so he's entitled to it; or so goes the prayer. Sri and Gopi Hinduja and family top the UK rich list at around £28 billion. Inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson is second on that list and hoovering up a claimed £23 billion. Paul McCartney is supposedly worth a tuneful £865million. J K Rowling is worth a claimed non-fictional £850million. Back in June 2020 we posted a page highlighting exactly what £1billion looks like, as expressed in millions. Well follow the link you've just passed and take another look—and remember to double that number now that Bloor's fortunes have jumped by almost another billion. That's according to The Sunday Times, remember. Might not be accurate, but we suspect that it probably is—give or take a few million quid. Consequently, the next time you're down at the local Triumph dealer haggling over some discount for that new Bonneville or Rocket Three or whatever, remember to haggle mercilessly. Bloor can afford it.  And while we remember, it's not that we're against people making a few extra bob in this life. But £2billion sounds like a few bob too many. What do you say, people?
See also: John Bloor is now a billionaire See also: Around 400 Triumph staff axed
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A 1990 Honda VFR750R tops the lots 70% sell-through rate
Silverstone Auctions is claiming a very respectable turnover of £665,000 at the firm's sale on 14th May 2022 at the Devitt MCN Festival Of Motorcycling, Peterborough, Cambs. Over 120 bikes went under the hammer boasting a sell-through rate of 70%. We haven't checked the numbers very closely, take note. Nevertheless, we're happy to take Silverstone Auctions at its word.
The top selling lot was a 1990 Honda VFR750R Type RC30 748cc which fetched an impressive £65,250 (Lot 343). Never registered, this bike has just two "push kilometres" on the clock. Developed by the Big H to snatch the World Superbike Championship, it's a sister bike to the one that was famously ridden to victory by Carl Fogarty in the TT World Championship in 1988 and 1989. The new price was £8,499. The machine, incidentally, had spent some time in Italy before joining the David Silver Honda Collection in Leiston, Suffolk. Other top selling lots include... 
1972 Triumph X-75 Hurricane (Lot 352) 750cc at £29,250
1983 Honda CB1100RD 1098cc (Lot 336) at £26,437
1969 Honda CB750 K0 750cc (Lot 333) at £21,375
2000 MV Agusta F4 'Serie Oro' 750cc (Lot 335) at £21,375 
1937 Indian Scout 500cc (Lot 395) at £20,000
Mark Bryan, Head of Motorcycle Sales at Silverstone Auctions has been quoted as saying: "This was a very good result for a first sale at a new venue, the first ever 'Classic Motorcycle Auction' in 45 years at The Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling." 
We note too that a Turner By-Van (image immediately above and featured on Sump Classic Bike News April 2022) sold for a very respectable £11,250. Also, a 1999 Aprilia Moto 6.5 designed by Philippe Starck failed to sell.
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A 1959 BSA Gold Star DBD34 is up for grabs Fully restored by the National Motorcycle Museum You know the drill by now. The National Motorcycle has just announced the start of its Summer 2022 raffle, and the top prize is a 500cc BSA DBD34 Clubman Gold Star. According to the advert on the NMM website (see immediately above), the entry price is just £2. But as ever, that's nonsense. The entry price is actually £10. That's because you have to buy a minimum of five tickets at £2 each, etc. We've told the museum about this, but they've done nothing about it. Regardless, just keep it in mind if you're watching the pennies (and a lot more folk are doing exactly that these days [actually, elsewhere on the NMM site the museum does mention that tickets will be sold in multiples of five, so the message is getting through—Ed]. The start date for the raffle was 25th April 2022. Payments are accepted only by debit card. And you have to be a UK resident to enter (excluding Northern Ireland—due to local gambling laws). A Sealey Tools/NMM voucher worth a notional £1,500 is the second prize— "to be purchased via The National Motorcycle Museum shop" whatever that means. And third prize is a Sealey Tools cabinet). The draw will take place on Sunday 30th October 2022 at the NMM Live event. All monies raised, we're advised, go towards the upkeep of the museum. www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk New riding centre [near Warminster, Wiltshire]
Intermot back in the saddle [trade show; 4th - 9th October 2022]
www.motorcyclenews.com 
Prototype Triumph from 1901 unearthed [How does Dick Shepherd do it?]
Revolutionary Shoei Opticson helmet edges towards production [HUD tech]
Lincolnshire Police target motorbikes in Operation Snap [dashcam snoop]
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial 
Prime Minister "very pleased" by £100m Norton investment [by TVS]
www.visordown.com 
Could niobium be the future of electric bikes? Horwin thinks so
Watching TV in self-driving cars to be allowed
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‘Watching TV in self driving cars to be allowed’ Cha! Who watches TV! They’ll be playing on their phones. Like they do already whilst driving ... —Tim Ruck
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National Championship winner details Nice selection of worthy customs The Kickback National Championships held on the 2nd and 3rd April 2022 lived up to its promise of providing some high quality custom bikes built around the UK. The event was staged at Three Counties Showground Worcestershire, WR13 6NW.  There were 145 finalists. Trophy sponsors were Larry Houghton at Lamb Engineering, Andrew Burke at Hard Up Choppers and Lianne Hatcher at Here We Ride.
Organiser Lorne Cheetham said, "A special thank you goes to all bike builder finalists, plus thanks to all traders, judges, sponsors, helpers; Paul Milbourn, JB, Graham Sykes, Henry Cole, Skid, Allen Millyard, the stunt team and of course our visitors." Overall Best-in-Show prize went to Icarus; Keith Edney's 500cc Royal Enfield streamlined custom built by the Krom Works (image immediately above). Other award winners are... 
▲ Best in Show (Woman) emerging builder special award. Cheyenne Keogh with her BMW Boxer. The runner-up was Rachel Truman and her Honda budget custom.
▲ Freestyle 1st place was Neil Bobbet's Yamaha XS650. 2nd place went to Slobodan and his Flathead bobber. 3rd place was Keith Hovvel's Yamaha XS650 Digger.
▲ Best Cub award saw Mick O'Shea take 1st place. 2nd place went to Brian Ricketts. 3rd place was claimed by Keifer Price.
▲ Best Universal Custom; 1st place went to Tony Fishlock and his Honda FMX650. 2nd place went to Gareth Palmer and his Harley flat tracker.
3rd place was Tony Fishlock's Honda SLR650.
▲ Best Performance Racer. 1st place was this Buell special built by the late Kip Brown and presented by Danny Ellis. 2nd place went to Andy Underhill and his RD Yamaha. 3rd place was Colin Chapman's Ninja.
▲ Best Modified Classic. Kawasaki 1327 Turbo Nutter Bastard built by Ian Jevon took 1st place. 2nd was Jerry Missin and his GT550 (no information on whether that was a Suzuki GT550 or Kawasaki GT550). 3rd place went jointly to Alan Cunnington for his 1943 Norton and his 1949 Norton.
▲ Best Chopper/Bobber saw 1st place go to Simon Butler for his 883 Harley "board tracker". 2nd prize went to April and her Yamaha XS650 chopper. The 3rd prize was picked up by James McLaughlin and his Triumph Thunderbird.
The next Kickback will be staged inside HM Prison Gloucester on Sunday 18th September 2022. Trade spaces are being booked now.
Final words from Lorne: "We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to any visitors who were unable to get in to Kickback on the Sunday (3rd April) due to the long queue that had formed. Please let us know if you were unable to get in."
Contact lorne@rwrw.co.uk
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▲ 1950 Turner By-van powered by a Turner Tiger 148cc two-stroke engine driving the front wheel via a 3-speed gearbox. The Turner Manufacturing Company operated from Wulfruna Works, Villiers Street, Wolverhampton. With its considerable luggage capacity (under the saddle), it was an interesting 30mph delivery concept that at £120 new found few buyers. Unregistered with "20 recorded miles", this "no reserve" bike is looking for a loving home via the Devitt MCN Festival sale. Top marks for British quirk. UPDATE: The Turner sold for £11,250. Wide range of old and modern classic bikes on offer Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling is the venue Remember the BMF Rally? The first event took place way back in 1977 (45 years ago), and for many years it was an annual fixture on the calendars of tens of thousands of bikers. The last BMF Rally happened in May 2014. But because it still had momentum, Bauer Media (successor to EMAP) took over the event, and the following year Bauer staged the first MCN Festival of Motorcycling. The current sponsor of the event is Devitt Insurance. What makes the 2022 show more newsworthy is the fact that Silverstone Auctions will be holding its first classic motorcycle sale at the event. The date is Saturday 14th May 2022 (note that the show is in fact a two day event; Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th May 2022). 
The organiser is expecting "up to" 25,000 bikers. All the major motorcycle manufacturers are expected to attend. Visitors can also expect live music, camping facilities, trade stalls, celebrity riders and more.
Mark Bryan, heading the Silverstone Auctions Motorcycle Division, has been quoted as saying: "This event is the equivalent of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, with some years to catch up on. Now that we’ve added an auction that will add huge interest."
A strong boast, what-ho? He also adds;
"... the auction will offer a growing catalogue of everything from no reserve "barn finds", competition machines, and some of the most collectable modern classics available."
www.mcnfestival.com
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"A brace of Broughs" lead the pack As usual... The leading consignment at the imminent Bonhams Spring Sale at Stafford is the above 1936 990cc Brough Superior SS100. The sale will, it's hoped, take place on the 23rd - 24th April 2022 at the Staffordshire County Showground, Weston Rd, Stafford ST18 0BD. The start time is 10am. Registered as CTO 147, this bike, we're told, was the fifth Matchless powered Brough Superior SS100 to leave the Haydn Road, Nottingham factory. Does that fact really matter to anyone? Maybe. Regardless, there appears to be some intrigue or confusion over the correct engine number for this machine; something to do with where and when the digits were stamped (i.e. at the Matchless factory or the Brough Superior factory). But the BS Club have been on case, and it all looks kosher. Bonhams will tell you more. Here is the engine number of that bike: BS/X2 1002. The Frame number is M1/1627. There is a significant human interest back-story to this motorcycle. It was restored some years ago, but water ingress from a neighbouring property apparently made a mess of that, so another restoration is now required. The current owner has some health problems that make it hard for him to do what needs to be done, so it's up for sale. The estimate is £120,000 - £180,000. Look for Lot 550. Another Brough Superior restoration project will be going under the hammer, specifically a 1929 996CC SS100 'Alpine Grand Sports' Sprint Special. It's estimated at £70,000 – £100,000. Other notable bikes at this event ... 
▲ 1948 Velocette KTT 348cc. This ex-Les Graham Swiss Grand Prix winner is Lot 497 and carries an estimate of £50k to £70k. The bike has been in a museum for the past decade [shame, shame—Ed]. The Velo was sold new on 21st May 1948 to Fearnly's, a dealership in Manchester. Les Graham started racing in the 1920s, but got more seriously noticed on his OK-Supreme in the 1930s. He flew Avro Lancaster bomber in WW2. In 1953 he was killed in a racing accident. Check with Bonhams. There's a big story here that's perhaps worth a few minutes of your time and attention.
▲ Lot 552 is a 1937 499cc Vincent-HRD Series A Meteor—and a very handsome beast it is. Conway Motors handled the original sale of this bike (12th August 1937). It spent the next 40 or 50 years in the St Albans area of Hertfordshire, UK. Around 2007, the Vincent was sold as a restoration project which included a bronze head and bronze cylinder muff. Cue usual experts and a thorough rebuild throughout, etc. There are plenty of documents/receipt with this motorcycle. The estimate is £40k to £50k. Overall, we counted 642 lots; the usual mix of complete motorcycles, projects, spares, and memorabilia. After a few years of falling classic prices, it looks as if things are stabilising. 
▲ See also: Sump Classic Bike News July 2014 for a little more on the XLH Boat-tailed Harley-Davidson Sportster. There are half a dozen or so bikes from Warr's Harley-Davidson including a 1970 883cc XLH boat-tailed Sportster (Lot 633) estimated at £10,000—£15,000, and a 1978 998cc XLCH Cafe Racer (Lot 632) at £17,000—£20,000 (actually there are two of these XLCH models listed, the other (Lot 629) being estimated at £9,000—£12,000.
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March 2022
Stuart Garner: Eight month prison sentence, suspended for two years
DEFRA consultation paper launched. Green lane bikes under threat
H-D limited "Ukraine T-shirt" [cynical marketing?] plus $50k for relief fund
Triumph Motorcycles Glasgow returns; new dealership opens summer 2022
UK unleaded now at £7.38 per gallon (£1.95 per litre). Further rise expected
RAC: 9 out of 10 drivers feel blinded by oncoming lights [bikers also guilty]
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The H-D - EU import tax was expected to jump from 31% to 56% It's now going to drop to 6% following a new settlement Harley-Davidson Motorcycles has just received a welcome boost in the value of its stock after the EU dramatically lowered the odious (and unjustified?) import tariff that it imposed on the brand in 2018. The tit for tat row (if you want to look at it that way (and not everybody does) started when president Donald Trump imposed a heavy 25% tariff on EU steel and aluminium imports in an effort to shore-up domestic production. Harley-Davidson, being an easy brand target, was caught in the crossfire and saw prices rise and sales drop. So how much was the EU tariff on H-D? Well, what began with a reasonable 6% climbed suddenly to a whopping 31%. Not content with that, the EU announced it was raising the bar to a whopping 56% (causing H-D to hurry along its alternate manufacturing base in Thailand planning to legitimately slip in under the EU radar). 
Well, the dispute appears to be settled. For now, anyway. And Harley-Davidson is once again looking at a 6% EU import tax on its bikes. Wall Street immediately responded to the news, and Milwaukee was quick to praise the efforts of President Joe Biden's administration for helping bring the row to an end. Harley-Davidson was particular aggrieved at the EU hike stating, "...this brings an end to a conflict that was not of our making, and in which [the company] had no place. This is an important course correction in US - EU trade relations that will allow us to further Harley-Davidson’s position as the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world." Note that European bikes imported into the US are subject to a reasonable 2.4% tax. Note too that it's not over for other US producers who are still battling with their own EU import tariffs. See also: EU to slap new tariffs on MoCo
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▲ L to R: Jones, Coffey, Palin, Jason and Idle. Five hard working British comedians who've given us more laughs than Tony Blair. Terry Jones died in 2020. Do Not Adjust Your Set co-star dies at 85 She appeared in theatre, television and film Remember the Rediffusion/Thames Television show Do Not Adjust Your Set? If you do, you'll remember Denise Coffey and her zany antics which were aptly supported by three future Monty Python's Flying Circus stars (Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Eric Idle) and comedian David Jason—who went on to become something of a national treasure as Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in Only Fools & Horses; as Granville in Open All Hours and Still Open All Hours; and as Detective Inspector Jack Frost in A Touch of Frost. And if your memories of that lot doesn't make you smile, there's a fair chance that nothing will. Well Denise has died at the age of 85, and we're happy (if that's the right word) to give her a passing mention here on Sump, no pun intended—but she probably would have approved anyway of the lame humour. 
Do Not Adjust Your Set was aired between 1967 and 1969. Each episode was a 30-minute (including adverts) series of satirical skits and sketches that poked fun at just about everything and was heavily influenced by The Goons radio show. Denise Coffey was invariably goofing around somewhere on screen, often the butt end of someone's joke, and always an entertaining presence. In between sketches, viewers were treated to the musical mayhem of none other than Vivian Stanshall and Neil Innes courtesy of the Bonza Dog Doo Dah Band. And generally, the show was a highly amusing way to spend another half an hour in front of the gogglebox. Put simply, Do Not Adjust Your Set was a timely springboard for numerous actors and personalities who helped make growing up (and getting old) just that little bit easier. That, at least, is how we remember it. Denise was born in Aldershot, Hants, the only child of Denis and Dorothy Coffey. Her professional career began in theatre in 1952. By 1959 she'd gravitated to television and was soon taking small roles in films, notably in Georgy Girl (1966) with Lynn Redgrave, and in Far from the Madding Crowd (1967) starring Julie Christie and Alan Bates. Later in life she turned to directing, and with much success. She was never a dominating presence on-screen, and such was her acting flexibility and highly individual characterisation, it was easy to miss her completely. Unquestionably, she was underrated by the general public, but was highly rated by her peers. She lived alone and spent much of her time messing around in boats, gardening, and painting. We'll certainly remember her for some time to come. We hope.
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It's the 60th anniversary of the famous blessing 59 Club to celebrate another milestone Mercifully, there are still a few Sumpsters out there who remember the early days of the legendary 59 Club—and perhaps even showed up once in a while to hang out with the hooligans. The club was originally a fairly ordinary run-of-the-mill youth venue intended to appease the bored and disenfranchised kids of Hackney Wick in East London. It was founded by Father John Oates at the Eton Mission, St Mary of Eton Church. You can find that on Eastway, not far from the Olympic Park in Stratford. The club was officially opened in 1959 by the late HRH Princess Margaret, and she remained the Royal Patron through to her death. The inaugural event was also attended by Cliff Richard and various rock'n'rollers of the era. However, most bikers associate the 59 Club with Father Bill Shergold (pictured immediately above) and Father Graham Hullet. And these guys deserve their due. To explain, Shergold—who managed to combine religion with his personal interest in motorcycling—visited the Ace Cafe in 1962. He was also based at St Mary of Eton Church and was, no doubt, looking for some souls to save (which was his job).  At that time, the Ace Cafe was a busy transport cafe frequented not only by lorry drivers and taxi drivers but by members of the rocker sub-culture (who, note, were habitually refused service at the nations pubs and clubs but found refuge in the various cafes then located on all the main arterial roads).
Shergold brought the rockers to the youth club in Hackney and they settled in very nicely thanks largely to a relaxed atmosphere, simple good food, and live entertainment—and the church made no theological or spiritual demands whatsoever. In other words, bacon sarnies were definitely on the menu, but proselytisation and cassock hugging wasn't. In 1964 the club moved to Paddington in West London and was still overseen by Shergold. Biking Father Graham Hullett took over in 1966 (some dates cite 1962, take note) and he held the 'bars until 1970. After that, however, he stayed involved for the next few years—and he was a very popular figure and a good friend to many. During the late 1980s/early 1990s the 59 Club moved to Yorkton Street in Hackney (note: the exactly date here is unclear). And in 1993 the club moved to Plaistow, East London from where it still operates.
It was the aforementioned Father Bill Shergold who originated the Blessing of the Bikes tradition. In 2019, a special commemorative blessing event was held to mark the 60th anniversary of the club. Now, in 2022, another event will be held marking that first blessing.
The venue for this gathering is Westminster Abbey, London. The date is Sunday 8th May 2022. You could mosey along there in your own way, or you can visit the Ace Cafe and join the official ride out to Central London. You'll need to arrive at the Ace by noon. There will be marshals on hand to guide and advise. The run will get under way at 1pm. Note too that there will be four motorcycle cops stopping traffic and generally assisting.
The final component, after the blessing and sermon and whatnot (which, apparently, will last for a couple of hours), will be the ride back to the Ace. And need we mention; you don't have to be of a religious bent to enjoy this gathering. It's a social event too—and you can attend simply to express your gratitude for the existence of the 59 Club which has done more than its fair share to help keep troubled bikers on the right road. Tip: Bring a book or a magazine or something. And don't forget your pills. See also: 59 Club ride outs to St Pauls https://london.acecafe.com
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk Greater risk of dealer cyber-attacks [Ukraine situation cited as a factor]
Still going strong [42 years of Bill Brown's Wulfsport International]
www.motorcyclenews.com 
Honda Hawk 11: Rocking new café racer revives the spirit of the 60s
‘Disgusted and ashamed’: [MV Agusta Russian owner on Ukraine invasion]
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial
Yamaha introduces electric power steering
www.visordown.com 
Honda Motorcycles to donate €1 million for Ukraine humanitarian needs
EU enforces ban on motorcycles exported to Russia over Ukraine War
Harley-Davidson invite you out to your local dealer for an Open House
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Rare and quirky Scott Sociable to go under the hammer £18k - £22 estimate These days, we take four wheels for granted. For personal transportation purposes, that is. But there was a time when you were doing well if you could afford two hoops, which meant that having three of them on your wagon was a major step up from a two-wheeled velocipede of any description; a step that put you in the big league with the four-wheel motoristas. Well, almost... Various manufacturers conceived and built their own notions of how a cost-effective three wheeler motorcycle/motorcar hybrid ought to look, and how it might perform. Sidecars were, of course, the default. But the Scott Autocar Company took it a stage further with the Sociable model (image immediately above). Or was it actually a retrograde step? 
Alfred Angas Scott (correct spelling of 'Angas') set up his manufacturing operation in Lidgett Green, Bradford, West Yorkshire. That was in 1908. He's best remembered by motorcyclists as the creator and campaigner of the very distinct Scott two-strokers that acquitted themselves so well between 1911 - 1914 at the IOM TT. Beyond that, Scott was a highly gifted all-round engineer who patented and/or manufactured any number of sophisticated components from novel kick starter mechanisms, to drip-feed lubrication systems, to rotary valves, to complete motorcycle engines, to marine engines, and much more. The Sociable was original intended for the British military. However, for various reasons (not least stability issues), the generals—who had bought his gun carriers during WW1—said 'not this time, Alf', so Scott searched for a different market. 
In 1916 the three-wheeler was announced to the general public as the aforementioned Scott Sociable replete with copious bodywork and optional lighting configurations. But it was another five years before the public were able to buy one. However, at around £273 per unit (falling to a more credible £135 by 1924), not many people dug that deeply into their pocket, and largely because of that manufacturing came to an end that same year. 
The rolling configuration was comprised of three wheels; two in line on the right, and a third wheel on the left trailing slightly. The triangulated frame was steel. Steering control was by rack-and-pinion. The engine was a 5 - 6hp Scott-designed and built water-cooled 578 cc twin-cylinder two-stroke. A Zenith carburettor metered the mixture. The clutch was a metal frictional assembly/expanding ring. The brakes were internal expanding. The drive was transmitted via a 3-speed gearbox to the offside rear wheel via a shaft. Wheels were disc (interchangeable). No reverse gear was fitted. A steering wheel dashed any notion of handlebars. And as you might expect, this rig didn't need much toppling persuasion. Top speed was "over 40mph". 
H&H Classics will be offering this machine for sale at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull on 6th April 2022. Apparently there are only six known examples. This one is expected to sell at anything from £18,000 to £22,000. The Sociable, unsurprisingly, has been restored. It has been running, but will need some re-commissioning. But these days, money is tight and getting tighter. It's hard to see how this will fare that well, but it's not impossible. A V5C is present.
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Give generously, please Even a few quid will help... You know the score. People are dying in Ukraine in increasing numbers—and yes, we know that people are dying everywhere for want of the basics. But right now we're focussed on the Russian invasion—no doubt at least partly for selfish reasons (but that's how it works in life, and we're not going to apologise for it). So check your conscience, if you've got one, and please do what you can. You can use a credit card or PayPal. And there's a Gift Aid scheme in operation if you're a UK tax payer. DEC Disasters Emergency Committee www.donation.dec.org.uk UNHCR The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees www.unhcr.org Save the Children www.savethechildren.org.uk
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Milwaukee is refusing to trade with Russia ... for the foreseeable future There's not an awful lot to say here, but we're going to say it anyway because it's newsworthy. Harley-Davidson has today (1st March 2022) released a statement announcing the stoppage of motorcycle deliveries to Russia, coupled with a general business ceasefire. Naturally, this move is with regard to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces which has pretty much seen the entire planet turn against the beleaguered KGB-man-turned-president—not that anyone liked him much before this shooting started. And as far as we know, Harley-Davidson is the first of the world's motorcycle manufacturers to publicly nail its anti-Putin colours to the mast. Currently, Vlad-the-increasingly-desperate-and-isolated is doing what he can to stoke everyone's boilers by lightly resting his hand on the nuclear button and threatening to push it if anyone in the Western world so much as sneezes without a hankie. Naturally, it will be interesting to see if any of the other motorcycle manufacturers follow suit, and we figure that one or two of them will do exactly that—either publicly or on the QT, and if only because the Russian currency is now in trouble as a result of the sanctions hammering and sickle-ing the country's economy. Or does Harley-Davidson (and other manufacturers) trade with the Ruskies mostly in dollars (as opposed to trading in roubles)? And does that make any difference? Truth is, we haven't got a bloody clue. Either way, buying an American motorcycle at this point in history might well be seen by many Russians as treasonable, so we doubt that H-D would have been doing much business anyway. Consequently, Milwaukee might as well get on the right side of history—not that we're doubting the corporate motivations of MoCo. It's just that we're in the habit of looking at as many angles as possible. It helps. Meanwhie, General Motors, Daimler, Kia, Jaguar Land Rover, Renault and others have to a greater or lesser extent ceased production at their Russian automotive plants, or have stopped trading entirely with Russia. But in many instances this corporate shift/closure/downsizing has more to do with auto parts shortages (notably semi-conductors—which for some time has been a worldwide problem). Finally, follow this link to see what Manuele Malenotti of Matchless Ltd recently had to say about Vladimir Putin (and no doubt now wishes that he'd kept his mouth shut).
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Kickback Show reminder; Sunday 2nd - 3rd April 2022. Henry Cole judging
Bonhams Amelia Island "British Invasion" Auction, USA, 3rd March 2022
Ian McDonald, co-founder of King Crimson & Foreigner, has died age 75
Gary Brooker (centre), lead singer of Procol Harum, has died aged 76
6th April 2022 H&H Classic Auctions at the NMM, consigning now
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Ford powered with a 5-speed Mazda gearbox The basic price is £41,995 Morgan has a problem. Actually, the firm no doubt has many problems. But the one we're focussed on here is their heritage versus modernity conundrum. Specifically, this is a company whose entire ethos is based around its historic roots and its connection to the past. Hence phrases such as seat-of-the-pants-experience, and wind-in-your-hair-motoring, and a-real-driver's-machine, and characterful-open-air-touring. Etc. Yet at the same time, the past isn't really where it's at. The past is where it's been, and you can market only so much of that olde worlde myth because at some point you have to modernise to attract contemporary buyers who want to enjoy Morgans on slightly less Spartan terms. You really can't have it both ways; not without a lot of blarney. Consequently, the firm's marketing people have to walk a very narrow line between old and new, basic and sophisticated, and now and then. To that end, the Morgan Super 3 has just been launched, and naturally it's the same but different and is looking to keep the company flame burning in what's become a very draughty world of environmental issues that are at odds with ICE vehicles. 
▲ We used to think of Morgan three-wheelers as honorary motorcycles. But now that bike engines are defunct, the self-deception is harder to maintain. But luggage panniers are optional, and you're still advised to wear a lid—and waterproofs too if you're going further than the pub on the corner. Motorcycle engines, as far as Morgan is concerned, are finally passé. Instead, the new Super 3 is powered by a Ford 1.5 litre inline three-cylinder liquid-cooled motor driving through a five-speed Mazda transmission. Maximum power is quoted at 118bhp with 110lb-ft of torque. That should translate into a heady 130mph top end—if you actually feel like doing that on three wheels (although most bikers are happy to achieve those velocities on just two—or even one). There's no chassis anymore, shock, horror. Instead, the company has developed its first monocoque structure which, to hard core traditionalists, is probably more of a monocoque-up—hence the aforementioned problem of appearing to go backward when you have to keep going forward. 
To maintain the classic/heritage appeal, Morgan has opted for 20-inch Avon Speedmaster rubber that, we're advised, was specifically developed for the Super 3. Those wheels, incidentally, are attached to a pull-rod type suspension set-up, the details of which haven't been forthcoming. So we'll just have to take the company's word for it when they tell us that the design is intended to maximise aerodynamics and keep the weight down, which is only what you'd expect from a vehicle that some might cruelly describe as a sidecar without a motorcycle attached. But we wouldn't say that. The bodywork, such as it is, is superformed aluminium; a process that heats the metal to around 500 degrees C and then blows it into a mould thereby allowing complex compound shapes to be achieved—not that we can see any of those on this vehicle. The seats are fixed, and we believe the pedals are adjustable (but don't quote us on that; we make many mistakes). A heater is supplied to help keep the worst of the atmosphere at bay (or provide and illusion of comfort). The instruments are pretty much up-to-the-minute (or at least up-to-the-hour). And, as expected, much attention has been paid to waterproofing the vital bits that are likely to get wet, which is pretty much everything (seats, switches, instrument pods, and so on). And speaking of wetness, the dry weight is 635kg. 
You can choose between two types of windscreen. A push-button START is included for anyone who finds turning a key a little unfashionable if not exactly gauche. Accessory brackets and rails are included. And to satisfy your vegan commitments (or pretensions), you can opt for artificial leather—which, of course, is a contradiction in terms. Beyond that, the company will perform any number of engineering contortions to accommodate both yourself and your peculiar predilections. The asking prices is £49,995. We've been busy here making light of the Super 3, and you might be forgiven for thinking we've got a grievance against it. But we haven't—but, if only for the looks and sound, we'd prefer a more traditional air-cooled V-twin motorcycle engine. However, that would miss the point of the Super 3, which is trying to close the gap between two worlds whilst keeping the legislators at bay. Beyond that, the real problem with this kind of motoring is the hard fact that most of us haven't got suitable roads to let loose on anymore. Certainly not in the UK. The 1930s it ain't. 
If you're interested in buying one of these, send a telegram to the factory (or just email) and take a trip to Morgan Motor Company, Pickersleigh Road, Malvern, Worcestershire. And ask about an electric version. The company did have one in the pipeline, but cancelled it. And when it comes to historic motoring, we'd like to remind you that electric vehicles were fairly common 100 years ago—not that there was ever anything common about a Morgan 3-wheeler. www.morgan-motor.com See also: Morgan EV3 electric
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Either do something Or do nothing It's not often that we use Sump as a protest platform. But when we do it, it's because we feel that we simply have to. And yes, we know that some of our Sumpsters want us to cut the political crap and just talk about motorcycles old and new. But the fact is, some things are simply too important NOT to talk about. And this is one of them. Motorcycles can wait. As we write, Russia is invading the sovereign state of Ukraine. Supposedly, that invasion is intended to limit any further growth of NATO which Russia, rightly or wrongly, sees as a security threat—never mind the fact that if Russia gets control of the Ukraine, it will still have NATO on its doorstep via Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. We've been here before; as a society, that is. Mussolini did it in 1935 when his troops invaded Abyssinia. The Nazis did it in 1938 when they annexed the Sudetenland, and again in 1939 when they went into Poland. That same year, the Russians followed suit when they also carved off a chunk of the Polish sovereign state. In each case, the bogus pretext was much the same. You know the story (and you can include Hungary and Czechoslovakia in that miserable tale of Soviet imperial expansion). It's not clear what the West now intends to do about the situation. Certainly, it doesn't look as if anywhere near enough had been done to see off this attack before the shooting started, and we're not impressed with what's being done now that the battle is raging. But it's easy to be an armchair politician or general or pundit. These things are always more complicated and interwoven than is immediately obvious. Regardless, we're deeply unhappy about this invasion, and that leaves us with two choices; do something, or do nothing—and doing nothing isn't an option. Russia simply has to get the hell out of Ukraine. It's as simple as that (and we can argue later about The Crimea). And the only practical weapons that most of us have are our wallets and our emails. Pathetic, huh? But that's how it is. Consequently, we've cobbled together a few email addresses for you to fire off a little ordnance of your own. Most of you reading this, for various reasons, won't bother. But some of you just might; and like we said, it's better to do something than nothing. If you do target anyone, keep it brief. One sentence is probably enough. Meanwhile, we encourage everyone to boycott all Russian products, especially those that have a direct connection to Russia. Conceivably, a large scale boycott, along with the ongoing international anti-Russian trade sanctions, will hurt a lot of innocent traders and business people. But we're not losing any sleep over that. If you dance with the devil, you should expect to get burned from time to time. Just remember that if you do boycott anyone or anything regarding the invasion, just be sure to tell them why. Right now. Putin will be under conflicting and enormous pressures. Yes, he's talking tough. He has to. But he has his internal enemies too; enemies who will ultimately take him down if enough pressure can be brought to bear. So okay, any contribution we can make as individuals isn't going to amount to what Bogart called "a hill of beans". But we have to try. So check the addresses below. Also contact your MP. Express your thoughts to anyone who might in whatever small way make a difference. If history has shown us anything, it's that bullies have to be challenged and stopped. Of course, we don't want a war. An even larger war, that is. But we can't let this stand either. Please do whatever you can, no matter how little it seems. Use your YouTube channel, or Facebook page, or whatever. Remember this: it isn't simply the Russian government who we have to persuade. We also have to combat the wider disinformation being fed to the Russian public, and then encourage that public to take to the streets. Innocent Ukrainian civilians and soldiers are dying while you ponder all this. Russian Embassy in London bilateralrelations@rusemb.org.uk Defense Attache Office, Russian Consulate in Washington defattru@msn.com Press and culture queries, Russian Embassy in London press@rusemb.org.uk Prime Minister Boris Johnson boris.johnson.mp@parliament.uk
US Embassy London No general email address available RT (Russian Television) London press@rttv.ru Aeroflot presscentr@aeroflot.ru Note: India and China are refusing to publicly condemn Russia for the Ukraine invasion. Contact email addresses below High Commission of India https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/ Chinese Embassy London (Political Affairs Office) political_uk@mfa.gov.cn
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270 are to be built (assuming that Triumph gets that many orders) Triumph Motorcycles is offering a special edition Speed Twin for anyone prepared to stump up a £1,000 deposit followed by another £15,000 on delivery. Meanwhile, Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling is offering a £4,650 Speed Twin wristwatch to prove that time, for some folk, really is money. The production run at Triumph will be limited to 270 units, with 36 bikes earmarked for Blighty. The price of a standard 2022 Speed Twin currently starts at £11k. The Breitling watch, however, doesn't appear to be offered in limited numbers. Chances are the company will flog as many as they can. But if you buy the bike and the timepiece, you can have the wristwatch numbered to match your wheels. Now how indescribably cool is that? Answer: □ Very cool □ Not very cool □ Not at all cool □ Get over it, dudes! Of course, you can always sneer at how the other bloke or bloke-ess spends his/her money, and it won't get you far. But a £16,000 Speed Twin sounds a little steep to us—unless you're a foreigner, in which case Britain will be happy to help you empty your wallet of biking dollars. So keep 'em comin'. 
Beyond that, for that kind of dosh, is that really the best livery that Triumph's designers could have dreamed up? Seem so, wethinks. And before we go, we just took a closer look at the Breitling watch. The warranty is a mere two years, which is the same as that offered by Triumph. www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk www.breitling.com
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Inaugural Vintage Scooter Auction 6th April 2022 is the date We're clearly not a scooter magazine, classic or otherwise. But we've got a place around here for pretty much everything and anything on two wheels (and we've got a grudging respect for hairdryers, not only for their "timeless" style and the positive impact they've had on personal mobility, but also because the owners of these small-wheelers actually use them, often covering the kind of mileages that put big-wheeled bikers to shame. Well H&H Classic Auctions has also found a special place for scooters and is launching a new sales category aimed specifically at these bikes. The first sale is scheduled to happen on Wednesday 6th April 2022. The venue will be the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, West Midlands. The firm say this event "will offer the most comprehensive range of classic scooters sold at auction in the UK." Here's what H&H Classics MD, Colette McKay, added: "We are delighted to announce The Vintage Scooter Auction, the first of its kind ever held. This is an opportunity to be part of what promises to be a very exciting sale, and the first of many such." We've yet to see a consignment list, so contact H&H if you're either buying or selling. But don't expect everything, or even anything, to be cheap and cheerful. There's a high demand for rare, interesting and quality scooters, so prices are likely to be quite bullish. Regarding the scooter at the top of this news story, that's a 1958 Lambretta LD150; a rare model built over just a couple of months (July and August). Only three complete bikes are known to have survived, and the estimate is £7,000 - £8,000.
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk Prison looms for former Norton supremo [Stuart Garner] All time record sales for BMW [194,261 units sold in 2021]
www.motorcyclenews.com
Stuart Garner pleads guilty to illegal pension investments
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial Cost of living: How a switch to riding a motorcycle can slash costs
www.visordown.com Motorcycle sales are already riding high in Q1 2022 Is Tesla the missing link | Tesla Superchargers and motorcycles 
CFMoto 700CL-X Sport lands in UK dealerships | UK price announced
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Production is yet to start But Triumph understandably wants to get us amped up in anticipation... Hinckley isn't giving much away here regarding its TE-1 project. In fact, almost nothing. But the firm has at least condescended to release another image or two of its first foray into the world of electric motorcycles. As you might expect, the bike carries some familiar styling cues redolent of the current Speed Triple. But the heart of the beast—the electric motor—is tucked away behind a couple of stylised plastic covers and hasn't much to say for itself. Does that really matter? Meaning, does anyone care about the technical specifications of an electric motor? Well actually, we think some folks probably do. And it can only be a matter of time before volthead bikers are standing around at motorcycle dealers and social gatherings discussing the benefits of ferrite ceramic magnets when compared to, say, neodymium. Or the thrill of listening to a high torque synchronous motor on full chat, especially when running rare earth brushes. It's gotta happen, peeps. The Triumph TE-1 project, supported by Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain and the University of Warwick's WMG department is, we understand, moving to a new phase which will focus on production. There are no details of when we'll see the new Battery Bonnie, or whatever it finally gets called. And there's certainly no pricing available. However, we think it will be ready when it's right. So try not to die soon. But do we want an electric Triumph motorcycle? As much as it pains us to admit it, we certainly do around here at Sump. We love petrol and other filthy hydrocarbons. But the future is ultimately where it's at. That's where we all going to spend the rest of our lives.
Meanwhile, check out our LOOK BACK, MOVE AHEAD Triumph T-shirt. It's an appropriate message (and we'll now have to start working on a new one to embrace the electric speedster revolution that will be coming to a shop near us sooner or later). Stay charged. Also see: Sump March 2021: Triumph TE-1 electric roadster nears
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January 2022
Golden anniversary Heritage '71 CCM. 600cc. 63bhp. Titanium frame. £29k
7 bikes stolen. Bretts Transport. Wisbech. Sat 8th Jan 2022. Mostly trailies
Manchester motorcycle superstore Drop The Hammer is bust. Creditors?
Ducati London opens. Albert Embankment. Inmoto Enterprises chain
2022 Indian Scout Rogue. 1,133cc. 94bhp. Mini fairing. Apes. £13k+
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60 Interceptors and 60 Continental GTs are (still) coming to Europe But pricing details aren't forthcoming First announced in late 2021, these two anniversary Royal Enfields are, we hear, being hotly awaited by RE aficionados, but there are still no clear signs of when the bikes will actually arrive. We spoke to a number of Enfield dealers and was, in pretty much each instance, told 'soon'. The bikes are, respectively, a special edition 650cc Interceptor (image immediately above), and a special edition 650cc Continental GT (image immediately below). But what makes the bikes so special? A black-chrome tank, a black finished engine, a black-finished exhaust system, a die-cast brass badge, and a few transfers. So basically, it's the colour black (with a tiny bit of brass). 
Built to mark 120 years of Royal Enfield, the company clearly hopes that these bikes will help put some more black ink in the company's ledgers; a company that's done a fantastic rebuilding and re-branding job over the past few years since its manufacturing and publicity machine went into overdrive. And naturally, there's a huge range of Royal Enfield accessories and clothing to ensure that Enfield Man (and Enfield Woman) are properly/appropriately attired. We're told that just 480 bikes will be made for worldwide sale, of which just 60 Interceptors, and 60 Continental GTs will be going into European dealerships. But even if all 60 machines came to the UK, your chances are seeing one, let alone buying one, are probably pretty slim. And that makes you wonder why RE isn't trying to make a bigger splash with these bikes if those 120 years really mean anything. Exclusivity is one thing. But unobtainability is something else. That said, we're pretty suspicious of these numbers, anyway. So we might yet be seeing some adjustment by the bean-counters.
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▲ c1955 125cc Isomoto (Lot 623). This motorcycle hails from the same firm that brought the Iso Grifo and Iso Rivolta supercars of the 1960s. No paperwork. Partial restoration completed. Re-commissioning required. Spicer's is estimating this at £550 - £650. 26th March 2022 at 12 noon Further consignments now being sought We count fourteen lightweight motorcycles at Spicer's first Classic Car and Motorcycle Auction of the year, and the estimates at least look realistic. A 1950 149cc LE Velocette in police livery for £600 - £800 (Lot 622). A 1969 175cc BSA D14 Super Bantam (Lot 627). A 1958 Greeves Scotttish 197cc for £1200 - £1500 (Lot 620). Of course, estimates are not the same as sale price. But there's usually a pretty strong link, and it's nice to see things apparently returning to more "realistic" levels (whatever that means to you). 
We're not familiar with Spicers or the firm's background. But here's what it says on the company website (and well done if you can make sense of it, because we can't): Andy Spicer took over the Driffield Exchange Saleroom in 2019 having first opened its doors in 1964 as the chattels division of the old established firm Dee Atkinson & Harrison. Over fifty years on, a new name 'Spicer's Auctioneers' the rostrum has moved to Goole, still in East Yorkshire, just 30 miles away we look forward to welcoming vendors and buyers as we head for a new adventure with Andy Spicer at the helm, ably assisted by Ian Almond as we build a new team, in a new location with new opportunities on the river and canal side in these lovely, industrial surroundings, so close to many road and rail links. Pruuf that there's nowt rong with Inglish litrasee round ear. Regardless, the company is holding its first 2022 Classic Car and Motorcycle Auction, and more consignments are wanted. If you're looking to unload some classics, or indeed looking to fill the shed with something new, you know what you have to do. Note that fees of 15% and 18.5% respectively apply depending on how you bid. Tell 'em Sump sent ya. www.spicersauctioneers.com
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Royal Enfield Open It Up CALM Raffle. 650cc Interceptor prize. £25k target
Brough Superior Lawrence Nefud Scrambler. 997cc. 102bhp. £50,000
Silverstone Auctions new sale at Excel, London Docklands, 12th Feb 2022
Tony Jeffries, Triumph & BSA man, TT winner, top BMW dealer, dies, 73
Simon Hope, H&H chairman, hands over 100% of his shares to 30 staff
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Direct-to-metal, great quality, 400mm x 300mm £14.99 plus P&P (UK postage) These new metal signs from Sump came in about ten minutes ago, so we haven't yet added them to our main metal garage signs page (but we'll get around to that soon enough. Or maybe later...). However, we know there's a demand for them because we read our email. So we're announcing them here first on our Classic Bike News page. Like the other signs in the Sump collection, these are £14.99 each plus P&P (£5.95 for the UK, £7.95 for Europe, and £20 for the rest of the world—and we know that £20 is plenty. But that's what the Royal Mail charges, and we don't make a penny on it). 
As you can see, there are two signs here; Sunbeam S7 and Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. They're good quality and printed direct-to-metal, and they should last you a very long time. But like all prints, keep them out of hard and direct sunlight. Okay? The size is a generous 400mm x 300mm. If you want one, fire off an email telling us so and we'll be in touch with a payment button. But we've got only a handful in this trial batch (and two of them are already sold to Sumpsters who requested that we print some). So they'll sell fast, and then you'll have to await the next batch, assuming we reprint. Keep that in mind. UPDATE: These signs are now in stock Sunbeam S7 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy feedback@sumpmagazine.com
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Custom & Retro Show tickets on sale now Three Counties Showground, Worcestershire Kickback Show organiser Lorne Cheetham is the first person this year to contact us regarding an upcoming event, and as we're glad to see that the classic and custom scene is finally gearing up for another season, we're happier to give it a plug. The venue is the Three Counties Showground, Worcestershire WR13 6NW. Check the Avon Hall. The date is 2nd & 3rd April 2022. Adult tickets are £9.95 for either day. Your attendance will be very welcome. So make a note in your diary, or mark it on your calendar. 
Lorne has included some snaps of some of the latest bikes to reach the FINALS of the 2022 UK National Championships. This is a pretty cool event that tries extra hard to throw together a very worthy event. So better get it while it's going—which is a pretty good reminder for all the other good stuff in our lives. Are we right? kickbackshow.blogspot.com
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