1190 Hammerhead model planned Reservations are being sought It's been a very rocky road for the Buell motorcycles brand. That's hardly news. But the marque keeps bouncing back with new energy (and finance), and it now seems that another re-launch is imminent. Yes, we've heard it all before, but we're giving the firm the benefit of the doubt. More or less. Production, we're told, will begin on 1st November 2021 at Grand Rapids, Michigan USA, and the company is now seeking reservations—which is perhaps another way of saying that the management is unsure about the scale of demand. But certainly, the enthusiasm for the Buell marque is there. The re-launch model is the (immediately above) Buell 1190 Hammerhead that's based on the EBR 1190RX, and we've posted a few words on that machine (click the link you've just passed and take a peek). We haven't seen definitive evidence of a production-ready machine, note. In fact, it all feels a little ... diaphanous. Computer generated images of new models. Possibilities. What ifs? But if you believe the hype, and if you've got the cash, and if you love the marque, you know what you have to do. 
And how much cash will you need? We haven't been told. See what we mean? www.buellmotorcycle.com
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Sir Costalot is the name A Comet-Rapide is the game We won't repeat the date. It's clear enough in the headline immediately above. But we will tell you that the venue is the Haynes International Motor Museum, BA22 7LH. Pre-auction viewing will take place on Wednesday 13th October from 9.30am and will conclude at 4.00 pm. There will be a second chance to poke and gawp pre-sale from 9.30am on the following day. The auction is scheduled for 12 noon. At the time of writing this news item, Charterhouse has listed 119 lots and we can report that there's not much to get very excited about. But many of the bikes are coupled to low reserves, so there might be a bargain or two to be had. 
One bike that caught our eye is the immediately above Vincent twin dubbed "Sir Costalot". Apparently, it began life in 1963 when the first owner paired a 1953 Vincent Comet frame with a 1951 998cc Rapide Series C engine. We're advised that the work is high quality, and it seems that the Vincent has collected a few awards here and there. 
It also boasts a certificate of authenticity from the Vincent Owners Club—for whatever that's worth. Not that we've got anything against the bike. As we often say around here, if it rolls, it rocks. It's just that we don't fret too much about factory originality or peer approval. But the bike is now known to the VOC, so it's official or ... well, something.  Sir Costalot, meanwhile, is an appropriate name for a Vincent Twin special. But we'd prefer it if it was called Sir Ridealot—which, for all we know, is equally appropriate.
The estimate is £25,000 - £30,000. https://charterhouse-bikes.com
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Older special with great provenance 650cc Triumph Bonneville from an ex-Meriden man Twenty years or so before Sump there was Ride—a kind of embryonic Sump, if you like; a magazine that one or two of us around here were a part of. Ride was a paper publication and a tentative foot on a long publishing ladder that saw Ride morph into Custom Cycle which enjoyed a few rocky years on the mainstream magazine racks before ... well, before most of the fun fizzed away (there's a long story here, and we're not going into it). Sump is now 12 years old (and 11 years old since we posted out first news page), which makes Ride around 30-odd years old since issue one. When Ride/Custom Cycle was canned, EMAP evidently liked the title and promptly appropriated it. Hence the current Ride magazine; an iron horse of a very different colour, etc. 
Well, that first edition of Ride carried a feature on a 650cc Triumph Bonneville custom built by time-served Triumph parts dealer, ex-Meriden man and travelling adventurer Clive Humphries. And that bike is about to come up for sale at the H&H Classic auction at the National Motorcycle Museum (NMM) in Solihull (more on that auction further down this page). Back then, Clive Humphries was running a parts business from a Kenilworth warehouse, just down the road from the castle. Over the phone, in his usual modest way, he described the bike and it certainly sounded interesting, so an appointment to view (and feature) was made. It turned out to be one of the best Triumph customs we'd ever seen, and we've seen a few. What made it so good wasn't the OTT flashiness, or the in-yer-face glitz and gizmos and contrived attitude. No, its real appeal lay in the simple construction and the more subtle modifications thereof. It was the kind of bike that looked as if it just might have come off the production line at Meriden. Today, it probably looks a little tame to many. And it needs a little detailing to bring it back to its best. But back then, this bike was something very special—and we think it still looks like a contender. 
The most obvious modification is the front lower downtube/lower frame rails which were removed by Clive. Asked why, he shrugged and explained it was partly for looks—and was justified by the increase in ground clearance. "But is that really strong enough?" he was then asked. And he shrugged again and said simply. "We'll see, but it seems to be holding." Other details include the long travel front fork (non Triumph), the Morris cast wheels (18-inchers as far as we can recall), the petrol tank which carries both fuel and oil, the handcrafted saddle, the handcrafted side panel ("bashed from a piece of tin"), the handcrafted high level exhaust/silencer, the handcrafted grab rail, the brake caliper/torque arm arrangements, the 5-inch headlight, the high-level front mudguard, the T160 folding kickstarter, the custom rocker box covers, the repositioned sidestand, the petrol tank engine breather, the angled carburettor manifold which brings both carbs away from the exhaust and exits them on the right—and there are many other details that conspire to make this motorcycle look right from any angle. And most of it is off-the-shelf Triumph parts. 
We don't know what happened to the bike over the years. But some time back (maybe 15 years ago) Clive told us that he'd sold it. And now it's up for grabs once again. H&H Classic Auctions is estimating £10k to £12k. Paradoxically, we can't see this motorcycle making that much money, but it might. These kind of customs, after all, are very personal (for want of a better way to express it). By their nature they generally don't have huge mainstream appeal. Instead, they occupy a zone in which the sale price is usually way below the cost to build. So we'll see what we will see on the day. But if nothing else, the provenance is unimpeachable. And while we remember, the bike was featured once again in Custom Bike magazine—which one or two of us around here were also involved with. Mysterious stuff, huh? Well no. Not really. Just stuff.  Check it out via the H&H web site. The auction date is Wednesday 27th October 2021. We've already told you that the venue is the NMM. Meanwhile, we note that the bike hasn't been used much in recent years. But if Clive Humphries built it, you can trust that it was built right.
Getting bidding, boys (and girls). www.handh.co.uk
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Four Jap classics from the same owner collection No reserves on any Four Jap classic "superbikes" are to go under the hammer at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull courtesy of Messrs H&H. The date will be Wednesday 27th October 2021. The bikes are all from the same owner collection. Here are the details (left to right in the image immediately above): 1. 1975 750cc Kawasaki KH750 H2C 2. 1976 900cc Z900 Kawasaki Z1 A4 3. 1979 997cc Suzuki GS1000EN 4. 1980 1,047cc Honda CBX1000 People talk fast and loose about the "seventies superbike era" as if there weren't superbikes before that point in time. But of course there were numerous motorcycles from the earliest days that could equally claim a contemporary superbike crown; notably the radical Ariel Square Four, or any of the fabled Vincent Twins, or the exquisite Brough Superior—not to mention offerings from the likes of Ace, Crocker, Harley-Davidson, Excelsior et al. But certainly, with the "more modern" engineering architecture of the 1970s Japanese invasion, the term "superbike" gained new impetus. And if you were on the road during that period, you were probably more than mildly acquainted with all of the above machines that have rightly earned the right to be called "modern classics"—and, come to think of it, not too modern anymore actually. So okay, the handling on any of these machines was always, well, interesting. The general build quality was frequently questionable. Winters could be cruel to the finishes. But the pricing was always very keen, the equipment was fairly generous, and the top speed performance was often little short of blistering. However, for a long time at Sump we've been expecting to see these bikes climb way out of reach of the average classic collector. But that still hasn't happened; meaning that you can still pick up some half decent seventies "Jap crap" for less than £10k—and for less than five if you're shrewd, fast on the phone, and are prepared to travel. But okay, we are seeing prices for some of these machines top as much as £30k. However, these bikes are generally offered by  the more adventurous dealers who are generally way ahead of the private pack and who have plenty of customers on their books for whom money is plentiful.
All that aside, H&H reckon there are no reserve prices posted on any of these motorcycles, and we'll be watching with interest to try and glean which way prices are headed.
Stay tuned. www.handh.co.uk
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Manchester Bike Show: 29-30/1/2022 (brought forward from 2-3/4/2022)
The HCVA is warning of E5/E10 fuel "snake oil" salesmen [fuel additives]
174 abandoned classic cars found in London warehouse—£1m valuation
Battlesbridge returns. Sunday 26th September 2021. £5 adults. 9am - 3pm
New UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss pushes Harry Dunn issue at UN
Dunn family/Anne Sacoolas US civil settlement. Criminal pursuit continues
ePetition launched: "Re-open Brighton Speed Trials to motorcycles"
Triumph launches James Bond 007 themed special edition 900cc Tiger
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Back the East Anglian Air Ambulance if you can £12 is the price for UK bikers Last year, sales of the 2021 Andy Tiernan calendar raised an impressive £3,085.93 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. So naturally, this year Andy wants to at least match that figure—if not exceed it. And also naturally, he needs your help. That air ambulance is a vital service for the county—and no doubt for neighbouring counties—and many broken bodies have been rapidly attended by this life-saving whirlybird and whisked off to the hospital. But the chopper needs cash to stay airborne. Your cash. So ante-up if you possibly can, especially if you live in the respective catchment area.
Mike Harbar is once again the calendar artist. He's beautifully sketched six Triumphs; one from each decade between 1910 and 1960 (and if you want to avail yourself of his creative services, visit: www.classiclinesartist.com)
Meanwhile, you can get your calendar at: Andy Tiernan Classics Calendars, The Old Railway Station, Station Road, Framlingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 9EE, United Kingdom.
UK buyers can buy one for £12.00 which includes UK 2nd class postage. EU buyers will pay £17, including European postage. Anyone in the rest of the world will pay £20, also including postage. Cheques should be made payable to "East Anglian Air Ambulance" or by PayPal to AndyTiernanCalendarDonation@outlook.com. Please pay with a cheque drawn on a UK bank. Credit or Debit cards, take note, can't be accepted.
The calendars are being printed now and will be sent hot off the press. Talk to Andy if you need further details. www.andybuysbikes.com
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The much fêted "New Wave" French movie star has died aged 88 He was professionally active from 1956 - 2009 Tonight we're lamenting the death of French movie star Jean-Paul Belmondo, and you're invited to spend a few minutes with us briefly looking back at his life and career. Affectionately known as Bébel, he was primarily a movie actor, but he also worked in theatre and television. Crime thrillers, comedies, swashbucklers, spy flicks, and romantic dramas, Belmondo, with his popular down-to-earth Gallic charm, was apt to turn up just about anywhere and everywhere—not least when the subject matter was offbeat and quirky. His fame quickly spread worldwide and he developed something of a cult following. Box offices loved him. 
▲ Belmondo performed many, if not most, of his own movie stunts. In 1963 he performed a motorcycle tightrope act at the Medrano Circus (Cirque Medrano) in Paris. The circus was once located at the edge of the Montmartre district, but is now a travelling enterprise. Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine (now Hauts-de-Seine; a commune west of Paris), Belmondo hadn't initially planned on being a movie star. He'd wanted to be either a professional footballer or a professional boxer. And to that end, he enjoyed a very brief career in the square ring; a career that began in 1949 and ended the following year when he noticed the impact that it was having on his face (pun intended). But if his prize-fighting ambition was short-lived, it was at least successful. In his first fight he knocked out his opponent in round one, and henceforth Belmondo remained unbeaten. 
▲ Belmondo riding a 500cc Triumph TRW through the streets of Paris. By 1953 his latent interest in acting led to a part in a short movie Moliere. It wasn't much of a role, but he got his first good look at the camera, and the camera got a look at him. As a follow up, he enjoyed a small part in On Foot, on Horse, and on Wheels (À pied, à cheval et en voiture, 1957). But that performance, we hear, ended on the editing room floor—as these things are apt to do. We haven't actually seen that film to confirm, but Jean-Paul Belmondo is certainly listed among the cast. In 1960 he made Breathless (À bout de soufflé). In 1964 he made That Man from Rio (L'Homme de Rio). The following year he made Pierrot le Fou. These three film are arguably his best known works, and largely because of them he was soon drawing favourable comparisons with the likes of Humphrey Bogart, James Dean and Marlon Brando—none of whom, we feel, were in fact possessed of that unique Belmondo charisma. In 1970 he appeared with Alain Delon in the 1930s Marseilles-set gangster romp, Borsalino. Delon became something of a business and acting rival, but there was no mistaking either man on screen. Both were apt to turn out compelling performances, which was exactly what happened with Borsalino. It was a smash. 
Jean-Paul Belmondo, rarely seen in public without a cigarette in his mouth, was married twice and divorced twice. He fathered four children. Beyond that, he was frequently in the international news as a result of his personal relationships with various high profile actresses and top models. In 2009, after an eight year absence, he made a surprise return to acting in A man and his dog (Un homme et son chien). Despite diminishing health, he offered a credible performance playing a man with ... well, diminishing health. Belmondo was honoured with numerous French awards, and he was twice nominated in the BAFTAs. A policeman, a gangster, a priest and an alcoholic, Belmondo was all of these on screen. And much more. He became one of the cornerstones of the 1960s French noir scene—which is something that we haven't reacquainted ourselves with for some time. Belmondo's death, however, has prompted us to put that right at the earliest opportunity. He was 88 years old.
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A significant UK government vote is on the way Ditto for the Scottish government It hasn't happened yet. But if the government has its (wicked?) way, bikers could soon find themselves compelled to prove their Covid-19 status before entry at major motorcycle events. And the reason for this move is that Prime Minister Boris Johnson (surprise, surprise) wants to introduce Covid passes—despite having previously stated his opposition to them. To change the status quo, the PM's plan require a debate and a vote in Parliament, and that's going to happen within the next couple of weeks: say, by around the 20th of this month (September). In the interim, the Scottish government will be holding a vote this week following a debate on the 9th September. Down south in Whitehall there's likely to be a serious reaction from the usual Tory backbenchers, et al. And there are plenty of Labour MPs sawing through the floorboards where Johnson usually stands in the House. Up north in Edinburgh, as we understand it (and we misunderstand so much in this world, folks), the passes are being campaigned by Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish Nationalists and backed by the Scottish Green Party (which has recently cozied up to the Nats in return for a little power, so now the Greenies have got to toe the line). If the coronavirus passes/passports get the go-ahead, they won't apply to smaller gatherings. Not initially, anyway. But night clubs and football matches are among the first in line, and it's anyone's guess who's next. Somewhere down the list are any of the race tracks in the UK and any of the biggest biking shows. Is this scaremongering? We don't think so. But no one needs panic. We already do enough of that, etc. At Sump, we've got mixed feelings regarding Covid-19 passes. But we think the ongoing claims of an imminent two-tier society are overstating the problem. Nevertheless, the goalposts are on the move, and Johnson is widely expected to score. If you've got a view one way or t'other, tell it to your MP or MSP. There's a link below detailing a draft letter (if you need it). As for the image at the top of this story, that's campaigning group Big Brother Watch again projecting their thoughts onto Parliament (today, 6th September 2021). Nice. MP or MSP Covid-19 draft letter https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk
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Custom bike builders look this way Organiser Lorne Cheetham is looking for entries It will be the 21st edition of the UK's Kickback Show, and it's scheduled for the 2nd and 3rd of April 2022 (Saturday and Sunday). The venue is the Three Counties Showground in Worcestershire, WR13 6NW; more specifically inside the Avon Hall.
The competition categories include; Best Young Builder, Best Freestyle, Best Modified Classic, Best Cub, Best Cafe Racer (inspired custom), Best Chopper/Bobber and Best Universal (unclassified) Custom. If you want to enter your custom creation, you're asked to email good quality photos to lorne@rwrw.co.uk. The deadline for entries is 29th March 2022. When invited, you'll need to deliver your bike on 2nd April 2022 before 10.30am. The trophies will be awarded on Sunday at 3pm. If you're seeking admission tickets, you'll need to contact www.ticketsource.co.uk. Meanwhile, you can look forward to "dozens" of trade stalls, refreshments, camping, free parking and suchlike. This isn't the biggest custom bike show in the world, but Lorne Cheetham is a serious guy with ambitions, and he always puts on a decent event, Covid-19 notwithstanding. Good enough?
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£130 is the current penalty Mayor Sadiq Khan is now looking for £160 It's no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has hit Transport for London very hard. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has invested heavily in public transport, and for many people things have certainly improved under his watch—albeit largely at the expense of the private motorist and motorcyclist. We're talking about the congestion charge and/or the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), both of which are part of the wider mix aimed at keeping the British capital on the move. Meanwhile, some revenue is also raked in via the controversial red routes which prohibit stopping at any time, except for buses. And the penalty for transgression is currently £130—or £65 if paid within 14 days—and that's set to increase to £160 (or £80 for payment within 14 days). Of course, there is the formality of a public consultation which is currently underway. But essentially, it's probably a done deal. A £30/£15 hike is almost certainly on the way, and in fairness to Khan it's the first rise for a decade. That, says the mayor, aligns the increase with UK inflation (which may or may not be true). And you might think that as a biker, the red route doesn't much affect you. But it does. Stop for a second the cameras will pounce—never mind that you paused only for a minute or so to put on some wet weather gear or drop off a pillion. London's red routes account for only 5% of the capital's road space, or so we're told by City Hall. But that 5% accounts for 30% of traffic. Critics of the hike have called it a simple, unashamed money grab. And that's probably true. Revenue from buses and trains has fallen hugely since the virus came, and there are massive outstanding bills to be paid regarding various on-going transport projects. Meanwhile, it's worth remembering that it's the role of local authorities, government agencies and suchlike to do whatever they can to raise funds. That's how it works. Someone has to foot the bills.  You can register your objection to the rise—assuming you do object. Or you might want to sit this one out because, as we said, it's almost certainly going to happen. Then again, it might be worth gently jerking Khan's lead and telling him not to get too greedy.
The consultation ends on 19th September 2021. RED ROUTE CONSULTATION
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August 2021 
www.britishdealernews.co.uk International Dirt Bike show moves to 2022 [Mortons; postponed again] Bumper Expo for 2022 [Or: 2021 UK bike trade Expo postponed again] Eddie “Webby” Jago 1936-2021 Shock Southampton closure [Park Road Superbikes closes]
www.motorcyclenews.com 
Triumph Tiger Sport 660 unveiled: Trident engine used to take on Tracer 7 Garner faces prosecution: Ex-Norton man due in court over pensions Honda Africa Twin models updated for 2022
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial 
New look at electric ‘Benelli’ What is E10 fuel and is it safe for your bike?
www.visordown.com ULEZ 2021: Londoners considering a switch to electric pre-zone expansion
www.motorbikewriter.com 
Strange line markings could save riders’ lives [Austrian road safety idea]
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The cars will be running But apparently it's "too dangerous" for motorcycles It's just been (belatedly) announced that bikes will not be sprinting at this year's Brighton Speed Trials (BST). But it's got nothing to do with the ongoing coronavirus situation. Apparently, the issue revolves around the condition of Madeira Drive which, as usual, serves as the beach side race track. Here's what the organiser has to say about it:  "It is with regret that we have to announce that the motorcycles will not be running at this years BST.
"The ACU inspected the track and have decided that on the grounds of safety, a track certificate and permit cannot be issued this year. "Some of the reasons given were the green painted cycle lane and the red painted pedestrian crossings. There are [also] projections which have been moved during recent works and are a cause for concern, to name a few. However, they [the ACU] have promised to proactively be in contact with the City Council to try to resolve these issues as they are keen to help us run in 2022. It is a great shame, but we have to accept their decision. We must all remember that the safety criteria for cars is somewhat different for bikes.
"The cars will be running, and we always appreciate their kind invitation year on year and wish The Brighton and Hove Motor Club great weather and a fast, safe and successful day and look forward to returning in 2022." To clarify all that, The Brighton & Hove Motor Club has been running the event since forever. The VMCC Sprint Section has, by invitation, been handling the bike racing. However, for this year at least, the ACU has effectively queered the pitch (so to speak). The risks are considered too high. 
The loss of the bikes will for many fans be a serious blow. Nevertheless, you might want to mosey along there anyway and sniff some fumes and hang out. The date is Saturday 4th September 2021. And as we're fond of saying around here, Brighton is a pretty good place to visit every once in a while. On the face of it, it looks like motorcycles could be permanently off the menu. But that thought, we stress, is pure idle speculation.
https://www.facebook.com/vmccsprint/
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The iconic Stones drummer is gone He was 80 Q: What do you call a bloke who hangs around with musicians? A: A drummer. And yes, that's a very old musician/drummer joke, and it's totally inappropriate in the case of Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones who has died aged 80. Watts, who was possibly the most famous rock drummer in the world, was also a highly accomplished jazz man and spent over five decades behind the skins holding down the beat in his cool, calm and unemotional manner. He hailed from Wembley, North London; the son of a lorry driver and, well, a mother. Reputedly, he started playing drums on a banjo. "I didn't like the dots on the neck, so I took the neck off." He then put the banjo head on a stand and created a makeshift snare drum. His burgeoning musical influences included all the jazz greats of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and he studied the drumming techniques via his large collection of 78s which he played on a bedroom gramophone. 
After a stint playing with various local jazz combos in coffee shops and suchlike, he met Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richard, all of whom were exploring the London rhythm and blues scene. By 1963, Watts was a permanent member of The Rolling Stones—and, thanks to some experience as a graphic artist, he helped design many of the early album covers and much of the promo material. In stark contrast to the hi-jinks behaviour of the other members of the band, Charlie Watts projected a very moderate and modest image. In later years he became famous for his Savile Row suits and other stylish accoutrements. While rock fans will best remember him for his contribution to tracks such as Brown Sugar, Miss You, Honky Tonk Women, Get Off Of My Cloud and Jumpin' Jack Flash, jazz fans will perhaps better remember him for his work with the Charlie Watts Quintet and the Charlie Watts Tentet. He also had a passion for boogie-woogie music which, in the 1980s, he enjoyed with Rocket 88 (look it up). 
One of the low spots of Charlie Watts' career happened in 1969 at Altamont, California where an 18-year old fan (Hunter Meredith) was stabbed to death by a Hells Angel—allegedly after having kicked a motorcycle. Sonny Barger, president of the group, has since been quoted as saying on a radio phone in show: "When they started messing over our bikes, they started it. Ain't nobody gonna kick my motorcycle. When you're standing there, looking at something that's your life—and you love that thing better than you love anything in the world—you know who that guy is. You're gonna get him." "Nice one, Sonny..." replied a mildly sarcastic Charlie Watts who was fielding questions and comments on the show. And that phrase, "Nice one, Sonny," subsequently became a Stones catchphrase for any foolish word, deed or action. 
Charlie Watts was married once and fathered one daughter who in turn provided him with a granddaughter. He had been suffering from ill health for some time and finally succumbed on 24th August 2021.
The last word goes to the Rolling Stones website which we checked about ten minutes ago. Everything on the site is gone—all except for a single and very eloquent image of Charlie; the final beat in what was a long and, we hope, very satisfying life. www.rollingstones.com
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I have every copy of The Stones UK studio albums. I've been a lifelong fan. RIP Charlie—Terry Lester
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Cool looking 1934 Sunbeam Lion up for grabs Low estimate You know the drill. You're getting on in life. Locked in your peculiar groove. Head full of cobwebs. Etc. But you're not quite ready to surrender to that good night, meaning that you're still looking for adventure. Excitement. New horizons, Indiana Jones style. But you need a little transportation for those long desert jaunts and wilderness forays—and the above 1934 Sunbeam Lion outfit could be exactly what you need.  A simple and rugged sidevalve. Five hundred of the best cubic centimetres. A lazy four-speed hand-change. Solid Webb-pattern girder front fork. Rigid frame. Enclosed rear drive chain. Token brakes. A pillion seat for whatever runaway princess you happen to meet. And a chair on the side to haul your tent, Webley revolver, ammunition, theodolite, tins of dried beef, tins of jam, tools, change of socks, spare fuel and oil—and of course you also need the sidecar to carry away all that buried Inca treasure as detailed on the scrap of parchment you found squirreled away in the British Museum Library.
Know what we mean? Well, what makes this rig all the more tempting is the estimate as suggested by Messrs H&H who will be offering the Sunbeam for sale on Wednesday 27th October 2021 at the National Motorcycle Museum. And that estimate is a lowly £4,500 - £5,500. So okay, an estimate isn't a sale price. We know that. But auction estimates have a curious way of guiding/directing/informing buyers and setting the bidding pace and limits. That's why so many lots pretty much hit the bullseye. It's not so much that the auctioneers know the market so intimately (although most are pretty shrewd characters). It's more that buyers generally rely upon the estimates and thereby keep close to the posted numbers. Consequently, this British Lion just might be a great bargain for any latter day adventurers out there, and as such we'll be watching it closely. And while we remember, Bonhams sold a Model 6 solo bike in 2019. That fetched £7,500. We've seen them asking more than this. 
▲ 1932 600cc Model 7 Sunbeam Lion Longstroke. 26 x 3.50 tyres front and rear. Dynamo lighting. Electric horn. Front and rear stands. Legendary enamelled finish and superior build quality. More power for hauling a chair, but the 500 (the Model 6) was almost equally capable. £75 new. We're advised that the bike is in good working order and is about as original as you're gonna get, if not 100 percent. It's been re-bored and fitted with new rings, valves and guides—but some re-commissioning will be required. And, of course, an oily rag or two to preserve that patina wouldn't hurt. There's a dicky seat, by the way (in case the princess has a sister). And the lucky buyer should remember to buy a pith helmet and a safari outfit to complete the fantasy. 
We're currently taking a more in depth look at the other lots in this sale and, naturally, will report anything that catches our eye. But for now, we're focussed on this Sunbeam which would look fine in the Sump garage if only we had the space. www.handh.co.uk
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A few upgrades, but nothing sensational £12,499 is the price Kawasaki has introduced a special edition of its current 948cc Z900RS. It's called the Z900RS-SE and we've posted a few words on it via Sump's Motorcycle news section (as opposed to our Classic Bike News portal). Given that it's a retro—and probably a modern classic—we could have run the full news story right here, right now. But like a lot of things in this life, it is what it is, and we wanted it there rather than here. So take a peek and come back soon. There's bound to be some more interesting news on the way. 2022 Kawasaki Z900RS-SE story
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London Red Route fines looking to jump from £130 to £160. Consultation
John Bloor: "We donate money to the Tories and expect nothing in return."
ULEZ expansion set for October 2021. Check the M/C scrappage scheme
Motorcycles permanently banned from Pike's Peak "Race to the Clouds."
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All bikers welcome at this event A candlelit vigil will also be held The above graphic taken from the Facebook page tells you most of what you need to know about this news story. A Harry Dunn Memorial Ride. Friday 27th August 2021. RAF Croughton. 6pm. We figure that most of you guys and gals will recall that Harry Dunn was the young British motorcycle rider killed in 2019 in a motoring accident outside an RAF base in Northamptonshire. Anne Sacoolas was the driver of the other vehicle—that was apparently motoring along on the wrong side of the road. Sacoolas has since gone to ground in the USA and, rightly or wrongly, is claiming diplomatic immunity. Meanwhile, the Harry Dunn campaign, driven by his tenacious parents, is not letting go of this issue—and evidently neither are hundreds, if not thousands, of British bikers. Hence this second memorial ride out. 
▲ RAF Croughton—as seen from, say, a Russian spy satellite (or Google Maps). It's currently home to the US 422nd Air Base Group and is essentially a listening post and communications switchboard. There are no runways here. Just radar dishes and antennas and suchlike. It was built in 1938 as Brackley Landing Ground. Then it was renamed RAF Brackley, and then changed to RAF Croughton. They used to fly Hampdens, Blenheims, and Wellington from here. We'd tell you much more, but we'd then have to kill you, etc... The meeting point is Buckingham Road Industrial Estate, Brackley, Northamptonshire NN13 7ES. The ride begins at 6pm. Spectators (spectators?) are advised to meet at the entrance to RAF Croughton which you can find on the B4031. The riders, meanwhile, will be completing a circular route near or around the base. And there will also be a candlelit vigil starting from around 7.30pm and finishing thirty minutes later.
"LET'S RIDE FOR JUSTICE" is the slogan for the ride. Need we remind anyone to stay cool headed, etc? No, we didn't think so. Harry Dunn Memorial Ride Facebook page Sump Harry Dunn background story
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It's a stick up New expectations for British drivers and riders From 28th September 2021, GB stickers will no longer be officially recognised on British vehicles travelling in mainland Europe. Instead, British drivers (and presumably riders) will be expected to display UK stickers. Why? Because the letters "GB" refer specifically to Great Britain, and that means England, Scotland and Wales—but not Northern Ireland. Evidently, until recently no one cared too much about that. It was largely taken for granted and was politically expedient to overlook the omission. But things have changed. The UK is now out of the EU, and the controversial and divisive "border down the Irish sea" is a live and highly charged issue. And people on both sides of the Irish argument (or arguments) have ... well, let's say enhanced sensitivities. So GB is out, and UK is in. The new stickers and wotnot will be available anytime soon. So if you're planning on a European sortie or sojourn, you know what England (or the UK) expects of you. And while we remember, if you are heading across the English Channel (or is that UK Channel?) better gen up on the latest road traffic rules and regulations. Leaving the EU club hasn't made us many friends, but it's antagonised a lot of people, some of whom are no doubt wearing uniforms and carrying guns. Makes you think.
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