Knowledge center
Everything you need to know about classic motorcycles and cars: papers and rules, buying and selling, import, maintenance, restoration and brand histories.
Maintenance & riding
Carburettors, ignition, oil, tyres, brakes and riding an old bike safely.
ClearBrakes, tyres and ageing rubber: the safety items that age even when the bike stands still
A classic that has barely been ridden can still be dangerous. Rubber hardens, brake fluid absorbs water and seals dry out. What to check, how to read...
Read guide 6 min read Maintenance & ridingClassic motorcycle electrics: 6 volt, 12 volt, positive earth and points ignition
Most electrical problems on an old bike are bad earths, tired connections and a flat battery, not exotic faults. How the systems differ, what to measu...
Read guide 6 min read Maintenance & ridingWaking up a classic motorcycle from storage: the order that saves the engine
A bike that has stood for months or years should not be started on the first try. The order of checks that protects the engine, the brakes and you, fr...
Read guide 6 min read Maintenance & ridingWinter storage of a classic motorcycle: preparing the bike so it wakes up well
Good storage is a few hours of work in autumn that saves days in spring. Fuel, oil, battery, tyres, cleaning, the right cover and the right room, and...
Read guide 5 min read Maintenance & ridingFuel, ethanol and the fuel system of a classic motorcycle
Modern petrol is not the petrol the bike was built for. How ethanol affects tanks, hoses and carburettors, which fuel to choose, and what to replace s...
Read guide 5 min read Maintenance & ridingOil and lubrication in classic engines: grades, additives, wet clutches and dry-sump quirks
Which oil to choose for an old engine, why modern oils can be wrong for flat-tappet cams and wet clutches, what wet-sumping is, and how premix and tot...
Read guide 5 min read Maintenance & ridingCarburettor basics: how it works, how to clean it and how to find a problem
Most running problems on a classic blame the carburettor, and most of the time the cause is dirt, air leaks or ignition. How a carburettor works, a ca...
Read guide 6 min read Maintenance & ridingChain and final drive: tension, lubrication, wear and shaft drive care
The final drive is cheap to look after and expensive to ignore. How to check chain tension at the tightest point, how to lubricate, when to replace th...
Read guide 4 min readReady to find or sell a classic?
Browse the live auctions, or list your own motorcycle or car for serious buyers.
