Classic British Motorcycles: An Illustrated History

by Andy Tallone

Overview

Classic British motorcycles were more than simple machines, they were a cultural phenomenon that lasted half a century. From the early days of motoring, British innovators led the way, building some of the world’s most famous motorcycles, as well as some of the best performers. At one point, the rest of the motorcycle world followed Britain’s lead, and by the late 1950s, the British were by far the largest producers of motorcycles in the world. However, barely a decade later, the British motorcycle industry was almost bankrupt and in utter disarray. Illustrated with over 150 photographs, this book explores the rise and fall of the British motorcycle industry, looking at its history through the years and then at the motorcycles themselves by brand, giving the complete story of these amazing machines.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781913870577
Publisher:	Key Publishing
Publication date:	07/04/2022
Series:	Classic Vehicle Series , #4
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	729,052
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.10(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Part 1 British Motorcycles through the Decades

Chapter 1 Before the Beginning, 1853-1909 6

Chapter 2 The 1910s and World War One 9

Chapter 3 The 1920s 12

Chapter 4 The 1930s 15

Chapter 5 The 1940s and World War Two 18

Chapter 6 The 1950s 22

Chapter 7 The 1960s 25

Chapter 8 The 1970s 30

Chapter 9 The 1980s 35

Part 2 The Brands

Chapter 10 Ariel Motorcycles 38

Chapter 11 BSA Motorcycles 44

Chapter 12 Matchless Motorcycles 51

Chapter 13 Norton Motorcycles 56

Chapter 14 Royal Enfield Motorcycles 64

Chapter 15 Triumph Motorcycles 69

Chapter 16 Velocette Motorcycles 80

Chapter 17 Vincent Motorcycles 85

Part 3 The Bitter End and Beyond

Chapter 18 The Death of the British Motorcycle Industry 90

Chapter 19 Life After Death 94

Picture Credits 96