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Category: Motorcycles
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A determined motorcycling enthusiast is on a mission to honour his late father's legacy by finally getting a 1957 BSA A10 family heirloom on the road for the first time, to make its debut at the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) in 2024. After hearing his passionate and emotional story, BSA Motorcycles, together with the National Motorcycle Museum, have agreed to help fund and carry out the necessary work required to complete a restoration that has been 66 years in the making.
Now the property of Richard George, supported by his brother Phil, the A10 has been a staple of their family history for the past few decades but has never made it more than a few metres down the road. Purchased in the late 1960s for ‘next to nothing’ during a time when British bikes were losing favour in the market to imported Japanese models, the A10 first belonged to Richard’s father. After sadly losing his battle to cancer and liver failure in 2021, he entrusted the bike into the hands of his sons with one, simple request: ‘get it fit for the road.
Richard explained: “I grew up with this motorcycle. I remember watching my father and uncle ride it around the garden when I was young – it was quite a large garden with plenty of room. It’s always been in the family. My dad spent thousands on it. He painted the tank himself, had it re-chromed and took it as far as he could before the illness took over. I took the bike on following my father’s death. I’ve had the electrics redone, had it re-registered, and done quite a bit of work. But I’ve taken it as far as I can. No matter what I do, the clutch keeps dragging, so in order to fulfil my dad’s final wish, I took a long shot and reached out for help.”
Richard contacted BSA Motorcycles through the company’s Facebook page, which has quickly become a community of brand enthusiasts since BSA’s rebirth in 2021. Upon hearing Richard’s story, the company got in touch with the National Motorcycle Museum and agreed to fund some of the restoration works.
Roy Pinto, Marketing Manager, BSA Motorcycles, commented: “Richard’s story encapsulates the BSA spirit perfectly. This is a brand that means so much to so many people, and our heritage and legacy lives on in motorcycling communities and families. When we heard about Richard’s quest, we were touched by his story and keen to help him achieve his goal. BSA motorcycles really have gone down in history as classics and if we can work with Richard and the museum to keep this one alive, we not only further the A10’s legacy, but that of Richard’s father too.”
The BSA A10 gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. It was powered by a 650cc air-cooled parallel-twin engine, known for its smooth power delivery and reliability. The BSA A10's iconic design, combined with its comfortable ride and powerful performance, has since made it a sought-after vintage motorcycle among enthusiasts and collectors.
Wesley Wall, a restorer at the National Motorcycle Museum, commented: “When I first looked at Richard’s A10, it was clear that he had already done some restoration work to a high standard, but there is a bit of work still yet to do. It clearly has a clutch problem and will benefit from some adjustments and the addition of some new clutch plates. It has the wrong carburettor and there is a mudguard missing but we can access high-quality A10 parts fairly easily these days, so we can certainly get this fit for the road.”
The final goal for Richard is to make his debut at the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in 2024. DGR is an annual international charity event where participants dressed in dapper attire ride classic and vintage motorcycles to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues.
Richard remarked: “I’ve never done the DGR before but I know of it and I think it’s a great event. To dress up in my finest clothes and ride this A10 among the BSA and motorcycling community will be a real achievement. It’s what my dad would have wanted.”
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Enduring Bar-to-Bar Action, O’Hara Outlasts Teammate Jeremy McWilliams at Circuit of the Americas,
Pilots S&S-Built Indian FTR to Second-Consecutive Championship
It was a battle between brothers – each armed with their S&S-built Indian FTR Hooligan race bike. Entering the final round of MotoAmerica’s Mission SuperHooligan National Championship (SHNC) at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), dead-locked at 106 total points, Indian Motorcycle Racing’s Tyler O’Hara and Jeremy McWilliams endured bar-to-bar action, each pushing to the bitter end to earn the opportunity to hoist the No. 1 plate and win the 2023 SHNC title.
For the second consecutive season, it was O’Hara, as he outlasted McWilliams in dramatic fashion, taking both rounds at COTA, and winning five of the season’s eight races aboard his Mission® Foods S&S® Indian FTR.
“Hats off to my entire S&S-Indian Motorcycle team, as the guys worked hard all season to keep this Indian FTR dialed in for me,” said O’Hara. “This FTR is an incredible machine. Power, handling, maneuverability – it’s been the highest-performing bike in the class all season, and we’re extremely proud to walk away with another title this season.”
The SHNC final round at COTA was nothing short of exhilarating, as both O’Hara and McWilliams pushed their Indian FTRs in and out of corners, each making incredible passes on the other. Knowing their teammate’s moves and tendencies created an epic battle between two of the sport’s most capable riders. Race 1 at COTA ended with McWilliams high-siding in the final turn of the final lap. McWilliams was unharmed and was able to compete in Race 2 on Sunday. But again, it was O’Hara who captured the final win of the season.
“The relationship between Tyler and Jeremy is truly special – they both thrive off each other’s expertise and experience, and both have an ‘anything it takes’ drive to win once aboard their FTR,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing, Service and Technology for Indian Motorcycle. “When you have a team as committed as our S&S crew, paired with the riders we have, you push every second of every day to win a championship. We’re excited to have reached our goal and look forward to running the No. 1 plate again on Tyler’s FTR next season.”
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Explore our free exhibition at Hinckley and learn about Triumph's history as an iconic British Brand, from the very first prototype to our 1 millionth motorcycle. You'll be able to read all about our racing story, get up-close to well-known movie bikes and much more.
Why not complete your visit with a Factory Tour where you'll be guided by one of our knowledgable Brand Ambassadors around the Home of Triumph, for an insight into the design, manufacturing and production processes that take our motorcycles from concept to creation.
Book a tour
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Landspeed Racing Icon & Record-holder Immortalized for Lifetime Achievements
Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, celebrates Burt Munro’s induction into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame. A motorcycle racing icon and landspeed record-holder, Munro inspired generations of riders through his relentless drive to reach the record books. 
“You cannot tell the history of motorcycles without mentioning Burt Munro,” said Aaron Jax, Indian Motorcycle Vice President. “Burt’s stories have literally molded the Indian Motorcycle brand, as we continue to live like Burt and push the envelope to drive innovation, break boundaries and blaze new trails.”
Born and raised in Invercargill, New Zealand, Munro had an unnatural need for speed, famously saying, “You live more in five minutes on a bike like this going flat out than some people live in a lifetime.” Munro spent decades rebuilding and wrenching his 1920 Indian Scout from his garage, ultimately setting three world records at the iconic Bonneville Salt Flats. In 1967, at 68 years old, Munro set an under-1,000cc record of 184.087 mph. This record still stands today.
“Burt’s a legend. His accomplishments, through trials and tribulations, inspire our racing efforts today,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “While it may be overdue, it’s quite an achievement for Burt to be enshrined into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame, and we’re incredibly proud and grateful to celebrate Burt Munro not just today, but every day.”
The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame pays homage to the remarkable individuals who have made enduring contributions to the motorcycle community. The Hall of Fame celebrates visionary pioneers, while showcasing their extraordinary accomplishments and unwavering passion. The Hall of Fame class of 2023 includes 1981 Des Nations Team USA, Burt Munro, Chris Callen, Jay Allen, Roland Sands, Russel Radke and Scott Jacobs. Learn more at SturgisMuseum.com.
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- Langen Motorcycles have, once again, been invited to ride the stunning Two Stroke up the iconic hill at this year’s Festival of Speed.
- Leading journalists, influencers and racers have been scrambling for the handful of places available to ride the Langen Two Stroke at the most prestigious event on the automotive calendar.
- Chris Ratcliffe, the CEO of Langen, is keeping tight-lipped as to who he has allocated the rides.
- The Langen Two Stroke will make two appearances a day across the four days of the festival.
Langen Technology Limited (Langen), one of the leading automotive engineering and development companies specialising in low volume motorcycles, will once again be making an appearance at the Festival of Speed. Each day two lucky people will have the opportunity to crack open the throttle and experience the thrill of riding this beautiful, hand built 90° V-Twin Cylinder 2-stroke machine up the twisting course in front of the crowds at Goodwood.
Since unveiling the first two custom personalised machines to their recipients at the NEC’s Motorcycle Live event in November 2022, there has been a steady stream of deliveries to customers of the limited edition Langen Two Stroke.
What makes this motorcycle unique is the intoxicating 250cc V-twin engine combined with the focus on simplicity, the reduction in weight using modern technology and materials, along with the use of components of the highest quality. Modern design meets Great British traditional craftsmanship.
Being born as a side project in the Ferrari factory, the first version of the V-Twin was realised in 2014 by Vincenzo Mattia as a brutal GP race engine delivering 95bhp. The patented fuel injection and ECU controlled lubrication system have enabled Langen and Vins to develop the purebred V-Twin into a durable, controllable engine which meets modern emissions regulations. The well-mannered power delivery allows a predictable ride with endless, addictive torque on tap. Take the needle upwards of 9,000 rpm for an experience like nothing else on the road.
Drawing on a wealth of experience and expertise, Langen pride themselves on producing a whole motorcycle package which can not only contend on the race-track but also provides a confidence inspiring and unequalled ride on the road.
Langen’s specialism echoes the great Colin Chapman “simplify then add lightness”. Relentless design, testing and optimisation of every component and system on the bike enables The Two Stroke to weigh in at an incredible 120kg translating to over 600bhp/tonne. The aluminium space-frame chassis provides the optimum stiffness, weight and geometry to give incredible cornering speeds, change of direction with reassuring stability, at 130mph.
Christofer Ratcliffe Founder and CEO of Langen comments: “We are delighted to be back at Festival of Speed, it gives a premium, niche manufacturer like us the opportunity to showcase this stunning motorcycle to a knowledgeable and appreciative crowd.
We are constantly inundated with requests from journalists, influencers, and industry professionals to review and ride The Two Stroke and we have hand-picked the people we think will do it justice to offer them this exclusive opportunity.
Our customers who have already been in receipt of their bikes report only one problem – every journey is extended due to the large crowds the Langen draws wherever it goes and the constant stream of interesting questions from admirers.
At Langen we believe that “cars move the body, yet motorcycles move the soul” - it demonstrates the intangible and unmatched human experience of riding and owning a Langen. Where better to demonstrate this than at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023.
Discover more at: https://www.langenmotorcycles.co.uk/
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