Classes of Historic Motorbikes

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The divisions of historic motorbikes into classes by date of manufacture actually varies slightly from one geographic location to another. For the purposes of today’s post I am defining each of the classes in accordance with the rules of the Historical Motor Cycle Club of Queensland (HMCCQ).

Veteran

Barry Deeth's 100-years-old Ariel had recently returned from being ridden from Adelaide to Darwin.
Barry Deeth’s 100-years-old Ariel had recently returned from being ridden from Adelaide to Darwin.

A veteran motorbike is one constructed up to and including 31st December 1918.

Vintage

This 1927 AJS 500 single machine looks like a typical "Made in England" bike of its era.
This 1927 AJS 500 single machine looks like a typical “Made in England” bike of its era.

A vintage motorbike is one constructed between and including 1st January, 1919 and 31st December 1930.

Post-Vintage

This 1938 Calthorpe was owned by my Uncle Ottar (left) and is being admired by my Uncle Kevin (right). I clearly remember Ottar stripping this motor down and patiently explaining the workings of a four-stroke engine to me when I was just a very small boy.
This 1938 Calthorpe was owned by my Uncle Ottar (left) and is being admired by my Uncle Kevin (right). I clearly remember Ottar stripping this motor down and patiently explaining the workings of a four-stroke engine to me when I was just a very small boy.

A post-vintage motorbike is one constructed between and including 1st January, 1931 and 31st December 1945.

Post-War

This R51/3 BMW was built in 1954.
This R51/3 BMW was built in 1954.

A post-war motorbike is one constructed between and including 1st January, 1946 and 31st December 1960.

Historic

This 1968 Suzuki T200 with Watsonian Bambini sidecar was bought brand-new by me in Adelaide in 1969. A 196cc two-stroke parallel-twin it was the smallest capacity sidecar bike I ever owned.
This 1968 Suzuki T200 with Watsonian Bambini sidecar was bought brand-new by me in Adelaide in 1969. A 196cc two-stroke parallel-twin it was the smallest capacity sidecar bike I ever owned.

An historic motorbike is one constructed between and including 1st January 1961 and  31st December of the year 30 years prior to the current year.
Historic motorbikes are further divided into 3 groups:

  • HISTORIC 60s – constructed between 1st January 1961 and 31st December 1969.

    My Chang Jiang outfit was designed in Germany as a BMW R71 in 1938 and therefore looks like a Post-Vintage bike. However, this one was assembled in China in 1962 for the People's Liberation Army, and is therefore classified as a "Historic 60s" bike.
    My Chang Jiang outfit was designed in Germany as a BMW R71 in 1938 and therefore looks like a Post-Vintage bike. However, this one was assembled in China in 1962 for the People’s Liberation Army, and is therefore classified as a “Historic 60s” bike.
  • HISTORIC 70s – constructed between 1st January 1970 and 31st December 1979.

    This 1974 Moto-Guzzi Californian with DJP Mark2 sidecar was our transport on our honeymoon when I married Wendy in February 1976.
  • HISTORIC 80s – constructed between 1st January 1980 and 31st December 1984 (as at 2015).

    This Suzuki Katana was built in 1983, so it qualifies as a "Historic 1980s" class of bike. To me it seems almost like a "modern" bike.
    This Suzuki Katana was built in 1983, so it qualifies as a “Historic 1980s” class of bike. To me it seems almost like a “modern” bike.

This is the set of definitions used by HMCCQ and I do realise that other states and other countries have definitions that are in variance with these.

One thought on “Classes of Historic Motorbikes”

  1. The UK can decide if we want to exempt motorbikes of historic interest, if they ‘have not been subject to substantial change’. Or we could choose to introduce regular testing for such vehicles. If we do decide to exempt motorbikes, we can decide how old they should be before they’re exempted and how to define ‘substantial change’.

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