The story of the classic British motorcycle from the mighty Triumph to the venerable Vincent

In the modern era, mass-produced motorcycles tend to be Japanese, with the "big four" manufacturers dominating the market. It wasn't always so. Until the 1950s, even into the 1960s, British makers ruled the roost, names such as Scott, Rudge, BSA, Norton, and the mighty Triumph. There were many others now remembered by enthusiasts. These were the companies which developed the motorbike from its earliest beginnings as little more than a bicycle with a tiny engine and made it the fast, powerful and exciting machine we recognize today. This is the story of those British machines and their development, even the story of some who rode them. Within this story may perhaps be discerned some of the reasons for their demise, but this is primarily a story of success. The failures, such as they were, certainly did not arise from any lack of engineering excellence.