Motorcycle Classics at the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling

Reader Contribution by The Motorcycle Classics Staff
Published on August 13, 2015
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Peter Duke, son of the late great Geoff Duke, on a Norton Manx at the Isle of Man. Photo by Ken Richardson.

Waiting for an excuse to check the Isle of Man off your bucket list? Well, your wait is almost over, because next year Motorcycle Classics is heading to the U.K. for the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling and Classic TT races held Aug. 27 through Sept. 2, 2016.

Only 32 miles long and 14 miles wide at its widest point, the Isle of Man may be small, but it’s one of the biggest spots in the motorcycling universe. For over 100 years, the Isle has drawn motorcycle racers and enthusiasts to one of the most thrilling circuits in the world. Starting with the first race in 1907, the Isle of Man rapidly catapulted to become a top destination in the motorcycling world.

The 11-day tour will be led by Mototouring and Eligio Arturi, with Motorcycle Classics editor-in-chief Richard Backus riding shotgun. We’ll gather in London, then spend a day touring across England, stopping along the way at the National Motorcycle Museum as we head for the small town of Heysham on England’s west coast. There, we’ll catch the Heysham ferry for the three and a half-hour sailing to Douglas and the Isle of Man.

We’ll then spend five days taking in the Festival of Motorcycling, which includes the Classic TT races. We’ll watch the races and ride around the island, checking out the different events going on during the festival and soaking up the scene. Tens of thousands of vintage bike fans descend on the Isle every year, bringing with them an amazing variety of vintage machinery. During the festival, enthusiasts ride around the course and through the coastal towns on bikes we’re lucky to see in museums, if at all, including brands like Sunbeam, Rudge, Douglas, Levis and more.

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