REG 250

I got a Cycle World calender for Christmas that's got some really tasty pictures of motorcycle roadracing action from the late 50's and early 60's. Some of the stuff is just a little bit before my time but there are pictures of Hailwood, Surtees and a young Barry Sheene on a Bultaco. There is also a photo of an REG 250. I'm not so sure I remember ever hearing about such an animal but it's quite the bike. Basically a homemade bike - not from the average guys home, mind you - but a real testament to the machinist and foundryman's art. No CNC machined parts here. Pure machinist and engineering magic. It's a double overhead cam twin cylinder motor with everything that can be either aluminum or magnesium. The one in the picture has been restored by the Sammy Miller Museum. You can read a little more about the history of this worldbeater at the Real Classic site. It's a pretty sophisticated bike even by today's standards but for the early 1950's, it's really something.