It’s not every day you get the chance to ride a Norton that could have changed the history of the British motorcycle industry – but that’s the cover story on the August issue of Classic Bike. The McCandless Dominator is a prototype built by the engineering genius who created Norton’s famous Featherbed frame – although, sadly, the company’s management lacked the foresight to put this visionary machine into production. Continuing the ‘What if?’ theme, the issue also features a test ride of a Triumph Trident with a tuned 930cc engine – could it have fought off the wave of Japanese superbikes in the 1970s? We’ll never know – but we do know this superfast triple is a treat to ride.
Elsewhere in the August issue, there’s the extraordinary tale of two sisters who defied social norms to ride across the United States on Indian motorcycles in 1916, a last-chance tour of the old John Player Norton race shop (now threatened with demolition), an interview with reclusive 1970s accessory kingpin Paul Dunstall, a trio of Yamaha RD specials and a trackday Triton – a bit of something for everyone!
