Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In the last of our three part series, we explore the second half of the 1960s and the first half of the 1970s to get an understanding of what went so catastrophically wrong with the British motorcycle industry.
From being the world’s biggest exporters in the 1950s, to complete collapse in the 1970s, this series looks in depth at the strange story of the death of an industry that was once exporting millions of pounds worth of bikes to the rest of the world, using contemporary reports and archive footage.
Please do consider subscribing as it costs you nothing but really helps the YouTube algorithm understand that 3Phils is an established channel with interesting content. Thank you.
If you're feeling generous and fancy leaving us a tip, using the Super Thanks button helps keep our channel going. It takes a lot of time, effort and resource to make these videos so we'd really appreciate it. Thank you.
Wobbly Phil would like to personally thank all those viewers who financially supported this video and suggested background research.
Video credits and links:
BSA Archive 'The Best of Everything'
youtube.com/watch?v=HicD2eCvn0E&t=18s
Packing at AMC Factory - Peter Attwood
youtube.com/watch?v=m__gsDj58_A
1960s Honda Factory Tour - Chris G
youtube.com/watch?v=wm8V5LzoPuc&t=1526s
Honda CB Series 60th Anniv. Special Movie 1965 Dream CB450 - Honda Global
youtube.com/watch?v=NOES6tfB_3w
Norton Frame Test - jamesedwardmeader
youtube.com/watch?v=o624FRvsSsE&t=21s
Recommended reads:
I'm much indebted to Bert Hopwood’s excellent book ‘Whatever Happened To The British Motorcycle Industry?’ Prices on eBay for secondhand copies of this book, which is now out of print but which was originally published by Haynes (the vehicle manuals people), seem quite inflated at the likes of £40-£90 advertised on secondhand sites, but there’s currently (December 2025) several on eBay for around £29.95 incl. p&p.
Report on Japan by Edward Turner, September 1960
https://share.google/vg2eHhlhyi1lbYdz1
The British Motorcycle Industry, 1935-1975 by Steve Koerner
An excellent, thorough and detailed 433 page PHD thesis written in 1995, which was published as the book The Strange Death of the British Motorcycle Industry in 2012.
The book is now hard to find, and consequently pricey. A Used copy will set you back over £100 on Amazon.
amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Industry-MOTORCYCLE-Mar-06-2012-Paperback/dp/B00DDSG06Y/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.r4y1UFjeGU0sEFJ4DdO55u-EJxeb9BGMBSZazrHdVnI.HVQmh5lVs5B2XapOSSUc9R7u1yVJXp2nRy0FUgVbbpI&dib_tag=se&qid=1766250549&refinements=p_27%3ASteve+Koerner&s=books&sr=1-3
However, I did find a copy on eBay for £37.62
ebay.co.uk/itm/376262400174?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=376262400174&targetid=2446966182456&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9211141&poi=&campaignid=21697381820&mkgroupid=188145534956&rlsatarget=pla-2446966182456&abcId=10027101&merchantid=5618646067&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21697381820&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1cbfwoLUJXXknqRlfnsxA94t&gclid=Cj0KCQiAr5nKBhCpARIsACa_NiP5EaQVJc1vMou-S9DJIUujqCnVVX6yTuXDP9gRzLEfEFzbitOJ9qIaAovuEALw_wcB
Don't forget to join us on Facebook too!
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550349542826
#classicmotorcycles #classicmotorbike #vintagemotorcycle #1970smotorcycles #1970s #motorcycling #oldmotorcycle #BSA #triumphmotorcycles #nortonmotorcycles #P86 #V5
In the last of our three part series, we explore the second half of the 1960s and the first half of the 1970s to get an understanding of what went so catastrophically wrong with the British motorcycle industry.
From being the world’s biggest exporters in the 1950s, to complete collapse in the 1970s, this series looks in depth at the strange story of the death of an industry that was once exporting millions of pounds worth of bikes to the rest of the world, using contemporary reports and archive footage.
Please do consider subscribing as it costs you nothing but really helps the YouTube algorithm understand that 3Phils is an established channel with interesting content. Thank you.
If you're feeling generous and fancy leaving us a tip, using the Super Thanks button helps keep our channel going. It takes a lot of time, effort and resource to make these videos so we'd really appreciate it. Thank you.
Wobbly Phil would like to personally thank all those viewers who financially supported this video and suggested background research.
Video credits and links:
BSA Archive 'The Best of Everything'
youtube.com/watch?v=HicD2eCvn0E&t=18s
Packing at AMC Factory - Peter Attwood
youtube.com/watch?v=m__gsDj58_A
1960s Honda Factory Tour - Chris G
youtube.com/watch?v=wm8V5LzoPuc&t=1526s
Honda CB Series 60th Anniv. Special Movie 1965 Dream CB450 - Honda Global
youtube.com/watch?v=NOES6tfB_3w
Norton Frame Test - jamesedwardmeader
youtube.com/watch?v=o624FRvsSsE&t=21s
Recommended reads:
I'm much indebted to Bert Hopwood’s excellent book ‘Whatever Happened To The British Motorcycle Industry?’ Prices on eBay for secondhand copies of this book, which is now out of print but which was originally published by Haynes (the vehicle manuals people), seem quite inflated at the likes of £40-£90 advertised on secondhand sites, but there’s currently (December 2025) several on eBay for around £29.95 incl. p&p.
Report on Japan by Edward Turner, September 1960
https://share.google/vg2eHhlhyi1lbYdz1
The British Motorcycle Industry, 1935-1975 by Steve Koerner
An excellent, thorough and detailed 433 page PHD thesis written in 1995, which was published as the book The Strange Death of the British Motorcycle Industry in 2012.
The book is now hard to find, and consequently pricey. A Used copy will set you back over £100 on Amazon.
amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Industry-MOTORCYCLE-Mar-06-2012-Paperback/dp/B00DDSG06Y/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.r4y1UFjeGU0sEFJ4DdO55u-EJxeb9BGMBSZazrHdVnI.HVQmh5lVs5B2XapOSSUc9R7u1yVJXp2nRy0FUgVbbpI&dib_tag=se&qid=1766250549&refinements=p_27%3ASteve+Koerner&s=books&sr=1-3
However, I did find a copy on eBay for £37.62
ebay.co.uk/itm/376262400174?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=376262400174&targetid=2446966182456&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9211141&poi=&campaignid=21697381820&mkgroupid=188145534956&rlsatarget=pla-2446966182456&abcId=10027101&merchantid=5618646067&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21697381820&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1cbfwoLUJXXknqRlfnsxA94t&gclid=Cj0KCQiAr5nKBhCpARIsACa_NiP5EaQVJc1vMou-S9DJIUujqCnVVX6yTuXDP9gRzLEfEFzbitOJ9qIaAovuEALw_wcB
Don't forget to join us on Facebook too!
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550349542826
#classicmotorcycles #classicmotorbike #vintagemotorcycle #1970smotorcycles #1970s #motorcycling #oldmotorcycle #BSA #triumphmotorcycles #nortonmotorcycles #P86 #V5
