About

Welcome to Classic Bike Experience (CBE), your partner for repairs, restorations, and sales of vintage British motorcycles in Essex, Vermont.

Whether you’re a seasoned rider, a collector, or a newcomer to the world of motorcycles, we are here to bring your two-wheeled dreams to life. Our passion for these motorcycles drives everything we do, and we take pride in offering a wide range of services to keep your bike on the road or restore it to its former glory. We run our business collaboratively with integrity and transparency because we want you to have the best possible Classic Bike Experience.

At CBE, we’re not just about repairing and restoring motorcycles – our online store is your trusted source for high-quality motorcycle parts including:

Our Services:

At CBE we always keep in mind that this is supposed to be fun… for you and for us. “Don’t make a toil of pleasure,” Jack Manning’s Mom used to remind him. So, we strive to make our services tailored to your needs and budget, allowing you to do as much of the work as you are comfortable with.

Get it Running | Assess my Bike:

This is where CBE collaboration begins. Bringing that barn-find relic or the mechanical heartthrob of your 20’s back to life after so many idle years must be done carefully. In half a day, we can typically have your old buddy safely running, and provide a scope and budget on what it will take to make it a daily rider, weekend warrior, or a full restoration. It’s always more fun if you are here in person to experiencer that vintage iron come back to life after so many years of silence.

Reliability, Maintainability, and Safety (RMS)

Most owners are looking to get their bikes up to a level where they can pop off for a nice Sunday afternoon ride without any fuss. In an RMS project, we go through all of the major systems to provide repairs and sensible upgrades. This does not usually include a motor rebuild. Most of our focus is directed at the fuel and electrical systems, tires, and brakes. The end result is a well “sorted” bike as the Brits might say.

We provide Vermont State Motorcycle Inspections with no appointment necessary. Please, call ahead to make sure we are around. The cost is $50 pass or fail. So, it’s best to check those tires and all the lights and horns before you arrive.

Motor Rebuilds

CBE has a long history of rebuilding most notably Norton, Triumph, and BSA motors from the 1960’s and 70’s. We are Andover Norton’s first Authorized Factory Workshop. Our mechanics run each motor on a test stand before we ship to ensure proper running, oil pressure, timing, etc..

Vintage Motorcycle Restoration is our Specialty

Register & Ride Dapper in 2024 - Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride May 19
CBE Captain Jack Manning

Our shop is well known for complete restorations. For these projects we use a multipage, revision-controlled, specification checklist to ensure that what we are rebuilding is what you envision. This includes:

  • Motor details,
  • Finishes and fasteners,
  • Paint,
  • Wheels and brakes,
  • Fuel system,
  • Seat, tank, and tins,
  • Controls.

Custom Builds and Modifications

Are you looking to create a one-of-a-kind motorcycle? Our team will work with you to design and build a custom bike that reflects your unique style and vision. From subtle modifications to complete custom builds, we offer:

  • Custom paint and design work
  • Performance upgrades (exhaust systems, carburetors, etc.)
  • Ergonomic adjustments for comfort and control
  • Fabrication of custom parts and accessories

Pre-Purchase and Pre-Sale Inspections

Are you buying a used motorcycle? We can help you make an informed decision. Our pre-purchase inspections will thoroughly assess the condition of any bike, ensuring you know exactly what you’re getting before you buy it and what will be involved to get it properly sorted to your needs. We are happy to do remote assessments via Zoom or FaceTime. We can help you to ask all of the nitty-gritty questions while you hold your phone.

Are you selling a motorcycle? We can provide tips on how to best assess the value of your bike and where to list it. Having CBE do an assessment greatly increases your credibility to potential buyers.

Rider Resources and Community Events

At Classic Bike Experience, we’re more than just a repair shop – we’re a hub for motorcycle enthusiasts. We host workshops, ride-outs, and community events including the annual Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride to connect riders and share knowledge. Whether you’re looking to learn basic maintenance skills or join a group ride, we’ve got something for you.

A great many of our customers become long-term friends who return to enjoy and support these events.

Internships

A few of our young interns at CBE

We enjoy providing internships for the next generation of motorheads. We have partnered with the Essex Tech Center, the Bellgate school in Essex, as well as, via independent experiences with young persons who have a passion for learning about real mechanics. Notably, we engage participants of either gender with a full range of experiences from grunt work to higher-end mechanical skills. We are all about mentoring and take great pleasure in doing it as a community service.

Why Choose Us?

  • Expertise: Our team has decades of combined experience working on vintage British motorcycles. More importantly, we also know what we don’t know, and we aren’t too proud to get additional opinions from other experts in the industry when necessary.
  • Passion: We genuinely love what we do, and it shows in every bike we touch.
  • Transparency: Our online project system provides you with complete transparency on our overheads, labor costs and variance to the original estimate.  We provide regular photos and videos of each project’s progress
  • Timeliness: We like to have our projects done in months, not years.  We provide realistic timelines and have a reputation for sticking to deadlines.
  • Multigenerational Legacy  Sadly, many vintage shops have closed or will be closing in the near term due to the owner’s age, health, and so on. In turn, a lot of expertise vanishes with them. We have members of our group ranging from grey beards to enthusiasts in their teens, twenties, and thirties. And, have nurtured an apprentice guild community as part of our business strategy to ensure our mission’s longevity.

It Usually Starts with a Phone Call to 802.878.5383

This is a relationship business and first impressions are the key to long-term relationships. Most projects start with a phone conversation where we learn about the condition of your bike. More importantly, we want to know the history of the bike and what it means to you. Give us a call. You won’t feel rushed. We’re happy to talk as long as you like.

We are located in Vermont, one of the most beautiful states in the USA. If you are from afar, we have connections with local B&Bs and would encourage you to spend some time in the area. Bring a spouse, significant other, a friend, or your dog to make it a mini vacation. Vermont is a very special place.