Accessorise!

Dictionaries and internet searches inform the usual spelling of the noun is ‘accessory’ – though it may be spelled ‘accessary’ – and the plural noun is ‘accessories’. And in brief definition: “It is a product which may be added to another item to make it more attractive, useful or versatile.”

As far as we motorcyclists are concerned, we could add to this definition in a number of ways – for example, the accessory may enhance a mechanical process to perhaps make an engine more powerful or economic, assist a motorcycle’s luggage carrying capacity or improve braking.

Unfortunately, not every accessory is of benefit to us. A person offering assistance to a thief who steals a motorcycle may in law be charged as ‘an accessory to theft’ for example.

Ignoring the acts of miscreants, fashion goods, cooking add-ons and everything else of no use to motorcyclists, here we take a pictorial light-hearted look at accessories from the past 125 years of motorcycling…

Tyred out

Vehicle tyres have been with us for centuries and traction engine rally smithies will spend weekends demonstrating how to make and fit ferrous tyres to cart and horse-drawn coach wheels. Similar lightweight steel bands were fitted to early cycle (boneshaker etc) wheels but soon the merits of solid rubber – or rubber-like – tyres became apparent.

Rightly or