VINTAGE MOTO MONDAY: 1967 Greeves 250 Challenger

This bike, with its leading-link front suspension, looks like it's from another era entirely. Although the British-built Greeves were the most popular two-stroke dirt bikes in the early 1960s, the 250 Challenger was a last effort to compete with the lighter and more maneuverable CZs and Husqvarnas that were gaining in popularity. Girling shocks are used front and rear, and that leading-link fork, besides being stout, had a couple of advantages. Unlike a telescopic fork, it had almost no sliding friction, and it offered 6.5 inches of travel when most other bikes had about 4. Earlier Greeves were powered by Villiers engines, but by this time the company was making its own two-strokes. Fun fact: Bungee cords (official Greeves parts, no doubt) are used to attach the fiberglass tank front and rear.