And yet....I'm still tempted by a 1960s British single (maybe oily rag , and not electronic ignition)! Given that a large part of why I'm planning to get a classic is to tinker with it, try to get to know how it works, how to service and maintain it, etc, etc, an inexpensive single with available, cheap spares, a good owners' club to pester for advice, good books (like Rupert Ratio), etc, etc, might be the best way to begin with? Maybe I should sit on a B40 and see if it's definitely too small even just for local miles. If not a BSA of some sort, then maybe Matchless, or what about, say, Norton or Ariel? Hard to please, aren't I? Phil.