The British Death Fleet

The British Death Fleet, often referred to as BDF, began in San Francisco in the early 1980s. It formed organically as a group of like minded friends, the majority of which hailed from Iowa, who shared a love of British motorcycles and regularly rode together. Triumphs, BSAs, and Nortons were the common thread. It was never a formal club with a charter, hierarchy, or membership list, and very definitely not a gang. It was simply a group of good mates brought together by the bikes they loved and the time and place they happened to be in.

San Francisco at that point was a unique crossroads. It combined a strong motorcycle-driven scene with a landscape that rewarded riding skill, alongside a social culture centred on bars, late-night rides, and mechanical camaraderie. Lifelong friendships grew out of that time, many of which continue today. 

Where did the name come from?

The name British Death Fleet came about in an unusual way and did not originate with the riders themselves. It emerged from the political climate of the late 1970s, following the hunger strikes in Northern Ireland prison camps. A planned visit by the Royal Navy to San Francisco prompted protests led by Irish American community organiser John Maher. As part of that protest, crude posters appeared in pubs around the city showing a red skull over the Union Jack with the slogan “Stop the British Death Fleet.” The phrase was aimed squarely at the Royal Navy sailors expected in port, and Maher also convinced local publicans to refuse them service.

Back to our group of British Bike riding mates. One day when they were in a tiny San Francisco North Beach bar when they noticed a Stop the British Death Fleet poster thumbtacked to the ceiling. The design and idea struck them and they immediately adopted it as their club name. They took this protest slogan and made it their own. Riding older British motorcycles in city traffic already demanded patience, mechanical knowledge, and a willingness to accept that things would sometimes go wrong. The name felt fitting. What began as a protest slogan became a badge of identity for the group. Jackets, patches and even flags appeared with the British Death Fleet name and skull imagery, and the label stuck. In this unique time in history, there was even a local rival group, entirely good natured, called 'The Road Holders', a reference Norton riders will immediately understand. The BDF would call them the 'Rod Holders'...

Motorcycle writer and founder of The Vintagent, Paul D'Orleans, who was himself part of The Road Holders, later reflected on that time:

“There was this kind of neo café racer scene in San Francisco. I had a club called the Road Holders, there was another one called the British Death Fleet. We would all ride Triumphs and Nortons to the bars at night. It was a truly awesome scene. Just a really strong and vital alternative motorcycle scene.”

British Death Fleet was never about image or nostalgia. It was a no nonsense group, no posers, just a really good bunch of working class friends who loved riding old British bikes and hanging out together. Sometimes that led to a bit of innocent mischief, but mostly it meant riding together, keeping the bikes going and being there for each other. The bikes were used, they broke, they got fixed and the riding carried on. Many of those riders are still riding today, which probably does not surprise anyone who knew the group.

What's the connection with Angloclassics?

A few years ago, I purchased a Norton Commando from Andrew Franklin, who turned out to be the President of the BDF. Over time, a great friendship formed, conversations continued, and in 2025 at his invitation, I went to America to catch up with him and also attend the INOA Rally. While there, I was officially inducted into British Death Fleet. So my part is to tell their story and keep this unique point in time alive. It is the perfect example of the British Motorcycle scene and everything it represents. 

Ride the bikes. Fix them when they break. Keep them moving. Meet a range of great people. Shared miles, stories, and problems are where the best long lasting friendships form.

That is what it's all about.