Allen Millyard

{{Short description|Specialist motorcycle builder}}

Allen Millyard from Thatcham, Berkshire, England,{{cite web | url=https://www.staffordclassicbikeshows.com/guest-of-honour-october/ | title=Guest of Honour October | date=14 August 2017 | website=staffordclassicbikeshows.com}}{{not in citation|date=October 2022|reason=Target external link only shows an image of a man behind a machine with name Flying Millyard on the tank}}{{cite web | url=https://www.morebikes.co.uk/your-ride/170874/at-home-with-the-genius-engineer-allen-millyard/ | title=At Home with the Genius Engineer Allen Millyard | date=25 November 2020 | website=morebikes.co.uk}} is a mechanical engineer and a custom bike builder.

For over 25 years, he has designed and created numerous ingenious motorcycle specials. Most of these are derived from factory-built machines, and include a Honda SS50-based V-twin,[https://www.motorcyclenews.com/advice/inspiration/weekend-reads/allen-millyard/ Teenage dreams: We ride Allen Millyard's Honda SS50 specials] Motorcycle News, 3 June 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2022 (and thereby winning best in show for "the world's smallest V-twin at Salon Privée), a 700cc V-twin Velocette[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJS8NO2Koic Video report] from MCN, via YouTube and the "Flying Millyard", which uses an engine derived from an air-cooled radial aviation motor.{{cite web | url=https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/brooklands-members/Members-Area/latest-members-news/the-motorcycle-show-report | title=Brooklands Museum :: The Motorcycle Show report }}The Flying Millyard: Five litres of eccentric joy | MCN (motorcyclenews.com){{full citation needed|date=October 2022}} Another large capacity bike he hand-made is the Millyard Viper, built around an eight-litre V10 engine from a Dodge Viper.{{cite web | url=https://www.coles-miller.co.uk/news/millyard-viper-v10-wins-2012-coles-miller-dream-machines-bike-of-the-year.html | title=Millyard Viper V10 Wins 2012 Coles Miller Dream Machines Bike of the Year | website=coles-miller.co.uk}} He has built several Kawasaki specials (both two and four strokes) including a 2,400cc V12. Some of these bikes are on display at the Barber Museum, in Birmingham, Alabama, US.Flying Millyard | Bike Rider Magazine (brm.co.nz){{full citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Millyard has made numerous videos about his motorcycle specials, and has posted them on YouTube. A 2024 project involves the dismantling, cleaning, refining, and rebuilding the ill-fated Norton Nemesis, a concept motorcycle fitted with a V8 engine.{{cite web |title=The "Norton Nemesis": Comedy or Tragedy? |url=https://andover-norton.co.uk/files/7ca/an_source_2023-11.pdf |website=Andover Norton |access-date=31 March 2024 |date=November 2023}} As yet incomplete, as of March 2025, the series runs to 17 episodes.{{cite AV media |people= Allen Millyard |date= |title= Norton Nemesis V8 Rebuild |url= https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Norton+Nemesis+V8+rebuild+-+Episode+1 |access-date= 7 October 2024|publisher= You Tube|id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote= |ref=}}

In recent years Millyard has become more widely known via his TV appearances with Henry Cole. Together they claimed a world speed-record, ratified by Guinness World Records at {{convert|183.50|mph|abbr=on}}, achieved with the pair riding "tandem" on the road-legal Viper, beating by two mph the previous record held by an American couple for over 10 years. The record was set using the {{convert|9800|ft|abbr=on}} long runway at Elvington Airfield, North Yorkshire, England, on 25 May 2023.[https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2023/july/pillion-speed-world-record/ 'It's got to be done': Millyard and Cole set sights on 200mph pillion record after previous run recognised by Guinness] Motorcycle News, 24 August 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024[https://www.henrycole.tv/post/cole-millyard-set-new-speed-record-2-up Cole & Millyard set new speed record 2-up] henrycole.tv, 24 August 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024