Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Completely Boringly Reliable…

When I think of the best bike I’ve ever ridden, a fair few do come to mind. Most of the Ducatis I’ve ridden have felt very special (916, 916 SPS, 888, 999 S, 1098 S, 1198) and the Honda V4s like the RC45 and NC45 (sadly not ridden an RC30…), and then...

Safety first – all and every time?

One thing has made me think this issue. We’ve got a test on ‘ear plugs’ and, with many of us having ridden for many decades, I wondered what our general feeling was towards safety. Also in this issue, I talk about riding a Gold Wing in nothing but...

Original soul. Modern rebellion.

From the soul of the iconic CB750F comes a new chapter in Honda’s history. The original CB soul is back — bold, beautiful, and built for today’s rider. Classic racing stripes. A robust tank. That unmistakable round headlight. Every line pays homage to...

RED DEVIL

WIN!

Weise Portland Gloves worth £69.99, T-shirts and Tamiya models!

BEAR BEHIND!

Royal Enfield’s Bear 650

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

TOOL OF THE MONTH, BAY-WATCH. RETRO: YAMAHA XSR900 GP, ROYAL ENFIELD BEAR 650. 00s: YAMAHA YZF-R1. 90s: SUZUKI BANDIT TURBO. 70s: SUZUKI GT380, KAWASAKI Z900 SPECIAL, KAWASAKI HYBRID, SUZUKI/DUCATI SINGLE. ALSO: YOUR BIKES AND MEMORIES!

APACHE!

SRAD -ICAL!

DUKE OF Ducati ST3 SWIRL! tourer for £3000!

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

TOOL OF THE MONTH: PADDOCK STANDS, BAY-WATCH. WORKSHOP: GLASS-FIBRE TANK LINING. 90s: DUCATI 748. 80s: KAWASAKI KMX125. 70s: KAWASAKI Z900 SPECIAL, HONDA CB400 FOUR, YAMAHA DT360, PROJECT RICKUKI SPECIAL. ALSO: YOUR BIKES AND MEMORIES!

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

TOOL OF THE MONTH: PADDOCK STANDS, BAY-WATCH. WORKSHOP: TANK DERUSTING. 90s: SUZUKI SV650S, HONDA CBR900RR FIREBLADE URBAN TIGER. 70s: HONDA CB400 FOUR, SUZUKI GS1000, PROJECT RICKUKI SPECIAL. 60s: SUZUKI TRINVADER SPECIAL. ALSO: YOUR BIKES AND...

Should I go back? Or shouldn’t I?

Some years ago, I was doing one of my (now) rare visits to ride on a race circuit. It was the gorgeous Anglesey circuit in Wales. A certain Niall Mackenzie was there and as he scooted past me on a Yamaha YZF750, he tapped the seat unit as if to say:...

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

TOOL OF THE MONTH. BAY-WATCH. WORKSHOP: LATHES PART 4. 90s: YAMAHA FZS600 FAZER. 80s: SUZUKI GSX-R750F. 70s: HONDA CB400 FOUR, SUZUKI GS550, SUZUKI/DUCATI SINGLE SPECIAL. 60s: SUZUKI INVADER THREE-CYLINDER SPECIAL. ALSO: Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED...

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

TOOL OF THE MONTH. BAY-WATCH. 00s: YAMAHA YZF-R1, HONDA DN-01. 90s: SUZUKI SV650S, KAWASAKI KDX200. 70s: DAVE MARSDEN KAWASAKI Z1000 SPECIAL, SUZUKI GT550, HONDA CB400 FOUR, SUZUKI GT500 CAFÉ RACER. 60s: SUZUKI INVADER THREE-CYLINDER SPECIAL. ALSO:...

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

TOOL OF THE MONTH. WORKSHOP: LATHES PART 3, BAY-WATCH. 90s: DUCATI 748. 70s: KAWASAKI Z900 SPECIAL, HONDA CB400 FOUR, SUZUKI GT500 CAFÉ RACER. 60s: SUZUKI INVADER THREE-CYLINDER SPECIAL. ALSO: Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND YOUR BIKES AND MEMORIES!

The positivity of bikers and biking

Some people really don’t understand why I love motorcycles and the people who ride them. If you’re reading this, then you know. I try to explain the whole camaraderie, the fraternity (whatever your gender or persuasion), the shared passion, but they...

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

TOOL OF THE MONTH. WORKSHOP: LATHES PART 1, BAY-WATCH. 80s: KAWASAKI KDX200, HONDA CBR250R. 70s: HONDA CB400F FOUR, SUZUKI/DUCATI SINGLE SPECIAL. 60s: SUZUKI TRINVADER SPECIAL. ALSO: Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND YOUR BIKES AND MEMORIES!

VIRAGO

Riding Yamaha’s big XV1100

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

TOOL OF THE MONTH. WORKSHOP: FOCUS ON REX’S SPEED SHOP, SHOW US YER SHED, BAY-WATCH. RETRO: ROYAL ENFIELD INTERCEPTOR. 00s: YAMAHA YZF-R1. 90s: DUCATI 748, HONDA XRV750 AFRICA TWIN. 80s: HONDA CBR250R. 60s: SUZUKI TRINVADER SPECIAL, BRIDGESTONE BS90....

The beauty of bike choice…

I guess we all have some affinity with a certain bike – or even maybe a manufacturer, or do we? Just thinking about our wonderful contributors… Well, Pip Higham is either a big Suzuki four-stroke man, or maybe a small Ducati man. But he’s doing a nice...

Celebrate the whole spectrum!

Heading back from Motorcycle Live and the NEC and it was clearer than ever that retros – motorcycles styled like the classics we know and love – are here to stay. Also, BMW has just announced an R 90 S retro-a-like, Honda’s GB350S looks like a good...

RETRO-SPECTIVE: Kawasaki Z400

TOOL OF THE MONTH. WORKSHOP: SHOW US YER SHED, BAY WATCH. 90s: DUCATI 748, KAWASAKI ZRX1100R. 70s: YAMAHA DT360, SUZUKI GT500 CAFÉ RACER. 60s: BRIDGESTONE BS90, HONDA SS50E. 50s: TRIUMPH SPOTTY BIKE SPECIAL. Also: Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND YOUR...

From the sublime to the ridiculous

It was a weird week for me – and a wonderful one, too. I’d joined ‘the’ national weekly motorcycle newspaper, and coming from a wellorganised bi-weekly local newspaper it was a bit of a culture shock… Out went the shirt and tie, in came jeans and...

Oooh suits you sir…

…or rather – it doesn’t suit me! Now, there are some plus points to being on the ‘large’ side. Being over six feet tall means I can reach the top shelves for various goods and special interest magazines. But being that tall AND carrying some extra...

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING: G

TOOL OF THE MONTH. WORKSHOP: SHOW US YER SHED. 00s: HONDA NT700V DEAUVILLE. 90s: YAMAHA FZR1000 EXUP. 80s: YAMAHA RD250LC. 70s: HONDA CB750 DOHC, KAWASAKI Z900 SPECIAL, HONDA DT70. 60s: HONDA SS50E. 50s: TRIUMPH TIGER SPOTTY BIKE SPECIAL. Also: Q&A:...

Hog Handles H

Harley-davidson ■ XR1200X creams corners!