Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2024 i Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Want the next issue of CMM? Of course you do! Then it’s simple. Subscribing is best but, failing that, why not pre-order? Simply scan the fuzzy circular thing with your smartphone (c’mon, we’ve all got one) and off you pop! Alternatively, if you like what you see coming up in the next issue (see page 105 for more) then go to: www.classicmagazines.co.uk/issue/preorder where you can pre-order all of Mortons’ wonderful magazines. Even ones about trains, cars or towpaths… Scan me with your camera phone!…

The Isle of Man TT Races has announced the return of the Classic TT around the famous TT Mountain Course in August next year. Taking inspiration from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the organisers say that the Classic TT promises to be a celebration of motorcycle racing heritage, paying homage to the legendary riders and iconic machines that shaped these golden eras of TT racing. First staged between 2013 and 2019, the Classic TT was the world’s foremost classic motorcycle race attracting the best teams, the most exotic machinery and the fastest modern-day TT competitors. Legends such as John McGuinness, Michael Dunlop, Bruce Anstey and Michael Rutter are just some of the riders to have enjoyed success at the event. With races for 1990s Superbikes, two-stroke Grand Prix machines and…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH OLD BIKE MART: WWW.OLDBIKEMART.CO.UK NOVEMBER 20 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS OUT NOW 23 Bideford Bike Show Toy Run leaving from Bideford Quay Car Park, Bideford, Devon EX39 2HW at midday to run to Children’s Hospice Southwest, Charlton Drive, Wraxall, Bristol, Somerset BS48 1PE. Email: info@bidefordbikeshow.org. Web: www.bidefordbikeshow.org EVENT OF THE MONTH 24 ’Normous Newark Car and Motorcycle Autojumble at Newark Showground, Lincoln Rd, Coddington, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 2NY. Tel: 01507 529430. Email: info@newarkautojumble.co.uk. Web: www.newarkautojumble.co.uk What3words: encourage.feels.flannel 24 Mud Pluggers Day at the Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. Tel: 0208 961 1000. Web: London.acecafe.com What3words: fuels.losses.lions. 24 Mid Kent’s Auto and Bike Jumble at Lockmeadow Market Hall, Barker Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LW. 9.30am-2pm. £3 entry. Tel: 01732 840787. Email: midkentsautojumble@outlook.com. What3words: violin.junior.bland…

Phil Lawson says: “Hope you like this for your feature The Way We Were. This is me and my sister on my beloved Yamaha RD250 that I bought from new, taken at the house my mum still lives in. I ride a Fazer now and still enjoy it.” Roy Hunt says: “Back in 1957 I wanted a bike, but earning less than £10 a week severely restricted my choice. Undeterred, I searched and eventually found hidden at the back of a local dealer (Hitchcock’s in Folkestone) a badly neglected and grotty BSA C11G, reg LKN557. After parting with £17.10s I was the proud owner of this heap! Once home I cleaned off the caked mud and grime to reveal half decent chrome and paintwork. It fired-up okay but smoked a bit, then…

2011 YAMAHA YBR125 Q: I am 72 years old with no bike fettling experience or biking mates, but plenty of confidence! What should I do to get my 2011 YBR back on the road after thee years? It has petrol in it since it was last used and a lightly binding front brake now. Would I have to strip the brakes and fit new seals? I am going to buy a new battery to hopefully start it. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Pat Healy A: The first thing you need to do is to dispose of the petrol in the tank as you will probably find the engine will not work with it. I know that quite a few highly irresponsible people will pour it down the nearest drain…

“I’m just going to get it running, fit new “I’m tyres and ride it as it is.” That’s what I told everyone who’d listen (quite a small, select group) when I paid too much for this 1974 Yamaha DT360 three years ago. And that really was my intention. How many times have you wandered around a bike show or meet, and found yourself slowly losing interest in all the immaculately-restored, gleaming-like-new machines? Then you stumble across something someone’s pulled out of a shed, pumped the tyres up and ridden there on, and you join the eager crowd gathering around it. There’s something intensely alluring about a motorcycle that’s still wearing its original paint and displaying its battle scars with pride. My 1977 XS650 is like this, and I wouldn’t dream…

Ducati 999s are great bikes and easier and more comfortable to ride than the outgoing 916s. They are effectively a more complete package. Engine-wise, the motors are better and offer more power. When new, the 999 was very much a Marmite machine but as soon as the 1098 came out buyers suddenly saw the 999’s benefits and attractions. This led to the look becoming much more widely accepted. The motors are really good and don’t cause trouble – the 999’s race results are testament to the fact that the power unit was so well designed and engineered. All in all arguably a better bike to ride and enjoy than the 916. Our thanks to Fastline Superbikes (01772 902600) for access to the Ducati and Made in Italy Motorcycles (01449 612900)…

I finished part seven with a primed and sealed tank. I’d suggest that is only the very beginning of the work that is required to obtain a high-quality paint job! Next stage in my prep, I lightly dusted over the primer with a black aerosol (Photo 1); this is the guide coat. Flat back using 500 grit wet and dry, preferably with a rubber sanding block; any dips or imperfections in the paintwork can be seen as the ‘high’ spots are sanded back but any lows will show up (Photo 2). Hopefully you then end up with a very flat and straight primer base (Photo3). Now I did say previously not to use filler over paint, especially if its old. However, if there are a few very shallow imperfections I…

Last time out we saw the little SS running, but leaking fuel from the hastily rebuilt tap. Proper rebuild kits are available, but I decided to go for a pattern part instead, because I’m a skinflint. While I’m waiting for that to turn up, I finally get round to tracking down a persistent oil leak which turns out to be from a damaged O-ring on one of the screw-in inspection covers on the cylinder head. A rummage around the garage throws up a suitable replacement and with that and the new tap fitted, both fuel and oil systems are leak-free – for the moment, at least. Now I need to look at the electrics because there’s something odd going on – apart from the ignition system, nothing else seems to…

WITH MORE THAN 30 PAGES OF PRACTICAL ADVICE! SUZUKI SV650: 25 years old now… HONDA CB250RS: Super single! SUZUKI GT380: Buyer’s Guide GOING OUT IN STYLE: Motorcycle Funerals BRUSH STROKES: Learn to airbrush – part 1, with Malc Shaw SHOW US YER SHED: WIN a £50 Venhill voucher if you show us YOURS! And much, much more! PROJECT BIKES: We will be showcasing some of the following (space allowing): Paul Berryman’s Ducati 748; Mark Haycock’s Honda ST70; Steve Cooper’s Ducati/Suzuki special; Jeff Ware’s Bridgestone BS90 or Suzuki GSX-R750F; Malc Shaw with his Suzuki GT500 Café Racer. Kev Raymond’s back with a Honda SS50 or his Kawasaki KDX200 and Taylor Mackenzie’s Yamaha TY80 should really be featured. And let’s not forget Ralph Ferrand with either his Kawasaki Z900 Special or the…

One and a half millimetres, possibly two, okay three at the most – isn’t going to make a difference surely? Well, if we’re talking standard final-drive chain versus a heavy duty O-ring type then the answer is a definite yes. The previous owner of my TS400 had fitted a super-duper chain and, in use, despite being correctly tensioned, it had ‘made its presence felt’. In fact it had begun to saw its way through the oil-pump cover. Not all the while, you understand, just on the odd occasion, on the ‘wrong’ sort of road and only when the motor was on the over run. Exclamations such as ‘my, my’, ‘well I never’, and ‘there’s a thing’ abounded… along with some choice Anglo Saxon phrases! Why? Oil-pump covers for TS400s are…

Ballistic Beemer I have to say I’m loving the wide variety of bikes in the recent issues of CMM and the last issue was a corker. I mean, the BMW (new-ish and fast); the big bruiser XS1100 (core classic if ever there was one); and then the humble old MZ buyer guide. I’ve been lucky enough to ride/own TWO of these. Now, I will say that I agree with Steve about the MZ: you really need to try one to appreciate its many positive attributes. My one was a great work hack and you could (literally) leave it anywhere and it pretty much cost buttons to run and was pretty bloomin’ reliable for the four or so years I rode it (almost daily.) Now on to the BMW… Here’s where…

A couple of years ago I happened upon an ad for a model of bike that I hadn’t previously been aware of. This was the Suzuki GR650, or in the USA known as the Tempter. It was built in the 1980s and was a twin-cylinder four-stroke ‘standard’ motorcycle, as in it was a naked with an upright riding position. It was also sold here in Australia but not in the UK I believe, so it’s a bit of an oddity and a rarity. The bike was cheap and research on the model had piqued my interest. So off I went, cash in pocket to meet the owner of 22 years, a very pleasant 78-year-old gentleman called John. He said that when he had parked the bike up a couple of…

This is a socket set that I saw some years ago when it was first launched, and while I liked it, I felt the price point was a bit steep for all but the most committed tool-philes. It has been tough times for us all of late and spending big on tools that aren’t going to be needed on a daily basis has had to be curbed, and so wedging out on a special socket set with a price tag north of £170 isn’t happening in my market. Now I’m obviously not the only tight-fisted old git, because these haven’t been exactly flying off the shelves for Laser Tools and now they want to clear them out to make room for faster moving lines, so I’m taking full advantage and…

If you read the first part of how I spent £2250 on the cheapest Ducati 748 EVER you’ll know it needs some love to get it straight, in particular to remove tons of corrosion after an extended period of standing outside. I knew this project had real potential to empty my pockets if I didn’t show some restraint, so I pledged two things: Firstly, the target for this bike is to be road-legal, reliable and track-day ready. Secondly, this has executed for £750. I’ve rethought the budget – doesn’t £748 feel more appropriate? That’s a £2998 bike: a bona fide bargain for a working 748… After the first tear down and assessment the list of big ticket items which needed thorough repair or replacement wasn’t awful, although it wasn’t particularly…

Possibly obvious but then again – do not buy a 999 presented in large lumps. That way lies madness and financial ruin! Bikes that have been laid-up and not used should be treated with caution. Never take a chance on cam belts unless there’s bona fide confirmation they are still ‘in date’ and insist on documentary evidence of their replacement. Belts are cheap, engine rebuilds are expensive – simples, etc. Most examples on offer by dealers will have been looked after and should come with a service history… which is good news. At the top end there’s the 999R which has become a collector’s bike and even in a flat market they are still moving at anywhere between £18,000 to £23,000 depending on specification and condition. Decent examples of the…

My first terraced house didn’t have a garage at all so my beautiful Suzuki GSX-R750 Slingshot was only saved from being pinched from the street by the spy-ball alarm I’d had fitted. And I was saved from going to prison by not catching the attempted thief! By the time we moved to our next house it did have a garage, but it was cold, and damper inside than out. Thanks to a large mortgage and growing family I didn’t have a bike to put in it anyway. Between 2010 and 2020 I lived in Calgary, Canada, and had the luxury of a double garage attached to the house. In Alberta they will swap your UK car licence for a Canadian one, but you lose the bike entitlement. In 2015, having…

Last time out I began with an apology about how long it had taken to do anything and while I could go that route this time, I’ve got a very good excuse. As the old phrase goes: ‘Preparation prevents p*ss poor performance’ and let’s not forget I perhaps hold a Doctorate in PPP! So, I’ve been scouring the various ZRX sites for information and advice and even went to a local meeting to chat to owners. One of the best things has been the fact that some owners have come forward since the last episode in the August issue and offered… well, more of that later. Firstly, a quick recap. I bought the ZRX for £1800 and it’s got about 52k on the clocks. My plan is to make it…

My IT skills are negligible, sure, I can do the WiFi thing.. occasionally, but OBD ports and algorithms really heat up my urine. Fortunately fixing wiring issues on old bikes is generally a matter of finding a faulty component (generator, rectifier, switch etc.) and then either fixing it, cleaning, re-soldering, replacing detents and springs, or maybe all of the above! In the final analysis fixing it with a new ‘un! Sometimes the latter is the only way, but I do treat it as a last resort… I’m tight! And so it came to pass that Ray texted me with a brief tale of woe regarding his BSA. It’s a 650cc Lightning and ironically, Ray bought it on my 16th birthday, June 9, 1965. He’s owned Larry The Lightning for almost…

Next year’s Classic Dirt Bike Show sponsored by Hagon is set to welcome a legendary figure in motocross history: Graham Noyce. Honda’s first 500cc world motocross champion has been confirmed as the star guest at the off-road event at Telford International Centre over the weekend of February 8-9. Noyce was a pivotal figure in the sport during the late 1970s and early 1980s, etching his name in the MX history books. His fierce rivalries and unforgettable races have inspired a generation of motocross enthusiasts, with the Hampshire rider being the first in a long line of world championship title winners for Honda. Visitors will have the chance to hear first-hand accounts of Noyce’s thrilling career as he takes to the stage with off-road icon John McCrink. John will be delving…

Former grand prix racer and BBC MotoGP commentator Steve ‘Stavros’ Parrish will be regaling all with his tall tales at a Northamptonshire pub in January, launching some classic racing roadshows at the venue. Parrish – a four-time British champion on two-wheels, fifth in the 1977 world 500cc championship and multiple European/British truck champion – will be recounting tales old and new at The Stirrup Cup, Barton Seagrave, Kettering. The month of March will also see three-time British Superbike champion John Reynolds at the venue with other former racing stars to be announced for 2025. All events hosted by CMM editor Bertie Simmonds. The Steve Parrish night is on Monday, January 20, while the John Reynolds night is Monday March 3 – expect a Keith Huewen night soon too. The pub…

Simon Lancaster’s Triumph Bonneville Special This is my 1976 Triumph Bonneville 750 Desert Sled. I built it from a standard Bonnie four years ago. It’s got a nickel-plated tank, YSS shocks, custom seat and off-road tyres. It sounds amazing on the open pipes and is used regularly on road, as well as for fun events such as sprints and beach racing. Dave Stephen’s Yamaha RD350LC Hi there! I think this Yamaha RD350LC has been in the magazine before but now it’s nearly completed. I purchased it off a friend I’ve known since primary school. Sadly Max passed away and I will never sell it. It’s a matching numbers UK bike. Rest in peace Max! Shaun Farmer’s Honda CB1300 I love big bikes – you’ve got my Kawasaki ZRX in this…

G’day CMM friends! It’s been a while since I sent Bertie some words and I know he’s strung the last few across the last few issues. The good news is that I am back and fully functioning again. This is after one final hand surgery in late January, followed by three months in a cast. I was back on a bike by early May and on the tools in the shed once again… Last time we were up to the point of dummy fitting the wheels and some of the restored wiring loom to the mighty BS90. This issue, we have completed the rolling chassis, and it looks spectacular! Wheeling the bike out of the shed and into the sunshine for a few photos was a proud moment for Tim…