Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

If you missed the Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show at Stafford in October, you missed a treat! Classic fans of road and race machines descended on the Stafford County Showground to see some fantastic bikes and hear top stories from our special guests Wayne Gardner and Roger Marshall. Wayne, the 1987 500cc World Champ, and his old mate Rog (a multiple British champ) kept the crowds entertained with brilliant stories from their time racing together. Wayne even celebrated his birthday with us all on the Saturday. Winners at the show included: Best pre-1960s bike – 1938 CZ25B owned by Bob Clark; Best 1960s bike – 1965 Yamaha YDS3C, Colin Day; Best 1970s bike was a 1979 Phil Read replica Honda owned by Richard Holmes; Best 1980s was Keith Felstead’s…

We want to see YOUR pride and joy in our pages, so you can share what you ride and what you restore/build with fellow readers. Email your hi-res shots to bsimmonds@mortons.co.uk or mail in some photos at the address at the front of the mag. Let us know what you’ve done, how you’ve done it and send before and after shots if you can. Do get in touch – because the best of the month gets a free T-shirt! MALCOLM RICE’S HONDA CB650Z Well, I purchased the bike off eBay and yes, the pictures from the listing didn’t match the bike, but I still came home with it. I’d had one of these lovely bikes back in 1979 and of all the Honda fours that I owned back in the…

Model multiplicity is good for business – fact! As a manufacturer you can take a basic chassis/engine combination as your starting point then tweak, revise, update and change to your heart’s content. Within limitations a lot is possible for minimum outlay; it’s something the car industry has done so successfully for decades. And sometimes you can take a pre-existing design, then develop it into a new vehicle… which is precisely what Kawasaki did with the entire 750/4 series. Kawasaki’s Z750E (KZ750 in the USA) hit the streets in 1981 as a heavily revised version of the hugely successful Z/KZ650 first seen in late 1976. The 650 had broken the mould of the Z1/Z900 by adopting a plain bearing crank and revised top-end; these and numerous other changes made the 650…

It’s raining, not pouring, but this old man isn’t snoring, he’s smiling. And it’s a very wide smile indeed. It’s fair to say that I’m shocked to be writing this and yet I’m wistfully smiling at the recall of my half-a-day’s somewhat damp ride on the Royal Enfield Bear 650. It really has left that much of an impression on me. It even says so in my notes: writ large is: ‘THIS BIKE MADE ME SMILE!’ And it shouldn’t. This is, after all, the sort of bike I’m not really into. Why? I’m a child of the 1970s and the whole Brit bike thing had passed me by because by the time I was an impressionable youngster my father figures (uncles) had already moved on to Japanese bikes. It’s why…

Weise Tempest Thermal One-Piece Oversuit worth £139.99. Ready for any weather, this thermal one-piece oversuit is designed for riders who won’t let the elements stop them. Constructed from durable, waterproof and breathable Ripstop, it features a 100gsm thermal quilted lining to keep you warm on long journeys. The full-length waterproof zipper makes it easy to get in and out of quickly and the suit includes an adjustable waist, cuffs and lower leg expander. Reflective panels enhance nighttime visibility. Find out more at https://www.weiseclothing.com A model kit from Tamiya worth £30-50. If you want to build your own classic in miniature, you can’t find a better model kit than Tamiya, which are imported into the UK by www.hobbyco.net A MotoClean bundle worth £59: Gel Bike Wash (£14.99), Brake Cleaner, £9.99, Chain…

A magazine subscription is the perfect gift: • Personal, thoughtful and fuels their passion • Provides enjoyment all year round • And saves you money on the shop price! GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM £19.99 OVER 29 TITLES TO CHOOSE FROM VISIT CLASSICMAGAZINES.CO.UK/XMAS2501 OR CALL 01507 529 529 AND QUOTE ‘XMAS2501’ Lines are open Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5pm. Calls are charged at your standard network rate. UK customers only. Offers end 31st January 2026…

Most restorations or renovations can test your patience at times but, truth be told, we probably secretly revel in the various challenges these old bikes throw at us. And, thanks to the modern electronic age, we have the unquestionable blessing that is the digital camera. These devices are invaluable when it comes to sequencing which part goes on to something else and then what follows it. OEM parts books are a seriously useful aide-mémoire, but they aren’t infallible and generic, aftermarket, workshop manuals can sometimes feature every damn model in the range but yours. So, with all that and more in mind, you rightly expect the Rickuki to be photographed within an inch of its life, right? Well, that’s what I thought I’d done but apparently not – Murphy’s Law…

Whether it’s recent releases or vintage copies, step back in time and browse through the ages with the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics back issue collection. £5.40 EACH (inc p&p) For EU and ROW, please see www.classicmagazines.co.uk OVER 250 ISSUES ARE AVAILABLE TO ORDER TODAY AT CLASSICMAGAZINES.CO.UK APRIL 2025 ■ Special pair of Yam MT-350s ■ CB1300… and it fits! ■ Virago Cruiser’s big on charm MAY 2025 ■ Yam’s 1990s sports tourer ■ OSSA’s 500cc two-stroke twin ■ CB400F project underway JUNE 2025 ■ Hayabusa – rapid at 25 ■ Know your spanners ■ Deauville delights JULY 2025 ■ V4 – the do-it-all daddy ■ Yam twin-stroker – 70s heaven ■ Project Ducati takes to the track AUGUST 2025 ■ Twin take on Suzuki GT550 ■ Honda’s Nineties ‘dream bike’ ■…

To anyone who encountered him – the old man, Ken, ‘The Judge’ – my dad truly was a force of nature; well-educated, despite spending an inordinate amount of time playing snooker for money with a bunch of ethnically diverse lads up Shude Hill when he should have been studying at Manchester Grammar School (nice place, he won a scholarship to go there…). He was a tough old boy and didn’t suffer fools; he also raced a Rudge Ulster and then a Triumph Tiger 100, rigid frame and girder forks to boot! Bizarrely, on leafing through some ancient letters I found his race competitor pass for 23 July, 1939. Five weeks later and mayhem broke out in Europe, and he didn’t race at Donington ever again. Shame. By the end of…

Fifty years ago Barry Sheene took his first 500cc Grand Prix race win. It was just months after his near-death crash at Daytona and his victory set the scene for his two world championships in 1976 and 1977. Suzuki’s iconic RG500 would eventually win 49 races, four riders’ titles and seven consecutive manufacturers’ championships. It was also the machine of choice for the many privateers from the mid-1970s through to the early 1980s. By the time Barry returned from his Daytona injury and had gotten more used to the Suzuki, it was time to win at Assen. Sheene eclipsed the old master Giacomo Agostini in practice by setting pole position, his first. In the race itself, the young Sheene displayed all the racecraft of a seasoned veteran. Repeatedly he made…

Three huge names in the off-road scene have been confirmed for The Classic Dirt Bike Show, taking place on 7-8 February, 2026, at the Telford International Centre. Known for attracting some of the biggest names in the industry, next year’s show is set to be no exception. Vic Allan has been announced as the first guest of honour. Vic was crowned double British MX Champion in the 250cc and 500cc classes in 1974, the only rider ever to achieve this remarkable double. Joining him will be Roger Harvey, who will share stories from a racing career spanning nearly two decades. A former 1983 British 125cc champion, Roger is a true motocross veteran who went on to lead Honda’s motocross programme and now serves as an advisor for Honda HRC. Also…

NOVEMBER 19 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS ON SALE 21 Bike Night The Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD: www.london.acecafe.com 22 Squires Café Autojumble Squires Cafe Bar, Newthorpe Lane, Newthorpe, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS25 5LX: www.squires-café.co.uk 23 Huddersfield Autojumble The Old Market Building, Brook Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 1RG: www.phoenixfairs.jimdo.com 23 Ariel Owners Club and Classic Bike Day Ace Cafe London: www.london.acecafe.com 26 CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE OUT 27 Harley-Davidson Night, Ace Cafe London: www.london.acecafe.com 30 Bideford Bike Show’s Christmas Toy Run Leaving from Bideford Quay Car Park, Bideford, Devon EX39 2HW at 11am: www.bidefordbikeshow.org DECEMBER 1 German Night The Ace Cafe London: www.london.acecafe.com 5 THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE ON SALE 5-7 Shuttleworth in Lights The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire SH18 9EP: www.shuttleworth.org 6 OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU…

Brian Stuart says: “You hear a lot of talk about the evolution of motorcycles but nothing about the evolution of motorcyclists. I started my riding adventure after my big brother Mike took me to see a film called Easy Rider in 1969, and I fell in love with motorcycles; to this day I still have the DVD and a poster on my garage wall. Having a big brother and cousin who were just a bit older than me and lads across the road who were into Triumph 3TA and Tiger Cubs, I had a great start to motorcycling. I would often be taken on the back of my brother’s Vespa and my cousin’s Yamaha. I was introduced to lager and lime aged 15 on many trips on the back to pubs!…

The story behind my acquisition of this bike is a sad one. A friend bought this bike new in 1982 and used it sparingly until it was parked up in 2001 with only 4052 miles on the clock. He had other bikes and this one was not ridden again. Unfortunately, he became ill and was unable to ride anymore. In 2022 his wife asked if I could give some idea of values for the sale of the bikes. I did some research on them, with this one being difficult to value due to the scarcity of information. I had only seen photos of the bikes, but when I saw this one in the flesh I made an offer £1000 over my initial valuation as I really did like the GPz750R1, and…

Last month I examined the paddock stands on offer from Italian professional tool manufacturer Beta Tools. This month I have another stand from Beta and also a British curve ball: the Abba Superbike Stand. Between Beta contacting me and proffering their stands and now, I made an ill-informed decision to buy a ‘cheap’ bike to do up and turn a coin with (more on that at a later date), a 2001 model Triumph Speed Triple with a single-sided swingarm. The bike came with a DIY paddock stand, but I thought whilst I have a bike here with a single-sided swinger I should try Beta Tools offering for this application. As with all their other stands it came flat-pack. I had to specify what bike it was for so that they…

IN YOUR SYMPATHETICALLY RESTORED CMM! WITH MORE THAN 30 PAGES OF PRACTICAL ADVICE! SUPER AT 70: Picking the best Yamaha classics of the last seven decades HONDA CL500: Modern retro scrambler enjoyed! SUZUKI GS750: Buyer’s Guide to the Suzuki classic SHOW US YOURS AND THE WAY WE WERE: Win a T-shirt for sending us your nostalgic waffle! PROJECT BIKES: We will be showcasing some of the following (space allowing): Mark Haycock’s Honda CB400 Four; Steve Cooper’s Ducati/Suzuki special or Rickuki; Jeff Ware’s Honda CBR900RR FireBlade or Suzuki GSX-R750F. Then there’s Ralph Ferrand with his Kawasaki Z900 Special or new project Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mk.1; Will Hollman’s Yamaha DT360 and maybe Andy Bolas’ Suzuki GS1000 and Suzuki SV650S. And what about Shaun Nielsen’s exotic Ducati 996SPS? Oh, and perhaps Paul Berryman’s Yamaha…

Classic motorcycle fans are in for a treat this January as television presenter and motorcycle enthusiast Henry Cole takes centre stage at the Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic Show, held at Newark Showground on 10-11 January, 2026. Henry is best known for hosting World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides, The Motorbike Show, Shed and Buried, and Find It, Fix It, Flog It. Henry’s passion for motorcycles shines through his work with Gladstone Motorcycles, where he creates bespoke, handbuilt machines that marry heritage and performance. He has also made his mark on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a land speed record for the Brough Superior in 2013 and riding in the world’s fastest two-up attempt with Allen Millyard. Visitors can catch Henry live on stage with compere Steve Plater and at the fire-up…

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 97 for more) then go to: www.classicmagazines.co.uk/issue/preorder where you can pre-order all of Kelsey’s wonderful magazines. Even ones about trains, cars or towpaths……

Appreciative reader Thank you all for what is a truly inspiring magazine that I look forward to receiving each month. As a novice motorcycle restorer the successive issues have taught me plenty, starting from first principles with basic maintenance and now with my first venture into the world of motorcycle restoration where an unexpecting victim is awaiting my attention in the shed. Keeping a library of back issues has helped to construct a series of technical references that I can turn to when my limited knowledge and steam run out, but most of all I really enjoy the differing writing styles of your contributors. Your magazine also has helped to assemble a decent horde of tools and other gizmos to make the job that little bit easier thanks to tool…

Strangely, and despite their reputation, I’ve never had much of a ‘thing’ for big Kawasaki four-strokes in general. Yes, okay, I did nearly trip over my own tongue at 18 when I saw my first Z1 – a French one in candy yellow and green – and I’m a quiet fan of the hugely underrated 1970s Z650 but other than that no, not really. Don’t misinterpret that as anything spiteful, rather it’s simply that big fours have never really done much for me. Then again, I wasn’t really much fussed about UJMs (Universal Japanese Motorcycles) in general until I rode a Suzuki GSX750 for CMM the other year. That bike piqued my interest and now I’ve been offered a chance to ride Ian Bird’s extremely tidy, low mileage, GPz750 twin…

Automotive history is filled with evocative model names which become so legendary that they transcend the original manufacturers’ name. Think E-Type, GT40, Mustang. The motorcycle world has as many familiar evocative names which stir the soul and quicken the pulse: Black Shadow, Z1, Bonneville and Commando amongst many. Another such name that has almost mystical status is ‘Jota’. But, if we can be frank, just what the hell is a Jota? We suppose this is time to find out, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the inception of the legendary superbike from Laverda, with the very first machine appearing on these shores in December 1975. Let’s start with Richard and Roger Slater. In fact, it’s the only place to start. The Slater Brothers were the Laverda importers who…