BMW K1 100 RS 80s
Ridden n & rated!
Kawasaki Mach III 500LC
YAMAHA RD2 250B Buyer’s Guide!
70 0s
RIDDEN N! Kawasaki 500 Twin
Years of CMM know-how at your fingertips!
THE RREAL THING?
Living with h Kawasaki’s Z900RS FIV VE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:
Rottor removal. 90s: Suzuki GSX GSX-R750 R750 SRAD, SRAD Aprilia RSV250 resto resto. 80s: Suzuki GSX-R1100G, Yamaha XS1100 resto. 70s: Honda 8 C CB750 K2, Yamaha CS3C, Kawasaki Hybrid Stroker, Kawasaki Z1300 and Z1325 Special. Also: Allen Millyard column Q& &A: your questions answered, your bikes and your memories!
August 2018 Issue 370
August 2018 Issue 370 Publisher: Dan Savage, asavage@mortons.co.uk Contributors: Joe Dick, Kevin Larkins, Ralph Ferrand Art editor: Justin Blackamore Picture Desk: Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Production editor: Dan Sharp Divisional advertising manager: Zoe Thurling zthurling@mortons.co.uk Tel: 01507 529412 Advertising: Robert Bee rbee@mortons.co.uk, Tel: 01507 529575 Subscription manager: Paul Deacon Circulation manager: Steven O’Hara Marketing manager: Charlotte Park Commercial director: Nigel Hole Editorial address: CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS MAGAZINE, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR Website: www.classicmechanics.com General enquiries and back issues: Tel: 01507 529529 24 hour answer phone help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk Archivist: Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk, 01507 529423 Subscription: Full subscription rates (but see page 40 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £51.60. Export rates are also available – see page 40 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. Customer services: Tel: 01507 529529 Lines are open: Monday-Friday 8.30am-7pm Saturday 8.30am-12:30pm Distribution: Marketforce UK Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HU. Tel: 0203 787 9001 Subscription agents: CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS MAGAZINE, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR Printed: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton Published date: CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS MAGAZINE is published on the third Wednesday of every month Next issue: August 15, 2018 Advertising deadline: July 26, 2018 © Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. ISSN 0959-0900 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS magazine takes all responsible steps to ensure advice and technical tips are written by experienced and competent people. We also advise readers to seek further professional advice if they are unsure at any time. Anything technical written by the editor is exempt – he’s rubbish with spanners. CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS (USPS:729-550) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK. USA subscriptions are $60 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Postmaster: Send address changes to CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS, Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com
Who got you started? Well? Who was it? Was it your brother, father, sister, mother or uncle? Or maybe a best mate? It’s a nostalgic question that’s left me all dewy-eyed this month. We received a letter from reader Carl Clarke who wanted to say ‘thank you’ to CMM’s own Pip Higham for helping him get into bikes. You’ll see the letter on page 20, but the long and the short of it is a teenage Carl turned up at Pip’s bike shop with a crisp fiver in his hand and ended up leaving with a bike (sort of) of his very own. Suffice to say Carl’s still into bikes to this very day and wanted to say thank you. So who would you like to say thank you to? Perhaps we should include them in the pages of CMM? Me? Well, that’s easy. You’re doubtless bored of hearing how my uncle Kev Wesley
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Steve Cooper
John Nutting
Pip Higham
Scoop’s on with his C3SC and Hybrid projects, removes a difficult rotor AND gives as a round-tank RD buyer’s guide.
Who better to ride the amazing creations of Allen Millyard than our own experienced John Nutting?
Pip inspired our star letter this month, while in his column he’s carrying on his nostalgic ramblings…
Older, nicer bikes editor
Scott Redmond Scottie is not only keeping it real for us on specials, he’s also explaining what downpipes fit his sad SRAD.
Mark Haycock Q&A King
Mark is checking out his Honda CB750 K2’s motor to see if all is well down below. He’s answering Q&As too!
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Talking down…pipes!
Independent publisher since 1885
(see page 24) would regularly turn up at my house when I was a nipper with a different (and hot) 1970s spec lovely lady on the back of his succession of Kawasakis. That and my first pillion ride aged about nine on his Z1000J sealed it for me. I had to become a biker! Second person was my old mate Paul Evans, who allowed me to ride and generally thrash his Suzuki X1 over our school field. Bliss! This issue is chock full of people who inspire: from Pip, to Allen Millyard, to CMM reader Ken Turnock to you turning the pages. Keep on keeping on!
Lucky blighter…
Allen Millyard
The man, the legend…
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH!
Inspirational engineer…
Well, it could be no other, this month. Our Allen has plenty of coverage in this month’s mag and with good reason. As well as his regular column on the RC374 build, we ride two of his amazing creations on page 44 and remind you all of his other bikes on our archive pages. Allen takes ‘going above and beyond’ to a new level – earning him this month’s Employee of the Month. Well done that man!
Ralph Ferrand Big Zed lover
Ralph needs help getting the mighty Z13 lump back in the frame; meanwhile he turns ‘Breaking Bad’ into ‘braking good.’
Ken Turnock
CMM reader and restorer…
Big respect and thanks to CMM reader Ken, who sent us the story of a sorry XS1100 which he brought back to life.
Jeff Ware
Martin Child Cupid Stunt rider
Ad GOD!
Jeff takes a month off from the RG500 to find another old flame: the Aprilia RS250. Read part one on page 122!
Wildy is stripping the 1100G and looking at the modern bits. But first, that swingarm bolt: page 114.
Big Bad Bob is back and fresh from his Cornish holiday: that means he’s raring to book YOUR advert in CMM…
Two-stroke lover!
Robert Bee
www.classicmechanics.com / 3
62
❙ Q&A
64
❙ KAWASAKI Z1325
68
❙ HONDA CB750 K2
72
❙ ALLEN MILLYARD
76
❙ SUZUKI GSX-R750 SRAD
Contents
Mark Haycock with a page of tips.
Ralph sorts out the stoppers. Mark Haycock performs some engine checks. This month Allen sorts brakes and wheels on the 374.
Scott Redmond talks downpipes…
78
❙ ROTOR REMOVAL
82
❙ YAMAHA CS3C
94
❙ YAMAHA RD250B
Scoop tackles a tricky task!
Scoop again – now that the rotor is removed! Steve’s guide to buying the round-tanked classic.
06 08
ARCHIVE
10 12 14 20
CMM STUFF
Bigging-up our contributor!
CMM MARKETPLACE
Is a special, special? Or just a nice way of losing cash? New kit, tools, and stuff.
CMM TESTED We try stuff out.
NEWS
What’s happening.
FEEDBACK
WIN Bridgestone tyres for our star letter!
40 44 54
SUBSCRIBE!
Subscribe and save cash!
MILLYARD’S MARVELS!
John Nutting rides two of Allen’s amazing creations.
YAMAHA XS1100
Ken Turnock turns a tub into a thing of beauty.
60 RETRO REBOOT 127 DUCATI ST4/S
Kawasaki’s ZX-7R H2… Something different and 20 years old.
110 ❙ KAWASAKI Z1300
22
SHOW US YOURS
129 NEXT MONTH
114 ❙ SUZUKI GSX-R1100G
27 32
KAWASAKI Z900RS
130 PIP HIGHAM
Ralph and friend risk a hernia with the big six! Wildy strips the big Suzuki and comes unstuck.
118 ❙ KAWASAKI HYBRID
Scoop’s got some saucy bits and pieces back.
122 ❙ APRILIA RS250
Jeff Ware on boy meets girl, meets bike. Ahhhhh.
WIN S-Doc cleaning kit and Tamiya kits! Does this retro ‘cut it?’
BMW K100 RS
What’s happening in the September CMM? Pip says make do and mend…
“Look at that old brick!” Least that’s what Scoop thought they said. Subscribe & have 10 million CMM words at your fingertips!
PAGE 42
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Millyard’s
Marvells 6 / classic motorcycle mechanics
WORDS: BERTIE SIMMONDS PHOTOS: GARY D CHAPMAN, MORTONS ARCHIVE
W
e know our very own Allen Millyard may get a little uncomfortable with the praise he’s about to receive, but then it’s a mark of the man that he’s so humble. Pictured here (and in an exclusive road test on pages 44-52) are the fruits of his many (often seemingly crazy) labours. He’s the man in specials building and motorcycle engineering who seems to make the impossible possible and the frankly foolish flight of mechanical fancy look ‘factory’. But then this was the man whose first special was a BSA Bantam with the engine from an Austin Mini. A man (well, lad) who – by the age of 18 – had already built a 180cc V-twin from two Honda C90 motors. He was so proud of the Mini/Bantam, that he took it to school to show his metalwork teacher and was nabbed by the police on the way home who advised him not to ride it, thanks to the exposed flywheel spinning around on one side… Since then he’s gone on to make specials that look not so much ‘special’ as, well, factory. He builds classic ‘double-take’ bikes. You look,
you think it is standard, and then you spot the extra exhaust or bank of cylinder heads. His Kawasaki Z1-based V8 1600 looked like the logical next step from the Big K as did his amazing 70-degree 2300cc V12 built from two Z1300 motors… If you think it’s all about ‘big and brash’ you’d be wrong – that’s not this man at all. So while he may take a Viper V10 car engine and build a bike from it, as well as take a slice of aero engine to build ‘The Flying Millyard’ he’s just as at home putting two small motors together with Swiss watch precision just for the hell of it. So enjoy this preview here of his RC374 (latest build story on page 72) as well as some of his other creations. Allen – you’re an inspiration. cmm
www.classicmechanics.com / 7
cmm
Marketplace
Are specials special? Or just money pits? Every month we take a look at the classic motorcycle market with a range of industry experts. This month, Paul Jayson from The Motorcycle Broker and our very own Scott Redmond discuss whether specials are indeed that... or not?
M
any people customise, thinking that they are enhancing their classic, and this can seriously devalue the machine, yet in some rare cases it can enhance it. It’s all down to taste, but in general most customised classics are worth much less than a standard machine. Why is it being customised? Just because they want something different, or does the builder have a vision and the capability to carry out that vision, realise it and do it well? Classic Motorcycle Mechanics’ own contributor Allen Millyard immediately comes to mind. He has a vision of enhancing a Kawasaki twostroke triple and grafts on two extra cylinders, works with all of the consequences and works relentlessly until it looks like a factory prototype. He has a vision and the ability to execute it beautifully. But such builders are very rare indeed. Having a vision is key when building a great special and many are just hacked about and not of the required quality.
The classic (and classy) ‘double-take’ special. We like...
The other issue is, does the classic special require the original frame to be hacked to pieces? If so, then this will nearly always have a negative impact on future sale values. I have sold quality specials and most have sold very well. The one that comes to mind is a Kawasaki Z900A4. The builder had a very clear vision and executed it without fuss and very skilfully. It had a spoked Z1000 rear wheel with a wide rim on a Metmachex ally swingarm. It lived in Z1B blue livery and had GPZ1100 forks and brakes, which allowed for modern brake pads. There was a Giuliani seat and replica 4-into-4 pipes: the bike looked like a lightly customised 1970s Z1B and it was only as you looked closer would you realise that it was quite different. The bike sold very quickly and for a very strong price, at that time, far higher than a standard A4. However, I have also given many lesser machines a wide berth: many live on various auction sites. So much of building a special is about getting the proportions right, the vision and executing it beautifully. In most cases keeping the frame intact and the original parts, even if they’re not on the bike, is going to help retain the value of the machine, as it can always be put back to standard. So many café racers will become very difficult to sell once this craze has passed, as they have been de-lugged and can never be put back to standard. It will also make it very difficult to create another special out of such a bike, because everything will be governed by what’s left of the frame. I suppose new lugs can be made and welded back on, but it’s not a task most builders will be willing to take on. Some specials can be worth a lot more than the standard machines, such as Rickmans and a Moto Martin CBX1000 is a highly prized motorcycle: Eglis and Harris Performance specials seem to command quite a premium too. Value comes from a bike made by a ‘known’ specials builder. On the other hand, machines that have been cobbled together and have had everything hacked off them will lose value heavily in the long run. As fashion changes and desires move on, such bikes will look dated and will be very difficult to modify into something different again. Still, happy specials building! cmm ■ www.themotorcyclebroker.co.uk
8 / classic motorcycle mechanics
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THE NAKED TRUTH F
or many, a standard motorcycle is the perfect starting point for creating a special, taking the result of millions of yen worth of R&D and setting about making it better. The Streetfighter scene is one sector of the used motorcycle market that simply fails to go away; some builds soak up ridiculous amounts of time and cash, but there’s no shortage of those that don’t! The origins of the Streetfighter can be traced back to the mid-1980s, with the race-rep craze sweeping the nation it wasn’t long before many of those crutch rockets ended up in the hands of insurance companies who had paid out to settle claims for various GSX-R/FZR/CBR models after they’d ended up crashed and bashed. The insurance men then resold them back into the market; some were broken for parts but on the whole the newer the bike the higher the chances are it would be repaired and resold. New genuine parts have always been expensive, especially those bits that touch down first, be it a full-on slide or just a side-stand topple in the garage. Yes, we’re talking about
bodywork. The high new prices keeps the value of used parts on the up, so it makes pretty good sense to ditch that crunched up fairing, chuck away the bent clip-ons and fit some Renthal bars and a nasty nose cone that was fabricated in China. It was easy enough to find a few examples of such machines even today in 2018… Beyond the ugly bug looks can often lurk the potential for cheap speed. Any FireBlade that’s up and running and carries a price tag of £1350 is worth some consideration. If the ‘styling’ doesn’t float your boat that can be addressed down the line, and unlike the old days you can pluck cheap parts from either online auction sites, or owners’ groups on social media. Who knows you might even be able to sell the tawdry tat you take off. Like the street-fightered FireBlade, I found a Yamaha YZF750 that’s basically missing its fairing; with an asking price of £1395 it’s a great starting point for a cheapie track day bike. So many of these budget builds are often a great way into buying a bike that would normally be touted around at prices double the startingg price. Sure you’d be a bit foolish to rush in
and commit to buying without seeing it in the flesh, but in a world where we all love a bargain these visually challenged motorcycles shouldn’t be ruled out. Well, unless it’s too far gone to be an economical project. The Kawasaki ZZ-R600 I spotted is one of those bikes that sold strongly back in the day and despite being a good egg carries very little kudos, in fact the 600 market on the whole is often overlooked, which means prices are pretty sensible on the whole for good honest bikes. This leaves me scratching my swede with my third finding: ZZ-R600D that looks like the result of a large explosion at an autojumble. For the £950 ticket price you could find no end of decent 80s or 90s four-pot 600cc machines… The specials scene continues to evolve, the café racer is perhaps the most popular route to go if you like your bikes to be ‘on trend’, then there’s Brats, Bobbers and flat-track inspired bikes: but will this current crop last as long as the humble streetfighter? Our advice? Keep this in mind when the seller is telling you how much it cost to make: ‘moneyy can’t buyy good taste.’ Then bid ’em... cmm
Buy Now
Buy Now
Buy Now
www.classicmechanics.com / 9
cmm
Stuff
The latest riding kit, top tools, tyres, retro clothing and more!
£299.99 £299 9.99
SHARK S-DRAK HELMET
Apparently this S-DRAK lid is part of SHARK’s ‘metro’ division. We guess that means cool helmets for street use…They also say this is inspired by ‘neo-retro’ culture. What we can say is that this is a cool-looking lid, with a quick-release visor system, two shell sizes, removable/washable interior and it’s compatible with SHARKTOOTH communication and SHARK Easy Fit for specs wearers Sizes XXL w earers. S izes XS XS to to X XL. www.nevis.uk.com
£90.16
(clamp kit £19.25)
SAMCO SPORT HOSES Around
£ £899
ACE SPITFIREE COLLECTIION WATCH
atches ((these these are are A CE203 and and TW Steel’s collection of w watches ACE203 204) celebrate a number of things, the RAF’s 100th anniversary, its most famous fighter aircraft, Swiss-watch reliability and men with money who like watches. Around £899: www.twsteel.com
10 / classic motorcycle mechanics
The ese are what the editor is going to use on his 1994 Honda VFR R750 F-R RC36! It’s a full Samco Sport Hose kit (part number HON-92) in seven pieces. It comes in a very wide array of colours from black, through to green, camo, silver, blue, red, grey, orange and d even pink! Check the website for more. Pric c ce: £90.16 (clamp kit £19.25). www.racebikebitz.com
CHHHAIN MONKEY
Tru Te ension’s Chain Monkey is the world’s e first tool designed to help you set the tensio on o on your motorcycle’s drive chain. From new riderss through to experienced mechanics, Chain Monkey Monk will simplify the task, improve performance and save you money through its revolutionary, patented design. Not sure if this is answering a question that doesn’t need answering but we will check one out! www.bikeit.co.uk
£24.99
www.classicmechanics.com
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£299.99
BLADON LLEATHER EATHER JACKET JACCKET
The Oxford Products Bladon leather jacket mixes contemporary style with a dash of café racer chic. Made from cow leather, it is lightweight, supple and hard-wearing, complete with CE-approved shoulder and elbow armour, triple stitching to the back of the arms for added strength and four pockets at the front. www.oxfordproducts.com
£21.50
SEALEY SIX-PIECE FILE SET
These popular files come in a handy pouch, have comfort grip handles and feature hanging holes for storage. You have half-round, Round, Square, Three-Square, Flat and Hand file. www.sealey.co.uk
SPEED: £375.58 inc. VAT
SUZUKI RGV250 FORK OUTERS
Our good friends at the Vintage Parts Programme have hit us with these lovely things: VJ22 fork outers. Parts such as these are hard to find – but not any more. These are re-manufactured by Suzuki Motor Corp itself… Contact your nearest Suzuki dealership or visit v bikes.suzuki.co.uk/vintage-parts-programm me
£27.95
THE ONE GENUINELY MODERN PLEASURE
A superb book from Mat Oxley, this charts the marriage of the bicycle to the internal combustion engine and the search for speed since then. A hardback with 170 pages and many glossy black and white plates, it looks in some detail at the early years of man’s quest for speed on two wheels, where average speeds quickly moved from a sedate 27mph at Britain’s first motorcycle race in 1897 through to the later eras, where – by 1937 – the world speed record stood at a staggering 173mph! Highly recommended. www.matoxley.bigcartel.com www.classicmechanics.com / 11
cmm
Testted d
Riding kit worn, w tools twirled & tyyres turned
From
£115
KRIEGA R25 & R30 RUCKSACKS Named after the litres they can consume (with ease) one is a 25 litre rucksack and the other a 30 litre. The Quadloc harness system shifts the weight from
From
sho oulders and back to your ch hest making it very co omfy, even when fully la aden. The zipped inside pocket is capa capable of holding plentyy of odds and sods and therre’s a pocket for a back protec ctor too. It’s not waterproof byy the way, but very comfy indeed. The R30 is a different shape, which makes it easier to get tthi hing gs in and out, and a roll top replacess the the R25 R25’ss zip p, which makes m this pack’s main sec ction 100% waterpro oof. There are two outside pockets, p but no
£150
TCX HERO BOOTS
These TCX Hero boots are waterproof, CE-approved and comfortable enough to walk distances in when you get to where you’re riding to. They’re also styled like a particularly iconic pair of British boots! They’re waterproof and breathable and made of full-grain leather, with reinforcement and heel protection that makes them much safer than the average boot. They also make fantastic everyday boots and (thanks to the zip down the inside) they can be slipped on and off quickly without having to undo them. These come in regular sizes and you can choose between brown or black. Highly recommended! www.nevis.uk.com
inside one or facility for a back protector. The interior is a replacea replaceable, tough white bag though, which makes k s it it easy easy to find your kit in the bottom. There’s an updated fastening
OXFORD DORMEX INDOOR COVER
Back in the old days cars would get stored in garages, but now it’s bikes. Our garages also often double up as workshops too… Added to this, since getting a tumble drier, I’ve also found that small particles of dust and detritus are pumped out over my bikes! That’s where these have come in. Designed for indoor use, the Dormex covers are soft and breathable. They do also repel water, but aren’t fully waterproof. They come in a range of sizes (and therefore prices) and have an elasticated bottom that keeps it tight against the wheels. The front and rear are labelled so you can’t get it wrong. Even me… Small is £19.99 (scooter), Medium is £24.99 (commuter-sized bike) with a Large costing £29.99 and the XL just £34.99. I’m happy as the cover has already proved its worth over winter, keeping the dust at bay. Recommended. ■ Bertie Sim Simmonds
From
£160
FFrom
£199.99£34.99
12 / classic motorcycle mechanics
system across the chest: two greatt bags bags fro from Kriega. www.kriega.com
www.oxfordproducts.com
www.classicmechanics.com / 13
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