September 2018 Issue 371 Publisher: Dan Savage, asavage@mortons.co.uk Contributors: Kev Larkins, Joe Dick, Kris Jones, Alan Turner 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: September 19, 2018 Advertising deadline: August 30, 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
Doesn’t time fly by? Looking at the content of this issue I cannot believe that the Yamaha YZF-R1 is 20 years old this year. I still recall my first ride on one: a brand-new red and white 4XV test bike from Yamaha. I couldn’t get my head around just how fast it was and how quickly those numbers on the oh-so-cool LCD speedo would rise at the merest whiff of your right wrist. Little wonder then that Yamaha has lots planned for this year to celebrate and the fact the 4XV is ridden and dissected over many pages in this month’s CMM. Hell, even Niall Mackenzie wants to buy one as a project… We’re also looking at track-days on classics, with Mark Forsyth saying how to do it on the
Member
Ralph Ferrand
Mark Haycock
Scoop is the engine room of CMM! He’s given us a Z1A guide, sorted his forks on the CS3C and reckons he’s nearly there!
Ralph gives us two Zed helpings this month, with the Z1300 and the project Z1325. He also pops his track-day cherry!
Mark will be back with his projects next issue, but for now he’s answering Q&As for the benefit of you all.
Older, nicer bikes editor
As we write this, he’s off to the Salon Prive but in the meantime, read on about the amazing RC374 build.
Pip Higham
The man, the legend… Pip rides the Banbury Run on a 1929 Prester, watched by proud brother Bill. Rest in peace Bill, from all at CMM.
Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine? Why not Just Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month?
www.twitter.com/cmmmag
Steve Cooper
Engineer extraordinaire!
The Professional Publishers Association
Editor
BSimmonds@Mortons.co.uk
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Allen Millyard
Independent publisher since 1885
cheap and Ralph Ferrand doing it for the first time on his road bike. Pictured above is me on my old ZX-7R back in 2001. I used to do lots of track-days back then and the old Kwak was a cost-effective way of doing it. It looked like a British Superbike, but was just dressed in ex-Steve Plater bodywork – it even had a side-stand! Recently, this bike (more battered and bruised than ever) has come back into my life. What should I do with it, I wonder?
Big Zed lover
Mark Forsyth
Q&A king
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH!
Professional Cumbrian What can be said about the legend that is MF that hasn’t already been said in a court of law? Lord MF is a top-level former racer (Battle of the Twins champ), ex-Performance Bikes editor and master of ‘the Cumbrian ring’ where you ring someone long enough for them to see it’s you calling, then ring off, allowing them to call you back at their expense.
Olly Crick
R1 4XV expert
We’re proud to get Olly’s expertise on making Yamaha’s R1 even better. He’s owned and modded his for years. Page 56.
Jeff Ware
Two-stroke lover! Jeff finishes the Aprilia RS250 this month but the smell of two-stroke oil is soon replaced with that of nappies. Page 122.
Scott Redmond
Robert Bee
Martin Child
Does our Scottie actually have a soft spot for Yamaha’s YZF-R1? Will he break his, or will he ride it?
Big Bad Bob is the main man to book YOUR advert in CMM. He’s a lovely chap, so ring him and say ‘hi!’
Dare we say that this curious mix of 2008 GSX-R and 1986 GSX-R1100 is starting to take shape? Page 114.
Breaker, breaker…
Ad GOD!
Cupid Stunt rider
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