Classic Motorcycle Mechanics - March 2020

R YA AMAHA YR5 HONDA CBR929RR 70S 7

Buyer Guide

FIREBLADE Ridden!

00S

WIN!

UK off-sale date – 18/03/2020

BuzzWorkz Kawasaki Z900 special RIDDEN R PLUS Allen Millyard begins a Z900 ‘Super-Six’ cylinder special!

No.389 March 2020

ZED HEAVVEN! EN! N!

£4.40

DUCHINNI SHERWOOD BOOTS, BRIDGESTONEE TYRES ES, S-DOC CHAIN KIT!

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

FireBlade

TOOL OF THE MONTH, WORKSHOP: CLUTCH BASKET SHOCKS. 90s: BMW R1100 S, YAMAHA YZR500, HONDA ST1100 PAN EUROPEAN. 80s: KAWASAKI Z550F, YAMAHA FZ600. 70s: YAMAHA TX750, PROJECT RICKUKI, SUZUKI TS400 APACHE. ALSO: ALLEN MILLYARD COLUMN Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND YOUR BIKES AND MEMORIES!

March 2020 Issue 389 Publisher: Tim Hartley, thartley@mortons.co.uk Publishing Director: Dan Savage, asavage@mortons.co.uk Designer: Michael Baumber Production Editor: Mike Cowton Advertising: Lily Schiller lschiller@mortons.co.uk, Tel: 01507 529411 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 42 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £52.80. Export rates are also available – see page 42 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-5pm 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: March 18, 2020 Advertising deadline: February 27, 2020 © 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

What makes a special, special?

This issue has some very exciting news in it.

Firstly, you can’t help to have noticed the trick-looking Kawasaki Z900 on the cover and here above.

Yes, this issue we touch upon a company that builds specials based on Kawasaki Z-model machines which are tastefully updated for modern times, while keeping those classic Kawasaki looks. Also, you’ll find this month that world-renowned specials builder Allen Millyard is embarking on an exciting Kawasaki special of his own: a six-cylinder powered machine based on the Z900… To say we can’t wait to see how it turns out is an understatement!

And then there’s our new 2020 search for the best special build and finest restoration of the year. We’ve teamed up with Bridgestone tyres to launch our quest to find the best of each. Every issue until late autumn we will showcase either a special build or a resto and we will be giving away some great prizes and

Steve Cooper

Alan Dowds

Mike Booth

Big Al does the double for us this month: not only is he visiting BuzzWorkz to see what amazing special Kawasakis they make, he’s also riding one for us!

We just want to see where his bloomin’ Kwak ZRX1100 is…

From our sister title Fast Bikes comes Mike Booth who rides for us the Y2K 929 FireBlade: wow, is it really 20 years since the injected Blade first made an appearance?

The Flying Tash

Allen is embarking on the very exciting build of a six-cylinder Kawasaki Zed for CMM. We can’t wait to see what this amazing bike is going to look and sound like. Stay tuned!

The Professional Publishers Association

Mark Haycock Q&A Kingpin!

Not happy with giving us some superb Q&A responses, Mark also gets back into the nitty-gritty of his Yamaha TX750.

What lies beneath, eh?

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

Scoop is doubtless about to go on yet another well-earned holiday. Before he left he gave us lots to look at, including a YR5 guide, part two of the clutch shock workshop and a couple of his project reports!

Zen Zed builder…

Member

Editor

BSimmonds@Mortons.co.uk

www.facebook.com/ClassicMechanics/

Allen Millyard

Independent publisher since 1885

will hopefully showcase the winners at The Carole Nash/CMM show in October at Stafford.

See our first nomination on page 26.

Finally, we are also going to be teaming up with our friends at Classic Bike Trackdays and Bridgestone once more to put on a great weekend event this coming summer. The Bridgestone/CBT/CMM track day weekend will take place at Cadwell Park over the weekend of June 6-7 and will include our very own Niall Mackenzie and a fair few Yamaha LCs and powervalves… Turn to page 45 to learn more!

So, there’s lots to look forward to this summer every month in CMM. Why not subscribe and get it all for less and earlier than in the shops? Go to page 42 to find out more…

Champagne Socialist

Jayne Clements

Fast Bloke

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH!

CMM’s star lady!

Jayne is one of the many un-sung heroes/heroines that helps CMM function in the ramshackle way it does with the idiot editor at the helm that we seem to be lumbered with. She sorts the competitions, diary dates and generally helps clear up all of Bertie’s mess when he gets things wrong. Which is often… Top lady!

Andy Bolas

Charlie Oakman/ Gary Hartshorne

Our Andy has returned to the pages of CMM with YET another project bike! It seems he couldn’t escape the lure of a pretty stock and clean Yamaha FZ600. To be honest, we can’t blame him!

These two buffoons will be a staple part of CMM over the next four issues when they go racing on some modern classic machinery and have plenty of laughs along the way!

Serial Bike Buyer!

Fast Berks!

Ralph Ferrand It’s a bummer…

…with the Beemer, at the moment, says our Ralph. Seems that the Boxer twin is fairly up-tight with its fasteners, which causes our West Countryman to utter more expletives than normal!

Niall Mackenzie Swift Spuds!

Our Niall is getting into the clutch of his YZR500… AND we can reveal he’ll be the star of our Bridgestone/Classic Bike Trackday event at Cadwell Park on June 6/7 (see page 45).

Lily Schiller Lovely ad lady!

Our Lil’ is the person to speak to if you want to be seen by hundreds of thousands of CMM readers looking for parts or services! Go on!

www.classicmechanics.com / 3

54

❙ Q&A

56

❙ KAWASAKI Z550F

58

❙ PROJECT RICKUKI

62

❙ BMW R1100 S

66

❙ ALLEN MILLYARD

John Vassallo gets down to it…

Steve Cooper is back with Rick!

Ralph Ferrand with the Boxer.

Allen starts his Super Six Kawasaki Zed!

70

❙ YAMAHA TX750

72

❙ YAMAHA FZ600

76

❙ TOOL OF THE MONTH

78

❙ YAMAHA YZR500

82

Mark Haycock delves deeper...

Andy Bolas bags another bike for his collection!

Ralph on multimeters.

Niall Mackenzie has issues sorting the clutch.

❙ HONDA ST1100 PAN EUROPEAN

Allen Millyard has a squeak!

86

❙ YAMAHA YR5

90

❙ WORKSHOP

94

Contents

Mark Haycock with a page of tips.

Our buyer’s guide!

Clutch basket shocks: part 2!

❙ SUZUKI TS400 APACHE Scoop has been scalped!

108 ❙ FAST BERKS!

Charlie Oakman and Gary Hartshorne go racing!

30

HONDA CBR929RR FIREBLADE

36

BUZZWORKZ

SUBSCRIBE!

NEWS

43

FEEDBACK

46

BUZZWORKZ KAWASAKI Z900

06

ARCHIVE

08

CMM MARKETPLACE

10

CMM STUFF

14 20

We pay tribute to the late, great Colin Seeley.

What do Zed specials go for in the marketplace?

New kit, tools and tyres and stuff.

Events, news and diary dates for March 2020!

WIN Bridgestone tyres for our Star Letter!

22

SHOW US YOURS

26

READER’S SPECIAL WITH BRIDGESTONE!

WIN S-DOC chain cleaner!

Win Tamiya kit for ‘The Way We Were!’

Welcome to our 2020 search for the best special and resto in conjunction with Bridgestone tyres!

54

Mike Booth rides a 20-yearold Blade.

Alan Dowds continues our ‘specials’ theme with a look at this fine firm!

Save cash! Join CMM EXTRA!

Alan Dowds rides one special special!

RETRO REBOOT

Kar Lee re-invents the original Honda CBR900RR FireBlade.

113 NEXT MONTH

Check out what’s in the April 2020 issue.

114 PIP HIGHAM

At last: a Pip-a-pedia!

www.classicmechanics.com / 5

Colin Seeley: 1936-2020

C

PICS: MORTONS ARCHIVE

olin Seeley, who passed away in January, was one of the most influential figures in British racing and motorcycling.

He wasn’t just a former sidecar rider, he was a visionary, an engineer, a top-level race team manager, road-bike manufacturer and designer, F1 legend, charity founder and vigorous fund-raiser.

Seeley got bitten by the biking bug young, thanks to learning to ride his father’s Vincent Rapide. A job at the local bike shop soon saw him learning the engineering side of motorcycling, too. He was soon rebuilding and adapting various motorcycles in the garden shed and then got attracted to racing.

Initially on solos, Seeley first took the plunge at Brands Hatch in 1954, moving on to scrambling before making the switch to three wheels in the 1960s, winning the 1964 Dutch TT and taking part in the Isle of Man TT races, where he took sixth place

in 1961 – his debut year – and second in 1964. He would later take a further second place finish at the 1966 French Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand.

At the close of his race career he forged a new one in the realms of race engineering. Seeley frames would soon be using British powerplants to take wins and championships, and later Japanese engines, as they carved out an enviable results record and winning praise for their handling qualities. Famous names to have used Seeley-framed bikes included Barry Sheene, John ‘Moon Eyes’ Cooper, Tommy Robb and Derek Minter.

After a move to work in Formula 1 in the 1970s (an area to which he would return to in the 1980s), he came back to motorcycles and worked with Honda, producing a Seeley-framed SOHC 750 Four and the limited-edition Phil Read Replica, as well as a Seeley-framed trials machine.

In the early 1990s Colin ran the Norton

Colin Seeley Motorcycling legend

superbike team and with backing from Duckhams, took the double in 1994 with Ian Simpson on the Norton superbike and a Yamaha FZR600R in Supersport. Later the team would switch to Ducati power.

Most importantly, this amazing man would set up The Joan Seeley Pain Relief Memorial Trust, in memory of his first wife who he married in 1962 and who died of bone cancer. The charity was launched in 1979 and was backed by legends such as Mike Hailwood, Phil Read, Stirling Moss and Murray Walker. cmm

■ Want to get hold of pictures from Mortons Archive? Then head to: www.mortonsarchive.com

CLASSIC RIDE

BLADE

WORDS: MIKE BOOTH AND BERTIE SIMMONDS PICS: JAMIE MORRIS

Blade Two decades ago Honda released it’s ‘sharpened’ Fire – known to many as the 929. How does it fare today?

I

n the 1990s Jarvis Cocker gave us the advice to meet up in the year 2000 and that’s where I’m going today, by the fountain down the road…

In the pre-Brexit Britain of 1999, we weren’t worried about what would happen when we left Europe, instead we were all worried about whether or not the ‘Millennium Bug’ was going to mean we all had to buy new microwaves come New Year’s Day. Thankfully, it was all just a case of ‘Project Fear’!

Meanwhile, in the late 1990s Honda had been busy developing an all-new FireBlade which, in all fairness, was something they had to do, after Yamaha’s introduction of the all-conquering YZF-R1 in 1998.

There had been tweaks and improvements here and there for the Blade from launch in 1992, but the Millennium Blade – or CBR900RR-Y and for 2001 the RR-1 as it should be called – had upgrades and full re-designs in almost every area.

The chassis was made lighter and now featured what was called a ‘semi-pivotless frame’, where the main frame rails didn’t actually join on to pivot plates on the (much longer and beefier) swingarm. That swingarm design also came pretty much directly from 500cc GPs, where Honda’s NSR500 ran a longer swinger for improved traction.

The engine was also finally fuel-injected and had gone up around 10 or so cc to 929cc. Despite this, it was not only more compact, and positioned further forward in the frame (in an attempt to improve the bike’s handling), but it had a whole host of upgraded parts inside. A bigger bore and shorter stoke meant the new Blade could rev harder and faster, with cleverly engineered forged aluminium pistons which, although bigger, weighed almost exactly the same as the cast aluminium ones which they replaced. The hollowed out camshafts were also 20% lighter, giving the motor a sharper response on the throttle, while a new cylinder head design improved airflow.

As well as electronic fuel injection, the 929 Blade came with an electronically operated intake and exhaust valve system – the Honda Variable Intake/ Exhaust Control System (H-VIX) for the best performance at both low and high revs. Think Yamaha’s EXUP valve…

30 / classic motorcycle mechanics

www.classicmechanics.com / 31

CLASSIC LOOK

SUPERSONIC! WORDS: ALAN DOWDS. PICS: JOHN GOODMAN

Dave Ennis used to fettle Concordes for a living. But he works on different high-speed transport nowadays…

Welcome to BuzzWorkz!

I

t was George Orwell who said that, by the age of 50, everyone has the face they deserve. Which is bad news for your scribe (and his editor), who are hurtling towards the half-century as we speak.

But as I stand in a slick home-workshop in South West London, chatting with Kawasaki specialist Dave Ennis, it’s a quote which pops into my mind.

Why? Because here’s a man who (at a bit over 50) has definitely ended up with the job he deserves.

Dave’s a man steeped in aircraft engineering and motorbikes, who trained as a British Airways apprentice, straight from school, then moved on to an aircraft engineering firm that took him all around the world. He’s worked on Boeing 747 jumbo jets and Apache helicopters, SAAB Gripens, BAe Harriers, Panavia Tornados and even BAC Concordes, no less.

“I left school at 16,” said Dave, “and started an apprenticeship at BA, working on Hawker-Siddeley Tridents, Vickers Viscounts and Vanguards, Lockheed Tristars and Boeing 737s – as well as the VC10 and Concorde. After BA I worked for a firm called Page Aerospace, doing all the away jobs, including work on Apaches during Desert Storm

www.classicmechanics.com / 37

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