Classic Motorcycle Mechanics - January preview

SUZUKI INVADER 60S

Ridden!

BRIDGESTONE GOODIES, S-DOC CHAIN CARE KIT

SIX

HONDA ST70 DAX Buyer Guide!

60S

TAMIYA KITS, AND WEISE OUTLAW JACKET! !

WIN

■ Allen

Millyard’s superb sixcylinder Kawasaki Zed ridden!

TURBO T-REX!

1200R! Kawasaki ZRX Amazing turbo

No.399 January 2021

£4.50

APPEAL!

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

TOOL OF THE MONTH 80s: KAWASAKI Z550F, YAMAHA TZR250 3MA, YAMAHA RZV500R 70s: SUZUKI TS400 APACHE, SUZUKI TR750 Also: Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND YOUR BIKES AND MEMORIES!

January 2021 Issue 399 Publisher: Tim Hartley thartley@mortons.co.uk Publishing Director: Dan Savage asavage@mortons.co.uk Designer: Michael Baumber Picture Desk: Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Production Editor: Mike Cowton Divisional Advertising Manager: Thomas Lee tlee@mortons.co.uk Tel: 01507 529412 Advertising: Simon Meyer SMeyer@mortons.co.uk Tel: 01507 529310 Sales and Distribution Manager: Carl Smith 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 30 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £52.80. Export rates are also available – see page 30 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, 3rd Floor, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP Tel: 0330 390 6555 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: January 20, 2021 Advertising deadline: December 23, 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

Good riddance, 2020!

I’m sat here, it’s early December and if I’m quite honest, I’m happy to see the back of 2020.

Now, as 2021 marks my half-century of life on this planet, I’m not usually one for wishing my life away, but the sooner we get to 2021 the better. Coronavirus, or Covid-19, has hit us all in some way – for some in the ultimate way as we’ve either been laid low by it ourselves or we’ve lost a loved one.

It’s hit some of my friends in other ways too.

I’ve seen first-hand how the various lockdowns, both nationally and locally, have affected those amongst us who are more gregarious, those that need to ‘get out there’ and experience some human contact or social interaction.

Of course, lots of us get this from the many bike shows, races and events put on, not just by us, but a great many people up and down the country. We are all like coiled springs, ready, waiting and willing 2021 to be a better year all-round.

Member

Mark Haycock Q&A King!

CMM reader from Down Under!

Busy as ever, our evergreen engine room has given us a buyer’s guide on the mini-sized but maxi-fun Honda ST DAX series and is looking forward to getting his Apache!

Mark takes a well-earned break from the projects this issue, but he’s back again next issue. We’ve not let him off Q&A duties though!

Another story we sat on for some time (we’ve got a few). Read about this amazing Kawasaki ZRX1200R with 200bhp at the rear hoop. Lovely!

Engine room!

Jeff has been hard at it this year for us – and so it continues. The 3MA is finally finished and the RZV500R is too! So, next issue he starts on a Suzuki RG250 HB rep AND returns with his RM80X!

Ralph Ferrand Super spanner man!

This month Ralph lets rip with the soldering iron in ‘Tool of the Month’. Soon he returns with his H2C, TWO Zed builds AND his Yamaha YZF-R6.

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

Jeff Ware

The Professional Publishers Association

Editor

BSimmonds@Mortons.co.uk

www.facebook.com/ClassicMechanics/

Down Under dude!

Independent publisher since 1885

So, while our news section has tales of cancelled events, or ones that have been postponed for a few months, let’s also keep our peckers up and look forward to the spring when we – hopefully – will be able to get out there once more – especially as news of a vaccine seems hopeful (as I write this…)

The good news about ‘staying in’ is that many of us have had more time on our projects – and there’s no bigger project than Allen Millyard’s superb six-cylinder Kawasaki. Check it out in all its glory on page 34.

It’s just left for me to say this: thanks for keeping with us, we value your support. Stay safe and have as good a Christmas and New Year as you can! We’ll see you all in a better and brighter 2021…

Allen Millyard

Derek Henderson

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH!

Legendary specials builder Who else could it be this month? Allen’s amazing super-six cylinder build has been a long time coming to our pages, but here it is. Our own John Nutting samples the six and gets the inside story of how it rides and how it was built. Don’t forget Allen is on with his SECOND six-cylinder build in this issue too!

John Vassallo 550F-inished!

Our friend John finally finishes his Z550F Kawasaki this issue – but not before the thing springs a few fuel leaks! What is he to do?

Malc Shaw

CMM reader/restorer!

Malc has taken a mammoth hit to the wallet this month as his TR750 build carries on going. She’s looking good though…

John Nutting

Pip Higham

Simon Meyer

To say that Nutters was foaming at the mouth to ride Allen’s super-six cylinder Zed-based beast is a savage understatement! He loved it…

Pip rides a reader’s lovely Suzuki Invader: apologies to owner Phil Graham who has been very patient awaiting his pride and joy to be in this magazine!

Simon is ready to take your calls to get in front of the most discerning classics audience out there… we need your adverts to keep going! C’mon!

Suave legend…

Titanic Invader!

Top Ad Person

www.classicmechanics.com / 3

52

❙ Q&A

54

❙ ALLEN MILLYARD

58

❙ TOOL OF THE MONTH

60

Contents

Mark Haycock with a page of tips.

He’s sorting the chassis on the Kawasaki Super-Six Zed 2!

Our Ralph has very broad solders.

❙ SUZUKI TS400 APACHE

Steve’s beast is boxed up for its journey!

64

❙ SUZUKI TR750

68

❙ HONDA ST DAX

82

❙ YAMAHA TZR250 3MA

86

❙ KAWASAKI Z550F

Malc Shaw’s wallet takes a massive beating this month!

Steve Cooper mini-bike that gives maxi-smiles!

Finally the reverse-cylinder is finished! Onya Jeff!

John Vassallo finishes the fourcylinder Kwak.

90

❙ YAMAHA RZV500R

94

❙ STOOL SAMPLE

We are also near the end with this two-stroke Yammy four-cylinder.

Jim Lindsay builds a simple stool for his workshop.

06

ARCHIVE

28

SUBSCRIBE!

08

CMM STUFF

30

SUZUKI INVADER

12

NEWS

34

KAWASAKI SUPER-SIX

44

KAWASAKI ZRX1200R TURBO

Ducati’s delectable 888: better than a 916?

New kit, tools and tyres and stuff.

News and happenings for January 2021!

18

FEEDBACK

20

SHOW US YOURS

24

MODERN VINTAGE

WIN Bridgestone goodies for our Star Letter!

WIN S-DOC chain cleaner!

Win a Tamiya kit for ‘The Way We Were!’

Stuart Barker rides two very special Suzukis, courtesy of the Vintage Parts Programme.

50 97 98

Save cash! Bag a brace of cheap subscriptions!

Pip Higham has a pop on a Suzuki Invader – and a spin on a T500…

John Nutting rides Allen Millyard’s amazing sixcylinder Kawasaki Zed.

Reader Derek Henderson’s amazing 200bhp Eddie Lawson replica!

BMW R 80 G/S

It’s 40 years old – and you can buy a modern version!

NEXT MONTH

Check out what’s in the February 2021 issue.

PIP HIGHAM

Pip regales us with some tea-time stories!

MAIN TEST

34 / classic motorcycle mechanics

S i x

! y p a r e th

ls uction skil tr s n o c e r ine ds his eng wasaki’s iconic Z1. n te x e t c je f Ka pro rd’s latest ix-cylinder version o ke to ride a ly il M n e li s All t what it’s building a further by ohn Nutting finds ou J WORDS: JOHN NUTTING PICS: GARY D CHAPMAN

I

f you’ve been following Allen Millyard’s exploits with his project to build a six-cylinder version of the Z1 Super Four, Kawasaki’s answer to Honda’s CB750 launched in 1972, you must have been wondering just what it’s like to ride.

This saga, the latest in a number of epic projects to build what many riders regard as unfeasibly complex machines that look like the result of a wild and untempered imagination, started at the Stafford Show in October 2019.

At the show, Kawasaki parts specialist Dave Marsden had reminded Allen that he should build an in-line six, no doubt thinking that having already turned out a V8 based on the Z1 and a V12 in the Z1300, it would be a relatively straightforward task.

Now Allen’s never one to resist a challenge and at first he considered building another V8, thinking a six might be too wide to make a convincing example of what Kawasaki might have produced. This prompted the acquisition of parts from a 1976 Z900 engine, but while studying these in his workshop, Marsden’s idea came to mind. Allen made some paper templates to show how an inline six might look, and what the width would work out at.

Because Allen has been a master of metal since he started his craft apprenticeship at the turn of the 1980s, he’s a bit old money and rightly so, so the measurement came out at around 24 inches. He wondered how this compared with the daddy of six-cylinder bikes, Honda’s CBX from 1978, and recalling that I’d mentioned being at the bike’s launch in Japan, he sent me an email to ask if I remembered how wide it was.

Width was a key issue with the CBX and Honda’s engineers had done a great job in minimising it, so I knew that it was 23½ inches across the cases, because I’d measured one. That reassured Allen, and the project was off the mark.

www.classicmechanics.com / 35

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