Classic Motorcycle Mechanics - October 2020

FREE 16 PAGE CLASSIC RACER MINII-MAG MAG INSIDEE 70 RETRO HONDA 90 SPECTIVE CB900F S

S

Kawasaki Zephyr

Buyer guide

WIN! DUCHINNI D1300 HELMET, BRIDGESTTONE GOODIES, TAMIYA KITS

Stroke er

AND S-DOC CHAIN CARE KIT!

Riding a rare Honda NS250R

TURBO TIME! 200bhp Kawasaki Z900RS ridden!

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

TOOL OF THE MONTH 90s: TRIUMPH DAYTONA 1200, KAWASAKI ZEPHYRS, KAWASAKI GPZ500S 80s: KAWASAKI Z400 70s: KAWASAKI H2C, YAMAHA TX750 Also: Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND YOUR BIKES AND MEMORIES!

October 2020 Issue 396 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: October 21, 2020 Advertising deadline: October 1, 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

The lure of the big Kawasaki…

I’ve come over all unnecessary this month thanks to a raft of mad Kawasakis!

This isn’t unusual – I was brought up on a diet of Kwaks as a kid, as my uncle owned a fair few. But this issue so many seem to have popped up out of the woodwork, so to speak.

Firstly, there’s the Big CC Kawasaki Z900RS Turbo that our mate Alan Dowds has ridden.

This is a 200bhp machine with all the mod-cons of a retro replica of the original Zeds of old… but it can trickle through traffic or go ballistic when the traffic lights go green. I wish I’d gotten a go on it…

Then there’s our chosen ‘Retro-Spective’ this issue – the original Kawasaki retro, the Zephyr family. Man, I recall the likes of the Daytona Motorcycles and the West Coast 1100 Zephyrs – yes, a world away from the original bike, but when you recall the original relied on some very

The Professional Publishers Association

Alan Dowds Mr Turbo…

King of Q&A

Scoop is ‘all speed ahead’ once more with CMM and this issue he comes up with a CB750F/900F Buyer’s Guide as well as readying lots of stuff for the November issue!

Who else would crave a go on a 200bhp Big CC turbo’d Kawasaki Z900RS café racer but our Alan? Read his missive from page 36 and he’s doing tests for us for 2021!

Ahhh at last! Mighty Mark returns not just with his Q&A page but a few pages on what’s been happening to his Yamaha TX750!

CMM’s engine room!

This month Ralph not only looks at the best tools for lapping heads, but he looks at the oil pump in his ‘purple pain’ Kawasaki H2C. More from him soon!

Allen Millyard

Zen Zed builder…

Our Allen helps a mate who has issues with his Kawasaki Z1-RTC turbo… Oh and we’ve finally got John Nutting to ride the Super Six, so watch this space.

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Steve Cooper

Ralph Ferrand

Member

Editor

BSimmonds@Mortons.co.uk

www.facebook.com/ClassicMechanics/

Super spanner man!

Independent publisher since 1885

old technology, that wasn’t such a bad thing.

Instead a little engine work, some big chassis modifications and styling updates and you had a stunner.

Mild engine work isn’t what reader Kai Bailey had in mind when he undertook some work on his 1977 Kawasaki Z1000A1, fitted with a Suzuki GSX-R1100 1986-88 engine with Subaru WRX turbo. It’s a 240bhp mad thing. We shall feature it in a future issue.

Not quite so mad but equally lovely is Andy Taylor’s Z400 Street Scrambler that he made for his missus Sophia. He’s got the look ‘spot-on’, check out page 24 for more!

Jeff Ware

Down Under dude!

Lots from Jeff this month, courtesy of our ‘Mini Mag Classic Racer’ with him riding a beast of a Yamaha FJ and also looking at a very special Ducati.

Andy Bolas

Mark Haycock

EMPLOYEE OF THE

MONTH! Not only does our mate Andy B lend us some of his lovely collection to ride, he also scribbles it all down for us, too! This issue Andy waxes lyrically about his Honda NS250R and the Triumph Daytona 1200 he’s restoring.

All good stuff!

Loan shark!

John Nutting

Andy Catton

Former ad GOD!

Ahhh we miss the ‘Catman’ on CMM! So it’s with great pleasure that we welcome back our former ad manager with his Kawasaki GPZ500S!

Andy Taylor

CMM reader/restorer!

Andy let us know about his amazing Kawasaki Z400 ‘Scrambler’ that was built in wife Sophia’s potting shed! The bike looks great – head to page 24!

It’s a Triumph!

Simon Meyer

Well, we hope it will be – one day! Our Nutters not only is recalled on page 22 but he’s also got the CRK Triumph Roadster almost looking half-decent! Go see page 100!

Yes! This is Simon and he’s new and ready to take your calls to get in front of the most discerning classics audience out there… so ring him!

Top Ad Person

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70

❙ Q&A

72

❙ ALLEN MILLYARD

76

❙ TOOL OF THE MONTH

78

❙ TRIUMPH DAYTONA 1200

82

86

Contents

Mark Haycock with a page of tips

Allen is fixing a Kawasaki Z1-TC – another turbo!

Ralph on what’s needed to lap your valves.

Andy Bolas takes time to sort his big Brit four!

❙ YAMAHA TX750

Mark Haycock is back with this big Japanese twin.

❙ HONDA CB750F/900F

Steve Cooper checks out this DOHC legend.

100 ❙ TRIUMPH CRK ROADSTER John Nutting cracks on with his special!

104 ❙ KAWASAKI H2C

Ralph Ferrand sorts out the oil pump.

108 ❙ KAWASAKI GPZ500S

Andy Catton returns and changes his exhaust!

06

ARCHIVE

08

CMM STUFF

12

NEWS

18 20 24

It’s 35 years since Freddie Spencer did the double!

30

SUBSCRIBE!

Save cash! Join CMM EXTRA!

32

SUPER STAFFORD!

FEEDBACK

36

KAWASAKI Z900RS TURBO HONDA NS250R

SHOW US YOURS

44

New kit, tools and tyres and stuff.

Events and news for October 2020!

WIN Bridgestone goodies for our Star Letter!

WIN S-DOC chain cleaner!

Win Tamiya kit for ‘The Way We Were’!

READER’S SPECIAL WITH BRIDGESTONE!

Welcome back to our 2020 search for the best special/ resto with Bridgestone tyres!

68

Make the effort and attend the biggest and best show of the year!

Big CC’s turbo retro ridden!

Andy Bolas rides a rare and special Honda stroker!

KAWASAKI ZEPHYR

The original retro range from the Big K.

113 NEXT MONTH

Check out what’s in the November 2020 issue.

114 PIP HIGHAM

Pip talks ‘character’!

In the middle of CMM thiis month are two features froom the current issue of our sister title Classic Racer.

Enjoy! And perhaps take out a special subscription deal on page 51?

www.classicmechanics.com / 5

PHOTOGRAPHS: MORTONS ARCHIVE

T

he UK first got a glimpse of Frederick Burdette Spencer Junior at the 1980 Transatlantic Trophy, held over that Easter weekend at Brands Hatch.

According to his biography of 1986, written by Nick Harris and Peter Clifford, that weekend was the 18-year-old from Shreveport, Louisiana’s first trip outside the USA and the first time he’d seen British cuisine. As he looked down at the steak and kidney pie, cooked by the Kentagon’s finest chefs, he turned to his team-mate Richard Schlachter and said: “You mean they put real kidneys in pies for people to eat over here?”

History doesn’t record what he ate that day, but he had something to keep him going as he won his first race out of his home country and every fan who witnessed the quiet guy on the Yamaha knew they’d seen something very special.

Even by 1980, the road had been a long one.

His father Freddie Senior had raced cars, bikes and karts. Older brother Danny raced cars alongside dad, and sister Linda raced karts too.

Freddie Junior would hit the dirt-track circuit from the age of six.

Fast (Freddie) forward to 1983 and he’s taken the 500cc title from ‘King’ Kenny Roberts – not only making him then the youngest champion at

21, but also Honda’s first. Better was to come with the legendary double in 1985 – taking both the 250 and 500cc titles. Ever humble, he mentions co-operation between his rivals that allowed him to achieve the feat: “I recall at Mugello I’d raced the 500 against Eddie Lawson and had to rush back to my motorhome, get some water and prepare for the 250 race. Toni Mang – a gentleman – didn’t leave the form-up grid so that I had the time to do all that.”

We’ll remember Freddie for those titles, not what happened in later years. Today he works for Dorna on the Stewards’ Panel and lives in London. We’re not sure if he eats steak and kidney pies…

Freddie Spencer

1983 500cc, ‘85 250/500 champ.

Fast Freddie!

6 / classic motorcycle mechanics

â– Want to get hold of pictures from Mortons Archive? Then head to: www.mortonsarchive.com www.classicmechanics.com / 7

RETRO RIDE

is a big softie. But this one fé Ca RS 00 Z9 ro ret rn de mo Kawasaki’s -cost turbo install that more low a – ge ed rd ha r pe pro a th comes wi from Big CC Racing! than doubles its power output WORDS: ALAN DOWDS

36 / classic motorcycle mechanics

PICS: JOHN GOODMAN

www.classicmechanics.com / 37

CLASSIC RACER DUCATI 900SS BEVEL SPECIAL

52 ClassicRacer

BOLOGNESE SAUCE!

Words: Jeff Ware Photographs: Phil Aynsley

Two bevel-head chefs from Australia cook up one Michelin-starred motorcycle. What a Ducati dish…

ClassicRacer 53

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