Classic Motorcycle Mechanics June 2018

BMW R100 RS

70S

Ridden and rated!

YAMAHA RD4 400 Buyer’s Guide!

70S

SUZUKI

40 YEARS OF THE

The full story!

CROZ RESTOS!

GP ace restores Kwaks!

FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

Make specialist tools. 90s: Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD. 80s: Suzuki RG500 resto. 70s: Honda CB750 K2, Yamaha CS3C, Kawasaki Z1300 and Z1325 special. Also: Allen Millyard column. Q&A: Your questions answered and your bikes and memories! WIN Bridgestone tyres! S-Doc cleaning kit!

June 2018 Issue 368

June 2018 Issue 368 Publisher: Dan Savage, asavage@mortons.co.uk Contributors: Joe Dick, Kevin Larkins, Ralph Ferrand Art Editor: Justin Blackamore Picture Desk: Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield, Angie Sisestean Production Editor: Dan Sharp Divisional advertising team leader: 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.

Is cheap cheerful?

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: June 20, 2018 Advertising deadline: May 31, 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

Money has much been on my mind this month… Our popular ‘Marketplace’ section always looks at both ends of the spectrum when it comes to makes and models: this month Paul Jayson looks at pricey Beemers (such as the legendary R90 S) while Scott Redmond looks at cheaper ones.

Then – looking through the free reader ads – I spot a BMW R1150 RT for just £1500… albeit with 139,000 miles on the clocks. I have history with the 1150; I had one 15 years back and loved it and this seemed to be as cheap as chips. But then there’s Suzuki’s RF900R. £1500+ could actually get a very nice RF with just a fraction of the miles on it.

Hmmm, decisions, decisions…

Then Kar Lee sent us his Retro Rebooted Honda CBR-XX Super Blackbird and – as both recipient of one of the first ones in the UK back

The Professional Publishers Association

Member

Pip Higham

Allen Millyard

CMM’s engine room is at it once more!

A BMW R100 RS ride, he makes bespoke tools AND gets on with his Yam CS!

It’s fitting that – on the CBX’s 40th birthday – our Pip recalls the best-sounding bikes he’s owned.

Our Allen recently showed his amazing six-cylinder ‘Honda’ replica at the April Stafford show. Read the full story here!

Older, nicer bikes editor

Ralph Ferrand Ralph is back on with the Z1325, sorting out an oil-cooler. Meanwhile, he’s back on with making his Z13 better too!

Mark Haycock Mark is back and sorting his Honda CB750 K2’s engine and he’s also answering some of your questions.

Why not Just Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month?

www.twitter.com/cmmmag

Steve Cooper

Q&A King

Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine?

Editor

BSimmonds@Mortons.co.uk

www.facebook.com/ClassicMechanics/

Big Zed lover

Independent publisher since 1885

in 1997 and former owner, I had (yet another) twinge of nostalgia and started looking at prices. In our reader ads (again) I spotted a lovely example for just £2600 with only 21k on the clocks! So much for so little!

Perhaps our favourite pastime is split?

Some bikes seem destined to climb up in value, while others do not. Meanwhile, while researching for the ‘Coming Classic’ on the 5PW Yamaha R1, you see these going for up to £4000-£5000… Are they really that much better than the capable quality of the Honda Blackbird? Here’s to diversity!

Be loud and proud!

Andy Bolas

More popular than the editor

EMPLOYEE OF THE

It’s as easy as ABC… MONTH! The much-esteemed owner of the much-envied Andy Bolas Collection, we couldn’t do without ‘our Andy’ here at CMM. He’s often allowing us out on his cherished motorcycles as well as persuading his VJMC friends to do likewise. You can read his article on the affordable, highly under-rated and some might even say handsome Suzuki RF900R – which emerged during those halcyon days when the giants of Britpop bestrode the airwaves – on page 26.

Scott Redmond Social media star!

Scottie’s exhausted from trying to sort pipes and a can for his SRAD GSX-R… Oh and he’s our social media man too!

John Nutting

As smooth as a CBX! Nutters hooks up with Gerald Davison – the man who was there at the very start of the CBX1000 story 40 years ago!

Jeff Ware

Robert Bee

Steve Parrish

Jeff gets on with his Suzuki RG500 restoration this month – with more than a little help from his family! Page 79.

Big Bad Bob is the main man to speak to, should you wish to advertise in your favourite magazine: CMM!

Stavros had a good time down under – and even happened upon his old mate Graeme Crosby! See page 53!

Two-stroke lover!

Ad Contact

Timeless truck racer!

www.classicmechanics.com / 3

62

❙ Q&A

64

❙ KAWASAKI Z1325

Contents

Mark Haycock with a page of tips.

Ralph Ferrand fits an oil-cooler to the powerful Zed.

68

❙ ALLEN MILLYARD

06

72

❙ SUZUKI GSX-R750 SRAD

08

CMM MARKETPLACE

74

❙ KAWASAKI Z1300

10

CMM STUFF

79

❙ PROJECT SUZUKI RG500 PART 2

12 14

CMM TESTED

20

FEEDBACK

22

SHOW US YOURS

26

SUZUKI RF900R

The genius is sorting his six’s clutch!

Scott Redmond is exhausted this month. It’s an end-can thing.

Ralph is sorting the valves on his mighty six this month.

Evil Jeff Ware gets his kids to do the work.

82

94

❙ YAMAHA CS3C

Scoop gets a little stuck this month! Or something is!

❙ YAMAHA RD400

Scoop’s guide on the ultimate street two-stroke?

110 ❙ PROJECT KEV RAYMOND Well, more the bikes owned by the man himself!

114 ❙ WORKSHOP: TOOLS

Scoop shows how to make specialists tools.

118 ❙ HONDA CB750 K2

Mark Haycock gets to work on the motor.

ARCHIVE

32 40 42

Lovely shot of a Gus Kuhn boxer-twin racer!

On the subject of Beemers… what’s pricey and what’s not!

New kit, tools and tyres and stuff.

We try stuff out.

NEWS

Events, news and our fave Cornish classic enclave.

WIN Bridgestone tyres for our star letter!

WIN S-Doc cleaning kit and Tamiya kits!

Andy Bolas on this cheap Suzi power-house!

44 53 60

BMW R100 RS

Steve Cooper on the boxertwin trans-continental tourer.

SUBSCRIBE!

Subscribe and save cash!

YAMAHA YZF-R1

2002’s 5PW is a beaut: buy one!

HONDA CBX1000

John Nutting on the birth of the Honda six…

CROSBY RESTOS!

Graeme Crosby restores old Kwaks in Kiwi-land!

RETRO REBOOT

Honda’s CBR-XX Super Blackbird reimagined…

121 NEXT MONTH

What’s happening in the July CMM?

122 PIP HIGHAM

Be loud and proud, says our Pip!

www.classicmechanics.com / 5

Gus Kuhn

Racers

6 / classic motorcycle mechanics

N

“

WORDS: BERTIE SIMMONDS PHOTO: MORTONS ARCHIVE

ow if your idea of a BMW is a rather pedestrian touring motorcycle being pottered through the lanes by elderly enthusiasts, think again. They are very fast, durable, light and handle remarkably well, as has been shown over the years by Hans-Otto Butenuth in the Isle of Man and by the works machines at the Bol d’Or in France.”

So said our own John Nutting in 1975 when he tested a pair of Gus Kuhn Penthouse-backed BMW racers.

Gus Kuhn Motors was a south London-based dealership established by the pioneering racer and dealer of the same name, who died in 1966.

By the early 1970s, the dealership had moved from racing their favoured Nortons to BMWs, initially in the endurance classes on the big, but forgiving boxer twins. Riders included the likes of Gary Green, Dave Potter, Dave Croxford,

John Cowie, Chas Mortimer, Barry Sheene and – as seen here on a 980cc R90 S – Clive Offer.

Riding a Gus Kuhn ‘Penthouse Pet’, Nutters enjoyed the machine at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. He said: “On fire-up, the silencers were from the old /5 series but the sound was certainly very un-Bee-Emmish. More like a Rennsport, it had an evocative rasp, and out on the track it became immediately obvious that there was more to this BMW than met the eye. Thanks to the lighter flywheel and no air filters, the throttle response was immediate.

The revs scream and crash with a blood-curdling blare on the overrun.”

BMWs: not just for the ‘elderly enthusiast’. cmm ■ Want to get hold of pictures from Mortons Archive? Then head to: www.mortonsarchive.com

www.classicmechanics.com / 7

Marketplace Peaky Beemers!

cmm

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 look at BMWs at both ends of the price scale!

L

ooking at BMW’s R90/6 and R100/7 I can’t help but get a weird feeling that they may go to insane money like Vincents have.

Maybe because you can tune the hell out of low revving, push-rod, large capacity motors?

I don’t know why, but I have this strange suspicion that these machines will become very expensive.

Let’s be clear about which ones, I don’t mean an R100 from 1985: although I don’t believe you’ll pick those up for peanuts. I mean the R90/6 from 1974 to 1976 and the 1976 to 1979 R100/7 – the ones with the tiny handlebar fairing and the black or orange with the smoke silver paint job.

The R90/6 produced 60bhp and had a wooden single front disc and a rear drum that would lock-up with little provocation. The R100/7 produced 65bhp and had two front brakes that were wooden, with a cable operation to the master cylinder mounted under the tank. The rear drum would also lock up if stamped on without consideration. This machine is fed by two giant Bing carburettors and is great for touring and surprisingly agile in corners for such a big lump: deceptively clever machines...

The centre of gravity is very low, carrying the cylinders on the side of the motor. It also makes these machines very easy to work on. The dry clutch is a single plate car type item and ripping these motors to bits is a doddle. The R100/7 is comparatively light at around 470lb (213kg) compared to a Z900 at about 540lb (245kg).

The picture of the orange and smoke silver R100/7, with its bikini fairing in matching colours and blue brake callipers on the front of all the

RIGHT: Ahhh that’ll be the R90 S.

BELOW: Bendswinging on an old Beemer: bliss!

different motorcycling magazines is indelibly etched on most motorcyclists’ memories. It got rave reviews and had an air of sophistication about it. Krauser made great panniers for the R and they immediately converted it to a long distance tourer, making it the Goldwing of its day. Remember that the Goldwing was still a naked flat four 1000cc lump and hadn’t grown panniers at this point in time.

The R90/6 is a great looking predecessor that just looks, well, classic. These machines are full of curves and look like motorcycles. They are iconic, rare and ride brilliantly. They look like classic motorcycles and it’s tough to find them in great condition. They are easy to work on and the R100/7 easily converts from a scratcher of its day, to a mile munching tourer.

In 1977 BMW brought out the R100/7 RS with a massive full fairing: these behemoths offered long distance touring capability in all weathers and were so popular that the police ordered them by the thousands, worldwide. But these early ones have a look that probably inspired the Martini Yamaha XS1100: an ugly beast of a motorcycle, but great to ride and yet bizarrely attractive and quite valuable.

The R100RS has the fairing that the Martini Yam should have had. I don’t think the RS will be as valuable as an R90/6 or an R100/7, but I think they will command a premium.

I really do believe that the prices of these machines will surprise and the day will come when they will command enormous premiums. Quite when that will happen and how, I do not know. They are great fun to own and ride and very easy to work on.

■ www.themotorcyclebroker.co.uk

8 / classic motorcycle mechanics

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BARGAIN BASEMENT BM! F

or many of us forty somethings, owning a BMW is probably something that we’ve only recently considered. Back in our younger years they produced a wide range of motorcycles that spoke more to our dads than they did us.

You’ll recall it all: go back a couple of pages and you’ll read something our own John Nutting wrote back in 1975 about what people thought of the air-cooled twins even back then. Prophetic!

And yet, with every year that clicks by we slowly turn into our fathers, right? Yes, we go all nasal hair and early nights.

And us becoming our own fathers might be one reason why older BMW machines are now in high demand…

These bikes fall into two brackets, the flat twin aircooled R-series bikes, and the

water cooled K-models. They might have the same badge on the tank but they appeal to very different owners.

The strange thing is the more modern K range of bikes make for great value for money motorcycling. The older and cruder twin-pot R machines are the ones that are starting to fetch good money. I don’t just mean the poster bikes from the air-head bloodline like the R90 S, but bikes like the R80 and R100 that were used by various police forces throughout the UK back in the 80s are still out there ‘plodding’ about.

They were once cheap transport for those who purchased them from specialised auctions that disposed of the cop bikes, easy to spot with their fridge-white fairings and single seats. Then there are those owned by the almost ‘professional’ BM brigade. Often retired, but still active, they will pile on the

miles, stick on the kit and never EVER skimp on servicing.

A bit like Trigger’s broom, they have often had numerous new bits fitted in more than 100,000 miles of life.

Not all of the boxer bikes remain stock; surfing on eBay revealed a one owner from new 1979 BMW R80 that had been unused for 15 years! It wouldn’t have been my guess for a bike that’s been treated to some barrels from a R100 RS, the upshot is an increase in power, but to the purist the £2750 asking price might be a few hundred too much? That said, it’s not a massive job to swap the pair of barrels and pistons back for the originals.

Propping up the range was the R45, it shared the same chunky looks of the bigger cc bikes and it also shared almost the same weight! That 475cc engine was always going to struggle gg to make the ride to work exciting, prices for the

entry level BMW are now creeping over £2000. Fuelling the price hikes could be the recent explosion in all things café racer, a stripped-back Boxer is the starting point for many a Shoreditch Showstopper.

For less cash than a wheezy R45 you can take home a genuine mile muncher. The K-series bikes are still around in large numbers, which helps to keep prices sensible. The pick of the bunch is the K100 RS, it’s one of the best models to wear the distinctive Beemer badge on its tank. The RS is the sporty one, the LT version with the factory luggage, upright riding position, and sumptuous saddle is the captain sensible one. You can find a healthy K100RS for around £1500. The three cylinder K75 makes the same sort of money; ggiven the choice the litre bike is the one I’d ride home…

www.classicmechanics.com / 9

cmm

Stuff

The latest riding kit, top tools, tyres, retro clothing and more! £478.80

£549.99

BLACK PANTHER RPHA 70

Not cheap but very cheerful: design based on recent Marvel superhero film of the same name, this sports/touring lid has an integral sun visor, is light and comfortable, double D-strap fastening and an anti-fog insert as standard. www.oxfordproducts.com

CLARRKE CML3 BIKE LIFT

We all know that a bike lift is essential for even the smallest workshop and the CML3 foot pedal operated hydraulic motorcycle lift from Clarke is right on the money. The lift reduces the amount of strain involved working on motorcycles, as it allows access to vital components without having to bend down or kneel.

This features a removable panel to assist with rear wheel removal, a hinged ramp for easy loading and off-loading, foot pedal operated height adjustment (with safety lock to prevent unintentional lowering) and a sturdy locking clamp with rubber pads for securing the motorcycle front wheel. www.machinemart.co.uk

£443.94 £479.94

SEALEY CORDLESS IMPACT WRENCHES

Sealey’s NEW CP2612 and CP2634 are powerful, compact and suitable for removing the most stubborn nuts! They features a variable speed switch for added control and produce torque of up to 680Nm (500lb-ft) and 816Nm (600lb-ft) respectively, and incorporate a forward and reverse control integrated into the housing for ease of use. Both powered by a 26V 4Ah lithium battery which retains its charge over long periods of time, it’s always ready to use and is supplied with a 90 minute mains charger. www.sealey.co.uk 10 / classic motorcycle mechanics

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ALPINESTARS SCHWANTZ SUPERTECH R £367+

These boots are made for being limited edition!

Gorgeous and recalling 25 years since his 1993 title these are CE certified, have replaceable toe-sliders and look the bomb. www.alpinestars.com

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HONDA ONDA CBX1000 BOOK OOK II

££38

This is a hard-bound glorious look at the Honda CBX (see page 44). It’s A4 size, has 440 pages and many lovely pictures and words to support them from expert Ian Foster.

Order via: ian@netvigator.com

£24.98 EACH

LASER LONG-REACH PLIERS

If you have to get access to a hose clip down in the depths of the engine, long-reach pliers can be very useful.

This new range of double-jointed, long-reach pliers from Laser Tools solves the problem of the handles opening up more than the jaws: the double-jointed range comprises long nose pliers (part number 6967); flat nose pliers (part number 6968) and a set of side cutters (part number 6969). www.lasertools.co.uk

WEMOTO JURBY T-SHIRTS £10

O Over the past three years, Wemoto has raised more tthan £48,000 for the Manx Grand Prix Supporters’ Club tthrough the sale of its Festival of Jurby T-shirt. This year, itt wants to raise more! For just a tenner, you can get this sttylish Tee that celebrates the 40th anniversary of Mike Hailwood’s remarkable win at the Formula 1 TT on the Isle of Man. www.wemoto.com/info/jurby_t-shirt/

£25

CUSTOMIZING YOUR MOTORCYCLE

From shed-built to show-bike says the blurb, this 176-or so page book takes you through what tools to use and shows some amazing bikes, courtesy of author Chris Daniels.

Includes 409 colour pics with the text to help give clear, practical advice. www.crowood.com or www.marmisto.co.uk www.classicmechanics.com / 11

cmm

Tested ed

Riding kit worn, tools twirled & tyress turned SHOEI GT AIR PRIMAL They say you either have a Shoei shaped head or an Arai one. If this is true than I’m a bit of a freak because I have managed the transition from long-term Arai wearer to Shoei lover with no need d for a lobotomy. Since 2005 I’d worn the SAME Araii: no, I can’t recall the model, but it was a high-end one o and cost me more than £300. After over a decade of use it was past its best, a brief flirtation with a Sha ark Skwal (sub £200 lid) made me realise you really do o get what you pay for – but that’s just my opinion.

Last summer this Shoei GT Air Primal entered my life, it’s been my daily lid ever since.

£390-£510

RED ROUTE JEANS

I’ve had these Red Route armoured jeans for about five years or so now and I reckon they do the job admirably. Now, those of you who are fashionistas, you may think the wide leg isn’t that ‘hip’ but it does mean that you can fit decent bike boots under the flapping, flared jeans, which feature a handy zip at the bottom.

And while I may have removed the actual armour (hard CE armour on knee, soft hip armour), these still feel pretty heavy thanks to the Kevlar panels underneath the basic denim.

You can – should you wish – attach them to other associated products but I simply wear them as I would a normal pair of jeans. Yes, they feel heavy/bulkier than normal jeans, but that’s the point and no I haven’t crashed in them. Either way, recommended.

AROUND ■ Bertie Simmonds

www.frank-thomas.co.uk

£99.999

I don’t drive, so I probably take my lid off more times in one day than some riders might over the course of the week. The double-D fasteners might at first appear to be a bit dated, but they work: the craze for seat belt fastener straps isn’t something that overly appeals to me and my time with the Shark confirmed this.

Again when using a bike day-in day in and day day-out out I’ve long since got over the pain of swapping clear visors for tinted ones: perfect vision is my priority, not looking cool on the A1 in a downpour at night…

So this helmet is the first full face Shoei that comes with a built in sun visor which works well.

The fibreglass shell has a number of vents and scoops and at first I tried different settings out of devilment, after a few weeks I got bored and just left them alone. I also resisted the urge to fit the anti-fog Pinlock insert at first, just to check if it needed it, of course it did, so I gave in and fitted it.

Another quirk of mine is that in 32 years of riding motorcycles I’ve never worn earplugs, so I’m always happy to find a lid that’s well fitting, which tends to help keep outside noise intrusion to a minimum, the GT Air Primal is definitely one of the best lids that I’ve worn on this score. The finish is superb on the entire lid, from the removable inner padding, to the deep red, white and blue finish on the shell. It reminds me of a 1980s Wayne Gardner replica lid; he had a Shoei head after all, didn’t he? Ultimately I say ignore the Arai/Shoei myth and go try one on – this is a great everyday piece of kit.

■ Scottie Redmond

www.shoeiassured.co.uk 12 / classic motorcycle mechanics