Classic Motorcycle Mechanics February 2018

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HONDA A DOMINATOR 80S

Trail icon ridden!

KAWASA AKI S2 Buyer’s guid de

70S

Filaehas’s!

Yam ‘Ducati’ twin 850

S market a’s USYamaha head-turning twin!

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ZED REBORN! Retro Kawassaki Z900RS ridden!

February 2018 Issue 364

FIVE DEECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:

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80s: Ya Yamaha RD-LC nostalgia. 70s: Big-bore Z1000 project, Hybrid Kawasaki KH, Project CB750 K2, Project Yamaha CS3C. Also: Break down a project, Q&A: Your questions answered and your bikes and memories!

February 2018 Issue 364 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 36 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £50.40. Export rates are also available – see page 36 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: February 21, 2018 Advertising deadline: February 1, 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

Hit or miss homage?

We’ve devoted a few pages this month to yet another retro-remake of one of our favourite core classics. You will see more than a hint of Z1 in the latest 2018 offering from Kawasaki.

Their Z900RS has a similar tank shape, duck-tail, four-cylinder 900-ish cc motor and even colour schemes to really ram home the fact that they are now playing off the back of one of their best-loved machines.

Of course, that’s about where it ends. The forks are inverted, the shock is a single, not twin, the headlights are LED and the motor is finned to look air-cooled but is – in fact – anything but. But… the motor is pokey, the brakes work and the fun is as real as it ever was on the big Zed 45 years back. It’s cheaper too. Check out page 26 to see what you think.

Other bikes just re-badge the classic name on a new bike. Take Honda’s Africa Twin. Once a

The Professional Publishers Association

Member

Gary D Chapman

Bruce Cox

Scoop’s on with an S2 Buyer’s Guide, sorting his hybrid, starting his CS3C and telling us how to breakdown a project.

Yet more pics from the great Gary adorn this issue. We have Honda’s Dominator (p30) and the lovely TX650 on page 38!

Bruce Cox was part of the Pro-Am team here in the UK. Now read his take on when Yamaha did a Ducati (p52).

CMM’s engine room!

Scott Redmond Scottie is still on with his SRAD (p106), he tells us the price of classic trailies (p9) and brings us a ‘TWWW’ special.

Mark Haycock Mark is back and sorting his Honda CB750 K2’s rear-end and he’s had time to sort some of your problems.

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

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King of Nostalgia

Independent publisher since 1885

650/750 V-twin, the modern bike is now a 1000cc parallel twin. This month Scott Redmond checks out the prices of Eighties and Nineties adventure bikes and finds that the once-humble Twinkie (which sold new for just £6400 when it bowed out in 2003) can now hold strong money up to £5000! That’s not all: even the likes of the Suzuki DR800 and Yamaha Super Ten are holding strong wonga.

Our new Marketplace section is revealing some interesting trends indeed. Check out page 8 for more. We hope you enjoy the issue!

Up a creek without a paddle

John Nutting

The man, the legend

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH!

I’m pretty sure Nutters despairs of me sometimes, as he explains (in simple language) what he’s got for me month-on-month, but it’s time to lay some love on the old boy. Not only does John dig out some amazing old stories for MIRA files when he digs out the best bikes of a certain year, he also comes up with some lovely bikes to ride, like the TX650, which graces this month’s cover.

He’s been in the business for more than 40 years and his knowledge shines through!

Living legend!

Ralph Ferrand Big Zed mad-man

Ralph is getting the Zed engine in the frame this month (p64) – but he’s also had his eye caught by a Latin lovely.

Allen Millyard

Engineer par excellence This month Allen explains to us all just how he gets those amazing hand-built pipes to come together.

Pip Higham

Robert Bee

Jonathan Schofield

This month – from Pip’s new place at t’back – he tells us just how crazy some owners’ clubs can be!

Big Bad Bob continues to be the main man to speak to, should you wish to advertise in this mighty organ!

Like a tummy-tuck on a liposuction patient, sometimes our pictures need a tickle to look good. Here’s the tickler...

He’s round the back!

Ad Contact

Repro Jedi nerd

www.classicmechanics.com / 3

62

❙ Q&A

64

❙ KAWASAKI Z1325

68

72

74

78

Mark Haycock and you with a page of tips.

Ralph Ferrand fits the motor into the Zed frame.

❙ KAWASAKI HYBRID

Scoop does the same on his two-stroke hybrid!

❙ ALLEN MILLYARD

Allen talks about how he sorts his exhausts.

❙ LAVERDA JOTA

Ralph again – this time on an Italian stallion!

❙ YAMAHA CS3C

Scoop has another project… oh my word.

90

❙ BREAK DOWN A PROJECT

94

❙ KAWASAKI S2

Steve Cooper on how to make a start on a project.

Scoop’s guide on a Kwak legend.

105 ❙ HONDA CBR954RR

Bertie pleads the ‘Coming Classic’ case for a 16-year-old Blade.

106 ❙ SUZUKI GSX-R750 SRAD Scottie sorts the SRAD!

110 ❙ HONDA CB750 K2

Mark Haycock sorts his rear-end!

Contents 06

ARCHIVE

08

CMM MARKETPLACE

10

CMM STUFF

46

12 14

CMM TESTED

50

THE WAY WE WERE!

52

YAMAHA TRX850

20

FEEDBACK

22 26

SHOW US YOURS

30

HONDA DOMINATOR

The nearly man of WSB who beat Doohan in 500s!

This month it’s the split market and adventure bikes!

New kit, tools and tyres and stuff.

We try stuff out.

NEWS

Events, news and what’s occurring out there.

WIN Bridgestone tyres for our star letter!

WIN S-Doc cleaning kit!

KAWASAKI Z900RS

Our man Mikko Nieminen tests the homage to the Z1.

Honda’s hit single trailie from the 80s and 90s.

36 38

60

SUBSCRIBE!

Subscribe and save cash!

YAMAHA TX650

John Nutting on a Japanese slice of Americana!

HONDA CB900F

Reader Kelvin Pollard’s modern take on a legend.

A special collection of you lot on your RDs and LCs!

Bruce Cox on how and why Yamaha went all Italian.

RETRO REBOOT

Kar Lee’s update for 2018 of the Honda Bros/NTV Revere!

113 NEXT MONTH

What’s happening in the March CMM?

114 PIP HIGHAM

Pip talks about customers and cool clubs!

www.classicmechanics.com / 5

CRAFAR

King of cool!

6 / classic motorcycle mechanics

Simon Crafar

1998 500cc British GP winner.

WORDS: BERTIE SIMMONDS PHOTOS: MARK WERNHAM/MORTONS ARCHIVE

Simon Crafar has the strange honour of being the best rider never to have won a World Superbike race and yet when he went to 500cc GPs he became one of the few to beat the dominant Mick Doohan!

Crafar was Malaysian Superbike champion in 1991 and he spent time in the UK too, racing a long-in-the-tooth Castrol-backed RC30 in 1992. For 1993 he ended up in 500s riding a privateer Harris Yamaha YZR, before he got signed up by Oscar Rumi’s semi-factory RC45 team for the 1994 season.

Even in the factory team, the RC45 was a fickle beast, but by 1995 Simon

had ‘inherited’ Doug Polen’s factory machine, even if it still ran in Rumi colours. By the Assen round that year (where Carl Fogarty took his second title) Crafar managed a second place behind Foggy but was Kawasaki bound for 1996.

The two years with Kawasaki saw him look good on the ZX-7R and you really couldn’t miss him on the bike thanks to his colourful Shark helmet. “I wanted a design that was different and that the mechanics could see from the pits and OCD designs came up with this one…”

Frustratingly, his two seasons on the Kawasaki only led to seconds and thirds

although – famously – he was knocked off at the final round at Sentul by John Kocinski while battling for the lead and Foggy (who himself had taken Crafar out at Brands Hatch that year) promptly gave him his winner’s trophy as he didn’t feel he’d earned it!

Crafar headed to GPs in 1998 with the Red Bull Yamaha team and he beat Doohan at Donington Park, home of the British GP. Today Simon still rides and instructs at his own track days.

For 2018 he will also be joining the MotoGP World Feed commentary team. cmm

www.classicmechanics.com / 7

Marketplace A split market?

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 the high and low end of the marketplace.

T

he market for classic Japanese and Italian motorcycles is now dividing in two. The machines that are perfect in every detail are rapidly increasing in value. However, those that are ‘bitsas’ and not investment grade are losing some value and will stagnate by comparison.

As values increase, buyers are becoming far more canny and are employing brokers to carry out due diligence on these machines.

People are taking the investment perspective far more seriously as values start to increase. When a classic motorcycle is right, then it’s right. If it’s not right, then it probably never will be. Try finding a 1972 Kawasaki Z1 900 with the original engine, wheel rims, swingarm, brake disc etc. Or a sandcast CB750 that is correct and hasn’t got unrepairable engine case damage.

These types of machines are almost impossible to find and are never found on auction websites. The people who own them know what they have and will always want top money for them. There are no secrets any more. The days of farmers having a hoard of motorcycles from the 1970s stashed away in barns are long gone.

It is good news for those who complain that they are being priced out of owning such motorcycles. If you just want to ride a Z1 900 from any year and don’t care which engine, wheel rims etc it has, then these types of motorcycles will be affordable for many years to come.

For those who think they can buy a ‘bitsa’ on an auction site and pass it off for top money, it won’t work any longer. Buyers who pay for the genuine article are hiring classic motorcycle experts long before any money changes hands and are unlikely to

ABOVE: A pukka sandcast commands a massive premium.

LEFT: Be it a pukka Z1 or a ‘bitsa’, you can still enjoy it.

8 / classic motorcycle mechanics

put themselves in a position where they could buy something that is less than the genuine article for a top price. However, there are plenty of beautiful ‘bitsas’ that are great to own, ride and enjoy.

There are far more of these motorcycles than investment grade original machines, which is why I only buy 8% of the machines I investigate, which means that 92% are not right. So often people ride up to show me what a bargain they’ve just bagged from an auction site, or through an owners’ club.

They have done numerous restorations, worked in bike shops, been traders and have had years of experience, yet their bargain buy turns out not to be right in the ways required to make it a stand-out investment grade motorcycle.

Okay, so it won’t ever command the highest price, but it will bring years of fun to ride. However, when they’re banking on it being part of their pension fund, the sense of heartbreak is truly palpable. They then ask if I can sell it to an investor for them and realise that they are stuck with auction websites when I don’t agree to.

So, just like the days of farmers with heated barns full of new machines from the 1970s, Eighties and Nineties are gone; so too are the days of palming off a ‘bitsa’ as a genuine classic motorcycle. cmm ■ www.themotorcyclebroker.co.uk

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TRAILS OF THE UNEXPECTED?

I

n recent years there has been a massive increase in the popularity of the adventure bike. Without even riding one (they’re not my thing) it’s easy to see why they are in demand. The rugged off-road looks are often only really skin deep, but who cares!

Honda went one step further when they dusted off the Africa Twin moniker and put the name, at least, back in their range.

What happens in one part of the market often creates a few ripples elsewhere. The sales of new adventure bikes now make up more of the new registrations than the other sectors (race-reps included) and perhaps that explains why retro adventure bikes are in fashion. The proof of this lies in the prices of bikes from the Eighties and Nineties.

Back in the Eighties, if you wanted a road bike that looked like a refugee from a motocross meeting, you had a healthy choice. Bikes like the impressive Yamaha XT600 range, Kawasaki KLRs and Honda XL badged bikes, all offered a no-thrills approach to getting your biking kicks. Then

things changed when Yamaha launched their XTZ750 Super Ténéré in 1989, a bike that offered Paris-Dakar looks to the masses. Like many new styled machines, the motorcycling world wasn’t quite ready for an adventure styled bike.

Honda also got involved with their Africa Twin – originally a 650cc machine it soon grew into a 750cc beast. Looking for bikes for sale now reveals a couple of surprises.

The first is just how few XTZ750s appear to have survived. Over a period of a month there wasn’t a single one for sale on UK eBay! The only one that showed up was a well looked after example in Germany. It carried a fairly reasonable asking price of £2199. You might think I’ve lost my marbles suggesting that just over £2000 for a Yamaha XTZ750 is a decent price – well wait until you see the prices for the Honda Africa Twin.

Entry-level bikes change hands for £3000, but the price can climb to more than £5000 for pampered late models. The good news is you don’t have to find your passport to view one! There’s actuallyy a really healthy selection on the market. This

is probably down to the fact that the model ran for a decade in the Honda range, some bikes hung around unsold way after the model was discontinued in 2003 and all for just over £6000 new!

Suzuki stuck with the theory that the single life was the way to go. They eventually added 6mm to the stroke on the DR750 and, with a 105mm bore, ended up with the DR800. Finding one these days is rare due to the combination of it never being a mass seller and the fact many bikes have been raided for their engines to power special builds or singles racers. I could only find one bike for sale, at £3500 and its price compliments its dimensions!

It’s not all Japanese bikes – if we look to the end of the 1990s, Triumph joined this battleground with the Tiger. Unlike Honda, who parked the name and then breathed life back into it, Triumph kept the Tiger alive and it’s still a very important model in their range. The early Tiger had the 955i triple engine and was well known for its versatility, but lacked any nostalgic love, in time maybe y that might g change? g Until then they make for a decent buy! cmm

www.classicmechanics.com / 9

cmm

Stuff

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

KUSHITANI WINTER JACKETS These jackets are called the K-2670 Winter Mode Jacket and the K-2671 Winter Tech Jacket. Oh, not forgetting the K-2676 White Goose Down. Catchy…

What may look like lots of jackets is actually just three, which contain two jackets in one! The K-2671 Winter Tech is a water resistant riding jacket with a diamond quilted inner jacket for all-weather riding.

The insulating down jacket goes inside the outer on all jackets and you can get CE-approved armour to fit. The K-2676 White Goose Down Jacket is a lightweight jacket with real goose down. www.kushitani-uk.co.uk

HJC IS-17 HELMET

We think this is called the ‘Shapy’.

Why, we don’t know. Available in these snappy colours, it features an advanced polycarbonate composite shell, making it lightweight and it says it also has superior fit and comfort.

The aerodynamic shell has a ‘large eye port’ for greater visibility and an integral sun-shield. It also comes with a removable, cleanable interior, micro-buckle fastener and a quick-release visor, which is anti-fog ‘prepared.’ Available in sizes XS-2XL www.oxfordproducts.com

£169.99 10 / classic motorcycle mechanics

£197.95 -£295

AP RACING BRAKE PADS

UK-based AP Racing has been at the forefront of both two and four-wheeled motorsport, including MotoGP, for the past 50 years.

AP Racing Sinter Pads are durable high performance HH-rated pads, suitable for OE cast-iron and steel discs, and available in both front and rear sinter compounds (the rear compound utilises a slightly reduced friction to achieve maximum controlled stopping!)

They are available for a wide range of motorcycle manufacturers and models. www.bikeit.co.uk

FROM

£18.39

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HOSE REMOVAL PLIERS

It can be tricky removing hoses – juggling a screwdriver and pliers while trying to get the clips off… It’s worse if they have not been removed for some time!

These new hose removal pliers from Laser Tools (part number 6894) offer an easy-to-use solution to this problem. The tool uses two separate actions – the slim blades fit down between the hose and fitting and the rear set of blades is adjusted to firmly grip the fitting before locking in place; then using the plier action, the forward set of blades positively pushes the hose or tube away from the fitting. Because the pipe fitting is being gripped firmly, there is no strain or risk of damage, and the plier handles offer plenty of leverage to slide the hose off the fitting. Sounds great to us! www.lasertools.co.uk

£41.90

CLASSIC OIL CANS

These are classy classic oil cans from Gunson that remind us of cans from way back when. Traditionally manufactured in metal and painted in green, the three oil cans have also the traditional imperial capacities (no metric here!) of ½ pint, one pint and one quart! www.gunson.co.uk

£35.52

£14.99

TWO-WHEELED BLITZKRIEG

A pictorial look back at the extensive use of motorcycles and bicycles by Nazi forces during the Second World War: 128 pages, 200 illustrations (many rare or previously unpublished)

by Paul Garson. www.amberley-books.com

CLARKE HEATERS

Winter isn’t good for we garage and shed-dwellers. So a good, light-weight but powerful heater always helps keep us out of the house when working on our projects. These rugged electric fan heaters are the ideal heating solution for workshops, garages and big sheds. Stainless steel heating elements are housed inside a tough steel cabinet with a durable enamelled finish, and feature insulated handles for safe handling. They also feature an adjustable heat output with thermostatic control to achieve a desired room temperature without fail. Models in the range are available with outputs of 230V or 400V. The high-end models in this range can deliver a heat output of up to 20kW. Toasty! www.machinemart.co.uk

FROM

£59.98

£28-£35

MOTOGP SEASON REVIEW

Now in its 14th year, this is the officially sanctioned book by MotoGP promoters DORNA. Brought together

by Julian Ryder, this has more than 200 pages and many colour pictures of all 18 rounds. www.motocom.co.uk www.classicmechanics.com / 11

cmm

Tested

Riding kit worn, toolls twirled & tyres turnedd £149.99

ALCOSENSE PRO FUEL CELL BREATHALYZER

■ Bertie Simmonds

My original feelings about this product were this – is this a good idea or not? We bikers can’t drink and ride (we’d fall off) but the manufacturers of this little gizmo say that this is more like a failsafe to ensure you don’t ride or drive the morning after.

With this in mind I began a series of tests. On several weekends when I wasn’t planning on driving the morning after anyway, I decided to ensure that I was up around the school-run time to see how I felt and how I felt in comparison to what the AlcoSense told me. The machine is so simple to operate – you open the machine (which switches it on) and then you simply blow through the short straws supplied with the machine until it tells you to stop. Then you see the results… what a shocker.

Some mornings when I felt rough, I blew a green.

Doubtless I drank less, but stayed up longer and was just tired. Conversely, other times I felt fine to drive but was told not to by AlcoSense, so it’s clearly not how you feel, but the reading you give. It also gives a handy reading of when you’re okay to drive. The Pro (there are cheaper machines in the range) has the same sensor as used by a number of UK police forces, so you know it’s pretty accurate.

This has been the ultimate in reassurance. Get one.

What price your licence?

www.thekeycollection.co.uk

■ Bertie ti Si Simmonds d

FROM

£39.99

DUCHINNI MIRAGE BOOTS

I’ve enjoyed using these Mirage boots on the appropriate bikes over the last two years or so. They have toe and heel cup armour and also have a waterproof liner. The style is what makes them – fairly cool-looking urban baseball style hi-top. Highly recommended, the only downside is that you should try before you buy. I wonder if my size 11s could have been better as size 10s. Shop around too – they were £75, but I’ve seen ‘em cheaper.

www.alcosense.co.uk

BIKE COLOURS TOUCH-UP KITT

A moment’s carelessness with a spanner, a lapse in concentratiion when fitting a tank or a falling can from a shelf is all it takes to damage your paintwork. If the damage is severe then it’s respra ay time but what if it’s only a chip? Bike Colours offer touch-up kitss that take away most of the pain and damage. Formulated using solve ent based systems and not modern aqueous ones, the kits are ideal for us shed dwellers. If you were able to paint that Airfix kit as a kid d you can sort out that chipped tank, bracket or panel. My Stinger kit came c in three parts – base, colour and top coats. Supplied with brushe es in the bottle tops and a seriously sensible instruction sheet, you’d have to try really hard to get it wrong. Read the words, follow the advvice and it really is amazing how good the end job looks.

■ Steve Cooper www.bikecolours.com

£Various

12 / classic motorcycle mechanics