Classic Motorcycle mechanics May 2017

HON AFRIICA TWIN HONDA 90S

Ridden!

TRIUMPH TH HUNDERBIRD Classic cruise!

90S

40

OF S E G PA CTICAL PRA ICE! ADV

May 2017 Issue 355

SUZUKI GSX-R1100H Sarah’ss super slabby turbo!

MAD IN MOROCCO! Desert tales from the trails!

90s: Honda VFR750 F-R, Africa Twin ridden. 80s: Yamaha TZR250 race resto, Yamaha DT175 MX resto. 70s: Honda CB350 K4 resto, fix lights and lenses, Suzuki TS100 buyer’s guide, Honda C70 resto. 60s: Ducati Scrambler Special. Also: Q&A and your bikes and memories!

May 2017 Issue 355 Publisher: Dan Savage, asavage@mortons.co.uk Contributors: Kevin Larkins, Mark 'Weeble' Manning, Ian Burgess.

Art Editor: Justin Blackamore Designers: Fran Lovely, Charlotte Turnbull Picture Desk: Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Production Editor: Dan Sharp Divisional advertising manager: Martin Freeman mfreeman@mortons.co.uk Tel: 01507 529538 Advertising: Sam Dearie, Lynsey Young sdearie@mortons.co.uk, Tel: 01507 529583 lyoung@mortons.co.uk 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: May 17, 2017 Advertising deadline: April 28, 2017 © 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

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Cool kids’ kingdom!

I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s true – the future of our passion is in good hands.

This month sees the first part of a restoration where Year 11 kids from a Suffolk high school are rebuilding a Honda CB350 K4 twin, lent to them by David Silver Spares. How cool is it that David has made such a generous loan and that the school is giving these lads the chance to learn some practical skills? Hopefully they’ll all get the bug and become fully-fledged motorcyclists and classic machine fettlers.

And it goes on. We’ve featured Jack Watts before with his moped restorations and next month the 15-year-old shows us his latest project – a 1996 Honda CR125 motocross bike.

Fair play to the lad! He’s on a roll and shows no

sign of swapping his cracking restorations for a PlayStation controller.

That’s not all. Next month we are also back with the Suzuki Apprentices as they embark upon their next project. Following on from the lovely GSX-R1100L restoration they carried out they are taking on another modern classic Suzuki. Yup, from our next issue they will be tackling the best-selling naked of the 1990s, the GSF600 Bandit. Good luck to them and it’s good to see it’s not all about old duffers like us in sheds…

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editor

www.twitter.com/cmmmag

Bertie Simmonds

Chris Moss

Ralph Ferrand

bertie@classicmechanics.com Bertie is asking you lovely people what colour scheme should decorate his £100 Hound (page 58.)

editorial@classicmechanics.com Mossy has (finally) decided to grace us with his words once more. This time he’s carrying on cruising on a Trumpet.

editorial@classicmechanics.com Double helpings of the bearded one: the DT175 gets more top-end fettling and he starts sorting a 400/4!

Steve Cooper

Scott Redmond

Niall Mackenzie

editorial@classicmechanics.com Another busy one for Scoop: he rides a CB350 Four and sorts out old lights and lenses.

editorial@classicmechanics.com Scottie meets a lady with a brutally fast and powerful slabby GSX-R1100H. Visit our Facebook page too!

editorial@classicmechanics.com His Honda C70 has gone grey. Find out why on page 98. He’s nearly finished it you know!

Stan Stephens

Charlie Oakman

The Three Amigos

editorial@classicmechanics.com Stan’s lovely Project Brooklands is on its wheels and looks amazing.

All built with CMM-era stuff!

editorial@classicmechanics.com Fast Bikes’ ad supremo comes clean with his lack of spanner-twirling talent as he sorts a race-going TZR250.

editorial@classicmechanics.com If you want to read a (heavily subedited) story of derring-do, then page 46 is for you.

Pip Higham

Gary ‘D’ Chapman

Lee Buxton

editorial@classicmechanics.com Once more small Ducatis are his subject of choice and his mongrel Scrambler is amazing.

editorial@classicmechanics.com Is there no beginning to this man’s talents? Of course there is. He snaps our CB350 ride this month.

editorial@classicmechanics.com Top ad man can be bribed with choccy biccies. It can sweeten the ad deals.

Only joking, LB...

Pick a colour…

Older/nicer stuff editor

Lord of the (piston) rings

The Grand Old Duke

Quick Spin supremo

Real world rider

Fast Berk!

Photographic genius

Devil with the DT

Glad to be grey

As mad as May hares!

Biscuit guzzling git

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62

❙ WORKSHOP NEWS

64

❙ Q&A

66

❙ HONDA CB350 K4

Mark Haycock, Scoop and you with tips!

Kids from a high school undertake a resto!

73

❙ PROJECT BROOKLANDS

76

❙ LIGHTS AND LENSES

Stan Stephens’ bike looks amazing.

Sorting indicators, headlamps and the like.

82

❙ YAMAHA TZR250

86

❙ DUCATI SCRAMBLER?

92

98

Contents

New metal bits and old kit tested.

Charlie Oakman on his resto-racer rebuild.

Or is it? Find out more in a one-off Pip Higham build.

❙ YAMAHA DT175 MX

Ralph Ferrand is on with part eight: the top-end.

❙ HONDA C70 CUB

Niall Mackenzie is almost on the final furlong with this.

110 ❙ SUZUKI TS100L

Steve Cooper’s buyer’s guide on the tiddler trailie.

114 ❙ HONDA CB400 FOUR

Ralph Ferrand on part one of sorting a super Four.

127 ❙ MAKE OR BREAK REVISITED!

06

ARCHIVE

08

1995 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD

12

NEWS

18

CALENDAR

20

FEEDBACK

22

SHOW US YOURS

26

ENDURANCE LEGENDS

Sons of the Desert: Peterhansel and XTZ.

Chris Moss returns with a classic cruiser Quick Spin.

New CRK Triumph kit and charity events galore!

Where to go in May: let’s rock! (And ride!)

Keep them coming to keep us honest.

Now with added nostalgia!

Check out ‘The Way We Were!’

Freddie Spencer to attend the 4-Hour!

30 36 38 46

1973 HONDA CB350 FOUR Steve Cooper reckons it’s a mini-marvel!

SUBSCRIBE!

Subscribe and save cash!

1998 HONDA XRV750 AFRICA TWIN Bertie Simmonds on the coolest of big trailies.

READERS’ RIDES

Three barking Spaniards on old Africa Twins: fun!

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READER’S SPECIAL

58

RETRO REBOOT

Sarah Chapman’s cool GSX-R1100H Turbo.

SPECIAL! What should our £100 Hound look like?

130 NEXT MONTH

Honda’s NS400R, Kawasaki’s KH250, Honda CB72, Suzuki X7 and Rickmans galore!

And much more!

Scott Redmond on how prices have changed over the last five years.

www.classicmechanics.com / 5

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Sons of the

desert!

WORDS: BERTIE SIMMONDS PHOTO: MORTONS ARCHIVE

Along with pure-race motorcycles designed for the ultimate performance on Tarmac, there’s something so brutally single-minded about pukka desert race machines.

This is the YZE750T, Yamaha’s racing version of its Super Ténéré at the 1991 Rallye Des Pharaons, being ridden by the legendary Stephane Peterhansel. The bike in 750 and 850cc versions is the most successful bike in the history of the Dakar Rally, taking wins in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Six of these victories were with Peterhansel in the saddle.

■ Want to get hold of pictures from Mortons Archive?

Then head to: www.mortonsarchive.com

www.classicmechanics.com / 7

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Our man Mossy mainlines on motorcycling Valium and feels all the better for it.

O

WORDS: CHRIS MOSS PHOTOS: MARK MANNING

ne thing I love about bikes is the emotion they generate, their ability to turn journeys into memorable events.

What was surprising about this Thunderbird though, was the therapeutic effect it had on me, providing a wonderful and distinctly fuller appreciation of life.

Normally bikes have to be speedy to get my approval. This one was completely different, but no lesser for it.

It may well have had a profound influence on me because the time and place I rode it were nigh-on perfect: empty, sun-drenched Cotswolds roads winding through beautiful surrounding countryside. It’s a great combination to sample on any bike and on the Triumph it’s especially idyllic.

Its calming character takes away life’s strains and stresses almost as soon as you set off. Several of the bike’s virtues are

perhaps responsible for the soothing effect. Plonk yourself onto the low seat and you’re placed into a thoroughly restful riding position. The relaxed stance set by the relative position of your hands, bum and feet also gives the impression that being carried along this way wouldn’t be a strain if it lasted all day. Given the abundance of pleasures the Thunderbird so readily supplies, I soon wished my ride would last long into the night.

The second key ingredient to the unhurried nature of the Brit bike is undoubtedly its totally charming three-pot motor. In essence, the same one fitted to many of the early Hinckley-built Triumphs, the triple’s internals differ to give less peak power, but more broadly spread. Externally it boasts an alternative look thanks to the chunkier finning of the barrels and head, and highly polished finish of its alloy covers. The engine’s more authentic cruiser style is matched superbly by the way it delivers its meat – gently and usefully. Perhaps the five-speed box is a giveaway.

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You only have that number of alternative ratios if you have a flexible lump capable of pulling strongly and willingly. That’s precisely how the triple goes about the business of dishing out its energy.

Right from tickover there’s a crisp and obedient response to opening the Mikunis’ butterflies. It might always be a keen reaction, but it’s forever friendly. It’s amazing just how much at ease a well-mannered motor puts you, and the Thunderbird’s constant promptness was certainly a feature I welcomed and felt reassured by. Selecting gears is an easy job thanks to the slick nature of the ’box, but the importance of choosing just the right one is reduced by the healthy pull you can always guarantee regardless of revs.

I did end up swapping cogs quite a bit more often than I needed to though, as another quality of the Triumph made left-foot use worthwhile – the music played by its aftermarket pipes. Dropping to a lower ratio and raising the revs brings a corresponding increase in the level of gorgeous noise from the open peashooters. It really is a lovely irresistible roar, with its classic note determined by the Triumph’s trademark firing order. I never tired of listening to it. The revving period didn’t last too long though. It seemed slightly sacrilegious to hurry things and I was more than happy to go back to jollying along at a very socially acceptable pace.

Anything that wanted to go faster was happily waved by, leaving me mystified as to why they were in such an impatient rush. Anyone who knows me will doubtless consider those remarks more than a 10 / classic motorcycle mechanics

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Owner Dave Meredith “Like everyone else back in 1998 I bought a new CBR600F, but it ended up frightening me to death,” says Dave, a 68-year-old groundsman from Cirencester. “I was in the market for a cruiser styled bike and a trip over to Skellern’s in Worcester had me come across this Thunderbird in the showroom. We had a quick chat and a deal was done. I love the Triumph, especially its style. I think all the chrome and alloy look great and those high bars are just the job. I’ve got some panniers and it really looks

the part with those fitted. The engine’s great and torquey. I don’t need to change gear that much. One of the best things is that it’s really comfy. I didn’t really have to fit the king and queen seat, I did it to make it look even better. It came with the open pipes which I do like the sound of. They have to come off once a year though so I can get it through its MOT! “To be honest, I’m too busy working to ride it that much these days and I share time on it with my other three bikes.

But I really do enjoy it when I do give it an outing. It’s more

little surprising. Generally I’m one of those types who likes to blur the scenery more than pay attention to it. On board the Thunderbird, I never wanted to rush matters.

That hadn’t always been the case though.

Memories of my very first experience on a Thunderbird back in ’95 when I attended its press launch in Warwickshire, were in complete contrast.

Writing for a very different type of magazine to this one, with an emphasis on testing things in a very speedy fashion, obliged me to hurry the Triumph along rather rapidly. It’s a long story, but a younger rider, keen to make an impression and get some exciting pictures to feature in the mag resulted in a heavily damaged right-hand silencer thanks to being continually stuffed hard into the road circulating a roundabout. The tale of woe didn’t end there though, and some serious divorcing of the front wheel from the road (I was much less responsible back then) ended up smashing the rear mudguard. To cap it all, a local radio station that’d been told of the official launch, came down to see what the fuss was about.

Not keen on having my anti-social antics being made any more public, I made my excuses and left.

Over 20years on, wiser, more mature, and certainly of a vintage more suited to the Triumph’s laid back character, my overall progress continued at

IN DETAIL: 1/ A pleasing triple treat bleats through the pipes.

2/ There’s a real solidity to 1990s Triumphs.

3/ Nicely-angled bars give you plenty of leverage to hustle the big triple.

of a bike for special occasions really. But a 200-mile run out to the Poole bike night is always good. I had the only trouble I’ve had with it when I got there once though. The starter button ended up vibrating out down the road somewhere, so I couldn’t fire it up. Bumping it wasn’t that easy ‘cos the wheel kept locking. But someone fashioned a hair grip to replace the button and it did the job for ages until I bought a new switch recently. I think I’ll probably end up keeping the Thunderbird forever now.”

SPECIFICATION

a vastly reduced pace. In the interests of the test, I did go about checking what the T’bird was made of a little more when the camera came out. But thanks to slightly baggy suspension coming as a result of being pumped up and down for over two decades and 20-odd thousand miles, and a slightly weedyfeeling front brake, I kept it in my trousers. Anyone who turned up to check out the photo-evidenced cornering this time round would have witnessed a contented man running along swiftly enough. Even with the limits suggested by the under-par running gear, I could still enjoy the bike’s agility, accurate steering and sufficient overall composure enough to feel thrilled, yet safe and secure.

My assessment of the bike was put in context when a Harley went by in the opposite direction.

Unlike the American import, the home-brewed cruiser works well and is in a different league when it comes to performance. It still looks very appealing with its craggy, solidly-built architecture and allied to a badge more famous than most, the Thunderbird’s character helped endear me to it. I’m not sure if I’m ready to own one just yet, but if I did have one in my garage of three or four other bikes, I’d wager when I needed to chill out a bit, it would be my first choice. It’s like taking two-wheeled Valium and there’s nowt wrong with that! cmm

ENGINE TYPE

885cc, liquid-cooled, 12-valve, DOHC, inline triple MAXIMUM POWER

69bhp @ 8000rpm

MAXIMUM TORQ QUE

53lb-ft @ 4000rpm TRANSMISSION

5-speed

FINAL DRIVE

Chain

FRAME

Steel tubed spine SUSPENSION

Front: 43mm telescopic forks, no adjustment Rear: rising rate monoshock, adjustable preload BRAKES

Front: single 320mm disc, twin piston caliper Rear: 285mm disc, twin piston caliper TYRES

Front: 110/80-18 Rear: 160/80-16 SEAT HEIGHT

790mm

WHEELBASE

1580mm

WET WEIGHT

220kg

FUEL CAPACITY

17 litres

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& events

New roadster kit launched!

Kits to turn early Hinckley Triumph triples into classicstyled Roadsters are being made available by Café Racer Kits (CRK).

Based on the sports machine first produced by CRK’s Ian Saxcoburg two years ago, the Roadster has a restyled fuel tank with a larger volume option, dual seat, exhaust system and conventional handlebars too.

The Roadster kit, like those for the café racer Triumphs, includes a new rear sub frame, instruments and all subassemblies. New this year is an online ordering system on CRK’s website where a number of options for items such as the footrests, seat, tank, rear light, grabrails, side panels and headlamp can be selected.

The price of the kit, including VAT, is £1488.

“The selector allows the buyer to configure their bike

and know the cost, with an option to pay a first instalment and final balance to spread the payments,” says Ian Saxcoburg, an experienced design engineer who is based on the Isle of Wight. “The parts are interchangeable with the cafe racer, so if someone had converted to a cafe racer they could re-convert to a Roadster.”

Saxcoburg continues to offer kits for Honda CX500 V-twins.

More information from www.caferacerkits.co.uk

Under £1500 gets you the kit.

Clan Mackenzie at CMM pub night!

Preparations are gathering pace for the Clan Mackenzie night on Friday, June 9. The CMM-backed do takes place at The Olde Three Cocks pub in Brigstock, Northants and it promises to be a full-on CMM-backed night of stories of modern racing and tales from the glory days of 500cc GPs and three BSB titles! Niall has promised that his lads Taylor and Tarran (2016 Superstock 1000 and Supersport British champs respectively) get a chance to tell you about their racing careers too. The event is free to enter, the pub can do you some decent food and there will be auction items up for grabs too, for the benefit of a local charity, Cransley Hospice. The pub’s postcode is NN14 3HA.

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CRK’s latest creation is a looker.

Attention to detail.

The most useful ge ear we’ve found this m month

RIDER REGIMENT JACKETS Now, don’t fall over when you see the price of these jackets, but they are top quality.

Aimed at the fashion end of the market, where you can wear them off the bike, the outer jackets are £379.99 and the softshell is £249.99 while the ‘trinity’ (outer jacket + softshell + set of armour pads) is a discounted bundle at £599.99. They also sell T-shirts (£16.99) and a hoodie (£29.99.) For more go to: www.rideregiment giment.com com