YAM MAHA RS200 70 0S
WIN!
Buyer guide
STROM WARNING
Suzuki’s DR BIG replica ridden!
WEISE MONTANA GLOVES, BRIDGESTONE GOODIES, S-DOC CHAIN CARE KIT AND TAMIYA KITS!
Hot
kettles! Riding Suzuki’s GT750K and A
FIVE DECADES OF MODERN CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INCLUDING:
TOOL OF THE MONTH 90s 0s: HONDA CB1000 80s: KAW WASAKI Z550F, YAMAHA TY80 70 0s: KAWASAKI H2C, YAMAHA TX750, T HONDA TL125S, SUZUKI TR750 Also: Q&A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND YOUR BIKES AND MEMORIES!
BETTER R RIDING G
Hints and tips frrom Mackenzie and Hod dgson!
November 2020 Issue 397 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: November 18, 2020 Advertising deadline: October 29, 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
Every day is a school day… Because, after all, we never stop learning, right? That’s how I’ve felt in this job (journalism) since day one 30 years ago and I feel the same now. It’s the same attitude I bring towards my riding. I try better riding courses, I read better riding books and talk to mates about riding, and we often discuss our differing styles or points of view after a ride. It all helps. So when Niall Mackenzie asked me if he and pal Neil Hodgson could help share some wisdom, who was I to say no? Now, first a disclaimer: We’ve all ‘been around a bit’, so much of what is written you may (or may not) already know, but – as stated above – you may find the odd pearl of wisdom that makes you think: ‘Oooh I should try that!’ And if you get ONE thing from any of the three upcoming features, then our work here is done. We have a mind to putting some ‘Ride Better’
Member
Mark Haycock
Andy Bolas
Once again the tashed talented one is on with many jobs this issue: the C3SC, a guide to buying the Yamaha RS200, and his sturdy column!
More conundrums with the beast that is Mark’s TX750 – he’s got carb issues this month! He’s also done us some Q&A tips!
Big shout out to Andy B for suppling a Yamaha YZF750 and a Suzuki TL1000S at short notice: and doing a Castle Combe report!
CMM’s engine room!
The legendary Nutting rides TWO versions of Suzuki’s classic two-stroke grand-tourer this issue – the GT750. Enjoy!
Ralph Ferrand Super spanner man!
Ralph is back on with his ‘Purple Pain’ the Kawasaki H2C, as well as giving us the lowdown on sorting out fork-seal tools!
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
Kettle’s on!
The Professional Publishers Association
Editor
BSimmonds@Mortons.co.uk
www.facebook.com/ClassicMechanics/
John Nutting
Independent publisher since 1885
days with Niall and Neil next year, so drop us a line to say if you’re interested. It could be fun! Other bits in the issue include John Nutting riding two immaculate Suzuki GT750 Kettles – is it really 50 years since they first broke cover? Even if they weren’t the Kawasaki triple beaters expected at the time, these grand tourers are very popular today. And finally, while Covid-19 is still with us, I wanted to say thank you for subscribing in the numbers you have. This will help us keep going to produce the magazine. For our latest subscription offers, go to page 30. And keep ‘em peeled for our upcoming T-shirt offer! It’s a beauty!
Q&A King!
Bike provider
EMPLOYEE
OF THE Niall MONTH! Mackenzie/ Neil Hodgson
Riding GODS!
When these two ring up asking if they can impart some of their knowledge unto us all – you listen. Yes, even Bertie listened. Tune into the first part of their three-part series on better riding from page 36. And yes, they want you to buy their insurance…
Tony Greenslade
Allspeed and Gibson great! Tony comes back to CMM starting his ‘Project Lockdown LC’, where he gets ‘Candy Blue’ up and running before his mate sorts his ‘Loctite Lovely!’ GO!
Stuart Gilbert
CMM reader/restorer! Following last month’s Zephyr Retro Spective comes this: reader Stuart finds a minter Zeph and then turns it into something VERY special!
Allen Millyard
Taylor Mackenzie
Simon Meyer
Yes, this month Allen is back on with the Super Six – which we are riding soon. This issue he’s sorting out the dribbles from the carbs.
Oh yes! One of the younger of the Mackenzies joins us with part one of his first love: Yamaha’s TY80. Sounds like it was trial and error for TMAC!
He’s new and 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!
Zen Zed builder…
Son of Spuds!
Top Ad Person
www.classicmechanics.com / 3
54
❙ Q&A
56
❙ ALLEN MILLYARD
60
❙ TOOL OF THE MONTH
62
66
Allen is sorting the carbs on his sexy-six! Ralph on what’s needed to sort your fork seals!
❙ YAMAHA C3SC
Steve Cooper carries on with this classic.
❙ YAMAHA TX750
Mark Haycock is fiddling with the carbs.
70
❙ YAMAHA RS200
84
❙ HONDA TL125S
88
92
96
Contents
Mark Haycock with a page of tips.
Steve Cooper on this tiddler Yammy.
Niall Mackenzie on his old offroad iron.
❙ KAWASAKI H2C
Ralph Ferrand back with this triple treat.
❙ SUZUKI TR750
Malc Shaw on issues with his GT/ TR spesh!
❙ KAWASAKI Z550F
John Vassallo on sorting the backend out!
100 ❙ YAMAHA TY80
One of the younger Mackenzies begins a resto!
06
ARCHIVE
30
SUBSCRIBE!
08
CMM STUFF
32
SUZUKI V-STROM 1050
12
NEWS
36
BETTER RIDING
It’s 20 years since Honda ‘did a Ducati’. New kit, tools and tyres and stuff.
News and happenings for November 2020!
18
FEEDBACK
20
SHOW US YOURS
24
READER’S SPECIAL WITH BRIDGESTONE!
WIN Bridgestone goodies for our Star Letter! WIN S-DOC chain cleaner! Win Tamiya kit for ‘The Way We Were!’
Welcome back to our 2020 search for the best special/ resto with Bridgestone tyres!
44 52 98
Save cash! Bag a brace of cheap subscriptions!
Yes, it’s a new adventure bike, but retro-styled! Niall Mackenzie and Neil Hodgson with hints and tips!
SUZUKI GT750
John Nutting rides two immaculate Kettles!
HONDA CB1000
The ‘Big 1’ from the ‘Big H’
PIP HIGHAM
Pip goes ‘stir crazy!’ As always!
104 NEXT MONTH
Check out what’s in the December 2020 issue.
102 ❙ YAMAHA RD350LC
Tony Greenslade begins a lockdown Elsie!
/ 5
…Join ‘em – and so Honda did in 1999-2002, building a V-twin machine for the World Superbike championship. Initially the VTR1000SP-W (or RC51 or simply ‘SP1’) was looked at in some confusion by riders Aaron Slight and Colin Edwards, who felt during testing that the lazy feel of the V-twin motor wouldn’t translate into faster lap times – but then they saw the stopwatch. The 2000 World Superbike championship would go Colin’s way, but only after much drama. Firstly, Aaron Slight would be diagnosed with a burst blood vessel in his brain, which meant he would be out for 12 weeks, and the reigning champion Carl Fogarty would crash in race two at round two in Australia, leading to his eventual retirement from racing altogether. Instead it was left to Edwards and Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga, who was shaping up as a title challenger on the beautiful R7. Controversy hit when it was found that Nori-chan had tested positive for ephedrine after the first round in South Africa. It was explained later that Haga had mistakenly taken a herbal weight-loss formula popular back home in Japan which contained the substance. Edwards would win the championship after a back-and-forth legal battle right up to the final round of the season.
2000 and 2002 WSB champ.
Colin Edwards
Edwards would win his and the (new) SP2’s championship in fine style two seasons later. He would battle with 2001 champ Troy Bayliss and this would be a season of two halves… Troy would dominate the first half, leading by 53 points after they hit Colin’s home round of Laguna Seca. There though, Edwards would win race two and the next eight races, including the legendary final round championship clash at Imola, where our main image is taken. At that round neither the Aussie or the Texan would give up, but Edwards had the momentum to seal the championship in fine style with a double win, with Bayliss taking two second place finishes.
PHOTOGRAPHS: MORTONS ARCHIVE, THE MARK WERNHAM COLLECTION
If you can’t beat ‘em…
â– Want to get hold of pictures from Mortons Archive? Then head to: www.mortonsarchive.com