The magazine for classic Japanese motorcycles

Hello...

I don’t know how it happened this past winter but it was the first in years that I’ve not spent almost every spare hour in the garage. I usually find myself out there until all hours, only realizing it’s time for bed when the lights flash on and off, courtesy of the mains switch in the house.

In recent weeks I’ve finally managed to make headway on my RG500 project and I feel great because of it. This spring enthusiasm seems to be catching too because our Group Editor turned up at my desk with a plan detailing all the things he’d like to do to his tired Yamaha TDR250. Many of you seem to feel the same because letters and emails are rolling in. Long may it continue.

A few of us in the office have a hankering after a Kawasaki H2 but have seen the prices rising recently, so we’ve ridden the first and final models to see what you get for your cash. We’re still after one.

We’ve found what we think is the bike that has won more races than any other.

It’s a big claim but turn to page 60 for a reader’s special that outstrips Lawson’s NSR (page 126) by miles.

As we said last month, this year is the 25th anniversary of the GSX-R750 but that wouldn’t have happened without Suzuki’s first four-stroke, the GS750 (page 35).

We’re not just looking to the past though, Steve Cooper and Mark Haycock have embraced the latest technology to keep our bikes running. Turn to page 75 for more. And on that front, subscribe and get a free battery charger to keep your bike’s battery topped up between rides. You’ll get Mechanics a few days earlier than you can buy it in the shops too. Enjoy the issue!

Ben Wilkins
Editor