The magazine for classic Japanese motorcycles

Hello...May 2011

Some bikes are bought with the sole intention of stripping them down and rebuilding them into a show-piece that’s more than likely better than it ever left the factory. Some have been owned for years and are like faithful companions and the owner would never dream of polishing away the patina that comes with age. What’s the answer? That’s something that completely divides opinion.

I know from personal experience with a couple of my own bikes that restoration can be a two-sided experience. Once one part of a bike is cleaned and painted, the rest of it begins to look decidedly lacklustre. So the next bit is polished... and a refresh ends up as a full-blown rebuild/restoration. Then they often aren’t ridden. But that’s what – by their very design – they are meant for. It’s a shame that some bikes are so pristine they aren’t ever ridden.

Steve Cooper, our man in the VJMC, has a pragmatic view. If it’s a runner it gets tidied but if it’s a basket-case then it’s ripe for restoration. We like that view here at CMM. Take the GS1000S in this issue – it’s not the tidiest but it has lots of period mods and it’s a fantastic machine to ride as a result. Anyway, enjoy the mag.

Ben Wilkins,
Editor