Features

Kawasaki Z1 900 10 Kawasaki Z1 900, 1973 Few bikes had such an impact when launched as Kawasaki’s Z1. Originally planned as a 750 in 1968, the bike was sent back to the designers when Honda’s 750 appeared. But when the Z1 came out in 1973 it eclipsed everything with immense, seamless power that peaked…

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Suzuki XN85 Turbo The strange rush to produce turbo equipped motorcycles at the start of the 1980s was a brief dalliance with a concept that looked like it offered something for nothing or very close to it. Suzuki’s considered suggestion was the XN85 and although it was never a huge seller (allegedly less than 1200…

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Bridgestone 175SR Bridgestone motorcycles were manufactured from 1958 until 1971 with a range of machines from 50cc to 350cc, all two-strokes and all based on disc valve designs. The bikes sold strongly in the US via the Rockford Company of Illinois and were serious rivals for the upcoming Yamaha and Suzuki brands. Known for their…

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Benelli 650 Tornado The Benelli concern has a long and illustrious history, but like many Italian companies it has courted financial disaster several times, and frequently only survived by the skin of its teeth. Founded in 1911 in Pesaro, the company came about when the recently widowed Teresa Benelli was looking to provide gainful employment…

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Kawasaki’s GPZ900R broke the mould Summer 1984. Yours truly has just passed his bike test and bought a (well) used Suzuki GT380. Convinced that this old smoker is the fastest thing on the planet (in my world nothing could possibly go any quicker than this) I spent a week or two challenging anyone to a…

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There’s an old story about asking directions from a village yokel who has little real idea of your intended destination. Lost motorist – “Can you tell me the way to Reading please?” Yokel – “Reading is it? Well, I wouldn’t be starting from here sir!” The same cack-handed logic might also be applied to this…

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Bimota SB2 Bimota, the small Italian manufacturer that’s been through more than its share of financial problems in recent years, developed a huge reputation in the 1970s and 80s as the source of not just fine-handling exotic sporting motorcycles but of two-wheel artistic expression. That reputation was originally built on providing frames for road racing…

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Kawasaki GPZ 500S Elsewhere in the January 2013 issue of CMM you will see our oldie-but goodie Steve Cooper make his case for cool classic-dom for the Benelli Tornado. As a parallel twin, the Tornado followed a glorious list of machines to use this design layout. With the release of the new CBR500RR and its…

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Kawasaki Z400 engine rebuild We left off last month in a bit of a quandary after discovering how much it would cost to re-bore Steve’s Kawasaki Z400 twin engine and fit genuine new pistons. Apparently aftermarket piston kits are not readily available for this model and the price of new parts would far exceed the…

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Suzuki GS750 The motor was in basically sound condition but will be going back together with a new camchain and a couple of second-hand gears to cure the problem Jason had had with it jumping out of gear. The piston rings measured well within factory tolerances so the new valve stem seals I’ve fitted into…

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