Kawasaki was long lived It’s generally agreed that Japanese motorcycle engines have a short shelf life, if not short fuses. Few are produced for more than five years without being updated or replaced, and even
Read moreCategory: Features
Yamaha YDS3
Yamaha YDS3 If the bike in camera this month looks a little old fashioned that’s only because it is. The YDS3 was the machine which brought Yamaha to thepublic’s attention in Britain. It was late
Read moreRoad Test: Kawasaki 250S1
Kawasaki 250 S1 The 250 S1 hit the ground running in early 1972, hot on the heels of the larger 350 S2. The triple took over from the technologically more advanced and sophisticated 250 Samurai
Read moreRoad Test: Honda GB500TT
Honda’s GB500TT offers British styling and performance without the price tag Bwooaarr, first, bwooaarr, second, bwooaarr, third. Etc, etc. It doesn’t take long to use all the gears on Honda’s GB500TT, and like most big
Read moreWorkshop: Yamaha RD400 clutch
Yamaha RD400 This 1976 Yamaha RD400C arrived last Christmas as a non-runner, missing a few bits and looking very rough. After some fettling over the next couple of months, it was fit enough to ride
Read moreRoad Test: Yamaha RD350LC
Yamaha RD350LC The greatest thing about the restoration of classic motorcycles is that you can now recreate precisely almost any machine that you once loved. Almost like meeting again that girlfriend who triggered the lust
Read moreRoad Test: Yamaha XS1
This green Yamaha XS1 is an American machine imported into UK In 1968 British industry finally launched the Triumph Trident and BSA Rocket 3 only to be aced less than a year later by Honda's
Read moreWorkshop: Starter motor overhaul
Don’t fear a starter motor overhaul Picture the scene. A lovely spring morning, dry roads and blue skies. You wheel the bike out of the garage, don helmet and gloves, turn the ignition key and
Read moreWorkshop: Yamaha XT500 part one
Yamaha XT500 engine reassembly The Yamaha XT500 was a Classic Mechanics project bike, which was broken down into at least six parts. To things manageable we've focused on the engine assembly. For full step-by-step imagery
Read moreSeventies hero: Ron Haslam
Ron Haslam profile (pdf) To this day, Ron Haslam, who endeared himself to British fans during a racing career of over 25 years, can't remember whether it was late in 1971 or early in 1972
Read more