Features

Kawasaki Z1 engine rebuild Second instalment of Rod Gibson's Kawasaki Z1 engine rebuild. Captions are reproduced in full below but for step-by-step captions and images, visit the image gallery. Image gallery captions Picture one: Last month I left the engine in big lumps, now it’s time to dismantle all the component parts for a through…

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Kawasaki Z1 engine rebuild Third and final part of Rod Gibson's Kawasaki Z1 engine rebuild. Captions are reproduced in full below but for step-by-step captions and images, visit the image gallery. Picture one: Last month I fitted the crank, input shaft and clutch basket into the upper crankcase half. Before joining the cases I’m refitting…

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Honda CB125T Bought a couple of years back to replace her tired CG125, the little Superdream had come with a history of problems and mishaps. Despite being roadworthy and carrying a full MoT, the bike smoked like a two stroke and slurped copious quantities of oil during the brief time she’d ridden it before admitting…

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Honda CB125 valves Below are the captions in full. Click on the image gallery and scroll through the pic strip for pictorial reference and captions. Picture one: First of all I’ve opted to remove the valves from the cylinder head. My valve spring compressor has had two metal strips welded into the jaws to fit…

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Honda CB125T In the last part I sorted out all the bits and pieces required to rebuild Angie’s faithful Honda CB125TDC which had arrived at my garage amid clouds of oil smoke and badly needing a rebore. Now with all the new gaskets and parts assembled on the bench and shiny new pistons ready to…

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Kawasaki Z1300 Soon after Kawasaki had launched the legendary four-cylinder 903cc Z1 in 1972, its product planners were thinking about a successor that would maintain the factory’s lead as a performance bike manufacturer. According to factory documents, a meeting at the Akashi factory in Japan in June 1973 established the guidelines: the bike would have…

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Vincent valve gear overhaul (pdf) My associations with Vincent engines have taught me several things. There seem to be more working parts in a Vincent than any other bike rye ever seen inside. The design of various aspects of the engine are as advanced as anything being used today. There are other areas where the…

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Moto Guzzi V50 restoration (pdf) For my money, Italian motorcycles have always embodied the essential purist design ingredients of a fine chassis housing a fine engine. In fact, when it comes to what motorcycling is all about, the Italians and the Brits are kindred spirits. Back in 1978 I had the delightful privilege of prising…

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Harley-Davidson XR1000 Special The Harley spat out one final sulky puff of smoke as I switched off the ignition and drew a deep breath. "You know, Dennis," I said reflectively. "That really is one truly great, great bloody awful motorcycle!" "A dinosaur with attitude," agreed Dennis. We grinned at each other. Allegedly, this is the…

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