Workshop

BSA A50/A65 overhaul service notes (pdf) Introduced in 1961 for the 1962 season, the A50 and A65 unit twins, with their egg-shaped engines of 500 and 650cc were called, unkindly by some, Unit Destruction! But this was almost always the way when anything new came onto the market, especially so in this case when they…

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BSA A10 and A65 fork overhaul pdf The BSA front forks were basically robust, reliable and obviously helped with the good handling characteristics that most lit SAs possessed. From experience gained in owning several different models personally and later with working on many in the line of our work at Bri-Tie, the A, B, and…

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Yamaha XS250 rebuild (pdf) Yamaha's XS250 and 400 twins are pretty solid pieces of kit, but aren't immune to the occasional catastrophe. Tina's XS250 had provided solid and reliable transport for nigh on 15 years, and though it had recently been nudged aside in the garage by a Harley Sportster she thought it deserved more…

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Honda C77 motorcycle restoration (pdf) Although an unknown face to many Mechanics readers, I've been involved with classic motorcycle journalism for 15 years, much of it with sister magazine Classic MotorCycle. My favourite column, You Were Asking', allows me be an agony aunt-cum researcher and, although I've restoration experience and an extensive library, I'm lucky…

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Suzuki GS750 engine When Suzuki launched their first four-stroke back in the early Seventies they had gone to some trouble to get the design right. Environmental legislation was beginning to signal the end for high performance, smoky two-strokes, and with the GS750 Suzuki laid the solid foundation for their four-stroke GS range that would later…

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Suzuki GS750 Last month I managed to get Jason’s GS750 engine stripped down despite 25 years worth of accumulated muck, grease and barrels which were heavily corroded onto the cylinder studs. Now with all the bits and pieces thoroughly degreased and cleaned off I can lay everything out on the bench and take a good…

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AJS and Matchless 500cc twin service notes (pdf) The following dissertation applies to AJS and matchless 500cc twins — the G9 and Model 20 — although it can in general and with discretion be applied to all AMC twins, except the later Norton engined models. As always, a modicum of common sense is the most…

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