Distribution: Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2East Poultry Avenue,
Ithink itâsahealthything to admit whenyou are wrong.And yes, Idoitagreat deal in my life:even more so as Iget older!
Ioften apologise to friends and family for overreacting over something daft. Iapologise to you, dear reader,for when we make the odd mistake in the magazine.And Iâve found that âgenerallyâas I getolder Ican recall stuff that happened decades ago,but then forget when Iâve said something or made adate days ago Then itâsanotherapology for forgetting
This apology is 30 years in the making and it centreson the VFR800.Thing is,I was abig fan of the 750, rode many and owned afew.I always felt thatthe 750 just seemed to havea dashmore character.Itwas something I couldnât put my ïŹnger on, but Ibelievedit.
Timeschange.And in the mid-2000s Ispent alot of time with the-thenlatest version of the VFR800,the one withthe ïŹashy VTECsystem and underseat pipes.I really enjoyed it. Iloved the zany looks,too.The plain-Jane 1998-2001
model wasstill my least favourite V4. And then Irode one acouple of years ago
It was abeautiful red one and had beenwell looked after.Itwas standard, save for ahi-rise pipe which showed off that single-sided swingarm. Iâdridden these bikes many times backinthe day,against its peers likethe Triumph Sprint ST and the Ducati ST2. Back then Ipreferred those,today âI wouldnât look twiceatthem in comparison.
Some things just get better with age and (like agood wine and Helen Mirren) the Honda VFR800F-i is one of those things.Was Iafool? Or simply inïŹuenced by othersâ views? Iâm not sure,perhaps itâsjust the passage of time where your viewschange.Either way,thereâs little better in modernclassic motorcycling than aVFR.
Editor
BSimmonds@Mortons.co.uk
Viva Hondaâsvivacious V4!
44 â TOOL OF THE MONTH
Ralph Ferrand really socks it to us this month!
48 â Q&A
Adouble-pagespecial this issue!
52 â WORKSHOP: LATHES
Ralph Ferrand with part three of his workshop special
56 â SHOW US YER SHED
From across the pondcomes the âGarage-Mahalâ!Eh?
58 â PROJECT SUZUKIGT500 CAFĂ RACER
Malc Shaw with part nineâŠHeâs gotahead scratcherthis issue!
62 â PROJECT HONDACB400 FOUR
Mark HaycockïŹnds all the bits andhitsthe engine
66 â SUZUKI RE5
Steve Coopertalksalot of Wankel about this Suzook
72 â BAY-WATCH!
Kev Raymond looks atwhat projects are out thereâŠ
80 â PROJECT SUZUKI TRINVADER
Pip Higham gets the cases together! Exciting!
86 â PROJECT KAWASAKI Z900 SPECIAL
006 ARCHIVE
What have we found in the CMM archive this month?
008 CMMSTUFF
New kit, tools, tyres and tested stuff
012 NEWS
News andviews for July 2025
018 EVENTS
Whatâshappening in thenext few weeks on two wheels?
020 FEEDBACK
What are you all talkingabout this month?
022 SHOW US YOURS
We wanttosee whatâsinyour shed and see what you looked like back in theday!
026
1998 HONDA VFR800F-I
AndyBolas revisits the legendary V4do-it-all machine
036
1974 YAMAHA RD250
Steve âScoopâ Cooper comes over all nostalgic: letâsrock!
046 SUBSCRIBE AND WIN!
Lots of goodiesfor new subscribers!
050 CENTREFOLD
The BMW R1100 Swas a real leap forward for the German manufacturer
096 NEXT MONTH
Whatâshappeninginthe August 2025 issue?
098 PIPHIGHAM
Ralph makessome bespoke parts for his spesh!
92 â PROJECT DUCATI748
Paul Berrymanâscheapie twin goes on track! Ouch!
Pip recalls re-laying a runway! As you doâŠ
To preorder your next issueof ClassicMotorcycleMechanics head to classicmagazines.co.uk/pre-order-cmm Alternatively,scan theQRcode on this page and order your next copytoday.Wewill send it directly to you!
Jean-Michel Bayle
1988 125cc Motocross World Champion
1989 250cc Motocross World Champion
1991 AMA 250cc Supercross Champion
1991 AMA 250ccNationalChampion
1991 AMA 500cc National Champion
Inthe early 1990s Jean-Michel Bayle was thegreatest motocross and supercross rider of them all,but he decided to give up the dirtand take to the Tarmac.
Ignoring the lesser championships, he made his ofïŹcial road-racing debut ina world championship 250cc race at his home race of Magny-Cours in 1992. Bayle became HondaâsïŹrst 125cc
Ainât no snailâŠ
World Motocross champion in 1988, then dominated the250cc class as arookiethe next year.The expected switch to the 500cc class never happened as JeanMichel moved to theUSA andsupercross. He learned hiscraft for ayear andwon the 250cc Supercross title as well as the 250 and 500cc outdoor championships in 1991.
Anotherchallenge beckoned.Hewas 23
and wanted to try road-racing. Bayle bought himself aHonda CBR600 and trained hard,even surprising Eddie Lawson when he saw theFrenchman lappingWillow Springs
His 1992 debut was an âin at the deep endâmoment. He was ridinga Rothmansbacked Honda RS250 and Bayle would qualify 38th andlast âïŹve secondsslower than poleman Frankie Chili. He would be
WORDS: BERTIE SIMMONDS PIC: YAMAHA MOTOR EUROPE, HONDA HRC
lapped in the race, being nicknamed âJean-Michel Snailâ by unkindlyjournalists.
He would ride full-time in the 250cc class for 1993, Bayle would race his stock Aprilia to abest of eighthin1993. Getting factory equipment, heâd take two ïŹfth placeïŹnishes in 1994 and take his ïŹrst pole in 1995. He made amovetoKenny Robertsâ 500cc team for 1996âŠ
JMB took sixth in his ïŹrst-ever 500cc
raceinMalaysia, just0.7s off the dominant Mick Doohan. In his11th grand prix, the Frenchman took hisïŹrst500 pole position.Results would come (fourth in Imola, ïŹfth at Eastern Creek), but in 1997 Kennybuilt hisown three-cylinder500cc racer andresults were harder to come by By 1998 he was on aYamaha V4 YZR500 in WayneRaineyâsteam, but injury would spoil theseason;heâd still
take pole at Imola before returningto Robertsâ team for 1999. This time, injury led Jean-Michel Bayle to announcehis retirement from Grand Prix racing after just six races of the season.
He would make asurprise comebackin 2002 (14th in France), but the podium had eludedhim in hiscareer.Ahappy ending was winning both the Bol dâor and 24 Hours of Le Mans races in 2002. cmm
cmm St uf f
Thelatestridingkit,top tool tyres, retroclothingand more
WEISE SPRINT GLOVES
If you like the comfort andconvenience of ashort-cuff glove,with the high-performance protection of arace glove,the new Weise Sprint combines the best of both.
Constructed frompremiumfull-grain leather,the Sprint has an adjustable cuff closure that gives asecure ïŹt, and is low proïŹle,toïŹtcomfortably underthe cuff of ariding jacket. All the normal protection and features are here: plastic knuckle armour,scaphoid armour, vented ïŹnger protectors,and some areas beneïŹtfrom dual-layered leather reinforcement.
Comfort is helped thanks to stretch panels and padded areas,and both index ïŹngers and thumbs are touchscreen compatible.Availableinblack or black/ white in sizes S-3XL. www.weiseclothing.com
HONDA CBX1000 T-SHIRT
Ah! The unmistakable orange km/h scale of the speedometer of the legendary Honda CBX is the theme of the T-shirt from CBX1000.us So excuse thelack of mphâŠ
The odometer indicates the
NOLAN X-804 RS ULTRA CARBON
Nolan say their X-804 RS UltraCarbon is the âperfect synthesis of technology and styleâ.
Itâsacarbon-ïŹbre helmetand nowitcomes with new âLESMOâ graphics.The lid itself is most certainly asports helmet,with the poncey LESMO graphics called âShades of Styleâ (grey bits,black and gold bits) and âFury of Performanceâ(bits of grey,black, gold and red).Importantly,youâve gota double-D ring for securing it on your noggin, an ultra-widevisor with anti-scratch,and an âRAFâ Racing Air Flow ventilation system. The helmet is spectacle-friendly,comeswith additional padding to swop out for best ïŹt,a tear-off kit for track riders,and aCamel bag hydration system. The Nolan X-804 RS UltraCarbon goes from 2XS to 3XL. www.nevis.uk.com
cubic capacity of the CBX at 1047, the daily mileage at six means six cylinders: aclear reference to the motorcyclethat was the inspiration for this shirt!Itisblack only and in sizes Sto3XL www.CBX1000.us
LASER TOOLS 4-DRAWER WORKSHOP TOOL TROLLEY
This 4-Drawer WorkshopTool Trolley is purpose-builtfor technicianswho need a reliable,mobile storage unit.
Bringing tools,parts and equipment right to the job,the trolley features alockable top tray and four smooth-sliding drawers for secure,organised tool storage.Underneath, an open lowertrayoffers ample room for bulkier items,whileaside-mounted horizontal slotted storage section keeps frequently used screwdrivers,etc., within easy reach.
With amaximum load capacity of 300kg, the drawers are lined with EVAfoamfor tool protection and the lid is supported by gas struts for smooth opening and closing www.lasertools.co.uk/Product/9026
WEMOTO REPLACEMENT PARTS
Cables galore from ourfriends at Wemoto Theyâve got Slinky Glide choke cables for 1996-2002 Yamaha XJ600Diversions from ÂŁ8.95; speedocablesfor Yamaha FZ750s (1985-1991) from ÂŁ8.95; throttle cables for the likesofBMWâs R1100 RS (1992-2001) for ÂŁ11.95; and clutch cables for the BMW R100, R100/7 and R60 models (various years 1974 to 1984) fromÂŁ14.95. And as for replacementSlinky Glidefork tubes for KawasakiâsER-6 Fand other models(2006-2008), they are at ÂŁ120.88. www.wemoto.com
WEISE CITADEL JEANS
These CitadelJeans look andfeel like regular denim, yet deliver the highest level of protection, with AAA rated CE-approval (to EN17092-2:2020)
ÂŁ199.99
Theyâre light, ïŹexible, breathable,and also highly abrasion resistant. Double- and triple-stitched main seams add extra strength where it matters most. CE knee and hip armour comesïŹtted as standard and is removable,
LASER TOOLS BUSH, BEARING AND SEAL DRIVER SET
The new Laser Tools Bush, Bearing and Seal Driver Set brings together a comprehensive range of hardened steel drift discs and adeep-reach handle âsoyou can choose impact (hammer) ïŹttingorprecision press installation accordingtothe job Youâve got 49 hardenedsteel drifts,ranging from 18mmto65mm (1mm increments),plus one74mm adapter.A deep-reach 220mm extension handle lets you access deeply recessed bearings and bushes All discs are heat-treatedcarbon steel,
should you need to wash the jeans or wear them casually.Made by RE ZRO, the armour is lighter and more ïŹexible than the majority of impact protection productsonthe market, and allows for greaterbreathability, eliminating hotspots, making it perfectfor riding jeans.Weise Citadel jeans come in Egyptian Blue,in waist sizes 30 to 42 inches www.weiseclothing.com ÂŁ199.99 From: ÂŁ8.95 ÂŁ128.40
ready for hammer strikes or press ram pressure,and the set comes in a durable blow mould carry case www.lasertools.co.uk/Product/9123
RICHA MONACO JACKET
Richa has introduced the Monaco Meshjacket to its extensive range.A sleek, highperformance mid-seasonriding jacket built for comfort, safety and versatility,itâsgot riders covered whether riding under the blazing sun or caught in asurprise shower
Designed for maximum airïŹow,the A-rated Monaco is made from adurable,highperformance polyester with superior abrasion resistance. The includeddetachable waterproof membrane can be wornover the jacket for protection against any unwelcome raindrops
Foranenhanced ïŹt and improved comfort, thereâsanelasticated hemline and adjusters at the waist, and soft-touch neoprene collar and sleeves.D3OÂź protectors positioned at the shoulders and elbows offer protection and peace of mind in the event of an impact, and two large external pockets with zips keep your essentials close to hand.
Priced from ÂŁ199.99, the Monaco Mesh jacket is available in achoice of three colours âblack, light grey and green âinsizes S-6XL in black and size S-4XLinlight grey and green. www.nevis.uk.com
cmm Tested
Riding kitworn, tools
twirled&tyres turned
DUCHINNI SPARTAN GLOVES
Iâm the kit manufacturersâ worst nightmare.Iâm oneof those fellas thatcan be seen aroundthose bargain bins at biking events looking foraleft and aright boot in the same size and then bartering down from atenner apair
Yes, Idobelieve in wearing the right kit, butIâve never been keen on spendingthat much. Until now with these Duchinni Spartan Gloves
Firstly,they look great. You canât beat black, can you? And
they look really sporty, too, which is nice.Theyare also apparently waterproof,but more on that later
The Spartan are aleather glove with awaterproof and windproof lining and youâve got that cool-looking integrated plastic knuckle look for when youâre in aroad-rage incident. Iâve had these gloves for the last few years (excuse thepics if you can see alabel, Iwas told to take pics of them ASAP) and theyâve performedbrilliantly
SIDI ARCADIA BOOTS
Unlike my son Joe (see above), Iâve always gonefor decent bike kit and eschew the bargain bin: itâsthe folly of youth.
So,when Iwanted some boots to use on my Triumph Trident 660 Ioptedfor these Sidi Arcadia boots. What Ilike about themisthe styling.Theyâre not too showy and are pretty much just like a
normal day-to-day/walking boot. They are not too boy racer,and they look good for this old gifferasthey are not too midlife crisis! They are made of double-stitched leather,suede and with Cordura panels.Youâve got abreathable mesh lining, too
The best bit was that the boots were comfortable straight
over that time.Now,itâsfair to say Iâm no cold-weather rider, but Ihave worn these in colder climates up to around November and in summer.They are agreat blend of âwarm enoughâ in autumn and âcool enoughâ in high summer.Iâm not sure whether theyâdbesuitable for the depths of winter âIdonât ride then! Waterproof? Seem to be during the few stormsIâve ridden through.
As for comfort, these are very comfortablewhen youâve broken them in abit. They were
away and Ididnâtneed to break themin. Immediately Ifelt they were lovelytoride in as they were slightly lowercut than conventional motorcycleboots
The worst thing about big and heavy bike boots is that your feet suffer and swelter in summer weather.These are brilliantly breathable and keep my feet cool âespecially when trundling along.And when trundling along on Shankâs Pony at abike show, theyâre comfy,too
All the strength/reinforcing and padding seems to be in the perfect placeand notdigging anywhere on your feet. Iride four different bikes and these are comfy for all of them. You can easily see where each gear lever has gone on the useful leather shift-pad. One word of caution: these are not waterproof,but neither were they advertised as such.
Quality seems superb.Iâve been wearing these forfour years and they still look and feel like new,even though I havenât cleaned them once!
Having alook around online, sadly it seems the Arcadia
abit stiff and unyielding at the start. Ilike the security of the double securement on both wrist and cuff.Iâm trying desperately to come up with a negative herebut I canât. These are the best gloves Iâve ever had.
So then, in conclusion these are (I will say it again) the best gloves Iâve ever worn. Yes, theyâre not mega cheapifyou rummage through bargain bins like me âbut then theyâre not that expensive either!Bestof all, Iâve just checked and found that, currently,you canpick a pair up for just ÂŁ44.99.
Joe Nall
www.fowlers.co.uk/shop/ duchinni-spartan-gloves
arenât in the current Sidi range, possibly replaced by something else.But, having adig around I can see that J&S still stock them and at agreat price of ÂŁ125.99, which is a20per cent saving on the originalretail price.Sounds like abargain to me as Ithoroughly recommend them.
Thereâsnot really much we can say aboutour veryown PipHigham, exceptthat heâs aruddy legend: top engineer,record-breakingdrag racer,and scribe of witty and sometimes undecipherable ânorthern speakâ columns in CMM.
Well, if you love theman as much as we do here, you couldown apieceofthe legend himself as heâsputting up for auction eightof his beautiful machines anda quirky gravity/soap box racer thingy
One of the bikes up for auction is hisamazing 1982 six-cylinder Katana(that Suzuki never made but Pip decided to). He says: âThatbike has been afeature of my life for longer than I care to consider.It was achallenge and when I
got to 1000 hours on it âIstoppedcounting!â Thisfuel-injected behemoth hasaconverted swingarm to use twin-shocks, six-pot Tokico brakes andaRaceïŹtexhaust (loud)
Other machines up for grabsatthe auction on July 9atthe National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, include a1968 Suzuki T305; a1957 Ducati 100 Special; aDucati 100Sport; a 1959 Ducati 125 (a very pretty little thing indeed); a1958 Ducati 175; anda 1966 Ducati 250.Also to be sold are Pipâs1960(-ish) Ducati Sprint Chassis and the âsoap boxâ racer he built with Ford and the Royal College of Art. Apparently Tiff Needell âdroveâ the thing. For more, go to: www.handh.co.uk
News
HISTORIC
HERITAGE SPRINT
Originally called theRamsgateSprint, the Heritage Sprint replaced that event and has been on the calendar for the last four years.
It is abig event at Betteshanger Park, situated between Deal and Sandwich in Kent.Taking place this
yearover the weekend of 9-10 August, thousands of spectators are expected to watch motorcycles blasting down thetrack, datingfrom pre-war ïŹattank machines to modern classics. Ifyou wantsome of the action, then get registered soon as places are limited.CMM contributor Vic Shield makes theunique trophies for the best in class runners and loves the event!
As well as theaction there are beautifully restored bikes on display, club stands, and plenty of stalls to grab abitetoeat or drink. Youcan campovernightand enjoy thelive bands in the evening. So, where is it?
Well, Betteshanger Park is in East Kent near Deal (CT14 0BF). The A258 runs alongside thePark. More at: https://heritagesprint.co.uk/
CRATED BLADE!
If you fancy an âas-newâ 20-year-old Fireblade then you need tohead to the Iconic Auctioneersâ Summer Sale at Shuttleworth.
Held on the weekend of Saturday, 19 and Sunday,20July,the early star entry is a2005 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade that has never been removed from its transportcrate. Best of all, itâsinthe desirable Repsol Honda paint scheme. This bike was supplied to adealer in 2005 but was never sold. Estimates put this machine at between ÂŁ10-ÂŁ15,000. Would you remove it from the box and ride it?
Other bikes in the auction include amatching-numbers 1968 Triumph T120 Bonneville 649cc (ÂŁ4000ÂŁ6000); arestored 1965 BSA D7 Bantam 173cc (ÂŁ1000-ÂŁ2000); and an original 1972 Raleigh Chopper Mk II in violet offered without reserve.
If you like pocket rockets, then up for grabs isnumber23ofthe 100 UK-supplied Yamaha FZR400RR Sport Production â3TJâ models (ÂŁ6000-ÂŁ8000),joined by an Airwaves-liveried Ducati 749 built by the 2005 British Superbike-winning GSE Ducati Racing team, oneofjust 16 factory replicas and showing only 3515 miles (ÂŁ6000-ÂŁ8000).
For more go to: https://www iconicauctioneers.com/theshuttleworth-motorcycle-sale
TR X850 EVENTAT SAMMYâS!
Be quick if you want to take part in the 30th Anniversary eventofthe Yamaha TRX850! Thistakes place at theSammy Miller Motorcycle Museumdown in theNew Forest on Saturday,21June.Based at Bashley Cross Roads, New Milton,Hampshire, themuseumis home to more than 500 exotic and rare motorcycles from all over theglobe. Best of all, the museum plays host to awiderange of variousmotorcycle-related events and the next one celebrates aspecial modern classic.
Other 2025 events at theSammy Miller Motorcycle Museuminclude Lady BikerâsDay on 22 June (maybemake aweekendofit?), the Two-Stroke Day on 6July, andthe Honda OwnerâsClubClassic Show on 20 July.Also donât forget the next auto-jumble will bethe museumâssummer onetakingplace on Sunday, 10 August. Formore: www.sammymiller.co.uk
Want the next issue of CMM?Ofcourse you do! Then itâs simple. Subscribing is best but, failing that, why not pre-order? Simply scan the fuzzy circular thing with yoursmartphone (câmon, weâve allgot one) and off you pop! Alternatively,if you like what you see coming up in thenext issue (see page 97 for more) then go to: www.classicmagazines.co.uk/ issue/preorder where you can pre-order allofMortonsâ wonderful magazines. Even ones abouttrains, cars or towpathsâŠ
News
WELSHCLASSIC MOTORCYCLE FESTIVAL
The Welsh Classic Motorcycle Festival took place over the weekend of 24-25 May at the picturesque Anglesey circuit of North Wales.
CMM was kindly invited along by Rob Scott who is half of ClassicBike Track-days who organise the event (www. classicbiketrackdays.com).
The event was well run and had lots of folks riding in the track sessions. On the Saturday you got to ridethe international circuit which is 3.4km, and on Sunday my personal favourite, the 2.5km coastal circuit which features the amazing corkscrew.
Sadly,wedidnâttake our riding gear with us, otherwise we wouldhave deïŹnitely been out on track on the Sunday! Groups covered all abilities, and instructors were on site ready to help you improve your riding and grow your conïŹdence, which will translate into how you ride on the road, too.
The Welsh Classic is more than just a track weekend though, and featured displays from the VJMC, Italian Motorcycle owners club and the Fizzy Splitters club, who had lots of stunning machines on display.Sadly,someofthe clubs and displays didnâtturn up due to
the weather forecast beingbad.Shame.
The Anglesey Motorcycle Club were also in attendance and hostingacouple of road runsaround thebeautifulisland for anyone whofancied it. Saturday evening also saw some entertainment and adisco.
Therewere some stunning bikes on display andbeingused on track, too. A lovely Aprilia RS250 which was absolutely ïŹyingcaughtmyeye, along with amodiïŹedSDR200 which sounded gorgeous, and possibly the best YZR500 replica Ihave ever seen, which belongs to ChrisWhitlock.
We wereasked to pick three bikes for awards: Best Road Bike, Best Track Bike, andBest Race Bike. We really had our work cutout,but we ïŹnally settled on aHonda CBR1000RR-5 owned by KarlWood âBest Road Bike; aYamaha YZR500 replica owned by Chris Whitlock âBest Track Bike; anda Yamaha TZ250 owned by Dave Jackson âBest Race Bike.
Big thanks to theguys from CBT for having us along. Bext time weâll bring our leathers!
Andy Bolas
cmm events
Wanna getinto CMM newevents section? Then contact us at: BSimmonds@mortons.co.uk. Youmay even become âEvent of the Monthâ!
6 SammyâsTwo-Stroke Day at the Sammy Miller Museum. www.sammymiller.co.uk
6 Brooklands Motorcycle Day at Brooklands Museum, Brooklands Drive, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 09SL. www.brooklandsmuseum.com
9 Triumph Bike Night at TriumphFactory Visitors Experience, NormandyWay, Hinckley,Leics LE10 3BZ www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk
12 Littleport Autojumble Compound3,Saxon Business Park, Littleport, Cambs CB61XX. 8am-2pm.
14 SkegnessBike Night
TheShip andAtlantic Bar, Castle Boulevard,Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 1RZ 5.30-8.30pm.
15 Bike Night at Sportsbikeshop,Hereward Close, Kirton,Boston,LincsPE20 1QS. 5-9pm. www sportsbikeshop.co.uk
Dutiful Deauville!
Ienjoyed your article last month on the Honda Deauville; Ihave added aphoto of mine which Ihave had for about 18 months. Iwanted abike I could sit up in as Iamnow struggling with pain in my wrists and neck.
My lastbike wasa1998 Honda VFR800 which was fantastic but at 64 Ineed to sit up more. Iknow Idid struggle with the image of the âdull bikeâ when Ibought it. I was going to go for aPan European but thought Iwould
We are all brothers!
Just aquick responseto your opening editorial to CMM, June 2025. Apart from your publication being brilliant/exciting/informative and fun, Imust say what a lovely introduction to this
go for alighter bike which I could stillthrow about on the twisty local roads in Scotland. As far as âisitdullâ,Ithink itâs as dull as you let it be andso far itâsnot been inthe least bit dull. In fact,itdoes everything Ineed ittodo.
Ithink being on abike in your60s which suits youis more important than what peoplethink of thebike.
MartinCrawford
Bertie says: âWeagree with you heartily Martin! Have aT-shirt!â
issue it was. Ioftenbuy the magazine and yet this one hit the nailon thehead! First up, the RD400(Ihave 1973 350) and thenthe Honda NT700 (just bought as awaiting crank rubbers for the RD!)Iagree âweare all in the sameclub, whether you ride aFizzy or aBusa! Well done and keep balanced! Best regards, Tone
Antony Senyszyn
Bertie says: âCheers Tone! Ilove the fraternity of biking âwhatever age, gender,shape, size or political bent anyone has âweare allbikers!â
We love to hear from you, so why not let us know what you like, or dislike, in YOUR magazine. Simply get in touch by sending emails to: letters@classicmechanics.com or direct to the editor at BSimmonds@ Mortons.co.uk or post your letters to the normal address. The best will win oneof our lovely T-shirts!
More cutaways!
Please can you include more cutaways, diagrams, etc? The front suspension cutaway of the Yamaha GTS1000A was worth more than several of the glossy photos, nice though they were, andPip Highamâs little sketches andïŹngers pointing at speciïŹcbits are brilliant. Itâsnice to understandthe engineering under the fairings.
Ilike thevariety of articles from arange of different authors, theshedarticles and the mix of writingstyles from very factual to âwould you believe itâ jokey
As well as more cutaways, Iâd like to know howtoget fairings off withoutdestroying them, includinglearningabout all theridiculousrange of proprietary connectors/clips/ screws you see nowadays. Also, howtorepair fairings on the cheap,lots more on modern electrics with details
ofrelays/chips/circuit boards, etc., and howtodiagnose and repair faults.
Youused to haveawriter called âWeaselâ or âFerretâ. Maybe bringhim back? Modern electrics seemto have become ano-go zone. I just putanLED headlamp bulb on my Suzuki GT550 and spent ages researching a reïŹector/glass that gave the proper dip/main focusbut looked âcorrectâ forits age, but the old-school electrics needed no changes. How to makesuch achange for abikewith old-school electrics would be very useful. Rantover Smashingmagazine!
Leslie Dolby-Glover
Bertie says: âWeâd love to use more cutaways but itâsall about whether we have them or not on ïŹleLes. Many thanks for yourfeedback. Weâd love to get theFerret in regularly,but heâssobusy...â
