real not retro www.classicmechanics.com July 2007 £3.50 issue 237 the best bikes of the 70s and 80s Don’t trudge it FUDGE IT! A faster FJ1100 on road and track SUZUKI GT750J Put the Kettle on, Ma 7 0 £3.50 2 6 1 0 9 0 9 0959 0901 July 2007 July 5 9 ISSN 0 7 7 9 No 237 HONDA VFR400 WIN Rebuilt RC30 rides again SEALEY KAWASAKI Z550LTD v SUZUKI GS550L SPANNERS Factory custom shootout plus > BOXING CLEVER - BMW’s REVOLUTIONARY R80GS + YAMAHA SR400/500 + KAWASAKI 900 STRIPDOWN editorial > rod’s ramblings Jeremy Brewer Jeremy PHOTO: I think I’m on fairly safe ground when I claim colleague. Naturally, over the years, we’ve had For a start, Rod’s a much better mechanic that there’s nothing our revered editor ‘Doctor’ plenty of conversations on a wide range of than I ever was – a pretty scary admission Rod Gibson would like more at the moment topics – but, somehow, whether we’re holed up bearing in mind that that’s how I used to earn than to be putting this column together as in a hotel at some distant show or photo-shoot, my living – and, of course, even though I’d never usual. Unfortunately for him (and you lot, come or enjoying a quick beer on the way home from admit it, this is something I’m desperately to think of it) Rod is recuperating from an work, we always seem to end up talking about jealous of. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he’s operation and – though he’s back at home now bikes and, more specifically, the bikes we love. also better organised and loads more – he’s not quite up to applying the finishing Now, Rod and I share a great deal in terms of enthusiastic about actually getting things done touches to this month’s magazine. our background. We are about the same age, in the workshop than I am. Don’t get me wrong, Stepping into the big man’s shoes is a pretty we’ve both worked in the motorcycle trade as I like to do things right, it’s just that I never daunting prospect – even on such a temporary mechanics and we both love old Jap bikes of the seem to have time to get round to it all. Easily basis. But, I like to think I know Rod pretty well, 70s (and the 60s and 80s too) but, like any two distracted is how my teachers used to describe both as a friend and highly valued work motorcyclists anywhere, we have our differences. me, I think. 4 www.classicmechanics.com NO 237 JULY 2007 Classic Motorcycle Mechanics is published 12 times a year on the third Wednesday of every month. Visit on-line @ www.classicmechanics.com EDITOR Rod Gibson 01507 529442 Fax 529495 [email protected] PUBLISHER Gerard Kane DESIGNERS Kelvin Clements, Jennifer Wold PRODUCTION EDITOR Val Dawson ASSOCIATE EDITOR Chris Pearson DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Sandra Fisher 01507 524004 Fax 529499 TRADE ADVERTISING Andrew Gilfillan MARKETING EXECUTIVE Charlotte Park MAGAZINE SALES MANAGER Paul Deacon ARCHIVIST Jane Skayman SUBSCRIPTIONS/BACK ISSUES 01507 529529 Fax 529490 CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE Dave Barton, Jeremy Brewer, Mark Chapman, Nigel Clark, Steve Cooper, John DeBeck, Derek Freegard, Mark Haycock, Darren Hendley, Bob Husband, John Nutting, Stevie Pearson, Martyn Peters, Kevin Shelley, Nikki Silverman, Lou Spokes, John Wilkinson ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Malcolm Wheeler MANAGING DIRECTOR Terry Clark FINANCIAL DIRECTOR Brian Hill EDITORIAL ADDRESS PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ DISTRIBUTION COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7QE. Tel. 01895 433600. PRINTED William Gibbons & Son, Wolverhampton. © MORTONS MOTORCYCLE MEDIA, a division of Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. ISSN 0959-0900 Independent publishers since 1885 ORTONS Media Group Ltd Then there’s the bikes we like. I’m heavily into Japanese lightweights – even though we’re entirely Member of the Periodical off-road bikes, while Rod can’t be bothered with the the wrong size and shape to go far on them. Publishers Association things, with the exception of his gorgeous XT500 – That’s what’s so good about being into old and that never even goes near a puddle. He much bikes, I suppose. There’s something for prefers big bore road bikes and is besotted by his everybody and we don’t have to agree with each new love of sprinting, a sport I’ve never really got and every one of our fellow enthusiasts. Most of into. I’m a big fan of Honda 400 fours – Rod can’t us seem to get along pretty well and we can see what all the fuss is about. Chalk and cheese. appreciate someone else’s handiwork – even if But then there’s all the other stuff we agree on. it’s not something that we’d want to own or ride. The sheer pleasure of riding nowhere in particular Like Rod and I, most of you can enjoy being the HAVING TROUBLE FINDING on a warm summer’s evening, the quiet same – but different. A COPY OF THIS MAGAZINE? satisfaction of striking up a rebuilt bike for the first Why not Just Ask your local newsagent time in years and the fact that we both love Gez to reserve you a copy each month? contents > july 2007 issue 237 FEATURES 8> YAMAHA FJ1100 62 Would you want to race one of these? Phil Hacker does. 68 20> STAFFORD SHOW Bigger, better, faster, more... The International Classic MotorCycle Show at Stafford continues to go from strength to strength. 28> BMW R80G/S We look back at the birth of the big bore trail bike. 48> CUSTOM CAPERS John Nutting rolls back the years to compare Suzuki’s GS550L and Kawasaki’s Z550LTD. 54> NORSE SAGA Martyn Peters continues his very own Viking invasion. 58> SHOWSTOPPERS The kettle’s on, so don’t be long... Bob Clark’s superb Suzuki GT750J gets the star treatment. 64 62> STATESIDE SCENE All change across the pond as the new Vintage Japanese and European Motorcycle Club of North America Inc gets up a head of steam. 71> STORM WARNING Rod Gibson goes Tornado hunting on Benelli’s big twin. 76> CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME The annual Wolds Run continues to attract some of the best Japanese Classics to CMM’s Lincolnshire base. 94> YAMAHA SR500/400 Japan’s seminal thumper gets the once over from our man Spokes. TECHNICAL 24> TEARING IT APART Rod’s Z1A gets reduced to a pile of bits. The hard work begins here. 64> THE KNOWLEDGE Fair wear and tear, or scrap? We help you decide whether to adjust it or bin it. 68> POCKET ROCKET REBUILD Jeremy Brewer’s Honda NC30 is back to its beautiful best – with a little help from his friends. 8 6 www.classicmechanics.com 28 REGULARS 15 > NEWS What’s hot and what's happening. 36 > SHOW US YOURS The very best readers’ bikes in our monthly showcase. 40 > VJMC Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club 44 > LETTERS Speak your mind through our mailbag. 78 > BIKE BASHES 24 Events, rallies and shows. 80 > FEATURES INDEX A dip into our archive. 83 > PROBLEM SOLVER Free advice from our panel of experts. 87 > JAP CORNER The ultimate emporium for your Jap classic. 98 > BIKES AND BITS Buying or selling: the best place for a bargain. 106 > SERVICES GUIDE Expert services for your bike. 109 > NOSTALGIA Nikki Silverman’s Cold War 20 94 experience. 112 > NEXT MONTH 71 24 A peek at next month’s issue. 113 > BIKING LEMONS Was the Suzuki SB200 the product of a heavy night out? READER’S OFFERS 42 > SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe for two years and get two issues free. www.classicmechanics.com 7 classic ride > yamaha fj1100 HEAVYWEIGHT The Yamaha FJ series are great big, dependable bikes with a large following and buoyant owners club. The FJ is contender easily capable of travelling huge distance in double quick time and It might not be the first bike you’d offers impressive rider comfort, but would you consider racing one against think of when contemplating a sortie pure sports machines? into Forgotten Era racing, but The track is a different arena to the open road and the stocky FJ with its Yamaha’s big softie – the FJ1100 – wide girth and slow handling is surely not going to excel there. But, on the can pack a remarkable punch. other hand, the FJ always has been a fine handling machine if a little on the These good manners and pleasant heavy side. A good, smooth rider will riding ability is all well and good, but find the big four to be a great machine just how would such a machine adapt to tackle twisty B-roads with ease to the tough and unforgiving world of while having the high speed and the short circuit? straight line ability to handle mile after We met up with Phil ‘Doc’ Hacker at mile of motorway. Mallory Park for an insight into just Stevie P PHOTOS: Chris Pearson WORDS: 8 www.classicmechanics.com www.classicmechanics.com 9 classic ride > yamaha fj1100 what his creation is capable of. the engine is ready to go and easily Preparing to mix it with a host of far spins the rear at will, so a cautious more modern and expensive tackle on throttle hand is needed in the slower a normal practice day, I must admit to corners.