Classic Motorcycle Mechanics June 2021

VERY MAXIMUM! It was only a ‘cruiser’, so what could go wrong? This was the line going through my head when I saddled up a Yamaha V-Max for the very first time way back in 1995. Hell, I’d ridden a Honda CBR900RR FireBlade by this point, Suzuki’s GSX-R1100 and many other performance machines, including a Laverda Jota – what would a decade-old Yamaha with a V4 motor derived from a relaxed custom bike do to me? Ha! Easy peasy… And then I rode it. Hellfire! My mistake was not looking where I was going – please wait before you condemn me. There was that little tachometer atop the tank that, when it hit 6000rpm, took off. Literally… Of course, I wanted to ‘watch’, I always had a morbid fascination, be…

It was only a ‘cruiser’, so what could go wrong? This was the line going through my head when I saddled up a Yamaha V-Max for the very first time way back in 1995. Hell, I’d ridden a Honda CBR900RR FireBlade by this point, Suzuki’s GSX-R1100 and many other performance machines, including a Laverda Jota – what would a decade-old Yamaha with a V4 motor derived from a relaxed custom bike do to me? Ha! Easy peasy… And then I rode it. Hellfire! My mistake was not looking where I was going – please wait before you condemn me. There was that little tachometer atop the tank that, when it hit 6000rpm, took off. Literally… Of course, I wanted to ‘watch’, I always had a morbid fascination, be it for immunity jabs,…

Ron Haslam is a living legend. Not only did he have his own very successful racing career, but he helped many young riders in his time and also inspired many more with the Honda Ron Haslam Race School. What’s more, his son Leon followed in dad’s footsteps and is a top-level racer and former British champion. Known as ‘Rocket Ron’ thanks to his amazing push-starts (remember those?), Ron’s career spanned three decades – he lied about his age to race (aged just 15) in 1972 and went on to become TT Formula One champion in 1979 (one of his four British titles) as well as winning three world titles, six Macau GPs and an Isle of Man TT race in 1982. One of his most striking rides was on a standard Honda…

Archive ROCKET MEN! Ron Haslam is a living legend. Not only did he have his own very successful racing career, but he helped many young riders in his time and also inspired many more with the Honda Ron Haslam Race School. What’s more, his son Leon followed in dad’s footsteps and is a top-level racer and former British champion. Known as ‘Rocket Ron’ thanks to his amazing push-starts (remember those?), Ron’s career spanned three decades – he lied about his age to race (aged just 15) in 1972 and went on to become TT Formula One champion in 1979 (one of his four British titles) as well as winning three world titles, six Macau GPs and an Isle of Man TT race in 1982. One of his most striking rides…

SHOEI NXR2 HELMET This latest Shoei is a full face helmet, a ‘premium sports’ lid developed to meet the latest ECE22/06 certification. It has an organic fibre and multi-composite fibre layered shell for top shock absorbency and optimum rigidity. There is also an EPS Liner system with multiple densities, a new CWR-F2 Visor with locking mechanism – which is also Pinlock ready and it’s a quick-change system. You’ve got the traditional double d-ring fastener too. The liner is removable and washable, and this well ventilated helmet comes in XXS through to XXL sizes. These lids are available from August 2021, priced from £429.99 for plain and £539.99 for the graphics. www.shoeiassured.co.uk RST FUSION LEATHER AIRBAG JACKET Classic styling is the background for the RST Fusion Airbag Leather Jacket. Tailored from Aniline Cowhide leather…

Stuff The latest riding kit, top tools, tyres, retro clothing and more ! SHOEI NXR2 HELMET This latest Shoei is a full face helmet, a ‘premium sports’ lid developed to meet the latest ECE22/06 certification. It has an organic fibre and multi-composite fibre layered shell for top shock absorbency and optimum rigidity. There is also an EPS Liner system with multiple densities, a new CWR-F2 Visor with locking mechanism – which is also Pinlock ready and it’s a quick-change system. You’ve got the traditional double d-ring fastener too. The liner is removable and washable, and this well ventilated helmet comes in XXS through to XXL sizes. These lids are available from August 2021, priced from £429.99 for plain and £539.99 for the graphics. www.shoeiassured.co.uk RST FUSION LEATHER AIRBAG JACKET Classic…