Classic Motorcycle Mechanics December 2021

Are you a Kat kinda person? When Suzuki’s Katana first hit our roads 40 years ago, the impact was immediate and it is still being felt to this day. The machine has inspired a loyal following and the machine’s futuristic looks are still fresh, even as we move towards 2022. I’ve been lucky enough to spend time on a number of Katanas, including the recent Suzuki reboot which (nice as it was) isn’t really a Kat in my mind, because the looks just aren’t close enough, and let’s not talk about the tank range! I’ve yet to venture into Katana ownership and the mid-1980s me loves the idea of the bigger bike with the ‘pop-up’ cool of the 750: all very ‘Street Hawk’! One thing our cover star machine does…

Archive Wes Cooley – remembered WORDS: BERTIE SIMMONDS PICS: DON MORLEY, NICK NICHOLS/MORTONS ARCHIVE If anyone was synonymous with a machine and an era, it was double AMA champ Wes Cooley. Wester Steven Cooley won the AMA Superbike Championship in 1979 and 1980 on the seminal Yoshimura Suzuki GS1000-based machines, proudly carrying the number 34 plate, which was recognisable to tens of thousands of fans on both sides of the Atlantic. Of course, it was natural for Wes Junior to go racing, as his father had done so before him. After starting out, Wes was taken on by Yoshimura R&D when it was running Kawasaki KZ1000 machinery in 1976: he would take his first AMA Superbike win the following year. Pops and Fujio switched to the Suzuki GS1000 in 1978…

cmm Stuff The latest riding kit, top tools, tyres, retro clothing and more! ABBA SKY LIFT For those of you who don’t own a hydraulic ramp – or even if you do – you really need to check out the updated Abba Sky Lift, which can raise your bike up, making those hard-to-reach places a doddle to get to. This can fit more than 300 different models of motorcycle without the need for modification to your machine. It can then lift your bike high off the ground at three different angles and from there you can move it around at will. The Sky Lift utilises the same proven fitting kit system as the award-winning Abba Superbike Stand but you can have the bike up high, in the ‘stoppie’ position to…

BOOK CORNER TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT With over 40 years’ experience in and around the motorcycle industry and 35 years as an award-winning documentary filmmaker, Peter Starr is uniquely positioned to champion his favourite sport. His first book is about the 20 years he spent making over 40 films about motorcycle racing and working with some of the greatest racers in the modern history of the sport. His iconic film Take It To The Limit, winner at two prestigious Film Festivals, forms the backbone of this book/DVD. The film itself is soon to be released as a 30th Anniversary Special Edition DVD. www.mortonsbooks.co.uk 50 YEARS OF THE Z1 CALENDAR 2022 will mark the 50th anniversary of the launch of the seminal Kawasaki Z1, which today is one of the…

cmm Tested Riding kit worn, tools twirled & tyres turned SEALEY HEX KEY SET Now, it’s fair to say I’ve been a bit of a cheapskate when it comes to tools. I’ve blagged and borrowed where I could and only bought stuff I really needed. About 10 years back I lent a mate my old hex key set: and it was never returned (he reads this, so he knows who he is!) But, I took this as some form of punishment for (ahem) doing the same to an old mate, who later emigrated… The shipping costs were too high to return the stuff. So, for some years I soldiered on with allen keys of assorted types that I’d had rattling around in the tool box. Then I bit the bullet…

cmm News Gauloises’ return! We are loving this Yamaha XSR900 with its very special colour scheme. This is Yamaha’s latest edition to joint its Sports Heritage line-up for 2022. The basic XSR900 uses the chassis and full electronics package from the latest MT-09, along with the updated 889cc, Euro 5 version of the CP3 triple motor. This XSR900 takes Yamaha’s retro design to a new level with classic lines combined with the new split LED headlight, hidden tail-light, quick-release fasteners and foldaway pillion pegs, all in the blue and yellow Christian Sarron colours inspired by the ‘Gauloises Yamaha’ YZR500 that he rode to success during the 1980s. We love it! More of the same, please… Go to: www.yamaha-motor.eu/gb/en/yamaha-motor.eu/gb/en/products/motorcycles/sportheritage/xsr900-2022/…