Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Magazine deadlines being what they are, I’m sat here on Christmas Eve 2022 writing my ‘Hello’ for a magazine marked ‘February 2023’! You think I’d be used to it now… thinking I’m a month or so ahead! Looking back, 2022 has been another tough year for us all, hasn’t it? One thing I can happily celebrate is an anniversary of sorts: My first issue at the helm of CMM was January 2013 so this one sees me over the 10-year mark – an honour which I don’t take lightly. But let’s look forwards. What bike birthdays do we have in 2023? Stuff that’s 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and even 55 or more years old… thanks to our wide-ranging contributors, we will try and keep every base…

We’ve got plenty of super-cool naked big-bore bikes in this issue: two versions of Kawasaki’s pretty ZRX11/1200R and a look at Honda’s CB900F Hornet, as well as a Retro Reboot on 2023’s Hornet 750. But, isn’t the Bandit 1200 better than all? Suzuki’s Bandit family began life as a Japaneseonly model in 400 and 250 format in 1989 before the ubiquitous 600cc version came along in 1995. It became a best-seller, proving that a parts-bin special could be better than the parts used. It was, pretty much, a GSX600F ‘Teapot’ motor in a painted and rust-prone steel frame. But, the GSF600 was better fun than the donor bike and the oil/air-cooled motor was simply brilliant in the very simple chassis. The bike’s design was genius: it was (like the later…

HJC RPHA 1 SENIN £699.99 The RPHA 1 is a pukka track and race lid, coming from feedback from HJC’s riders in MotoGP and WSB. Of course, it hits all the latest ECE 22.06 regulations for safety, has a carbon/carbon glass shell, so it’s shock-resistant, as well as all the inner features you’d expect. These include a removable anti-bacterial lining, which wicks away moisture; grooves for riders who wear glasses; a top venting system; emergency release cheek pads; a quick-release (and Pinlock ready) visor; and a five-year warranty. Best of all (we think) are these simple colourways. Sizes from 2XS (52-53cm) up to 2XL (62-63cm). www.oxfordproducts.com GAZZINI PARTS FROM £25 If you’re building a classic special, then you could take a look at these little beauties. Louis Moto’s exclusive aftermarket…

I love a set of textiles, but in recent years there’s one brand that’s ticked the right boxes for me more than most: RST. I’ve recently got my hands on a set of the British brand’s new Pro Series Adventure-X jacket and trousers, having been forced to retire my previous set of RST Pro Series Adventure III textiles after a couple of years of hard use both on- and off-road. The new Pro Series Adventure-X kit uses the same formula as before, but now the textiles come kitted out with RST’s new X-Liner, which is a quilted thermal liner and the SinAqua waterproof membrane in a single layer. No more faffing about with multiple layers, there’s now just one, easily removable lining to worry about. At this stage, I’ve not…

BMW begins celebrations of its centenary in 2023 – and these two retro bikes are just the start. Way back in December 1922, BMW chief designer Max Friz began work on the firm’s first motorcycle. At its heart was an air-cooled, four-stroke, boxer-twin engine. The first BMW motorcycle, the R 32, was presented in September 1923. This heralded the beginning of BMW motorcycle production. BMW Motorrad is now presenting the R nineT Roadster and the R 18 Cruiser as 100 Years edition models. In keeping with the year in which BMW Motorrad was founded, both models are limited to 1923 units each: can you see what they did there? Doubtless they’ll sell out. The new R nineT 100 Years has many special chrome features along with black details (mirroring many…

How many times have you heard some smartarse roll out the phrase: ‘Work smarter, not harder!’ Well done if you resisted the urge to hurl a stapler at them. It is a frustratingly patronising axiom but it’s also annoyingly accurate and very apposite when ‘on the tools’. A recent shed session on one of CMM’s project bikes saw yours truly locked in a messy tryst with some brake hydraulics. Studiously ignored for decades and delightfully covered in heaven knows what, a good hosing in brake cleaner did little to brighten them up. Several days soaking in penetrating fluids might notionally have had some impact, but then perhaps not. If the brake fluid inside wasn’t leaking out then it was highly unlikely the contents of various aerosol cans was going to…