Practical Sportsbikes

SUBSCRIBE TO GET YOUR FIX OF PS EVERY MONTH See page 40 I was against the idea of going to the TT, for some years. Its cruel side didn’t sit well with me: Gus Scott was a neighbour, and friend, and his accident in 2005 tainted it for me. But in 2010, work demanded I went. And I’m glad it did. The racing blew me away, of course. But it was the buzz on The Island that really got me hooked: as practice began to reveal who was on form anticipation built, and then the drama played out over race week. It was the year ‘Closer to the Edge’ was filmed with Guy Martin – the year he flambéed himself at Ballagarey in dramatic fashion. Then Conor Cummins did his superman bit,…

Damian Smith Art Editor Bob Jackson is my most memorable rider: he was the first rider I saw at 180mph on Sulby straight. There are other greats, but he stuck with my on my first visit. damian.smith@pspb.co.uk Mark Graham Production Editor Gotta be Foggy. It took seven years and the speed of Dave Jefferies on an R1 to beat his record on a 750 OW-01: no one pushed harder than him, Hickman and Harrison included. mark.graham@pspb.co.uk Alan Seeley Technical Editor Ronnie Smith. Not just because he was a fast competitor, but because of his sporting nature – refusing to take the podium until every rider had finished. Greatly missed. alan.seeley@pspb.co.uk Gary Hurd Workshop Consultant Phil Mellor, because he rode so hard to get great results on some really crap bikes over the years. editorial@pspb.co.uk facebook.com/groups/practicalsportsbikes editorial@pspb.co.uk…

A government proposal to seek new powers to prohibit and punish modification of motorcycles will not be applied in retrospect, it has been confirmed. The ‘Future of Transport Regulatory Review – Modernising Vehicle Standards’ aired in 2021 was ambiguous, failing to set out the extent of what they considered preventing us from changing, and whether they could be applied to bikes already on the road, as well as new machines sold after any possible introduction. A public consulation provoked backlash from all cornersof the automotive world, fearing proposals could strip us of the ability to restore or improve machines, or even fit more mundane parts such as luggage. The most recent parliamentary debate saw those fears allayed: the current proposals relate specifically to emissions and safety, so adjusting fuel injection, replacing exhausts or…

AUTO MAGIC DFC GPZX-10R Another GPZ900R special, right? Wrong. This trick looking Kawasaki, created by Auto Magic, is one of the firm’s trademark DFC builds (that’s Dual Frame Concept to you and me), born out of a customer request to transform a 2012 ZX-10R into something uniquely special. Auto Magic don’t believe in updating classic looks by simply grafting up to date running gear onto an old bike, or slipping period bodywork over a modern chassis. The Japanese specials shop instead fuses old and new as if it was meant to be. Here’s how they blended GPZ900R and ZX-10R to create a something way more special than the mere sum of its parts… “The ZX’s huge airbox wouldn’t fit the spine top frame so a smaller aluminium version was fitted” FRAME As the DFC tag suggests,…

The original CB750 is not to be confused with versions that followed (Top 10 750s, PS April 2022). The ’69/’70 machine was the original firebreather. It did 125mph, although Cycle World got more out of it. And it hit 100mph over the standing quarter at 12.6 seconds. I remember the headlines. It was the fastest thing tested and posted a higher top speed than the Kawasaki H2. Sadly the 1970 K1 version lost 500rpm, then the 1972 K2 also lost the awesome HM300 exhaust system, that same 500rpm, and also around 10mph. The Kawasaki H2 was quicker but handled like a Morrison’s shopping trolley. I had a new CB750 in 1970 – and the myth it didn’t handle was put out by the British motorcycle industry, who were afraid of it.…

There’s always more than one way to skin a Kwak MG’s KH1F is a lean, mean, green fightin’ machine, which makes my similar hybrid (H1/S3) look a bit of a lardy arse full dress tourer with all its road paraphernalia. This one is now about done other than any issues which crop up once in use. I started it up last night, and only had to tweak the throttle stop screws to raise the tickover a fraction to get it to idle reliably. Jarmer PS’s five star service Many thanks for your suggestions regarding my oil pressure problem in What’s The Problem? (in this issue of PS, June 2022). I’ve just returned from a 30 mile test ride after changing the switch, oil and filter last week with no issues. Great magazine, I especially like…