Practical Sportsbikes

welcome

ISSUE 120 OCTOBER 2020 There’s a whiff of the unusual in this issue: and not just MG’s ‘Covid Casual’ homeworking wear, which rarely sees the inside of a washing machine… Our cover bike is Jake Thackray’s GSX-R750SP: a refreshing change from typical cradle-framed GSX-R specials (not least being based on the overlooked liquid-cooled models), and a great way to resurrect a rare (and blown-up) bike in boxes. The more you look, the more you see: and it’s not simply a wallet-opening exercise either (he is from Yorkshire after all). Spot the clever use of a cheapo photo frame, if you can, on page 25. MG was scrubbed-up and despatched to try Neil Lewin’s Rickman Z1170. Another unusual bike in the condition they were sold, but when Neil realised he wasn’t ageing quite as…

the team

Damian Smith Art Editor Our Damo had a birthday this month: he won’t tell us which one. He needn’t be bashful, as he looks far older than he probably is anyway. damian.smith@pspb.co.uk Mark Graham Production Editor Last month’s successful soaking in diesel of a seized swingarm pivot was a short-lived joy, as it seeped onto his prized lawn and left an RM370 swingarm-shaped dead patch. mark.graham@pspb.co.uk Alan Seeley Technical Editor The brains (such as they are) of our drag racing duo has been heard repeating ‘I told you so’ after a fuelling change made a marked difference to the GS1157. alan.seeley@pspb.co.uk Gary Hurd Workshop Consultant The brawn (as he clearly is) of our drag racing duo has been heard repeating ‘You’re sh*t, Alan’ after a rookie hopped on the bike and bettered Alan almost immediately. editorial@pspb.co.uk John McAvoy…

brand new lawson zeds

An American firm is scratchbuilding ten reproductions of Lawson’s Rob Muzzy-built and developed AMA bike. And you can buy one, if you’ve got serious lolly to spend. MotoGP Werks in California is working on the repros – everything bar original Kawasaki crankcases and a few minor rubber parts commercially available is being replicated, designed ,and made for the exclusive run of bikes. Owner Chris Redpath told The PS: “I am making everything - brake calipers, rotors, cranks, gearbox, dry clutch, cams, gaskets ,frame, swingarm, tanks and so on. Only one batch of 10 will be built.” The bikes are being built as close to original as possible - that includes the chro-moly chassis with mandrel-bent tubing that only Lawson’s bike had. When Kawasaki produced a small run of customer-spec race bikes derived from…

bikes reunited

Yes! Bikes Reunited has actually helped a reader find his old ride alive and well. Last month, Bill Richardson appealed for the whereabouts of his old Z1100R special, and Andrew Cole got in touch to say, “It’s here.” He told Bill, and The PS, “The ELR had been stood for over 10 years prior and was in a bit of a state. I’ve yet to ride it on the road but managed to get it fired-up, and it runs really well and sounds the business. “Very little appears to have changed regarding the spec. I painted the wheels, as the white paint had all just about fallen off. I’ve replaced the front forks with the FZR units as before, as the originals had seized. And I’ve just replaced the clutch plates…

specials we like

GUIGUIT RODRIGUE SUZUKI TL1000RR If there’s a more amazing looking TL-R out there than Guiguit Rodrigue’s delicious RR we’ve yet to see it. French TL fanatic Guiguit owns four of the Suzuki twins - two to ride, two for spares - but this black-framed (carbon covered) beauty is the stand-out. Spec includes forged PVM wheels, Vanzuki USA clear clutch cover, full Yoshimura exhaust system, AP Racing rear caliper (Guiguit has a set of Brembos and radial-mount GSX-R1000 forks ready to go on the front), and acres of carbon. Why couldn’t Suzuki have made it look this good? CHIBAAC YAMAHA RZ250 KATANA A Japanese drag racer, who goes by the name of Chibaac, wanted to build something outrageous that wouldn’t have looked out of place decades ago. Combining a Yamaha RZ250R frame and motor with Suzuki’s…

in your shed

Part way through a restoration? Just completed a trick special? Send us your pics, and details To: editorial@pspb.co.uk or post to In Your Shed Practical Sportsbikes, Media House, Lynch Wood , Peterborough PE2 6EA Yamaha FZR400RR SP Builder: Boris Cooke Owned for: six weeks So far: quick tidy-up What’s next: back to my own projects READY TO RIDE I’ve had a few FZR400s, and after posting about a 3TJ model project in the mag I was asked to finish a fellow reader’s SP. It started with those immortal words… “Its a rolling chassis, so just add a few bits, put the carbs on, change the shock, service…” We had the talk and I drew up a list. I dropped the engine, did the valves and repainted the covers, fitted an R6 shock with an extension piece and top hat…