Motorcycle Mechanic magazine

So I was on Ebay bought a bunch of old Motorcycle Mechanic Fortnightly from the 80's . Amazing to see how much has changed , some of the road tests on 50cc to 900cc . Reading these are great seeing some of the things you could get for our favorite bike brand new , case guards, Rickman fairings, Vetter fairings ....all before the internet , you had to mail off a form to order items ...good time.

 

That was a great magazine. There was a section called Down at the Dealers. As you say all the old things you could get Rickman frames too a friend of mine had a Rickman Z1000. Tyres have got a lot wider too fuel injection, etc. Great times.

 

There was also a road test l read perhaps in the same magazine. It was the XJ650 and l remember then stating Yamaha had put the alternator behind the cylinders to narrow the overall engine width. I always liked the XJ motorcycles. My 900f is for my nephew once l am too old for motorcycles. He might have to wait longer if l get a sidecar .

 

Correct, because the xj was sort of a redesign of the xs

 

On the subject of early Japanese bikes the brakes were lethal in the wet. How many owners upgraded their brakes, my Suzuki GT250 was not very good at stopping in the wet.

 

Was just reading one from 82 about Learner plates , realize England has or had restrictions on size (cc displacement) 50cc and 125 as I understand between 16 to 17 seems to be restriction . Unlike here if you got the $$ and can get a licence you can walk in and ride out on a Busa or any large displacement sport bike . I've been riding since I was 14 , been down once ( knock on wood only once) I'm no hooligan rider , my pet peeve is the , a#$hole riding wheelies in traffic . Any way I'm still laughing at some of the changes in motorcycle design and some of the "cool" accessories and how they have evolved.

 

I passed my test on my Suzuki GT250. The 125cc learner law was introduced in an attempt to reduce the numbers of learners killed or injured. So much has changed better handling machines better brakes and more powerful bikes. Didn't realize a learner could buy a superbike in the United States.

 

The Yamaha 50cc moped was popular with 16 year olds in the UK. A friend had one with the yellow tank and side panels and black decals. Like the Kenny Roberts racing machine colours.

 

Worse yet is that in many states you don't even need to show that you have a motorcycle endorsement to buy a motorcycle from a dealership.

 

Where l live there is a DVLA Driver Vehicle Licencing Agency test centre a minute walk from my house. I stop and speak to instructors and older motorcyclist's who are taking refresher courses to go back on bikes. The courses are not compulsory and are run by private companies. I didn't do the course but l did the Biker Down course run by the Fire Service. Big difference in the USA where a learner doesn't even need a licence to buy and ride a superbike. I didn't know that.

 

You can buy without a license (not everywhere though) but you do need an endorsement to ride legally on public roads. Most states offer rider training courses as the primary method for getting an endorsement, and you can't get an endorsement (there may be exceptions) without having already obtained a driver's license for automobiles.

 

I had my full car driving licence which was also a provisional motorcycle licence up to 250cc machines. Same as the UK then k-moe.

 

Yes, except for the cc limit. In The U.S. a learner permit has to be obtained, and the learner has to ride with a licensed motorcyclist over the age of 21 (again, this varies by state) supervising while on public roads.

 

And what about the motorcycle test in the States? Do you have theory and practical? I passed my car test in 1980 and motorcycle test in 1981. Nearly 60 now, how time flies. My nephew will do a two part test which is a good thing but I expain to him as much as I can about potential dangers and how to avoid them. I posted a video last night on the safety section of this site about the hazards especially for learners on the dangers as my father taught me. One big difference though mobile phone users, we have to be eternally vigilant with some of the stupid people who drive and especially text.

 

We have theory and practical tests. Most often given as part of a beginning rider's course.

 

That's good way to train people.

 

Training someone of a younger age is a great thing, but they still have to experience life on the road to figure it out. Do you all remember back in the day when YOU felt invincible?

 

Yes l do and l am more wary now but l will keep riding my bike.

 

Yes, I can clearly remember climbing into the tops of 80-100' tall Doug Fir trees as a youth, no harness and no worries.
That mindset (which lasts a bit too long) is a big part of why Fitz started: be-the-bunny-safe-riding-and-motorcycle-survival-thread.11852

 

Back to the topic. My favorite modern motorcycle magazine is Classic Motorcycle Mechanics. I learned a lot about 2 stroke engines from their articles, especially how to build-up a RD350 to a race spec.

 

'Good judgement comes from experience, and experience-well that comes from poor judgement' Anon.

 

Yes the two strokes l read somewhere they used riffer files to alter the ports. Never tried that myself but it was interesting. I assume the RD race spec motor gave more power high up the rev range with a narrow power band.

 

More power everywhere because of the powervalve. Horrible fuel economy though.

 

Yes the powervalve model I was thinking of the fixed port machines. Classic Motorcycle Mechanics I will have a look at their website.

 

What is so great about these old magazines , so many 2 stroke road tests and reading owner stories. RD 250,350,400 , Suzuki , and of course the impressive Kawasaki 2 stroke powerful engines ,wimpy frames , poor tires . Even in the day handling was poor on most bikes , can you imagine a modern up to date bike with a 2 stroke , so powerful and light . Of course I would still love still love to own an RD 400 Daytona

 

The two strokes were great. I remember all of the machines in the showroom. The Kawasaki 750 l never had the chance to try. I liked the GT750 Suzuki too. Great reading about those machines. Some frames were not up to the engine's power but l wonder how they would handled with better quality tyres. I used Dunlop TT 100 tyres back then. They were good.

 

I just added a 2-smoker to the stable on Friday. 2004 KDX220R for my 15 yo. He just grew another 6" so he's stepping up to a full size trail bike from a DRZ125.
Shameful what an old clapped out dirt bike still goes for. There is a long list of niggling issues that we've already got a good start on. It already looks way better.
He and I spent all weekend on his restoration. I told him the more you wrench on it the more it becomes your bike. Now he can't wait to get back out to the garage.
The thumpers are way more maintenance intensive, I was focused on a Honda CRF250X because they're essentially unchanged from 2003 to present but top & bottom rebuilds are called for every 250 hours.
Plus battery and valve adjustments.

 

Can you post some pictures Simmy as you restore it?

 

I missed the shot of when I offloaded it. The seller didn't even wash it.
I can post a few pics, but I'm mindful that many on here have little interest in off-road bikes.

I laugh when I see green anodized levers and foot pegs from China when the owner has neglected all sorts of things.

 

True my nephew has a KTM 250 he hammers it and needs to rebuild the engine. Just a picture or two you can put it in the other motorcycle section if you like.

 

I have a 2005 KTM EXC525 I think I've put a total of 120 hours on it from new.
Mostly just trail ridden but I did a couple road race track days with it in supermotard trim.
I remember passing a sport bike on the outside of turn 2 at Shannonville and the prick pushed me off the outside.
I'm now on the grass at 100 mph staring at the freaking ambulance parked at the end of the straight.
I got slowed and back on the track, not sure if it would have been the case on a heavier street bike.
What could be more ironic than going for a ride in the ambulance after hitting it.
I've never experienced a more thrilling ride than that monster hit of that thumper.
I have a friend with the same bike, he bored and stroked it, now over 600 cc's.
Its strictly a road bike now, there's way too much power off road now.

 

Yes that's the problem if someone does something stupid. That 600cc will be a beast. My nephew is after a 900 Diversion plenty for sale here and he has read the write up on them in Motorcycle News.

 

Has anyone read Cycle World the one Kevin Cameron does the technical stuff in?

 

I had a couple of Kawasaki 500's. Sluggish off the line, fantastic power band, horrible death wobble around 100 MPH.

 

Yes, since before Mr. Cameron became the technical writer.
In fact there were several years where he was the only reason I subscribed to the magazine.

 

I like his videos on YouTube, short and informative.

 

Omg the ads from this magazine blows me away . To see ads for the " new" Honda CB 650 with the enclosed front brake, ads that showed horsepower rating . Another for the CX 500 , or FT500 ( Ascot in US) , 550 Vision ,and of course our favorite XJ 550,650,750,900 . Glad I bought these magazines , can't stop reading these .

 

Never tried the CX500 or the FT, think it was a single. The Honda CBX 550 had an enclosed front brake.

 

Two-strokes will be the theme for the 2021 motorcycle show put on by Minnesota's Old Japanese Motorcycle Club. If you're around next June, you should stop by and check it out.

 

I used to live in Egan worked 18 years for NWA still miss Red Tails . Might go . Been reading in these magazines now I want a LC 250,350 , the best review was for the 81 Yamaha XJ550 got rave reviews only squak was the fuel gauge should be traded for a clock ...why I have a wrist watch . Still love ads for new bikes would love to see these today with modern bikes . So humourous to see vendor adds to mail inquiries on products for catalogs , definitely OLD SCHOOL ...wait I was 14 then

 

I was about 16 when I read the first road report of the 'new' XJ550 in Motorcycle Mechanics - our school library had a subscription ( yes really!) I lusted after it and had one when I was 19.. Now I have another.

 

When I was interested in getting a motorcycle in 1985 I stopped at the sheriff's office to get a learner's permit for motorcycles. He said South Dakota didn't have one. I asked "how is a person supposed to learn?" He said, "good question, find a country road and don't get caught." Mind you I was 26 years old at the time.

So, I bought my XJ550 from a dealer after having only ridden a motorcycle once for about 15 minutes. Drove the new cycle straight to the courthouse (20 minute drive) to take the test for a license. Took the test and even passed the driving test. The DMV person gave me a break I am sure... she said "You passed...barely...I think you are mature enough to not be stupid."

Still riding the same bike all these years later.... and things have changed a lot even in SD...

 

I started out on a Honda Trail 70 automatic ran the wheels off of it almost anyway. Rode my dad's Honda CB 550 till he sold it ...finally when I was 23 bought my first " real bike" 84 Kawasaki 550 ltd rode every where had it for almost 10 years , was moving and needed a new refrigerator, sold bike and was able to buy new top of the line frig ...I made motorcycle noise when wife was close by lol . Had a 92 seca 2 for a couple of days long story but returned it to dealer. Bought my first new bike a 2003 Buell Blast 500 , yes it was a thumper single cylinder had a Kerker pipe louder than most Harleys . This bike was faster than you would think miss it ,sold it to a co worker that I tought how to ride, he fell in love with it and kept it for 5 years before he got a bigger bike . Bought an 82 Virago 750 with only 4700 miles for 400$ after I got the starter ironed out and carb jets straightened out was a great bike ...put it on Craig's list sold it 30 minutes later for 1500$ , I only had 300$ in it so for once I was good on it. The next bike I should have kept 82 Honda CB 750 custom with 4200 miles original owner passed away , still had original tires , the charging system was out . Replaced rotor this fixed that...put it on Craig's list phone did not stop ringing ...bought bike for 1300$ and sold it for 2000$ . Went several years with no bike finally bought my 82 XJ750 Seca ..was going to flip it ...but truly love this bike had it for 4 years . And now have an 82 Seca 750 project bike in pieces ride on .