Workshop

Spring is here, and obsessive suspension tinkerer Martin Gelder’s enthusiasm is undamped. Rebounding from a succession of old bikes with interesting steering, he weaves his way through a list of suggestions to help get the most out of a bike’s handling… The science of how (and even why) motorcycles handle is a subject of much…

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Paul Jennings had been perfectly happy with the Mikuni carb fitted to his BSA B44. So he had some misgivings about swapping to a brand new Amal Concentric. Here’s what he discovered… Six or seven years ago when I put my B44 together I was determined to make it as easy to start and reliable…

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A damaged mounting can mean the end of an original component’s useful life. Alan Goff didn’t want to throw away the tank badge for his Triumph T90, so set about fixing it… I also own ‘Puddle Jumper’ a Triumph T20 Tiger Cub (seen on RC before at www.real classic.co.uk/newsfiles/news08101700.html), and recently acquired one of the…

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If you can’t elevate your classic bike to get at its underside then Andy Bone has a suggestion: borrow a trick from the classic car crowd. Better than laying on the ground, any day! Some folk say that a man’s shed is an extension of himself, whether it is a shed on an allotment, a…

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The sticky business of cleaning and re-sealing fuel tanks can be tricky to get right first time, especially as there are so many cleaners and sealants now on the market. Ian Potter of Tank Care Products shares some of his expertise with us… I have sold many thousands of these kits and coated many tanks…

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Stu Thomson wanted to improve the low-rev running on his Laverda 750 twin. So here’s how he fitted a modern electronic ignition unit to it… I have fitted a Pazon Surefire ignition to my Laverda 750cc SF1. I used the unit designed for the Triumph, BSA and Norton twins. I am a retired engineer and…

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Classic bikes can create all sorts of problems, especially the more unusual models. Phil Speakman has been puzzling over how to extract a seized crank on his Adler Favorit… When you’re rebuilding a classic bike there’s a certain amount of procrastination involved. Although maybe ‘procrastination’ isn’t really the right word now I think about it.…

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The Power Behind The Bang Behind The Clutch Behind The Rear Tyre… Dave Minton explains about sparks… You may have grasped that I have, through probably crack brained deliberations, become the owner of a Velocette Venom. As to the reason why, rather than repeat myself or leave insufficient opportunity for further tales of the drive…

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If you’re restoring a classic bike at home, then you’ll inevitably need to paint some components. Sending everything off to the professionals can be costly, so Laurie Packer investigates a new DIY option… With a good few restorations under my belt I am delighted when I come across a product which does exactly as it…

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As Alan Goff discovered recently, it’s not always easy fit a new set of shock absorbers to your classic bike (particularly if you have just the one set of hands). He built a special service tool to take the strain… Alan Goff recently rebuilt his Triumph Tiger Cub (you’ll be able to read all about…

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