Workshop

Transform your juddering and shuddering classic bike into a smooth performer. Always a sucker for a workshop gadget, Martin Gelder presents a balanced approach to carburettor set-up using vacuum dial gauges… A set of carefully balanced carburettors can transform the way a bike rides. They can turn a shuddering and rattling monster into a smoothly…

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Many classic bike specialists run a technical helpline, and they’re often asked exactly the same question. So we investigated: what’s the most common technical question asked about Norton Commandos…? Some technical questions crop up time and again. Most classic bike specialists are happy to help their customers by providing this information and now they’re sharing…

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Even the best classic bike won’t corner correctly if its wheels are out of line. Les Howard has come up with an ingenious high-tech method to ensure one wheel follows the other, exactly… I’ve owned motorcycles for over 40 years, and repaired or renovated lots of them. Out of the all the maintenance jobs that…

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Dave Wooding’s saddle split and he didn’t want to pay top dollar for an inferior replacement. The solution was a leather saddle cover for less than a fiver… Problem? The fabric cover on the new Indian-made single saddle split as I fitted it to my old Enfield. Gaffer tape made a temporary repair, but would…

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There are probably more myths and misconceptions about oil and lubrication than any other subject in motorcycling. Gerry Bristow attempts to set straight some of the errors that masquerade as facts… What oil has to do The primary function of oil is to prevent metal to metal contact by introducing a film of oil between…

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When we observed in RealClassic magazine that two similar classic bikes were using their tyres very differently, and wondered what it could mean, RC readers provided all kinds of answers… Tyred and Bemused My Norton Commander needs a new rear tyre, which comes as a surprise. It’s many years since I wore a tyre out…

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Les Howard recommends a four stage process for stripping, cleaning, de-rusting and drying the petrol tank on your classic motorcycle. Appropriate clothing should be worn… One of the worst chores that is so often required on a classic bike today is renovating the inside of a steel petrol tank, usually because of rust or an…

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Karl Bentley investigates a misfire on his Yamaha XS650, and discovers that it’s all in the timing… Coming back from a wonderful ride (you can read about it here), the ignition timing on my XS650 slipped due to a loose timing disc. There are two main ways to check the timing on your bike. Static…

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Always on the lookout for quick and cost-effective remedies, Derek Pickard details a smart way to rid a petrol tank of filter-clogging rust… One thing which is really hard to fix in old bikes is rust in the petrol tank. No cleaning chemicals can do the job and we’re now learning how some of the…

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Aching elbows, creaking knees and a dodgy back? Neck stiff and wrists giving you gyp after a long ride? A bit of careful stretching can make all the difference, so we got registered osteopath Eileen Fox to bend us into shape… We’re none of us getting any younger, but a lot of the aches and…

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