Practical Sportsbikes

Practical Sportsbikes magazine is about buying, fixing, restoring and riding sportsbikes from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. Every issue of PS – the magazine home of new-wave Japanese and Italian classics – is packed with: - The most inspiring and ingenious reader restorations - The most in-depth road tests and buyers’ guides - Unmissable workshop tips and how-to features Practical Sportsbikes gets under the skin of the bikes that really matter to our readers and explains how best to maintain, rebuild and enjoy them. So if you’re in to sportsbikes from the 1970-1990s, PS is essential reading.

welcome

Absolute tools • Not the sharpest in the ’box, by any measure

Contributors this month

BUELL ARE BACK • H-D sells the name… but Erik won’t be involved

BIKES REUNITED

specials we like • Bangin’ builds from around the globe (and Europe) Are we still allowed to go there? Bangin’ builds from... yes, yes, yes

Thirsty TDR is still the way to go for kicks

ps mail • Write a letter to The PS and if it’s Star Letter material you win a year’s subscription to The PS. So you do, too

PSPB social club • Bikes and goings-on from our Facebook group

IN YOUR SHED • Part way through a restoration? Just completed a trick special? Send us your pics, and details

MASTER BAKER • Chris Anderson didn’t just want to build a Steve Baker tribute bike, he wanted it bristling with just about every RD/LC mod under the sun

25 ESSENTIAL FIXES PART ONE • With decent riding weather right around the corner, now’s the time to make sure your scoot’s in tip-top trim. Check it over, and check these out if it needs a tickle

THE FANTASTIC 400S • Like 250 two-strokes, but with greatly reduced self-destructive tendencies, slightly more room for the larger citizen, and huge reward when ridden as hard as they demand to be

TRIDENT TESTED • The Trident is a classic Triumph triple, but with the fluff and gadgets stripped away – and all the better for it, says chief simpleton Newbigging

Practical sportsbikes

STAR QUALITY • Yes, it’s a performance bike… Ducati relaunch the XDaivel with a range-topping Black Star version, and continue to shatter all ‘cruiser’ preconceptions

KIT OUT YOUR WORKSHOP • If it’s where you spend most of your active life, you may as well populate the place with half-decent gear. Please allow Alan Seeley to give you a steer...

TOOLS WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT • It’s no exaggeration to say your favourite tools are the best friends you’ll ever have. Certainly in Alan’s case

1992 -1995 HONDA CBR900RR • This 30-year-old gem is now a realistic resto proposition. Hard to believe. Seems like yesterday

EXPERT VIEW

OUR EXPERTS

What’s the problem? • Bike not running right? Our experts have the answers to the toughest questions

Tom Busfield • Runs a prototyping business out of his garage. Had a great life too – until Chris Newbigging entered

5 Tom’s favourite tools… • Big, small, dangerous, sentimental, all bases covered... and a glaring Warco omission rectified to boot

THE REAL LONG-TERMERS • He’s had it from the get-go, and he’s less than likely to let go after 36 years, four engine swaps, and great memories

LIVING WITH A GSX-R750F

PROJECT ZX990 TURBO FINISH NEARLY IN SIGHT • No. Not that finish. Not completion. Just the frame and swingarm finish. We can all sit down and relax. Again

Fengineer’s fengine transplant • Gifted a decent ’99 CR250 rolling chassis, East Anglia’s premier eel breeder gets to work

This is your wake up call! • Ten more ’orses, bags more grunt, a lot more noise, and now no more jerking for Nu-G’s Nu-Kat

Action now on glacial erosion • At last, someone is finally doing...