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

Strokes of mediocrity • Emitting noxious fumes, and no longer welcome in the USA (if ever they were)

RETURN OF THE WHIPPET • Aussie firm SALT Motorcycles invokes the spirit of the SDR200 with new 50bhp smoker

specials we like • ★ From Nippon, from (O) Canada, and from right here in old Albion too

Sauce expert pours scorn on PS’s choice

ps mail

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

IN YOUR SHED

TRUE ORIGINAL • A faux Rossi-rep was never going to cut it for Paul Burge. So he built a frame and swingarm from scratch to create this astonishing homage to old Valentino

2-T TECH • The PS charts the development of the simple, powerful two-stroke engine – an evolution that may not be nearly quite as ‘over’ as its detractors believe

TWO-STROKES (still) rule the roost • The two-banger is still the boss for the hard enduro boys: KTM’s 300 EXC TPI is the most advanced production smoker still on sale, and the tool of choice for the experts. Chris tries one and struggles not to feel inadequate...

MUTOID FIZZY • Part Yamaha YB100, part Honda CR80, with some MotorHispania RX50 thrown in, this is no ordinary FS1-E. In fact it’s hardly an FS1-E at all

OUR TOP TWO-STROKES • The people of The PS bring you the two-strokes that left indelible impressions on their lives, from learner stuff to full-on race machines, field bikes to open class MX tackle. And in Part Two (page 45) racers rave about their faves too

POSTER

RACERS’ FAVE TWO-STROKES • They’ve been riding two-strokes since TZs ruled the grids in the early 1970s, and here are their number one selections... the best of the best, by the best

SELECTOR BIG MILERS • Fazer Thou, Blackbird and Bandit 12 engines can all take 100,000 miles, and the bikes are relatively comfortable over distance too. Does anyone actually need a so-called tourer?

KAWASAKI ZXR750 H1/H2 • Relatively rare forerunner of the popular and long-running ZX-7R, but still a fine resto prospect

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

Mark Gaylard 1995 Triumph Speed Triple • When you own a bike for 20 years, and when you keep making incrememntal improvements over those two decades, you end up with this

PROJECT ZX990 TURBO SUPPORTING ROLE • After seemingly decades of build, it would be better if the ZX990 didn’t make its way into the nearest ditch. Fortunately, we know some people who can prevent this

Charlie Rich-Pitman • He builds some belting bikes, and even performs the occasional faithful resto (totally against his nature). And all from this neat and modest premises

5 Charlie’s top tools... • From high-end precision instruments to eBay punts, with some lemon-flavoured cleaning product too

Stalled by sheer bad planning • Schoolboy errors cost grown man a chance at finally completing a four year endeavour

Stem seal therapy • 49,000 miles have taken their toll on the poor cylinder head

Mini Twins: tight at the top • With one more round to go things are getting tough for Forsyth Junior. Now it’s all to play for...

Bandit...