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

Rare breeds • Should ideally be stabled in some low rent petting-zoo, but are unfortunately free to roam

WHIT’S KILLER-K SURFACES • Fancy owning a bit of big, bad road racing folklore? Here’s your chance

specials we like • From Japan, from Sweden, and Arizona, US of A

If you can’t rely on your mates...

ps mail • Write a letter to The PS and if it’s Star Letter material you win a PS T-shirt ‘designed’ by Damian Smith. Aye

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

IN YOUR SHED

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER • The Petronas FP1 was 2003’s most exciting new bike: an all-new homologation special with significant British engineering input. But they were never to reach owners, never mind measure up to the best superbikes of the day… until now

BUYING ONE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE • Build a race bike from scratch and take a WSB pole in 12 months. Yeah, right. How Team Foggy Petronas failed heroically

VFR/RVF DOUBLE TAKE • Two transformations of Honda’s deservedly ubiquitous VFR800i: one subtle, the other in your face. Both very different, both commendably fit for purpose

FORGOTTEN TREASURE • An oh-so-right big four that hit the market at precisely the wrong time, the CB1100F is a rare gem that despite a ten grand price tag, is still properly good value

Practical Sportsbikes

THE GROM WAY ROUND • Want a REAL adventure? Bin the GS, and get on a minibike. Old Farmer Chris and his dad take on the NC500 on 12-inch wheels

FIRST GENERATION 250 RACE REPS • Often ignored in the recent rush to buy later V-twin versions, these early quater-litre strokers are still halfway decent value for money – and as just as entertaining too

Guy Martin • The world’s best-known petrolhead takes PS on a tour of the workshop where his maddest schemes take shape... a window into the soul of a man on a mission

5 Guy’s top tools... • From machine tools to super-high-end wire-locking pliers to nifty homemade piston ring compressors

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

DUCATI PANTAH • Among the more affordable Duke resto options, the mechanically robust Pantah has a lot going for it

THE REAL LONG-TERMERS • Mark Fenton 1999 Honda RVF400 130,000 miles covered and just a seized choke plunger and a busted clutch actuator bearing its only troubles, that’s some reliability record

KEEP COOL. AND CARRY ON • Stability is the main concern this month: of both engine temperature and chassis. As for time... we’ve lost all sense of that. Can it really be 2024 already? Good grief

Laurel and Hardy hit The Pod • Stan Seeley and Oliver Hurd make with the GS1157 at Bedfordshire’s famed Raceway

In the wind. Or not in the wind • That is the question. There are other questions too. More questions than answers, as it turns out

Runner-up by a gnat’s whisker • Second in a Championship in your rookie season ain’t bad going. Hats off to young Adam

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