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

The Team • How do you like yours?

STEVE HARRIS (1949-2022)

specials we like • From SoCal (USA), Hellenic Republic (Greece), and the United Kingdom (that’s us)

Finally runs out of steam

PS MAIL • Write a letter to The PS and if it’s Star Letter material you win a staggering £35’s worth of cleaning materials

PS social club • Chris asks… What’s your favoured approach when starting a new project? Stock, discreetly improved, or all-out modified special?

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

2. TREVOR NATION • Famed for his Norton rotary years, Trev rode all sorts of stuff with strong results

VALVE JOBS • Standard Yamaha RD350YPVS or RZ/YPVS hybrid? Can a homebrewed mongrel top the factory product? Let’s see

SELECTOR A2 LICENCE BIKES • If you’ve already got your full licence – fine (lovely, smashing, super). But if you haven’t yet (or know someone about to embark on getting it done) these are the PS-era bikes to look at

BEST OF PS TRACK BIKES • We invite a select few PS readers to Cadwell Park to sample their different track creations – and we don’t go away disappointed. All mighty impressive machines

POSTER

MECHANICAL MYTH-BUSTING (OR NOT) • Say something often enough and it will become fact, even when it isn’t. Sometimes, however, the rumours are all too true. That’s how it is is when it come to the folklore surrounding motorcycle mechanicals. We take a look at some perennial favourites

ELECTRICS – THE MOST MYTHICAL ISSUES OF ALL • If there are problems likely to beset all of us, they tend to be electrical. Ferret looks at some common specifics that teach wider lessons

NORTON V4:TAKE TWO • Norton’s V4 superbike was born amid yet more tarnish for the historic name. This new version comes awash with Indian cash and goodwill, rather than the previous background of misappropriated pensions and false promises. New owners TVS invited us to ride this production-ready machine at Mallory Park

Can Norton be trusted now and in future?

RESTORING LAVERDA TRIPLES • They were never cheap, and nothing’s changed there. Yet, dependable specialists and upgraded parts abound

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

Colin Webb 1990 KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 C1 • Same chassis (with a few sensible mods), but Colin’s been through a few engines while racking up his current 109,000 on the odometer

LIVING WITH A ZZ-R1100 C1

DOUBLE OR NOTHING • Yes, part 7. As the ZXR ‘quick flip’ firmly establishes itself as medium-term project, Alan takes a sneaky side-bet on this Frankie-rep SRAD to try and turn a quick buck..

PROJECT ZX990 TURBO MORALE BOOSTER • Nervous? Trembling? You betcha. But the ZX990’s dyno debut has finally arrived, courtesy of fellow turbo addict: Guy Martin. The results are worth waiting for

Quick guide to turbo ancillaries

GREAT BRITISH GARAGES • The nation’s home mechanics and bike industry pros reveal their workshop set-ups, their best, and top tips

Murdered Laverda rides again • This...