Classic Motorcycle Repair

Motorcycle Classics’ editors explain how to install switched relay dual horns on a Honda GL1100.

Since 1948, Barnett Clutches and Cables has been producing clutches and control cables with direct-fit/upgrade applications for just about everything on two wheels.

Kevin Lemire shares the story of his efforts with British motorcycle restoration.

Motorcycle Classics’ editors show you how to replace pushrod tube seals on BMW /5, /6 and /7 airhead twins.

Stripped spark plug threads? Don’t worry, the editors of Motorcycle Classics have you covered with a simple How-To on repairing stripped spark plug threads by installing a thread insert.

Learn about the types of two-part adhesives and how they can assist with structural repair.

Motorcycle Classics shows you how to overhaul an Amal Concentric carburetor often used on classic British motorcycles.

RS Bike Paint Ltd, Europe’s leading supplier of motorcycle paint to the aftersales market is pleased to announce the launch of their new, updated internet site/shop.

Editor Richard Backus explains how classic motorcycle projects, particularly a recent suspension project on his Laverda RGS, don’t always go as planned.

Installing rear swingarm bushings is relatively easy. We show you how on a Honda CB500.

Voodoo Vintage Fabrication is set to release the widest range of vintage style custom motorcycle frames in North America. The frames are perfect for individuals interested in building their own custom motorcycles on limited budgets.

Jon Dieman shared photos of his BMW R90/6, bought new in 1976 and rebuilt (with a few modifications) after an unfortunate encounter with a little old lady in a Plymouth.

How-To: Service the swingarm bearings on a BMW /5 to correct sloppy handling.

Jennifer discusses the cost of building a custom motorcycle from a project bike, and how doing some of the work yourself can cut down on your financial investment.

We show you how to service the steering head bearings on a BMW R75/5.

Jennifer tackles the sometimes-frutrating process of lacing spokes and truing wheels for her Triumph Bonneville restoration. This blog was originally posted as "Real Life Wrenching: How to be a spokes person" on motorcycleclassics.com.

Motorcycle Classics’ tech expert Keith Fellenstein helps set the timing gears on a Triumph 650 engine build.

Motorcycle Classics’ tech expert Keith Fellenstein gives advice on when to replace wheel bearing grease on a 1972 Honda CB500.

Motorcycle Classics’ tech expert Keith Fellenstein solves the problem of brake drag on a 1977 Honda CB750K

Motorcycle Classics’ tech expert Keith Fellenstein figures out a 1983 Suzuki GS1100E that won’t shift into neutral

Motorcycle Classics’ tech expert Keith Fellenstein solves the problem of replacing fork gaiters on a Triumph Bonneville without removing the fork.

Step-by-step: Upgrading a Norton Commando Lucas ignition system to a Tri-Spark electronic ignition

Motorcycle Classics editors give tips for successful metal polishing on a Laverda RGS 1000 clutch cover with a clear-coat finish

Motorcycle Classics has teamed up with Dairyland Cycle Insurance – sponsors of our popular 2010 Bonneville Build – for another bike project. Like previous builds our next project will be a custom classic. But this time, we want you to help us choose our build bike by voting for your favorite in the Motorcycle Classics/Dairyland Cycle Insurance Race To Rebuild.

Step-by-step instructions on a fork rebuild for a 1973 Honda CB500. It's not as hard as you think. Just click here for our tutorial to learn how to give your old Honda's tired front end a new lease on life.

Strictly Hodaka, the #1 supplier of new and used Hodaka parts in the world, sent us the following appeal to Hodaka owners to pre-order clutch plates so they can meet their order minimum. Seems like a good opportunity for Hodaka owners to ensure they can keep their – and other Hodaka owners’ – bikes on the road. Read on:

MC Tech Corner expert Keith Fellenstein gives a reader advice on starting a 1963 BMW R69S in cold weather.

Keith Fellenstein offers some guidelines regarding Triumph valve adjustment.

Californian Rick Krost focuses on crafting custom motorcycle frames inspired by the board tracker motorcycles of yore.

Back when girder forks were status quo, various types were tried and developed.

Jim Alaimo offers his step-by-step process to rebuilding classic bikes "on the cheap."

James Alaimo recaps his classic motorcycle restoration projects from 2010. 

"My oldest daughter and I walk down the street to Bonnie, my trusty T100 Triumph Bonneville. Life is good. But something isn’t right. The bike is standing a bit more vertical than usual. It is almost to the point of tipping off of the sidestand. What’s this? A flat rear tire! Looks like it's time for a little motorcycle tire repair." Follow Bo Miller as he takes us step-by-step through a sidewalk motorcycle tire repair on a T100 Triumph Bonneville.

Custom motorcycle tips to help handicapped riders get back on the road again.

Custom improvements helped one handicapped rider get back on his Honda motorcycle again.

The Motorcycle Classics and Dairyland Cycle Insurance Custom Triumph Bonneville Build is finished!

The Motorcycle Classics and Dairyland Cycle Insurance custom Triumph Bonneville build takes shape.

Motorcycle Classics and Dairyland Cycle Insurance team up to craft a modern take on a custom classic — the bobber.

Modern performance with Race Tech cartridge emulators and shocks.

You don’t have to be a pro to get great results when recovering your motorcycle seat.

While most of us might not have the skills to rebuild an engine or transmission, reupholstering a motorcycle seat cover is a project within reach of the average Do-It-Yourselfer.

The BikeBandit.com/Motorcycle Classics 1973 Honda CB500 is done – and one lucky reader is taking it home!

A few months ago, it looked like we had all the time in the world to put our 1973 Honda CB500 back together for the 5th Annual Barber Vintage Festival on Oct. 10. Suddenly, the festival’s right around the corner, and we’re scrambling to get our café-d Honda up and running.

This rebuild came about as part of Project Café, the 1973 Honda CB500 Four we’ve been morphing into a street café racer with help from BikeBandit.com. We covered rebuilding the brake caliper in the September/October 2009 issue, a project you can also find here on our website.

Rebuilding the front brake caliper and installing new brake pads.

Six months ago we turned the first wrench on our Triumph TR6C project, and it’s now finally drawing to a close.

Blame a long, cold winter, but progress on our 1971 Triumph TR6C moved at a glacial pace after our last report in the March/April issue. But with spring’s welcomed arrival, we finally had a chance to get back into the shop and make some headway. And as the pics show, our project bike is starting to come together.

It is all in the semantics… “Restoration” invokes images of powder-coated frames and blue-printed motors – the end result being a vehicle that shows significantly more precise and expert attention to detail than the original ever could. I’ve never attempted to go that far with any project… 

This month, we chose two “How-To” projects: upgrading to tapered steering head bearings and installing our fancy new rear swingarm bushings.

We install a Works Performance Steel Tracker TRS on a 1991 BMW K100RS

Rebuilding the carburetors on the Motorcycle Classics Project Café 1973 Honda CB500 bike.

Ask any classic motorcycle restorer who built their wheels, and chances are they’ll mention Buchanan’s Spoke & Rim.

As you may have gathered from earlier columns, I do enjoy tinkering with my bikes. This goes without saying if one rides a less-than-very-new motorcycle. I have managed to make most of the common blunders while attempting general maintenance, and probably invented a few more along the way. 

It is a nasty sleety kind of winter day and I am sitting in my shop, tea in hand, just contemplating all things motorcycle. 

Rebuilding the forks on the Motorcycle Classics Project Cafe 1973 Honda CB500 bike.

BikeBandit.com and Motorcycle Classics team up to turn a 1973 Honda CB500 into a café racer.

If you ride and maintain older British bikes, then this is the appropriate term when one is forced to use a piece of wire to hold some component together.  This is to avoid resorting to trailers or other embarrassing forms of transport for the last leg of the trip.  

All of my life I have been in the lucky position of assuming that good health is the normal state, and that anything less is an aberration that will soon pass.

There never was any concrete plan to restore or resurrect abandoned and abused air-heads, but somehow for the past six years, my garage has become a winter workshop. Let me hastily add that I make no claims to being a mechanic. I just can’t stand the sight of an otherwise lovely old boxer resting derelict under a pile of accumulated debris. It must be rescued!

Gear Driven: Nine goodies to get your classic motorcycle on the road again

Our long-term Royal Enfiled Bullet receives a host of performance and appearance upgrades.

City College of San Francisco is offering a motorcycle restoration class, and it has been very popular.

We take a beat up and unloved 1971 Triumph TR6C Trophy Special and aim to get it back on the road.

Part two of our rebuild of a 1971 Triumph TR6C Trophy.