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

Hair today, gone tomorrow • Wild-haired loons emerging from lockdown

Contributors this month

MoT REVISED TO ALLOW HID OR LED CONVERSION • Want brighter bulbs? They’re now approved, as long as they work correctly

BIKES REUNITED

specials we like • ★ Two bangin’ builds from The Far East. And one out west, from The US Of The A

ps mail • Write a letter to The PS and if it’s Star Letter material you win a full year’s subscription to the very same

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

THE REAL DEAL • Most race replicas are little more than a visual nod to their inspirations. But not Michael Peterson’s Honda RC24. Dripping in pukka HRC parts, and beautifully engineered one-off components, it’s so close in spec to Fred Merkel’s 1986 AMA championship winning VFR750F Interceptor it could pass for the real thing

WHO WAS FLYIN’ FRED?

MY FIRST YEAR ON THE ROAD • No one ever forgets their first bike, their first crash, or the untold nickings and carrying-on. Here’s an assortment of top tales from what now seem like very far-off days

PS SELECTOR BIG PRACTICAL TWINS • Yes, practical, that’s what we do here if the title of the mag is to be believed. Honda, Suzuki and Priller made madder twins, sure, but VTR, SV and SL offer plenty for minimal money

Itching to scratch • Rutter’s lot simply cannot wait to start grinding knee sliders to dust. Meantime his chickens have benefitted hugely from the wait

Practical sportsbikes

VIVE LA DIFFERENCE • Anywhere except La Belle France, Gilles Nard’s design for the Nard Ultra 6 would be considered at best pointless, at worst laughable. No. It’s effective - and serious

ONE MORE PINT? • John Warren McGuinness, like every other road racer, has had another year twiddling his thumbs as the major races are cancelled. If he comes back in 2022, he’ll be 50. And he won’t have had a competitive ride for six seasons… a big ask. Old McPint (now MBE) tells The PSPB what’s on his mind

The wins, the records…

1983-1987 SUZUKI RG250 • LCs stole the show in the early ’80s, but the little RG was a gem - if only it had been a 350

25 ESSENTIAL FIXES PART TWO • Here comes the summer (or something closely resembling it). Maximise your enjoyment with our second selection of fixes to keep you riding – not spannering

THE REAL LONG-TERMERS • He likes his Kwakers, loves a bit of polishing, and that’s why Rick’s MKII is bordering on mint

LIVING WITH Z1000 MkII

THE MAIN MODS

OUR EXPERTS

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

ZX990 TURBO THE REUNION • Another generation of dinosaurs has been born, and then wiped out, as we patiently await completion of this thing

Harry Kane • Dig this. Short of space, this man decided the only way is down. So, he hired a digger and got cracking

5 Harry’s favourite tools... • All the usual suspects, sure. And a kitchen sink to die for. They’ll be shooting Masterchef...