Racers Volume 1, ’83 Honda NS500

Racers is a Japanese magazine focused on race bikes. Volume 1 focused on the Honda NS500

The Honda NS500 was a GP class motorcycle powered by a 500cc V3 two-stroke, built between 1982 and 1983 as a replacement for the technically advanced but unsuccessful NR500 four-stroke. The bike went against Honda’s preference for four-stroke engines but proved to be very effective and soon went on to take the 1983 500cc Championship with rider Freddie Spencer on board. Spencer was able to use the lower weight and superior handling of the NS500 to achieve higher corner speeds, and to get on the power earlier on corner exit.

The NS500 was replaced with the even more successful 500cc V4 two-stroke powered NSR500

• Liquid cooled three cylinder two-stroke, 495cc (62.4 x 54)mm
• 130BHP @ 11,000rpm, 57.9lb-ft @ 10,500rpm
• Reed valve inlet, ATAC exhaust chamber
• CDI ignition
• Three 36mm Mikuni carburetors
• Gear primary with chain final drive
• Dry multi-plate clutch, six speed gearbox
• Welded aluminium duplex cradle frame
• Telescopic RWU Showa forks with mechanical dive control, aluminium swinging arm with Show pro-link adjsustable shock abosorber
• Light-alloy Comstar type wheels
• Michelin 13/60 x 16 (dry), 12/60 x 16 (wet) front tyre
• Michelin 18/67 x 17 (dry), 18/67 x 16 (wet) rear tyre
• Dual floating discs with Nissin four-piston opposed calipers, front
• Single carbon floating disc, rear
• 19 litre fuel tank
• 1375mm wheelbase, 25deg rake
• 116-121kg dry weight according to specification

World’s Most Dangerous Sport (1955)

A look at one of the more extreme sports of the 1950′s.

Suzuki GSXR750WP – New Arrival

I picked this up in September last year, rode her for a bit, and then wrapped her up for winter. Last week I brought her back out the garage for a clean and service, and to fit new brake lines and pads. Then it snowed again.

“She”, is a 1993 Suzuki GSXR750WP and came with a full Arrow exhaust system already fitted, along with a K&N air filter, and a Dynojet kit. Rear suspension has been upgraded with a WP shock absorber.

The plan for this one is fairly simple: keep her on the road.

A GSXR is Born

Another cool video, this time it’s the birth of a GSXR. From forging the crank, to the finished product. Enjoy!

Yamaha FZR600R – Alloy Swinging Arm

 Some fairly significant changes were recently made to the FZR. The most noticeable probably being the swinging arm from a Yamaha Fazer 600. The rear caliper is from a Yamaha Fazer 1000, which required some minor modification to the 600 hanger in order to fit.

A Thundercat shock absorber has been fitted to replace the broken Nitron unit. Unfortunately it’s nowhere near as good, but at least it makes the bike road worthy until the Nitron can be repaired.

The bars have been relocated so that they sit underneath the top yoke. This gives a better body position for fast riding.

Now for Something Different: W800 Gentlemen Cup 2012

Here’s a new feature I’ve been meaning to start for a while.

Whilst browsing Youtube for awesome bike videos, I stumbled across this little gem. The description reads “Video vom ersten Rennen des Kawasaki W800-Cup. Der Film zeigt eine gekürzte Fassung des 2. Laufes in Bürglen TG.” Which is German, and translates to; “Video from the first race of the Kawasaki W800 Cup. The film shows a shortened version of the 2nd Run in Bürglen TG.”

Yamaha FZR600R – Cartridge Forks

The final year for production of Yamahas’ FZR600R was 1996 for Europe. In that final year the FZR was given cartridge forks, and a much improved rear shock absorber featuring a remote reservoir and adjustable rebound and compression dampening.

After waiting for quite some time I finally found a set of those final year forks on eBay. I rebuilt them with fresh seals, oil, and new Yacugar fork springs, and they are now installed in my bike.

All of this actually happened in the middle of March.

The install took about three hours including the time taken to rebuild the forks, and was done in the course of an afternoon.

So how do they work on the road? The new forks are awesome! They are so much better than the old set-up. Less violent diving under braking, far more responsive to changes in road surface, and with much better feedback. I now know exactly what the front end is doing and I like it.