Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Dedicated to the later classics and Japanese machines, Classic Motorcycle Mechanics has it all. Now 116 pages of road tests, rebuild guides, 'Street Specials' reviews and much much more... Staff Bikes - Classic Motorcycle Mechanics is the only magazine that "Buys its own bikes, rebuilds 'em and rides 'em".

Classic Motorcycle Mechanics • June 2026 Issue 464

Remember ‘running-in’ periods?

Dunlop debut!

Stuff • The latest riding kit, top tools, tyres, retro clothing and more!

ROADSKIN TYRIAN ARMOURED JEANS

OXFORD PRODUCTS ATMOS CORE BASE LAYERS

RECORD-BREAKERS AT STAFFORD!

THE BOOST BOYS ARE BACK!

SHEENE CELEBRATION

PRE-ORDER YOUR CMM

PETER PADGETT: 1931-2026

BULTACO DAY!

selected events

FEEDBACK • We love to hear from you, so why not let us know what you like, or dislike in YOUR magazine. Simply get in touch by sending emails to: letters@classicmechanics.com or direct to the editor at bertie.simmonds@kelsey.co.uk or post your letters to the normal address. The best will win a top clothing/kit gift from our friends at Weise Clothing.

Show us yours • We want to see YOUR pride and joy in our pages, so you can share what you ride and what you restore/build with fellow readers. Email your hi-res shots to bertie.simmonds@kelsey.co.uk or mail in some photos at the address at the front of the mag. Let us know what you’ve done, how you’ve done it and send before and after shots if you can. Do get in touch – because the best of the month gets a free T-shirt!

The way we were… • Send us your nostalgic snaps of you back in the day with your steed! Send to me at bertie.simmonds@kelsey.co.uk or via our vibrant Facebook page. C’mon, we’ll send you a T-shirt if you are our first pick!

PIP HIGHAM – A TRIBUTE

POWER PLAY! • Hyperbikes were one of the cool categories of motorcycles back in the 1990s: think ZZ-R1100, Blackbird and Busa… And then this came along: Kawasaki’s ZX-12R.

HITS THE SPOT • The Yamaha XSR900 GP is targeted at the (ahem) middle-aged and nostalgic bikers amongst us. When we took the reins of our XSR GP and announced it on our social media, we got these two great stories from CMM readers Andy Davis and Steve Fry.

SORE HEAD! • Poor Bert: he’s not feeling great and has decided to see if this Bear can help with his sore head…

Access all areas! • Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox.co.uk so he knows what works.

GET A FULL YEAR OF CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS FOR JUST £52.99

Honda RC45

Gamma-star! • Our Vic is well on his way to finishing this amazing purist-punishing Yamagamma.

Pump it up! • Mark is back and reconstructing the oil pump of the Honda CB400 Four this issue. What has he found this time?

Fork tongues! • Ralph is still at Maxton talking suspension and having his front-end sorted. While they look old-fashioned, his forks are now thoroughly modern!

Kawasaki AR125 • Kawasaki’s AR125 had it all and still delivers now.

Q&A

Bay-watch! • Kev Raymond keeps his eye on the choppy waters of the classic world to see if any projects, donors and bargains are out there worthy of being dragged out of the surf for some mouth-to-mouth…

Locks, clocks, battery box • In theory this instalment puts all the chassis stuff to bed… hopefully!

Fruit of the Loom! • The late, great Pip went where many feared to tread! In this article he looks at how to make a simple wiring loom/harness. Why not give it a go?

BACK ISSUES • Whether it’s recent releases or vintage copies, step back in time and browse through the ages with the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics back issue collection.

Shocks and...