Simply Smoking

Classic Bikes Shows’ Tom Ashmore picks out just some of the bikes vying to be the Best in Show (or any prize their owners can get their hands on!) at October’s Classic Motorcycle Mechanics  Show from October 12-13.

When ‘King’ Kenny Roberts ruled the racing world in the blue riband 500cc class, Yamaha had the wisdom and fortitude to make a road-going version of its race bikes so that perhaps, just maybe, race fans would like one.

Cue the Yamaha RD500LC, which hit the streets in 1984. This particular 1985 example of the RD (race developed) 500cc LC (liquid cooled) machine features a reed valve system, different from the YZR500 which used rotary induction.

The RD lower cylinders are fed through crankcase mounted reeds; the upper pair use cylinder barrel mounted reeds. The four Mikuni carburettors are side mounted in pairs and feed each cylinder through a 90° intake manifold. Paul Williams is the custodian of what is already an award-winning machine within the LC club. Check it out in the main hall on the private entries display.

Roberts may have enjoyed the backing of big tobacco brand Marlboro at the time, but Karl Dunn’s beautiful 1986 Honda NS400R has another iconic colour scheme. This rare three-cylinder bike is bedecked in the  colours of Rothmans Racing and is simply sublime. While Yamaha was bringing the RD500LC to market after Kenny Roberts’ success on track, a young racer by the name of ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer was taking the world by storm and, the Grand Prix crown from King Kenny.

Honda had a similar idea to Yamaha and brought its racebike to the road. The engine was a 387cc liquid-cooled two-stroke V3 which produced 72hp (54kW) at 9500rpm. It featured triple flat-slide carburettors, and was coupled to a six-speed transmission with a wet clutch.

The innovative TRAC (torque reactive anti-dive control), anti-dive front fork and a Pro-Link rear swingarm were combined with a box-section alloy frame and three disc brakes with dual-piston calipers. The result was a road-going replica racer; basically a street-legal copy of the NS500 V-3 on which Spencer had become the youngest world champion yet at just 21 years old.

Getting away from the smoky links, next to consider is Tony Scragg’s 1975 Suzuki B120P.

Many of us owned examples of this ‘commuter hack’ back in the day, and it brings back fond memories for not just Tony, but for many of a certain vintage.

This lightly restored example has had only three owners from new, with the first being a vicar. It is still used regularly and is really very practical for local sightseeing and shopping.

This bike has been shown in the past both with the Suzuki Owners’ Club and as a private entry, and was Highly Recommended in class… but could this be the little Suzuki’s year?

Last, but not least, is Martin Pickstone’s all-original, two-owners-from-new, 1982 Honda XL250R. Introduced in 1972 and manufactured through the 1980s, this dual sportbike set the trend for the modern enduro wave.

In 1982, the engine had the balancing shaft gear driven rather than chain driven, making the engine quieter and a six-speed gearbox was introduced as well as an automatic cam chain tensioner. Also in 1982, Honda reverted to the 21in front wheel and introduced the rear single shock suspension, known as the Pro-Link, and a 12-volt electrical system. Just about everyone who’s been around bikes in the 1970s and 80s will have a story about the XL.

Fun, capable, useable, and now a classic, these bikes are rare in this condition but still affordable.

Can Martin’s XL steal the show and be the first off-roader to lift the title of Best in Show?