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
Tools of PS • Blunt chisels, claw hammers, and rusty spanners
Contributor of the month
CLAMPDOWN ON CHROME • Health and safety regs will soon be making life tougher for platers and customers. Surprised? No. Not really
specials we like • From the Far East, from Stateside, and Down Underneath too
Hedged tribute to a legend of our times
ps mail • Write a letter to The PS and if it’s Star Letter material you win a grey T-shirt ‘designed’ by Damo. Who has that?
PS social club
IN YOUR SHED • Part way through a restoration? Just completed a trick special? Send us your pics, and details
TOP 10 750s • The sweetspot for power and handling since the early 1970s, and the cornerstone of production-based racing, 750s remain firm favourites despite the arrival of litrebikes. PS ranks the best from the early days to their 1990s heyday
DECENT ENOUGH, STILL WORTH A MENTION • Good, but not great: five contenders for the top ten, and why they were ruled out
MAXIMUM BOOST • How an ageing 750cc four trounced the all-conquering Ducatis in BSB’s glory years
Ps SELECTOR TW0-STROKE TRAILERS • With money tight for the vast majority of us, a clean DT, KE or TS is a more attractive option than ever. Simple, available, and affordable dual-purpose trailies make perfect sense
POSTER
SWEETER THUNDERACE • This almost madly faithful BSB YZF750 Mackenzie-rep started life as a common or garden Yamaha YZF1000R. Hard to believe, but true
GREAT BRITISH GARAGES • The nation’s home mechanics and bike industry pros reveal their workshop set-ups, their best gear, and top tips
What’s the problem? • Bike not running right? Our experts have the answers to the toughest questions
HOW TO KEEP IT KLEEN WITH THE DOKTOR • How can you not heed the hard-earned advice of bike valeter Valentino Glossi?
RESTORING SUZUKI KATANA 1000/1100 • A big, old thing, and of its time. And yet still a totally arresting form to behold even today. Fancy one?
PROJECT ZX990 TURBO IN SHAPE TO SHIP OUT • Wiring whiz Ferret foolishly agrees to sort the ZX990… but only once his demands are met
Hamish Renfrew 1976 Laverda 3cE • Over 46 years, with 200,000 miles clocked, this Breganze triple has only been off the road (through a schoolboy error) for three weeks. Yep
LIVING WITH A LAVERDA 3cE
THE MAIN MODS
BARGAINS TO BIMOTA • Alan’s trade-up dream is still (barely) alive as his first buy ZXR400 begins to fight him a little. He gets on top again, but the profit margin is dwindling
The beginning of the endgame • Completion is now just pipes and dyno runs away… it’s only been five years. So, not that long at all
Ploughing on with the Mirage • Old Farmer Chris develops a deep and lasting appreciation of his big green Italian tractor
Stop. Look. And then look again • Wise words for us all. All except MG, that is – done over by a simple factory model year switch
The savage and the saviour • Kat’s rot issues made much worse by Gary’s death wheel ‘skills’. So, The Fengineer saves the day
Breaking bad. Touring good • Doddery old chap shelves plans...