Classic Bikes Shows Tom Ashmore picks out just four bikes vying to be the Best in Show (or any prize they can get their hands on!).
When King Kenny Roberts ruled the Grand Prix World in the 500cc class, Yamaha had the wisdom and fortitude to make a road going version of their race bikes and perhaps, just maybe, race fans would like to buy one! Cue stage right and the Yamaha RD500LC hit the streets in 1984. This particular ‘85 example of the RD (Race Developed) 500cc LC (Liquid Cooled) machine, features a reed valve system, different to 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 90 degree intake manifold. Paul Williams is the custodian of this already, award-winning machine within the LC club check it out in the main hall on the private entries display.
Whoever said smoking isn’t cool can’t have seen Karl Dunn’s beautiful 1986 Honda NS400R. This rare, 3-cylinder stroker, in nothing but the best colour scheme ever, Rothmans Racing, is simply sublime. Now whilst Yamaha were bringing the RD500LC to market after Kenny Roberts’ success on track, a young racer by the name ‘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 bought the racebike to the road. The engine was a 387cc liquid-cooled two-stroke V3 which produced 72 hp (54 kW) at 9,500 RPM. It featured triple flat-slide carburettors, and was coupled to a 6-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 was basically, a street-legal copy of the NS500 V-3 on which Spencer had become the youngest ever world champion, at 21 years old.
Another smoker… no, not Tony Scragg, it’s his 1975 Suzuki B120P. This commuter hack that many people remember owning ‘back in the day’ brings back fond memories for not just Tony, but for many of us of a certain age! This lovely, lightly restored example has only 3 owners from new with the first being a vicar! It is still used regularly in conjunction with a motorhome 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 before and was Highly Recommended is class but, could this be, Tony’s, or more importantly, the little Suzuki B120P’s year? Maybe, just maybe…
Last but not least, and the only non-smoker in the gang is Martin Pickstone all-original, 2 owner from new, 1982 Honda XL250R. Introduced by Honda in 1972 and manufactured through the 1980’s, this dual sport bike set the precedent 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 21-inch 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 70’s and 80’s 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?
