When we require a classic motorcycle restoration to be undertaken by an ‘expert or professional’ motorcycle restorer we have to expect the complete job to cost more than the classic bike is worth. This is a very common occurrenc

Finally I have reached the stage of reconstruction. The frame has returned from the painters (‘Full Range Finishes’ – Letchworth) and the swinging arm freshly chrome plated (‘Doug Heath’ – Baldock). First

NAMES: Aqua blasting, also known as vapour blasting and wet blasting. WHAT IS AN AQUA BLASTER?: Essentially it is a machine that operates using a medium compressed air supply and a high pressure pump. The sump of the cabinet type aqua blast

The engine I have now completed and ready for installation. The crank cases were firstly striped of components and modified. The starter motor was not going to be needed so I ground most of the housing for it away. This also meant I had to

With any carburettor restoration the first thing to do is assess the carburettor and see if it is actually worth restoring. The cost of restoration could be more than buying a new one. However if it is a hard to find one or expensive to rep

I have inherited from my father, Terry Ives, a 1954 Triumph Tiger 100, the first of the swinging arm models. The crankshaft and rods had gone missing some years ago, as they do, so I endeavoured to source a replacement. The original one wou

Battery in the rear tail hump The electrics are much reduced from the standard bike. The generator has been replaced by a single phase lighter item. I got this from Cycle Exchange in the US who sell a lot parts for 750 fours, check out thei

Construction of the chassis is near complete. The photo above shows the bike nearing the end of the dry build phase and almost ready for strip down polish and paint. The plan is that all the alloy parts be polished and the frame painted a c

One of the first jobs I did was to improve on the front brake, which might have been fine for 1969, but not now. The standard fork leg was cleaned, polished and machined to take the special brackets made here by Terry Ives. It was originall

One of the first thoughts on this bike was to build a unique cafe racer styled machine. I really liked the look of the CR750’s, so I purchased the petrol and oil tank. I didn’t want  the engine to be covered and I wanted as much