Classic Motorcycle Restoration

CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE RESTORATION - THE HEART OF OUR HOBBY
In many ways, our love of Classic British Motorcycles (or classic motorcycles of any kind for that matter) is reliant upon restorers who bring these fantastic machines back to life. As the popularity of classic motorcycles spreads, more & more 'barn finds' will be restored. Still others, having been chopped, bobbed, raced and/or customized, need to be brought back to an original state. Others need repair to be made usable and rideable again. Classic Motorcycle Auctions today are filled with such bikes, and they are beautiful to look at and study as reference material for your own restoration.

CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE RESTORATION - SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE
However today, many classic motorcycle collectors are seeking more original bikes, that have not been restored, but instead have the actual original equipment that came on that bike from the factory. The most prized examples even have the original paint and upholstery. Although it may be badly worn (called 'patina' in the proper parlance), it is prized by collectors who see more value in something that can't be duplicated or replaced at any price. In other words, it can only be original once. This works well on some bikes which are too nice to restore, but not nice enough to show.

CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE RESTORATION - IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BIKES
In the end, the choice is yours: restore it, or leave it original? In reality, its probably true that most Classic Motorcycle Restorations, like most classic car restorations, cost more to do than the machine will be worth, when done. Owners don't do it to make a profit. If they did, then they should find some other way to make money. Because even if you don't put a price on your time, the parts & labor can be extreme. The reason most people restore a classic motorcycle is because they love bikes and want to enjoy the experience. Most are quite passionate about it, despite the hardships & financial inequities. There are a couple of other reasons why people claim to restore bikes. Many feel they are performing the worthwhile and important work of bringing back a piece of history. The other is that many owners/restorers get a real charge out of other classic motorcycle enthusiasts ogling and appreciating their bike. There's nothing like it.

CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE RESTORATION PROJECTS

1973 Rickman 250
CBM's Official Project Bike

I bought this '73 Rickman 250 to resell at the MidAmerica Vegas Auction. Fortunately, it needs nothing but a deep detailing. I stripped everything off of it & hand-polished the whole thing. It's coming out fantastic. But will I make any money on it?

T140D Bonneville Special
CBM'S Official Resto Project

Join in the skinned knuckles & endless frustrations of our repair & restoration of our 37,000-mile T140D. It needs everything...can we do it?

"THE ROYAL CLONE"
1979 T140D morphs to 1981 Royal Wedding...almost

What? Okay, I'm going to make my '79 T140D Bonneville Special look like this ultra-rare UK-spec 1981 T140LE Bonneville Royal Wedding Edition. I'm also rebuilding the engine top & bottom.

1962 Triumph 3TA Resto Project

You think restoring a classic bike it a challenge? Try it in Malaysia. Join Bob in his misadventures buying, finding parts for, then restoring his 1962 Triumph 3TA "Bathtub" bike. Submitted by a reader.

1968 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE RESTORATION PROJECT

Follow this father-and-son project, as they go through their '68 Bonneville piece-by-piece & restore it to its former greatness.

Check out these
MOTORCYCLE RESTORATION BOOKS

HOW TO RESTORE YOUR MOTORCYCLE, 2nd EDITION

MATCHLESS & AJS RESTORATION

THE OLD MECHANIC, BOOK 1

THE OLD MECHANIC, BOOK 2

THE OLD MECHANIC, BOOK 3

SERVICE & OVERHAUL MANUAL, AJS & MATCHLESS SINGLES

MONOBLOC MAINTENANCE

MATCHLESS SERVICE MANUAL, 350 & 500 SINGLES 1939-1955

SERVICE & REPAIR MANUAL, AJS & MATCHLESS TWINS

MOTORCYCLE CHASSIS DESIGN: THE THEORY & PRACTICE

MOTORCYCLE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY: THE HOW & THE WHY

HOW TO RESTORE HONDA FOURS

MOTORCYCLE ROAD & RACING CHASSIS

YAMAHA STREET BIKES 1955-2009

HONDA V-4

HAYNES MOTORCYCLE BASICS TECHBOOK

CLYMER’S VINTAGE BRITISH MOTORCYCLE REPAIR

THE CLASSIC BIKE WORKSHOP

CLYMER REPAIR MANUAL: 1963-1979 TRIUMPH, BSA & NORTON

HOW TO RESTORE YOUR BSA ROCKET III/TRIUMPH TRIDENT

CHILTON’S BSA MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE MANUAL

TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLE RESTORATION, PRE-UNIT

TRIUMPH PRE-UNIT TR5, 5T, 6T, T100 & T110 FACTORY SHOP MANUAL

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE RESTORATION

SPORTBIKE SUSPENSION TUNING

CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE RESTORATION & MAINTENANCE

MOTORCYCLE ELECTRICAL MANUAL, HAYNES

Please visit our
MOTORCYCLE BOOK STORE

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