How to restore Classic Off-road Motorcycles

Published by Veloce Distributed by Renniks (02) 9695 7055 www.renniks.com UK price £35. 160 pages soft cover. ISBN: 978-1-845849-50-4 Off-road bikes generally have a tough life, so restoring a well-worn example can be challenging. But at the end of the day, restoring a trials or MX bike is little different to restoring a road bike, just grubbier. This book majors on trials bikes, and of course that scene is much bigger in the UK than in the Antipodes, and there is a thriving industry supplying replacement parts for rock-hoppers like Montesa and Bultaco, as well as the later Japanese brands. The pre-amble says that the book is “aimed at the beginner and seasoned motorbike restorer alike”, but the emphasis is definitely on the beginner, with tips on sourcing parts, how to dismantle your project bike, cleaning and polishing, then it’s on to the meatier stuff like rebuilding engines, fuel and ignition systems, paintwork and plating. Fortunately, old dirt bikes are fairly plentiful and inexpensive, so there’s plenty of fun to be had in the workshop bringing some old clanger back to life, and the book does offer plenty of advice in this respect.