As we move into December (hard to believe we have managed a full twelve months so far since the re-birth of this feature) we are back in the UK for this stunning Harris Magnum from Malcolm (many  of you will know I have a weakness for the Magnum range from the brothers Harris) so over to Malcolm for the "low down"It was the late 70s I together with a couple of friends were involved in production racing with an RD400. One weekend we were at Snetterton racetrack in Norfolk when I saw a bike I had never seen before just leaning against the fence, I went over for a look the badge on the tank said “Magnum”. I knew straightaway I was going to have one, a few months later I found one advertised in motorcycle news (a weekly motorcycle newspaper in the UK) for £2500. I had to pay off the finance on the Honda 250 I was currently riding, then went to London to buy my “Harris”. I had to collect it with a trailer because I couldn’t afford to insure it straight away.After having it a couple of years it was time for an upgrade, so it was off to Harris to see what was available. The shopping list ended up being long and expensive!!!

1. ·         Dymag Wheels
2. ·         Lockheed brakes
3. ·         Marzocchi forks
4. ·         Harris yokes
5. ·         New Harris fairing and dual seat
6. ·         And finally off for a custom black paint job

After a few months with my shiny new bike, I stuck it “head on” into the front of a car because of a side stand malfunction. So it was back to Harris to have the Frame checked this Led to me being off the road for 12 years as I just couldn’t afford to rebuild following the accident.Once I finally got it back on the road I used the bike for 3 years or so but it started to look a bit dated with its skinny wheels so, I bought the running gear from a ZX9R and got Harris to make me a one off swinging arm. I had all the intentions of getting it back on the road quickly but, other things came along and it got pushed to the back of the shed for a good 20 years.About 3 years ago I thought to myself I’ve got to get the old girl back on the road so “back out with the spanners and wallet”!!The engines has been completely rebuilt with new everything, the head was rebuilt by Ray Debben (a well-known UK drag racer) with bigger valves, APE springs and Z650 “under bucket” shims rebore and Wiseco 1015 pistons, Kenny Harman cams, cranks been welded and balanced, 29mm smoothbores, heavy duty clutch and ape gearbox bearings. The electrics have also been upgraded with a MotoGadget V2 unit with switches and keyless ignition.It’s been a lot of work getting all this stuff to fit but I’m happy with it. I’m 62 now and just want to enjoy it till it gets to heavy.

I know I'm a couple of hours early this month but got a busy day tomorrow. Keeping the "green theme" going this month as we move from South Africa to Sweden for this lovely resto-mod R1 of Anders (purchased in a deal we can only dream of  ) so over to Anders:
Honestly, I never thought that I would own a bike again up until eight years ago when I was offered a Gpz750 -82 in a swop for a bottle of whiskey. The guy asked for a bottle of Grants, but that was even to low for me. So for a bottle of Highland Park (approx 40 USD) it was mine.In a pretty sorry state, ran like crap and looked like it spent some serious time in a hen house.
I had a Gpz750 -82 back in the days, racing and road racing, so the idea of resto-modding it, giving it the brakes and the roadholding that I had wished for in the eighties was given. Now eight years later and a stable consisting of four bikes and countless hours spent in the workshop tinkering with them, I am pretty happy that I am back riding. I use all my bikes during the summer months, not only weekend cruising but also riding to and from work on a daily basis. If I’d known then what I know now I would have saved endless hours as I tried quite a few things that didn’t work. But in the end it turned out just as I wanted, I am not looking for a concourse condition. I want it nice, but it should look like it is being used. I still have a few things to do, engine covers needs some new paint, but that will come when I change the clutch. I have a set of newly painted carbs laying around. But with the other four bikes, especially my resto-mod build on a Gpz1100 -84 and an endless stream of friend that needs carbs rebuilt, it constantly gets pushed back .It's an absolute blast to ride, I really wish that I had the 810cc engine that I had in the eighties, that power and the handling this bike has would be the perfect combo.The resto-mod recipe:

• ·         Gpz750R1 1982
• ·         Zephyr 1100 43 mm fork
• ·         ZR750 17’x2.5 front wheel, 120/70x17
• ·         ZXR400 310mm front discs
• ·         GSX600R K4 Tokico four pots front callipers
• ·         Zephyr 750 Swingarm
• ·         ZXR400 17’x4.5 rear wheel, 160/70x17
• ·         ZXR400 Tokico full floating rear calliper
• ·         Öhlins period correct shocks
• ·         Delkevic 4-1 stainless exhaust
• ·         Homemade rear-sets with modern foot pegs.
• ·         Opel 308 Signal green paint from the seventies

Thanks guys for all the help during the build, and the build thread is: GPZ750R1 -82 Will it be yet an other green Kwack - KZRider Forum - KZRider, KZ, Z1 & Z Motorcycle Enthusiast's Forum

gd4now your wish is my command. Have managed to get the exhaust wrapped up this weekend and I couldn't be happier with the end result. I wanted to keep the look of the Harris but repair the damage and maximise the clearance. A big issue for me which was the driver for "tucking it in" as well as the aesthetics was my "little legs" when I am at a standstill my legs are real close to the bike and I didn't want to burn myself when I put my right leg down   Hope "Harris" don't mind me putting their name on it (some of the original is still there !!) The baffle will be wrapped in wadding on final assembly
It looks close but there is 3mm of clearance throughout the swingarm travel