What you don't see in a motorcycle restoration

What you don't see in a motorcycle restoration - but which is essential for success

Thinking of having a motorcycle professionally restored? There’s an aspect which you’ll be well-advised to look out for, in making your choice of restorer. Does the firm - really - road-test the bicycle, once it is re-assembled for use?

Road-testing is vital to successful restoration because

• the motorcycle should start (not facetious, that - ask around the owners of ‘restored’ machines!)
• newly-painted components ‘bed down’ with early use: they, and all the machine’s fasteners, need re-tightening after first road use
• all the motorcycle’s systems - carburation, lubrication, ignition, transmission, brakes, steering, handling and electrical -need refining during early use: to produce one, overall system which is a delight for the owner to ride.

Extensive road testing by Robin James