The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show 2024 - show prep 1

Great news! Once again I have been invited to display my MBX80 as a private entry at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Stafford Showground on the 12-13th October 2024.

Show prep 1 is a little different than last year, although there will be a list of mods in-coming to get show ready. This time I have been thinking about how the bike is displayed, the show information and any potential goodies I can give away, not for bribes (!!!) but to friends for their own show memorabilia collections or tool boxes. 

First off I have been playing around with some new logos based of a scan from the actual side cover graphic and also a graphic version of the bike set to a back drop of body colours. To commemorate the Stafford show I have made a small batch of 'Safford' edition decals which I will give away to friends at the show. If there is any demand I have also made a black bike version of the graphic as well that I could print to sell, not to make any money on but just because they are nice! Leave a comment or message me if you are interested?

everybody loves a sticker!

Secondly I did miss a few people at the 23 show so I have decided to make myself a little more obvious this time... This is the MK1 t shirt, but I have a better idea for the front graphic so I will be making a MK2 t shirt. If you see someone in a MBX80 T shirt, its me, so hit me up! Again if a T shirt is of interest I can get these printed with either the white bike or black bike depending on preference. Leave a comment or ping me a message if you are interested?

T shirt time

Lastly I wanted to up my game with the machine info card, so instead of an A4 stand I have opted to use an A3 (basically 2  A4), this way I can show a few resto progress images as well as include bike and 'about me' info.

info card V1

Lastly if you want more show info or to buy tickets, you can do so here:

MBX80 full fairing

In the UK the MBX came with the 'bikini' style faring that we know and love, however in the owners hand book there was a line drawing of a bike with a full fairing that hinted there was something much more exotic out there....

original image owners manual, processed image www.mbx80.co.uk

Honda officially produced the MBX80 with a full faring, originally marketed in Japan as the 'Integra' perhaps alluding to a connection to Honda's super-sporty coupe of the same name? See the original Honda press release for this model here:

The full fairing model was available in all three MBX colour generations. See all models/ colours here:

MK1 white, black or red. ***NOTE Honda Wing logo on the fuel tank

MK2 White, black or red

MK3 Rothmans blue or red

A few aftermarket fairing suppliers also popped up so you could convert your standard MBX and five it the full fairing look. Two notable mentions are Kitaco of Japan and Pichler Germany.

Kitaco fairing on MBX50

Do you want one? 

Check out this one for sale right now for €4450:

My bike is on the classic bike show's feed again!

 My bike featuring in the Classic Bike Show's feed again plus one of another one of my bikes...

We were talking 80cc recently - here's The MBX80 of Classic Bike Shows follower @danjones34

Any more 80cc bikes out there?#classicbikeshows #motorcycle #motorbike #motorcyclelife #classicmotorcycle #classicbike #motorcycleclub #classicmotorcycles #motorcycleevent pic.twitter.com/Ba4aKEiWTI

— ClassicBikeShows (@classicbikeshow) June 3, 2024

 

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From Classic Bike Shows follower Dan Jones:

"1963 Triumph 3TA with matching numbers. Restored by my Dad, and re-commissioned by myself"

How about that!#classicbikeshows #motorcycle #motorbike #motorcyclelife #classicmotorcycle #classicbike #motorcycleclub #classicmotorcycles pic.twitter.com/wb7WxeG8Dt

— ClassicBikeShows (@classicbikeshow) March 6, 2024

Honda accessories instruction booklet

This is a Japanese 'Honda Accessories' instruction booklet that I actually got with a belly pan, however the instructions are for the fitting of the nose fairing which was also available as a spare part. The gatefold booklet is written in Japanese with the English words 'Co-ordinate Fine & Motorcycle Life' written at the top. Have you ever seen one before?

MBX80 Double Disc

The UK market MBX80 gained a front double disc brake, this made an already well specked machine even more desirable especially when you are 17!  The model codes for the double disc models are FWD-D (1983) and FWD-F (1985). 

To make this conversion you need quite a few parts and they are also quite rare as it seems they are not shared with any another Honda model, you will need:

1/ left fork leg - 51521GE3601
2/ disc rotor  - 45121166000
3/ brake callipers LH + RH (these are single piston sliding callipers) - 45100GE3601 + 45101GE3601 
4/ fork brace with left hand hose guide - 61102GE3600
5/ brake hoses (3pcs) - various, I used these
6/ Front brake two-way joint - 45128GE3601 
7/ front brake master cylinder (different piston size). - 45500GE3601

8/ disc rotor bolts x 3 - 90155GE3600
 
You can get the part numbers and some parts on CMS  https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-mbx80fwd-1983-d_model49948/partslist/

For the front brake restoration and to more closely look at the parts take a look at these previous posts

Allspeed Exhausts

 A friend of the page Alan Price has contacted Gibson exhausts today to enquire about producing the classic Allspeed exhaust in chrome for the MBX80.

Alan is happy to lend them his bike as a template but the one-off cost is £500. If anybody else wants an Allspeed Gibson needs to get to a batch of 5 to get the unit price down to £445.

If you want to get a new exhaust at the better price please contact via the facebook group

FWD-F second sighting

The elusive 2nd generation MBX80 FWD-F UK bike that I last posted about here has made another appearance, this time I found an old article in Practice Sprotsbikes (Oct 2012) about 125's in the 80's and here was a FWDF hiding in plain site! This bike is another black and red machine, registration C921 TRE.

Vehicle Details

Vehicle make HONDA
Date of first registration
March 1986
Year of manufacture 1986
Cylinder capacity 79 cc
CO₂ emissions Not available
Fuel type PETROL
Euro status Not available
Real Driving Emissions (RDE) Not available
Export marker No
Vehicle status Untaxed
Vehicle colour RED
Vehicle type approval Not available
Wheelplan 2 WHEEL
Revenue weight Not available
Date of last V5C (logbook) issued 22 April 1988
Tax due: 1st April 1989

does anybody have this bike, is it in the back of your shed?

Show report: Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show Stafford 14-15th October 2023

Now with the bike in a pretty good condition we loaded it into the van and made our way to the Stafford County Showground. Getting in is fairly painless with the pass the organisers send you (which has your stand allocation number on it), the security gave us a couple of wristbands and we were in. As soon as the bike rolled down the ramp out of the van a guy flew over on his Raleigh Burner and said 'I knew what that was as soon as it came out and wanted to get a better look'! It turns out he had several M Honda's so was definitely in to the bike.

We made our way to the main hall and found our spot and picked up the welcome pack, this had the security tag and a neat metal show badge to prove we done it. After a quick clean and set up the rope went across the front and we were show ready.

The first day was really great meeting a few new people and some facebook connects including the serial Honda restorers and www.mb5.co.uk guys Tony and Steve Mawson. These guys have restored more MB/X bikes and won more awards than you can shake a stick at, but very approachable and very encouraging for a first timer like me. I also met up with Andrew Longley who still has his Honda MT5 from when he was 16 amongst a fleet of mopeds and manages a few facebook pages including Retro mopeds of the 70's and 90's. I also managed to touch base with Phil Holme of Holmetech whom Id previously sold a bike to and was there with his Kawasaki AR club. I got to say everyone was super-nice and catching up with everybody made the whole day feel like you were definitely a part of something.

Day two is when the awards and rosettes are given out to the winning machines. Honestly, the standard of bikes is so high I had no expectations and was just happy to be a part of the show, but to my delight the MBX had won a 'Highly Commended' award! The show gives out 30 of these as runners up, so to win one at the first visit to the show was pretty special. The rest of the day was spent checking out all the other winners and marvelling at the quality of their bikes.

At the end of the show after a security check we wheeled the bike of the booth where somebody immediately asked if it was for sale, obviously not!

Overall the show was a fantastic experience, from the organisers to the fellow exhibitors. It was an extremely welcoming and inclusive experience and makes you feel part of the classic bike scene, which is a nice place to be. I will very much look forward to next year and will try to get a couple of bikes in!

If this inspires you to give it a go keep an eye on the Stafford Classic Bike Shows website for updates and how to apply to exhibit.

a least it wasn't raining!

into the hall

and in to its allocated space, PE7

Day 1

Day 2, time to find out who won an award

Day 2

Henry Cole, Allen Millyard and Skid on stage

Day 2, with award

me

Holmetech's AR80

the only other MBX80 (or M Honda) at Stafford in the auction 

info card from the display

show prep, part 2

 The final pieces for the show prep turned up, in my eyes its not perfect and there are a few things I would still like to change, but the bike is good and I'll keep chasing those last few things.

Firstly tyres. The original tyres are Bridgestone and long out of production, so the choice is some replica tyres made in the far east or a branded modern tyre. After going round in circles on this I opted for a modern Metzler ME22. Demon Tweeks has 30% off these at the moment and you can get them here: My friend at a local garage fitted them for me.

While the wheels were off I took the opportunity to fit a NOS mudguard piece. 

Next some official Honda parts from CMSNL.I ordered new handle bar grips, handlebar clamp bolts, tank warning decal, mirror and also a new speedo worm gear and oil seal which goes back to the 'noise' project.

Lastly I ordered a new old dealer number plate from Retro Plates to finish the look.

Next stop.... Stafford Classic Bike Show 14-15th October

show prep, part 1

Getting my bike ready for the Stafford Bike Show is actually a little daunting, to be judged and compared against so many amazing bikes makes you second guess everything. My bike genuinely looks great but I can see faults everywhere, stuff you wouldn't notice or see, but I see.... 

First off is a good clean,

Secondly the tyre pressure warning decal turned up

Next I removed the front wheel to give it a proper clean behind the spokes, but getting into the tightest point near the rim proved very difficult.

Next I used some old petrol and a tooth brush which seemed to work.

My bike - show ready?

 I have recently applied for a private entry for the Stafford Classic Bike Show in October, fingers crossed I get accepted but regardless of if I do it is good motivation to finish a few niggling jobs.

Here is my to-do list to get my bike show ready.

1/ replace the handle bar clamp screws for Olive green bolts - CMS

2/ add tank warning decal - CMS 

3/ add chain adjustment warning sticker - ebay

4/ replace broken RH mirror, unfortunately this cracked when I moved the mirror - do you know of any NOS Honda mirrors?????

5/ Fit a NOS fender part

6/ Maybe - buy a new rear fender - mine is very, very good but I've seen a NOS one :-) Honda M Serie shop

7/ New tyres - again maybe just to put a final finish a new pair of tyres would be good.

So, all in all, not masses, but just some small things to make the bike the best it could be!

My bike; Instagram star!

 My MBX80 was picked up and used in Classic Bike Shows Instagram post, check out their account here. Hopefully this year it will be at the Stafford show 14-15th October! 

Farewell MB8

 Its time to say fair well to the little MB8 and it's now sold. It genuinely was a lovely bike and to be honest I'm a little gutted to let it go but as it didn't really need restoring it had to go to make room and fund another restoration project. It's gone to a good home :-) 

Auf Wiedersehen mein deutscher freund!