Realities of the shop floor

Mike’s 1984 Honda XL200R is currently on the lift, and it has a hell of a history. This machine belonged to his late father, a geologist who treated the bike like a piece of heavy surveying equipment. He bolted a custom box to the back rack and rode this thumper deep into the woods to haul out rocks and core samples. It is a genuine survivor that was used exactly as Honda intended, and we are working to get it back on the dirt for Mike. But the bike is fighting a completely c

A history lesson in 1980s engineering and political warfare. With Brian’s 1985 CB700SC on our lift, we dive into how Honda bypassed a massive US import tariff to build one of the most bulletproof, maintenance-free, and legendary standards ever made—the Nighthawk S—and how we are tackling a complete, top-to-bottom recommissioning of this clean survivor.

An engine needs three things: compression, fuel, and fire. We spend hours obsessing over carburetor jetting (fuel) and piston rings (compression), but we usually ignore the fire until we’re kicking a bike on the side of the road, sweating through our helmet. Ignition systems are the nervous system of your motorcycle. Some are crude mechanical hammers; others are digital sorcery. At Hate City Cycles, we work on everything from 50-year-old points to modern retro-mods. Here is t

Your fork seals are rubber. Your rusty tubes are a cheese grater. Before you book a rebuild, use our 'Fingernail Test' to see if your forks are savable or if they belong in the trash. Save your money and read this first.

Restoring a classic moped isn't just a hobby—it’s an obsession. It’s the smell of two-stroke oil, the hunt for New Old Stock (NOS) parts, and the satisfaction of hearing a 40-year-old engine ring back to life. At Hate City Cycles, we don't just polish chrome; we build machines that run as good as they look. Whether you are a veteran wrencher or a novice looking to bust your knuckles for the first time, this is your roadmap to saving a piece of history. A beautiful Puch Maxi i

There is a specific kind of magic in a 1970s Japanese motorcycle. Whether it’s the turbine-smooth whine of a Honda CB750, the terrifying powerband of a Kawasaki Triple, or the smoke-trail of a Yamaha RD, these machines changed the world. They didn’t just leak oil like their British counterparts; they ran hard, fast, and forever—if you treated them right. At Hate City Cycles, we have a soft spot for the "Big Four" (Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki). But don't let their reputati

If you grew up riding Japanese inline-fours, the first time you start a BMW Airhead, you might think it’s broken. It doesn’t hum; it shudders. It doesn’t scream; it chugs. The valve train sounds like a sewing machine full of marbles, and when you blip the throttle, the whole bike twists to the right. But this isn't a defect—it’s a feature. The BMW Airhead (1969–1995) wasn't built for the racetrack; it was built with the same philosophy as a John Deere combine harvester: over-