The magic of Marcus
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics|January 2020
Rex’s Speed Shop in Sussex is a vital source of replacement ignition, generator and ignition systems for classic Japanese machines. John Nutting talked to Marcus Rex
JOHN NUTTING
The magic of Marcus

Deterioration is a fact of life with old classic motorcycles, and more than anything it is the electrical systems that suffer the most.

The components most vulnerable are generators and ignition systems where heat and corrosion conspire overtime to undermine their performance, often in mystifying ways. Replacing parts with new old stock is fraught because even the original parts weren’t particularly good, and anyway never designed to last 50 years or more.

With this in mind, former aircraft engineer and electronics fan Marcus Rex first designed a better generator and ignition for a Yamaha four-stroke 500cc single that led to the establishment 10 years ago of Rex’s Speed Shop. Electrical systems for TZ road racers and YZ motocrossers followed, along with generators and ignitions for Suzuki twins and the demanding Kawasaki two-stroke triples.

Since then the business has expanded out of the little office on a farm in rural Sussex to a larger unit that employs a number of trained staff engaged in manufacturing a range of electronic systems for keeping old bikes on the road. “The motorcycles came first though,” Marcus told me back when we first met in 2014. His first big Yamaha was an XS650 twin, but when working at a motorcycle dealership in the early 1990s he found some literature for the SR500 which he liked, later buying three. “I just love them, and used to commute to work on them.”

Esta historia es de la edición January 2020 de Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición January 2020 de Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICSVer todo
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Honda VFR750R - RC30

If there’s a more worshipped V4 out there, we’ve yet to see it: welcome to our reboot of the awesome VFR750R RC30…

time-read
2 minutos  |
September 2021
Mountain tension!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Mountain tension!

Award-winning motorcycle engineer!

time-read
5 minutos  |
September 2021
Fazer set to STUN!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Fazer set to STUN!

What do you get when you mix CRK’s lovely café racer kit to Yamaha’s budget middleweight and the recently-retired Martin Fox? Well, one helluva foxy Fazer!

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2021
Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!

This month, while we wait for backorder engine parts, we strip the chassis back to the bare frame, assess what is needed and plan the reassembly…

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2021
Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!

For the best finish on his Z900’s motor Ralph wants the best, so he visits Stephen Smethurst Casting Renovation to find out how it’s done properly.

time-read
10 minutos  |
September 2021
Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!

We’re getting down into the nitty-gritty this time with component testing and loom building. What could go wrong?

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2021
Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…

Only The Beach Boys had good vibrations… so what’s Mark been up to, to sort out the bad ones coming from his TX750?

time-read
6 minutos  |
September 2021
Splitting links
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Splitting links

Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox.co.uk so he knows what works.

time-read
4 minutos  |
September 2021
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

STAVROS: PRINCE OF PRANKSTERS!

It’s probably fair to say that Stephen JamesParrish’s persona and overall levity throughout his life have muddied the waters as to just how good a bike racer he was back in the day.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2021
Metal magic!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Metal magic!

Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox co uk so he knows what works.. .

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2021