Innholdsfortegnelse for September 3, 2015 i Australian Motorcycle News

THERE’S BEEN TALK of a midrange twin-cylinder KTM to sit beneath the firm’s big V-twin models for nearly a decade now but the all-new parallel twin seen in these very polished-looking prototypes still comes as something of a surprise. Not long after the first appearance of the RC8 V-twin engine, KTM boss Stefan Pierer openly spoke of a smaller, 500cc V-twin that was under consideration. That project never made it, but the idea lived on and in early 2014 Pierer revealed that the firm was working on 500cc and 800cc parallel twins, to be made jointly with KTM’s Indian partner – and part-owner – Bajaj, just as the firm’s current 390 single is. This prototype appears to be housing one of those new parallel twins. First impressions are that it’s…

IF YOU REMEMBER the era of sports mopeds such as the Suzuki AP50 and Yamaha’s FS1E, you will know they were fun, carefree days. Well it looks like Suzuki may have ideas to bring those days back with its latest invention – a hybrid moped. It’s an electric bike which also packs a petrol engine. Suzuki’s idea, however, differs from the more common idea of using electric motors to help a main internal combustion engine. In fact, the Suzuki idea is quite the reverse – it’s electrically driven with the small internal combustion engine serving as an on-board generator. In the world of electric cars, it’s known as a range extender. BMW’s i3, while purely electric, can be ordered with the engine from a C650 scooter packed into its rump…

IN 2013, FETED motorcycle designer Pierre Terblanche joined forces with the exclusive Alabama-based marque to refine the recipe of the X132 Hellcat launched the previous year and create this Speedster version. How did he fare? Firing up the X-Wedge powerplant can take a little while, but eventually it catches on the second or third rotation, and bursts into life with a satisfyingly meaty peal of thunder from the exhaust canister beneath the engine, settling to a 900rpm idle that’s quite devoid of the clackety rattles and shakes of other American air-cooled V-twins. It’s also quiet in terms of decibels, too. It’ll pull cleanly off idle thanks to the huge torque on tap at almost any engine speed, which peaks at just 2000 rpm but holds hard and strong all the…

1.Updated TFT dash KTM’s previous stock digital dash – as used on everything from its Indian-made 125 Duke single right up to many of its maxi-twin models – already set the industry standard for function and clarity. The new Duke features a TFT upgrade which is both aesthetically pleasing as well as functionally effective. It promises a similar level of standout excellence as it’s adopted across the entire range of models in coming years. 2. Comfortable clutch The Italian-made Adler APTC slipper clutch is still fitted as standard on the 2016 bike, just as it has been on previous Duke models. The clever device generates additional pressure on the plates to allow the clutch springs to be up to one-third softer than on other transmissions. This in turn allows for…

It was 24 hours before the start of the distribution phase of this year’s Winter Jacket Drive and I was sitting at my computer in a state of panic. Severe weather warnings were constantly popping up on my news feed and there were predictions of snow falling in regions within an hour’s drive of Sydney’s CBD. We were due to meet at the Ashfield Indian and Victory Motorcycle dealership bright and early, then head in to the CBD to hand out jackets in Woolloomooloo. The forecast wasn’t good for Saturday either, when we were scheduled for a pick-up at Robertson in the even chillier Southern Highlands. Experience has taught me that when temperatures drop, attendance drops too. If that wasn’t enough, there were also the jackets to worry about. Since…

DESPITE HIS RIDING skill, many people who witnessed Lawrence disappear in a cloud of dust on the horizon worried for his safety. And he too knew he was courting death. When an admirer viewed his Brough Superior and said “you will be breaking your bleeding neck on it,” he deadpanned, “well, better than dying in bed”. Lawrence had his final accident on 13 May 1935. He was riding near his cottage in Dorset when he ascended a blind rise and had to swerve to avoid two boys on bicycles. He lost control and crashed heavily, cracking open the back of his skull. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. He remained in hospital for several days but never regained consciousness, dying on 19 May. Churchill, one of many famous people at the…

Start here 1 The first step is often to drill out the old stripped thread, although this is not always necessary with threads under 10mm in diameter. 2 After a clean-up, a new thread is tapped to hold the insert. It’s vital that the hole is tapped straight and square. To achieve this a tapered tap is often used first, followed by a bottoming tap for blind holes. Good downward pressure on the tap tool is required to avoid pulling the new thread. 3 The Heli-Coil insert is then fitted using a driver tool which locks onto a tang in the end of the insert and screws it into position. Then a hammer and a drift with a sharp end are used to break the tang from the inside of…

It was, you might say, just what The Doctor ordered – in this case, a Sunday afternoon in bracing wet weather out in the English countryside. Good for the constitution for a man approaching his late thirties, especially when that man’s nearest rivals can’t keep up. Sunday’s British GP, delayed and disrupted as two days of fine weather turned foul on 75,000 fans on race-day, was the perfect tonic, as fast and steadfast Valentino Rossi rode an unfaltering 20 laps of Silverstone to claim his fourth win of the season. It may be one less than Movistar Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, but it was enough to regain the championship lead that the evergreen 36-year-old multi-champion had relinquished for the first time two weeks ago at Brno. They arrived at Silverstone…

The first race of the day had the worst conditions – a light drizzle before the start, then 18 laps on a track that was dry before the race was half done. All riders started on wets. Sam Lowes (Speed Up) was on pole, but was swamped from the start as Tito Rabat (E-G Marc VDS Kalex) came through from row two to head the first lap. Rabat had crashed heavily in qualifying, but was undaunted, as a pack of six drew away. Álex Rins (Páginas Amarillas Kalex) took the lead by the end of lap two from Johann Zarco’s (Ajo Kalex), who was consigned to fifth as Rabat barged past. Also running strongly was Rabat’s teammate Álex Márquez, who was second on lap three, then followed Zarco as he…

JACK MILLER ADMITS his friendly fire on teammate Cal Crutchlow turned the British Grand into “a disaster” for the LCR Honda squad. He had no choice but to plead guilty to a charge of irresponsible riding in a Race Direction hearing. Miller was pinged a penalty point, with Race Director Mike Webb having earlier warned Miller about his riding after he bumped Héctor Barberá out of the Dutch TT. “No argument at all, it was the least they could give me,” Miller said. “I didn’t get a penalty in Assen but I deserved it today. Cal was really good about it and if I was in his shoes I wouldn’t be happy, but he’s been a really good guy. I’m sorry, it was not my intention to take out my…

PHILLIP ISLAND GRAND Prix Circuit will once again host the opening round the World Superbike Championship in 2016, with 26-28 February the provisional date for the event, which will also include Australia’s top domestic racing on the support bill. Camping facilities are getting an upgrade for the 2016 including powered sites, and the go-kart track will now be open for business throughout the event. Tickets go on sale this month. No Australian riders have yet been confirmed for WSBK in 2016, something which would have been unthinkable from the early days of World Superbikes, and reflects the growing distance between Australian fans and the series where Aussie riders were once part of the fabric. Australian Supersport sensation Aiden Wagner is hopeful of continuing full-time in the World Supersport championship next…

DIAVEL The original Diavel was released by Ducati in 2011 and while many Ducatistas raged against the cruiser aesthetics, it eventually won a legion of fans DUCATI’S DIAVEL, THE model which impressively blurs the line between sportsbike and power cruiser, looks set for an overhaul in 2017 with a raft of changes designed to push the 1198cc V-twin powered machine a little closer to the cruiser side of the ledger. Headlining the list of new features revealed in these spy photographs is a change to belt drive which will also require a new swingarm to accommodate the switch from the existing chain drive system. It appears the engine will become a central styling feature with a splashing of polished metal surfaces. There’s also a chance the Testastretta 11, Dual Spark…

Tokyo Motor Show The 2015 show runs from October 30 to November 8 – AMCN will be keeping an eye out for Suzuki’s new superbike How does it work? The turbo is mounted at the front of the engine, allowing for a short exhaust manifold to reduce the time between the throttle being opened and exhaust gasses reaching the turbine and helping to spin it. Normally, that delay is felt as lag, but because the Suzuki’s turbo charger is assisted by an electric motor to get it up to speed, the power delivery will be instant. That in itself addresses the most serious flaw in virtually all previous efforts to turbocharge motorcycles – turbo lag. Even minimal lag is noticeable on a bike, where fine throttle control is much more…

IN AN ERA when emissions regulations are becoming ever stricter and even Harley-Davidson has brought out an electric bike, it’s hard not to reach the conclusion we’re at a turning point in motorcycle development. But before we all accept a plug-in future there’s still a bit of life left in the internal combustion engine, and manufacturers are getting extreme in their efforts to make it cooler than ever before. We are now seeing unprecedented levels of performance and economy, jostled along by international rules ensuring that exhausts are cleaner and quieter than in previous generations. In Europe, Euro 4 emissions rules will be phased in during 2016, with even tougher Euro 5 standards due to arrive in 2020, and they represent a challenge when it comes to packaging the increasingly…

TO CELEBRATE THE rebirth of the famous Indian Scout motorcycle, Polaris Industries commissioned renowned hot rod builder Jeb Scolman to create something special around its new water-cooled, V-twin engine. Scolman is the owner of Jeb’s Metal and Speed in Long Beach, California and has established himself as a legend in the customising game, so when Indian sent him a new 1200cc Scout engine to work with, it gave him just one instruction: go nuts. What Scolman has created is a stunning example of simplistic custom building, best described as functional art. Drawing on inspiration from the golden era of land-speed and drag racing in the 50s and 60s, Scolman set about creating the Black Bullet Scout. In keeping with the traditional building methods of the time, the handmade custom bike…

KTM HAS BOOSTED the Duke’s power and reduced vibration – no mean feat for a single. But how exactly has this been achieved? In terms of the LC4 engine, KTM has gone for bigger bore and shorter stroke. Previous cylinder dimensions of 102 x 84.5mm have been changed to 105 x 80mm, with capacity increasing from 690 to 693cc. The bigger bore houses a fatter forged three-ring piston, providing space for a pair of 2mm larger inlet valves, each now measuring 42mm in diameter compared to 40mm before, with the exhaust valves unchanged at 34mm. Thanks to the shorter stroke, an all-new combustion chamber design, and completely redesigned porting for the deeper breathing four-valve cylinder head that’s fed by the same 46mm Keihin throttle body as before, still with a…

1. Hold on tight To get a true scrambler look, our planned offroader will require a one-piece handlebar. We are already on the lookout. 2. Stripped down Once we get all the plastic panels off our Tricity we will be able to show off the trick four-shock front suspension set-up. 3. Sound out The plan is to get a rounder sound from the 125cc engine with a better pipe. It will also need to be mounted high so it does not bottom out on the, er, jumps. Yamaha Tricity Liquid-cooled, 125cc, SOHC, two-valve single 52.4mm x 57.9mm 8.1kW & 10.4Nm 147kg (dry) $4999 (+ ORC) EARLIER THIS YEAR Yamaha revealed just how seriously it was looking at the idea of expanding its leaning three-wheel scooter range by unveiling two wild-looking…

1 Early model Triumph Americas had a seat height of 720mm 2 The pronounced 33° rake is an essential part of the cruiser style 3 Another key part of the America’s appeal is it’s pared-back chrome perfection 4 310mm disc brake at the front, 255mm/285mm (pre/post 2007) at the back While the so-called “metric cruisers”, mainly from Japanese factories, are labelled pretenders by cruiser purists in the USA, Triumph’s cruisers are considered the real McCoy. During the halcyon customising days of the 50s and 60s, Triumph 650cc twins were being chopped and bobbed alongside the home-grown Harleys and Indians. No surprise then that the launch of Triumph’s retro-twin Bonneville model in 2001 was soon followed by a factory cruiser, the America, to exploit this traditional connection with American motorcycling. Its…

1 Sports Boot Cassons From $299.95 (02) 8882 1900 cassons.com.au The Dainese Giro-ST is a sports boot made from Lorica uppers and with D-Stone construction. It has a shock-absorption heel, TPU heel and shin guards, nylon outsole and toe, elasticised bellows and calf adjustments, gear-shifter guard, Velcro calf adjuster and more. It’s available in sizes 40-47. 2 Sticky Tourer Monza Imports From $429.90 (set) (03) 8327 8888 monzaimports.com.au Dunlop’s new Roadsmart III is a sports-touring tyre designed to deliver class-leading mileage with high grip levels in both wet and dry conditions, as well as quick warm-up at low temperatures. It offers improved rider feedback, comfort and high-speed stability, and retails for less than before. 3 Skating Around Murphy Metal Fab. From $279 p+p 0421 444 502 murphymoto-skate.com.au The Murphy Motoskate…

Moto3 was lucky to have settled weather. The downside? It was proper rain. It meant a race of attrition, with 20 finishers from 36. It made Danny Kent’s steady ride from the front row to a massive victory – his sixth of the year – all the more impressive. While the Leopard Honda’s progress was not completely calm, it was still superbly judged. His closest title rival, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Honda), was never in the hunt and crashed out towards the end of the gruelling race. First-time pole starter Jorge Navarro (E-G Honda) and second qualifier Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM) both crashed on lap one. Isaac Viñales (RBA KTM) took over the lead for three laps, ahead of Kent and Jakub Kornfeil (Drive M7 KTM), before slipping off on…

AFTER EIGHT HOURS of continuous racing in round three of the Championship, just 18.773 seconds separated the winning GMT94 Yamaha YZF-R1 from the GSX-R1000 of reigning world champions, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) in second place. The factory Suzuki trio of Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle and Etienne Masson now lead the series from their GMT94 Yamaha rivals heading into the final round, the Bol d’Or 24-Hour. But there are still four teams with a mathematical chance of taking the title. Australian Broc Parkes took leave from his British Superbike Championship duties to head the Monster Energy Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART) at Oschersleben, and made up for their early exit from the Suzuka 8-Hour last month by taking the third step of the podium. Taree’s Alex Cudlin was also in…

THE FINAL RACES of the 2015 MX Nationals have now been run and won with Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team) MX1, Jay Wilson (JCR Yamaha) MX2 and Wilson Todd (GYTR Yamahas) MXD taking their respective titles. But the winners’ presentations had to wait until Round 10, as results at round nine at Toowoomba saw the titles still in the balance. Monster Energy MX1 Kirk Gibbs (KTM Motocross Racing Team) had a mathematical chance of wrapping up the 2015 MX1 championship, but a round winning 1-1 performance by Kade Mosig (CDR Yamaha) forced the title down to the wire. Mosig shared the podium with Kawasaki’s Adam Monea (NPS Monster Energy) and Ben Townley (Penrite Honda). Motul MX2 Kawasaki rider Takeshi Katsuya took the opening race win ahead of KTM supported…

CONFEDERATE HAS ONCE again given a hearty two-fingered salute to conventional motorcycle styling by releasing its new G2 P51 Combat Fighter. The outrageously designed, second generation of the tough-looking P51 model is another example of the company’s raw, rebel spirit design philosophy. Releasing details of the newest addition to its low-volume exotic range, Confederate claims the newest Combat Fighter punches out in excess of 200hp (150kW) and 230Nm from its 2163cc V-twin engine. With names such as Hellcat, Wraith Speedster, Ghost and Combat, the Alabama-based American manufacturer has always been unconventional with its styling and the G2 P51 pushes the envelope even further while retaining Confederate’s unmistakable styling cues and meaty proportions. The rolling work of art is made entirely from aerospace billet aluminium with carbon fibre wheels and tips…

FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1994 as a nod to the 1938 Speed Twin, the original Speed Triple came in two displacements: a 750cc triple for Europe and a 885cc for all the other markets. Both machines boasted a carburetted, water-cooled engine and a five-speed gearbox. It wasn’t until the fourth generation of Speed Triples were released back in 2005 that the engine’s stroke was lengthened to produce 1050cc. Triumph managed to take advantage of advances in engine and chassis performance while maintaining its core values of naked good looks coupled with outstanding handling. Now, in 2015, the marque is celebrating 21 years of the Speed Triple with the Speed 94 and Speed 94R. They combine the modern version’s 1050cc three-cylinder engine and aluminium trellis frame with styling elements from the 1994…

KTM isn’t just Europe’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, with 88,531 units built in the first six months of this year, up 25.6 percent compared to 2014. It’s also the most successful in competition, having won more than 250 world championships in various classes that even include road racing, plus countless national titles – all of them achieved with single-cylinder machinery. So if anyone was going to reinvent the street single, it’d have to be the Austrian creators of the iconic Duke streetrod that has set the standard for road-legal minimalism for the past two decades. In an era when speed is king and performance numbers rule, a single-cylinder sportsbike produced by the world’s leading off-road manufacturer has long delivered the most fun for the least power of any motorcycle with lights…

A TRIO OF BEEMERS were our steeds for this ride: the BMW S1000RR, the brand-spanking S1000XR and the ever-surprising R1200RS. All three are superb, and all three had all sorts thrown at them on this trip! From the demands of the Oxley Highway, to cruising between towns on the open highway, to guiding us into Uralla in the dark, late one cold evening, the BMWs were great bikes to be on. And after a night being snowed on, they started first go! The S1000RR has the potential to be the most upsetting, being a sportsbike – and one of the most potent machines on two wheels. Yet, despite its hard focus, once I had the heated grips on and the cruise control allowing me to regularly stretch the right arm,…

Your three favourite T’s are back for a limited time only! Available in black – from Medium to 3XL! Polo shirts Hoodies On yer noggin’ Lightweight neck socks Can be used as a scarf, beanie, headband, facemask and polishing cloth, for $14.95! Stubbie holder Keeps your hands warm and your drinks cold, only $5!…

AFTER AN AMAZINGLY hot six weeks in Brno, up to 40°C, the weather finally broke on race weekend. Raceday was cooler than the practice days, and the Monday test was a virtual washout – additional rain at lunchtime meant that no one ever went out on a slick. There were, however, a few takers for the Michelin wets in the afternoon. It was the first Michelin-only 2016 preparation test; there were no Bridgestones available for anyone trying to improve their 2015 chances. But a wet track wasn’t what Michelin wanted from its third “top rider” test. It had brought a completely new slick front tyre to the test, along with two improved-design rear slicks. The new front, which will hopefully sort out some of the front tyre woes that have…

SLOVENIAN MATEJ ZAGAR won the Gorzow FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland on 29 August as Tai Woffinden took an even stronger hold on the the 2015 World Championship. During the 20 heats Woffinden reigned supreme. When he had to he moved past opponents consistently, and with ease. When he led at the first corner his eventual winning margins were decisive. Woffinden’s 15-point maximum headed Greg Hancock’s four wins and a last place, while Zagar and wildcard and last year’s winner Bartosz Zmarzlik both scored 11. Niels-Kristian Iversen, Michael Jepsen Jensen and Peter Kildemand all scored nine, while Chris Holder was the last of the semifinalists with three second placings and two thirds. Woffinden’s dominance abated in the race-offs but he extended his championship lead from 13 out to 24…

SINCE ITS INCEPTION in 2003 the Kickstarters Gascoyne Dash has developed into a battle between east and west. Traditionally held in the riverbed from which it gets its name, the Gasdash is anchored in Carnarvon midway on the West Australian coastline where registration, scrutineering, a street parade and some partying takes place. However, for 2015 both days’ actual racing are headquartered in the west, near where the Gascoyne and Lyon Rivers meet at The Junction. Somewhat appropriately the first event was won by a bloke nicknamed Duck before four-time winner Vern Strange became the man to beat. Then, in 2009, due to the Australasian Safari passing through the same spectacular scenery, the Gasdash became fertile hunting ground for the Safari top guns: Todd Smith, Ben Grabham and Rod Faggotter. Though…

You first hit the radar in the A4DE at Cessnock. The first ever A4DE was held in 1978 and over 100 riders turned up including Phil Lovett, Murray Tainton, Geoff Eldridge (founder of AMCN’s sister publication ADB), Steve Cotterell, Mark Chapman and Kel Wearne. I’d been competing around Cairns but to race against these guys was unbelievable. In the torrential rain and floods only 36 riders finished and I was second in the 125 class on a CanAm. I was hooked and went on to class wins in 1979 and 1980. Enough to be selected for our 1980 ISDT team. We were doing our own cooking and running low on food so I drove into town to get the groceries and didn’t walk the special tests which proved a big…