Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 65 Issue 20 i Australian Motorcycle News

THIS IS THE MUGEN Shinden Go, the fifth-generation electric racebike from the firm, and its specs wouldn’t shame a petrol-powered superbike. Shinden Go is the successor to the original 2012 Shinden, 2013’s Shinden Ni, 2014’s Shinden San and 2015’s Shinden Yon. Where the first two generations managed 90kW, there’s been a gradual improvement of 10kW per year since then, with the new Shinden Go peaking at 120kW of power. As with its predecessors, it uses a lithium ion battery with 370V “or more” according to the official specs, and tips the scales at 250kg ready to race. That’s still a bit portly compared to a petrol-powered machine but with 210Nm of torque to play with (actually fractionally down on the original Shinden’s 220Nm), its performance should be enough to once…

A real cracker Hi Chris and the gang, There’s been a couple of errors in the magazine over the years and I’m guessing the much used and passed around testicle clamp must be wearing out by now. I spotted this nice new testicle clamp on a recent ride and thought I’d send it down as a replacement for when the old Ken Wootton (legend) original can no longer inflict the required pain. Also enclosed are some practice testicles for the pain master or mistress, to commission the unit for field use. Warning, product may contain traces of nuts. On a side note, I just had a week at Port Macquarie and one night we went to a gourmet hamburger place near the unit I was staying in and shared a…

Nobody could accuse Triumph of stinting on new models – the classic British marque has served up a mouth-watering new range for 2016. But so far they’ve mostly been Euro 4 compliant updates of existing machines: the Speed Triple, Explorer 1200 and the forthcoming Tiger Sport. But now to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Johnny Allen’s September 1956 world land speed record (powered by a Triumph Thunderbird engine), the first all-new Triumph model platforms for quite some time have finally made it to showrooms, after being unveiled at Milan’s EICMA Show last November. First there’s the 900 Street Twin – essentially Triumph’s redefined entry-level model in the Bonneville family. On top of that, the trio of Triumph factories in Thailand are now cranking up production of the two quite different…

Suzuki’s image at the time was as the most staid of the Japanese manufacturers This year marks the 35th anniversary of Suzuki’s GSX1100S Katana – a landmark in motorcycle design. Those of us with enough miles on the clock will vividly remember the first time we saw one on display, or on the road. It was a machine that upset expecations and polarised the two-wheeled public, enthralling some and appalling others. Like the samurai sword it was named after, it had a profound impact. And despite the passage of the years, its influence is still keenly felt in the design of modern bikes and in Suzuki itself. But originally it emerged almost by accident, the result of a design experiment unfettered by expectation. The Katana’s appearance – it was first…

The front tyre quickly became the talking point of the test WITH THE HELP of various new technologies, including its MotoGP-developed Ultimate Eye testing system, Bridgestone designed its new Battlax Hypersport S21 radial tyre to cope with the increased handling and power demands of the latest superbikes. Those were the claims, anyway – now it was time to put them to the test. With a wide selection of road-registered rockets at our disposal, including the Yamaha R1M, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Ducati Panigale, BMW S1000RR and Honda CBR1000RR, and the Yas Marina Formula One Circuit lit up for night-time action, we took to the track. From the first session, Bridgestone’s race-bred technology made itself felt. Just as the company’s MotoGP tyre became famous for its front-end grip, Bridgestone’s new Battlax S21’s three-layer,…

R3 Cup Race Kit FAIRING KIT – including front fender and tank cover – uses stock screen AKRAPOVIC full racing exhaust system with Ti muffler RACING REARSETS with multiple adjustments HANDLEBAR lowering kit GEARING SET JT – optional sizes – 1 front, 2 rear MUPO SUSPENSION KIT – complete rear shock absorber with adjustable preload, ride height and rebound damping. Front fork kit with springs, spacers and shim stack GRAPHICS KIT with all series and bonus sponsors logos supplied R+G PROTECTION KIT including crash knobs, engine case covers, rear stand pickups, chain guard, radiator protector R+G MUFFLER mounting bracket AIS POLLUTION system block off plate YAMALUBE SERVICE KIT – 4 litres of synthetic engine oil and oil filter OXFORD rear race stand CD WITH PARTS book, service manual, kit fitment…

I have always been a two-piece leathers sort of guy, mainly due to the fact that while I’m a fan of the protection leather offers, I’m not a racer. However, the ever increasing number of track tests I undertake as part of this job means I do need a race suit so I joined the leather onesie crowd. One thing quickly became clear – when you have long arms and legs you are going to struggle to find a race suit that fits properly. Thankfully, I found the Berik Force race suit which has just enough extra arm and leg length to save me from having to buy a custom-made job. Helping with my decision was the Berik name which is seen protecting riders around the world, from club days…

Sam Lowes put his Gresini Kalex on pole, alongside the Ajo and Dynavolt Kalexes of champion Johan Zarco and Jonas Folger, and as at Qatar it was Folger who took the lead off the line. He held it for two laps, and then it was the turn of Lowes. Franco Morbidelli (EG Kalex) also joined in to make it a quarrelsome quartet. The track was dry, but there were slippery patches, and all of them survived at least one scare. Zarco bided his time, and with 10 laps to go he eased past Lowes to take the lead for the first time. He would never lose it, eventually finishing 1.5 seconds ahead. The Frenchman celebrated with a familiar backflip off the tyre wall. “I couldn’t know if I could be…

It took until the third race of the year, but Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) did not disappoint in the style in which he won his 33rd race victory in WSS. He took his 25th career pole and went on to lead the race from start to finish – all 16 laps of the 5.344km Kawasaki-friendly Aragón circuit. It was his third Motorland win for Kawasaki in succession. “I wanted to lead and keep going because yesterday and the day before I had good pace,” said Sofuoglu. “The team made incredible adjustments on the bike on Friday night and I was getting faster and faster. We did a good lap and took pole position in Superpole and in the race the goal was to make a good start and take…

Alex Rins had dominated practice and qualifying, and the Páginas Amarillas Kalex rider did the same in the race. But Gresini Kalex rider Sam Lowes ran him close, often very close. It was defending champion Johann Zarco (Ajo Kalex) between the pair on the front row, and Dominique Aegerter (CarXpert Kalex) who leapt from the second row to lead into the first corner. By the second, however, both Rins and Zarco were past the Swiss charger. While Rins was never headed, a lively Lowes set a new lap record second time round as he surged through from fourth to second, and rapidly halved a gap that had grown to more than one second. He was within just over three tenths on laps six and seven, but would never get closer,…

THE PADDOCK WAS aflutter at Motorland Aragón when both Pata Yamaha riders, Sylvain Guintoli and Alex Lowes, got on the front row after Superpole. The main reason for the sudden improvement in performance was explained by team manager Paul Denning. “It is very difficult to be definitive because it is many small things, but the bike naturally has a lot more grip in qualifying trim, because even the race tyre option used at the start of qualifying is a softer one. In general if you have some development targets with the bike, adding rear grip always helps with everything.” This could explain why the Superpole results contrasted with some others, in practice and race, at Motorland Aragón. “We are coming with a completely new bike, new team and lots of…

THE OPENING ROUND of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship saw 2015 runner-up Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) show his class with a pair of second place finishes at England’s iconic Silverstone circuit. Byrne fought tooth and nail with ex-MotoGP rider Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) in Race 1, and young gun Peter Hickman (Kawasaki) in Race 2, to come away with the overall lead in the championship. Ex-Supermoto World Champion Christian Iddon also displayed consistent form with third place finishes in both races. Australian Jason O’Halloran bounced back from injury in fine form, missing out on pole by just 0.06s to 2015 WSBK contender Leon Haslam. The Victorian went on to finish sixth in Race 1 and fifth in Race 2 and currently sits fifth in the Championship with…

ROUND ONE OF the World FIM Cross-Country Championship could well have been settled after the prologue when Toby Price waltzed his KTM across the dunes to score point position ahead of teammate Sam Sunderland and Husqvarna mounted Pablo Quintanilla. Except that in this empty quarter of the United Arab Emirates no rider wants the lead until the final stage. Unlike the Dakar marathons, in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge the top contenders’ stage times are so close it’s near impossible to create a winning margin and hold it. The mantra is ‘keep your opposition close and your teammates even closer’ – preferably just in front of you, as Price discovered. “I attacked really hard from the start but Sam stayed glued to my wheel. I tried to shake him but…

THOSE WHO BELIEVE the loudest celebrity to hail from NSW’s midwest is Shannon Noll haven’t heard his elder brother Damian belt out Acca Dacca’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap in Condobolin’s Red Dog Saloon. It was the perfect prelude to the 25th running of the dirtiest weekend in town: the Condo 750 Cross-Country Rally. Since 2005 the 750 has had only four winners: Bathurst’s Ben Grabham, local lad Todd Smith, his younger brother Jake, and Longreach Yamaha dealer Rod Faggotter. And, after four torrid hours of racing on Easter Saturday, it appeared Faggotter was about to match the all-time record of four victories when he finished with a two-minute lead over Jake Smith and his brother Todd in third. With less than six minutes across the top six it was…

IT WAS LITERALLY a case of keeping up with the Joneses, as brothers Nathan and Tyson Jones fought out the premier Superbike class in the opening round of the 2016 Victorian Road Racing Championships held at the Broadford State Motorcycle Complex 9-10 April. The pair, who are two of only four men to lap the circuit in under 57 seconds, fought intensely for the win. Nathan (1,2,1) took family bragging rights, getting his Kawasaki ZX-10R over the line first in two of the races with Tyson (2,1,2) taking the other by the minute margin of 0.045 seconds on his 3J Racing/Cykel/Race Center Kawasaki ZX-10R. Dean Archbold ensured the podiums were an all green affair taking his 1SRS Scaffolding/Morwell Kawasaki ZX-10R to third place in all three races. Track and series…

KAWASAKI WILL REVIVE the legendary Z900 moniker on an all-new retro-styled nakedbike which might even be supercharged to give it superbike levels of performance. The firm has recently applied for a trademark on the name Z900RS, and at the same time our sources in Japan revealed that the company was looking to cash in on the recent boom in retro-inspired bikes typified by Yamaha’s ‘Sport Heritage’ machines like the XSR900. The schedule is to have the new bike on sale in two years’ time, but the really tempting element is that it could also be supercharged as part of Kawasaki’s thrust into the realm of forced-induction. The evidence for the new Z900RS being supercharged is circumstantial but persuasive. The name itself tells us a couple of things. First is that…

WE’VE ALREADY brought you spy pictures of KTM’s new Duke 890 parallel twin nakedbike (AMCN Vol 65 No 17) but the firm’s latest annual report confirms the project and reveals it contains some interesting technology. As part of the summary of the firm’s R&D projects, KTM lists “development of a new motorcycle platform based on a revolutionary two-cylinder engine design, which will make a substantial contribution toward opening up new market segments” as one of its projects. There’s no clue given to what will make the new twin revolutionary. Spy shots of the bike show that it’s a parallel twin, believed to be around 800cc and likely to carry the name Duke 890 when it’s officially revealed. The same engine is sure to find its way into an adventure model…

2016 Ducati Hyperstrada 939 The Ducati Hyperstrada was originally released as an 821cc model in 2013. The concept builds on Ducati's original Hypermotard series by incorporating touring equipment such as semi-rigid panniers, a large windscreen, centrestand and passenger grab rails. Electronic aids include Ducati's safety pack with three riding modes (Sport, Touring and Rain), eight levels of DTC and three levels of ABS. In 2016 the engine capacity was increased to 937cc thanks to a 6mm bigger cylinder bore. What it’s got The Ducati Hyperstrada 939 is powered by a liquid-cooled, 937cc L-twin, fuel injected, four-stroke engine with DOHC and four valves per cylinder. Power runs through a six-speed constant mesh gearbox. The front suspension is a 43mm fully adjustable USD fork with 130mm of travel. The rear has a…

the silly season has already started but last I checked we were only one round into 2016 (round two by the time you receive this, apologies). I have mucho respecto for his years of dedication to MotoGP, but I just thought it might be worth mentioning. Also, could you organise another face time with Cristian Gabbarini? I would love to hear his views after working with two very different personalities in Casey Stoner (please make a return to MotoGP) and Jack Miller. If you need someone to conduct the interview I have a series of questions already penned that I would be happy to fire off to him. Good luck for the rest of the year Chris and Co. See you in October at the GP. PS Stoner to ASBK?…

SUZUKI MIGHT NOT make a Katana anymore, but the firm hasn’t forgotten the watershed model – there are plenty of rumours suggesting that a new Katana is in the works and at least two concept bikes have harked back to the original’s style. First was the six-cylinder Stratosphere from the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. A straightforward modernisation of the Katana theme, it was a running prototype, but the financial crash of 2008 led to a shift away from such exotic ideas. More recently, the turbocharged Recursion concept bike carried hints of Katana in its styling, and that project is certain to reach production in the near future, albeit significantly changed. Notably, Suzuki has re-trademarked the Katana name, hinting that it has plans to revive the legend. Target Design isn’t likely…

THE DEFINITIVE KATANA look emerged on the ED-2 mock-up unveiled in 1980, and despite being a non-running, fragile, handmade show bike it still survives today. After its show history, the bike eventually made its way to the Fritz Ehn museum in Austria, where it remained until it came back to Target Design’s attention in the early 2000s. Kasten offered to restore the shabby-looking bike back to something approaching its original show glory during the firm’s free time. Repaired and repainted in 2006, it went back to the Ehn museum, but was sold – along with the entire contents of the collection – by Bonhams in 2008, fetching a surprisingly low £10,350 (around A$20,000). American Katana collector Ken Edgar was the guy smart enough to snap it up, shipping it to…

The days start early, well before dawn, as racers and crew emerge from their bush camps beside the lake to make their way to the pits situated midway along Track 1. It’s never cool out here but at least it’s not hot, and the flies are still asleep. As the sun rises over the far range, engines kick into life and racers make their way to the starting area. Welcome to Speed Week. Lake Gairdner is spectacular at any time, but never more so than at dawn, especially if you’re out there on the lake itself. Surrounded by barren outback sheep stations, the 160km-long dry salt lake is a national park and significant indigenous site, and access is strictly controlled. Yet here we are, a bunch of unwashed petrol heads…

Phillip Island Ride Days For bookings Phone: 1300 793 423 www.phillipislandridedays.com.au Mac Park Ride Days For bookings Phone:(08) 8725 0163 www.macpark.org WELL, IT’S TIME to say farewell to our faithful long term Hyundai iLoad van, or ‘Silver Dream Racer’, as I like to call her. And what better way to celebrate a farewell than with a slumber-party!? Even better, a couple of sleep-overs at Phillip Island and Mac Park circuits with my favourite trackday buddies, our long termer BMW S1000RR and KTM RC390. I’ve spent more than my share of nights curled up in the back of a van between two racebikes, and can tell you there’s nothing worse than trying to sleep with a footpeg in your back. But with just the Beemer on board for the Phillip Island…

Scorching weather, disintegrating tyres, a crashing world champion, rain disrupting everything, a compulsory pit stop and an extraordinary red-on-red attack robbing Ducati of a double podium. It’s the Argentine GP. What could possibly go wrong? For Marc Márquez, nothing much, bar tripping and falling off the top step of the podium. The whole weekend had been fraught, after Scott Redding’s rear Michelin shed a swathe of tread at high speed in practice. Plans were made to use the reserve ‘safety’ tyre, but race-morning rain intervened, and hasty revisions saw a shortened MotoGP race with a mandatory bike swap. Fastest in dry practice and master of the one-jump bike change, Márquez spent the first 10 laps holding off a persistent Valentino Rossi, narrowly leading him into the pits. He gained a…

The first race of the day was fraught after a wet warm-up. The rain had stopped and the track was drying, but there were still swirls of moisture. Almost all came out on wet tyres; all but one had changed to slicks for the start. The exception was Livio Loi, big winner of such a gamble at Indy in 2015. And sure enough his RW Honda did surge away to lead into the first corner. But he wasn’t there for long before he was passed by a 17-year-old Malaysian in only his third GP. Asia Cup and CEV graduate Khairul Idham Pawi seized the lead on the first lap, and by the end had stretched it to 25 yawning seconds. Conditions varied through the race, but Pawi just got faster…

Pipe Screams DUCATI APPEARED AT Motorland with not only a new exhaust but a very interesting new design. The small silencers now exit more or less symmetrically from under the seat area, dare we say it, almost like a Moto3 Honda. Ducati WSBK project leader Ernesto Marinelli gave more details of the titanium system. “It is the second evolution of the one we did last year. It is another step in performance and weight and so on. The biggest advantage is that we have reduced the weight, the driveability is a bit better and we gained a bit of top end, which is one of the things we have been looking for. It gives us a new margin of development. The whole system is 1.5 to 2 kilos lighter than…

They should, somebody suggested, name a corner at the Circuit of the Americas after Marc Márquez. But why stop there? Why not name that giddyingly steep 40-metre swoop up to the tight first corner ‘Mount Márquez’. Repsol Honda’s double world champion made his first ascent, from pole position, on MotoGP’s first visit to Texas in 2013, becoming the youngest ever winner, aged 20. He’s done the same every year since. Thanks to new software and tyres, the gaps were smaller, at least in qualifying. But the final outcome was very much the same. The weekend was reminiscent of those times in the reign of Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi, when every race was about who would come second. There wasn’t much doubt about that, as it turned out, as defender…

Rain-hit qualifying shuffled the grid, giving Phillip Öttl (Schedl KTM) a maiden pole, and putting title contender Niccolo Antonelli (Rivacold Honda) down in 30th. But it was second qualifier Jorge Navarro seizing the lead from the start, and putting up a convincing attempt at a runaway – his lead approaching two seconds after just three laps. By now, Romano Fenati (SKY VR46 KTM) had taken second from Öttl, and he started to hunt down the EG Honda. Navarro made his pass easy, running wide into the tight turn one at the start of lap eight. The Spaniard stayed close, until the same error lost him more than a second at two-thirds distance. His challenge was done. The field was relatively spread out, and Fabio Quartararo (Leopard KTM) had come through,…

JORGE LORENZO HAS signed for Ducati. So said Suzuki team boss Davide Brivio – a knowledgeable Italian GP insider, whose past portfolio includes luring Rossi to Yamaha from Honda and paving the way for Viñales in MotoGP. Ducati and Lorenzo remained tight-lipped but according to the rumour mill the deal has already been done, with Lorenzo accepting a big-money offer to switch to the iconic Italian marque. His teammate Valentino Rossi declined to comment, beyond a reminder that the current iteration of the Desmosedici is a much better bike than the one he moved to, when he stomped out of Yamaha at the end of 2010. Viñales, who is understood to have been approached already to replace Lorenzo at Yamaha, surprised listeners when he welcomed the extra pressure of the…

THE RECORD OF 43 pole position ‘wins’ for Troy Corser in the Superbike class could well be under threat if Tom Sykes carries on his career for another couple of seasons. Once thought untouchable, Corser’s total is now ‘only’ 11 ahead of the unstoppable one-lap phenomenon that is Sykes. The KRT rider’s 1m49.374s was a new track best in Superbike, and was set on a cool track, with only 20°C showing on the thermometers.…

THE NATIONAL DRAG Racing Grand Finals, held 9-10 April at Adelaide International Raceway, was the final championship round for the 2015/16 ANDRA and Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series. After a long and eventful season that crisscrossed the country and visited five states, the time had come to crown winners and champions. The Pro Stock Motorcycle and Competition Bike Championship had already been decided with Cory Buttigieg and Paul Pires the winners, however, the Modified Bike and Top Fuel Motorcycle titles were still up for grabs. In Modified Bike, Greg Spark top qualified but was gone after round two. In the semis, Wally Hosta defeated Gavin Dohnt, while Brian Finn had a bye run. The final featured Hosta and Finn with the winner to be crowned champion. Both riders broke out,…

CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER Ryan Dungey (Red Bull KTM) showcased his talent when the AMA Supercross returned to the West Coast for Round 12 at Levi’s Stadium, California. Dungey put together an inch-perfect performance, leaving Ken Roczen (Soaring Eagle Suzuki) to settle for second and Jason Anderson third (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna). A resurgent Chad Reed (360Fly Yamaha) finished fourth. California saw the penultimate round of the Western Regional 250SX Championship with Cooper Webb (Yamaha) storming into the lead ahead of runner-up Zach Osbourne (Husqvarna) and Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki) in third. Australian Hayden Melross had a spectacular crash on the rhythm section of the opening lap after riding his Yamaha YZ250F off the track and landing on a fence. At Round 13 at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Roczen tried to step…

WITH ARGUABLY THE most stacked field in history, Horsham hosted the 2016 MX Nationals opener. Pre-meeting talking points were the return of Dean Ferris and Todd Waters coming back from the MXGP, and Canada based Aussie motocross legend Brett Metcalfe competing in his first MX Nationals on home soil. It was a happy return for Dean Ferris (CDR Yamaha) who won the first moto in the Pro Open class (MX1) in convincing fashion ahead of last year’s champion Kirk Gibbs (KTM Australia). Todd Waters (Wilson Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki) looked strong, however, bike troubles saw him finish mid-pack. In Moto 2 Matt Moss (NPE Monster Kawasaki) showed the field his ambition to take the title. He went to the front and never looked back, giving him the overall win with…

ONE OF PETER Molloy’s finest moments as a preparer of racing motorcycles was in a race he hadn’t entered – when Wayne Gardner won the final round of the 1980 Australian Unlimited Road-racing Championship at Sandown. It’s a story Gardner loves to recount. Molloy had packed his Honda superbike away for the day, but a rain shower left the track damp and Gardner figured that the machine had a show of beating the 750 two-strokes. He ‘liberated’ the Honda, rolled it onto the grid, bluffed his way into pole position and then won the race. It was the first Australian solo championship race four-stroke victory in a decade and secured sponsorship from Mamoru Moriwaki for Gardner to race at Daytona and in England in 1981, thereby kick-starting his international career.…

MV F3 BEAMS DOWN UNDER MV Agusta Australia has announced just 40 units of its limited-edition F3 Solar Beam have been made available for both the Australian and New Zealand markets. The bike broke cover at the Frankfurt International Motor Show and, as well as the AMG badging yellow livery, it gets Ergal clutch and brake levers with anti-break joint, Ergal footpegs and racing fuel filler cap. It’ll set you back $26,990 (ride away). DINNER WITH BAYLISS? The Brisbane-based Tattersall’s Motorcycle Club is hosting a black-tie affair to raise money for the Variety Children’s Charity of Queensland, with special guest Troy Bayliss confirming his attendance. The dinner will be held at the Tattersall’s Club on 21 April and tickets are still available at either $95 each or $850 for a…

POSSIBLY MOTIVATED BY the bare trophy cabinet he lamented in Ed’s desk (Vol 65 No17), or just a masochistic craving for public humiliation, AMCN editor Chris Dobie has signed up to contest the remaining rounds of this year’s inaugural Yamaha YZF-R3 Cup. “The YZF-R3 cup has been designed for racing newbies like me,” Dobie said. “Ignore the fact that Yamaha was really targeting up-and-coming youngsters, I have been wanting to experience motorcycle racing for years and this new competition fits the bill perfectly. It’s easy to get involved, cost effective and looks like a heap of fun.” The one-make series has been designed for Yamaha’s 320cc twin-cylinder LAMS sportsbike fitted with a race kit developed by the Australian-based Yamaha Racing Development Team. An investment of $7900 gets you a stock…

IN 1903, WAY back before cars were commonplace, American Mary Anderson filed a patent application for a manually operated windscreen wiper fitted with a rubber strip. The thought came to her when she was travelling on a trolley car and witnessed the driver having to reach around and manually remove the build-up of snow from the driver’s-side windshield. Then, 14 years later in 1917, Charlotte Bridgwood filed a patent application for the first automatic windscreen wiper. Interestingly, neither were very well received and both patents had lapsed well before windscreen wipers were regarded as necessary on cars, which wasn’t until the 1940s. Seven decades later and motorcyclists are still making do with the Mary Anderson idea of manual wiping, sometimes with a rubber strip fitted to a glove’s forefinger and…

In terms of features, there isn’t much the K 1600 GTL Exclusive doesn’t have Servicing First service: 1000km Service intervals 10,000km thereafter Final drive oil and air filter replaced every 20,000km, valve clearances checked and spark plugs changed at 30,000km Brake fluid initially changed at 12 months and then every two years thereafter TO SAY I was impressed with BMW’s flagship luxury tourer, the K1600GTL Exclusive, would be a gross understatement. I was gobsmacked. The functionality that BMW has managed to squeeze into this machine is unparalleled. Although many will baulk at the $42,500 (+ ORC) price tag, it’s a seriously capable motorcycle ideal for two-up touring and actually offers good value for money. With a six-cylinder 1649cc engine that generates 175Nm of torque at 5250rpm it packs plenty of…

The Audace is almost like the antichrist of the glittering cruiser genre Unleash your dark soul. Be the outlaw. Rebel. So goes Moto Guzzi’s kitschy marketing mumbo jumbo in reference to its all new blacked-out streetbike, the Audace. But don’t let that put you off – this arm-wrenching hot rod has some serious twisting force to back up the hype, and its dark knight styling contrasts heavily with the somewhat stigmatised genre of chrome-dipped cruisers. Since its humble beginnings in post-war Europe in 1921, Moto Guzzi has earned a reputation for making bikes with raw, muscular power, and it now has a track record spanning almost a century. Most recently it has released several new models in the California range, all of which boast modern motorcycling performance cloaked in a…

WHILE THE FIRST glimpse of the Katana came at the IFMA Exhibition in Cologne in September 1980, there had been a hint at its shape months earlier when a unique MV Agusta was revealed by Target Design. The bike was commissioned by German bike magazine Motorrad, which asked Target as well as two more established design firms – Porsche Design and Italdesign – to try to imagine what the bike of the future will look like. “Motorrad had a yearly magazine called Motorrad Revue,” says Kasten, “and they asked three designers about their dream bike. They asked [Giorgetto] Giugiaro of Italdesign, they asked Ferdinand Alexander Porsche of Porsche Design in Austria, and they asked us. It was the first showing for our studio.” The original MV’s current location is unknown.…

THE MICK HONE entered Suzuki Katana Superbikes, ridden by Rob Phillis and Mick Cole, were the class of the field in their day, winning three Superbike titles in the years 1982-83. Hone had tried to raise the bar on local superbike development when he and Ansett Airlines maintenance engineer Alan Pickering built a GS1000 Superbike. The next step was a GSX1100 that Phillis raced to the Victorian Superbike crown (and many other victories) in 1981, and then the two Katanas. “The Katana was not that much of an advance on the GSX. A bit quicker and a bit of an advance in the handling,” Pickering said. “Our goal was to make the bikes rideable; they didn’t have a heap of horsepower. We just kept working on them and then moved…

Designed to supersede its popular S20 Evo tyre, the S21 remains targeted directly at the riding enthusiast looking for everyday durability combined with trackday performance. After unveiling the new model at EICMA late last year, Bridgestone recently gathered the world’s leading motorcycle journalists at the famous Yas Marina Formula One circuit in Abu Dhabi to put the new tyre through its paces. Even before touching down in the capital of the United Arab Emirates I had a feeling Bridgestone was more than confident its new road tyre was up to the task. The Yas Marina circuit has an entertaining mix of high-speed sections leading to heavy braking areas, as well as testing complexes of low- to medium-speed corners. Fighting against the tyre’s grip levels would be the circuit’s off-camber corners;…

ESSENTIALS Fuel range should not be an issue. Tumut to Khancoban is 180km, and from there to Jindabyne is 110km. Fuel and all facilities are available at Khancoban. There is a store/café at Cabramurra where you can get food and drinks, including coffee and beer. There is also a self-service petrol bowser at Cabramurra with premium unleaded available. Fix It There is little in the way of mechanical backup available along this route, so make sure you take sufficient tools and spares. Try to avoid riding alone if possible. However, there is mobile phone coverage along most of the ride if you do get into trouble. Fuel Up Khancoban Roadhouse 1389 Alpine Way, Khancoban (02) 6076 9400 Cabramurra Visitor Centre Cabramurra Village (02) 6453 2003 Eat Heritage Coffee Lounge in…

Until now, and despite the best attempts from many others, the 2016 World Superbike Championship had been a Kawasaki Racing Team contest between runaway leader and reigning champion Jonathan Rea and his bitter team rival Tom Sykes. Meanwhile, Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) and Michael van der Mark (Honda World Superbike Team) had been podium presences – getting a good look in, you could say. After the championship got back to Europe, however, where Ducati brought its latest titanium high-level exhausts and some extra ponies along for the ride, Davies got the chance to put the boot into the hopes of Rea and Sykes. He rode with his usual clinical aggression and blinkered focus to score a remarkable double victory, his first of 2016, and the 10th and 11th…

THE WIDESPREAD RUMOURS that Monza would not be on the 2016 calendar were confirmed at the Motorland round. Estoril in Portugal had been mooted as a replacement, but this was also in doubt with no deal finalised. Portimão is not realistically back in the frame as a replacement Portuguese round either, after it was taken off the list of possible circuits by WSBK pre-season. All of this means that the chances of continuing with a 14-round championship have taken a severe blow. Dorna did not make any official comments around this possibility, but the most likely scenario now is a 13-round series, with no race in late August or early September. That would leave a big gap in the championship – again – from 8-10 July at Laguna Seca in…

THERE WAS ACTION aplenty at the Undera Speedway in Victoria during the second round of the FIM Oceania Cup for sidecars. A strong international contingent was present, including two outfits from the USA, four from New Zealand and one from the UK. The visitors, however, did not get a look in, with the local outfits too strong and featuring in all results. Darren Treloar and Blake Cox wowed the large crowd with a dominant display in the five-round heat series. They went unbeaten through the heats and the subsequent semi-final. It seemed like a forgone conclusion that Treloar and Cox would take the final. That was until a less than optimal start saw them relegated to last position, something that the team of Warren Monson and Matty Morgan took full…

DESPITE THE DUSTY conditions west of the Blue Mountains, Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna FE250) and Daniel Sanders (KTM 300 EXC) dominated rounds three and four of the Australian Off Road Championship at Portland. “It was very dusty and rocky but I’m very happy to be back on the pace, and on a bike that’s probably better suited to my style” said Kearney after taking maximum points in E1 (<250cc) on both days. And what else could Sanders say after remaining unbeaten after four rounds of the championship. “It was an awesome track that really suited my style and the bike was unbeatable.” With Lachlan Stanford – Husqvarna 501 – struggling to bridge the gap in the E3 division (>450cc) Sanders is already looking good for Murray Bridge in two weeks’ time.…

DARWIN MOTORCYCLE Club’s Kamfari off-road mud race is a four-hour non-stop test of rider and machine. Participants are not allowed any help and must not have any tools or spares in the pits. They can’t even get anyone to hold the funnel when re-fuelling! Anything they need must be carried on their bike or body. Just finishing Kamfari is what most riders have on their bucket list. Spectators can line the track or take a helicopter flight to see the race from the air. The course is around 13km long and takes in jungle, mud plains, bush and old mine excavations. The start is a gobsmacking mass of riders and machinery, all trying to insert themselves into the first corner at once. There is usually a bit of bar banging…