Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 67 Issue 24 i Australian Motorcycle News

MY SON OBTAINED his motorcycle L-plates recently. It was entertaining to watch because he has been riding dirtbikes since he was six, and road racing for the past couple of seasons. But to his credit, and despite all the complaining, he went into the two-day course with an open mind and learned a few things that will help him be a better road rider. But what struck me were the numbers. Zane had five other newbies in his class, ranging in age from 17 through to 50 years old. The course is always booked out at least three weeks in advance, and if you want a weekend date, then expect a two-month wait. I don’t believe it’s long-term riders who are deserting this great lifestyle Simple and conservative maths suggests…

IN 2014 BMW rolled out the Concept Roadster at the concours that previewed the R1200R. In 2015 it was the Concept 101 bagger, which became the K1600B. In 2016 BMW brought the R5 Hommage – a cheeky, supercharged reworking of the 1936 BMW R5. That’s not headed for production, but note that BMW didn’t call it a concept either. And last year it revealed the Concept Link, an electric scooter that hasn’t reached showrooms yet but surely is the template for the next-generation C Evolution.…

That’s how you handle it James William Ford, a 67-year-old from Yorkshire, will spend the rest of the TT in prison after delaying practice for the famous event. In court, he became the first person prosecuted under the Road Races Act 2016 when he admitted to obstructing racing. Ford was sentenced to four weeks in custody, after which he will be deported and banned from the Island for five years. Who are they? We see them in deep conversation with their rider in the pit box, and on the grid in a pensive mood, and sometimes they pop up on the podium to be ceremoniously drenched with the winner’s champagne, but what is the primary role of a MotoGP crew chief, and why do the world’s top riders rely on…

Eklund’s consistency allowed him to become only the second privateer in AMA history to clinch the title The AMA flat-track scene of the 1970s was the most fiercely fought in the championship’s storied history. Run over 28 rounds, factory and private pro riders would battle it out on the quarter-mile, half-mile, mile and TT Steeplechase tracks across America, as well as five road races. Kenny Roberts won successive AMA Grand National Championships in 1973 and 1974 on his Carruthers-tuned machines to claim for Yamaha Japan’s first big Stateside wins. But in 1975 Roberts struggled aboard his XS650-derived dirt-tracker and was edged out by Harley hard man Gary Scott, who controversially split with Milwaukee at the end of the season to set up a bitter rivalry with H-D’s new wunderkind, Jay…

Congratulations Jeff, you’ve scored a beaut Motul cap and T-shirt valued at $35, kindly supplied by our mates at Link International. Send an image and details about your two-wheeled pride and joy to access@amcn.com.au Giz a squiz Rider Jeff Nobbs Age 57 Ride 1998 Honda CBR1100 Blackbird He says I have owned my 1998 Honda CBR1100 Blackbird for 18 years. I bought it as a repairable write off late in 1999. When I finished rebuilding it, I used it for my security business as an alarm-response bike. It was very good at getting to the scene fast. The bike has been dyno tuned with custom jetting. It has a K&N air filter and Racetech springs. I gave the old girl a makeover 12 months ago with new fairings…

RIDER PROFILE Name Chris Dobie Age/Weight 51/90kg (I’ve put on a couple) Riding experience Close to 40 years What I learned this week Riding is still the best way to relieve the office blues I turned onto the Snowy Mountains Highway and barely saw another vehicle for the next three hours THE LAST TIME I rode the Snowy Mountains Highway, it was cold, wet and miserable, and with winter fast approaching there was a chance I’d be suffering the same fate. The KTM 1290 Super Duke GT is ideally suited to the roads in that region. It has the power and agility of a sportsbike, plus the comfort and at least some of the wind protection of a tourer. The Superduke GT is not fitted with panniers as standard fitment,…

SIXTY2 Capacity 399cc Price $11,990 Colour options Atomic Tangerine / Ocean Grey / Shining Black ICON Capacity 803cc Price From $13,490 Colour options ’62 Yellow, Ducati Red, Silver Ice STREET CLASSIC Capacity 803cc Price $14,490 Colour options Volcano Grey FULL THROTTLE Capacity 803cc Price $15,790 Colour options Deep Black CLASSIC Capacity 803cc Price $15,790 Colour options Orange Sunshine / Sugar White MACH 2.0 Capacity 803cc Price $15,890 Colours options RSD Custom CAFÉ RACER Capacity 803cc Price $17,190 Colour options Black Coffee DESERT SLED Capacity 803cc Price From $17,190 Colour options White / Shining Black 1100 Capacity 1079cc Price From $17,990 Colour options ’62 Yellow / Shining Black / Custom Grey / Viper Black…

THE TIGER MODEL is synonymous with Triumph, going as far back as 1936. The first bikes to bear the moniker were single-cylinder 70, 80 and 90cc machines. It wasn’t until WWII began in 1939 that the Tiger T100 Twin was released, sporting a 498cc air-cooled twin-cylinder engine designed in the early 1930s by Edward Turner. It was quite narrow and less road-focused, which made it an even better all-rounder than the single. The T100 changed many times through its life, gaining in capacity throughout the period. In the early ’80s, the last twin-cylinder model was produced, the Tiger Trail 650 and 750, to take on BMW’s R 80 GS that was gaining sales momentum in the then secret world of adventure bikes. Triumph by that time was struggling to be…

MID LIFE CYCLES owner Michael Catchpole, 62, combined a career in the Australian mining industry with working as a journalist before heading up the Institute of Mining Engineers and Geoscientists. He founded Mid Life Cycles in 2010 with a mate, more as a hobby than anything. They restored classic bikes in their spare time, and started building custom bikes in Cremorne, the same inner-city suburb of Melbourne the business is located today. Four years ago Mid Life Cycles moved into a more professional mode with a full-time manager and a mechanic, started to build up the workshop, and became a Royal Enfield dealer in 2016. “I was looking to support a larger workshop operation by retailing a brand that sat well with our classic bikes restoration and custom building businesses,”…

THE COMMENTARY YOU hear throughout the day is just as entertaining as the racing itself – seriously. Hosted by Darwin locals Tim Walker and Tim Gwynne, their style is quite unique. Imagine a cross between Roy and HG and Statler and Waldorf from The Muppet Show. Sometimes the commentary is serious, letting you know who is leading, while other times I’m sure they forget the microphone is on and just chat among themselves, pulling the piss out of anyone who looks like they are struggling – including photographers! Walker (above, right), originally from the UK, has called Darwin home for 13 years and now owns and operates Bike You, a motorcycle licensing, training and coaching business. Not only does he have the gift of the gab, but he’s a dab…

Show time 16 JUNE Mountain View Hotel Bike Show, Mountain View Hotel, 864 Gillies Hwy, Little Mulgrave, Qld. Event runs from 11am til midnight. Overnight camping, live bands, trophies, stalls, burnout competition, pub food and more. $1000 prize money. Raising funds for Cassowary Coast Domestic Violence Centre. For information phone hotel on (07) 4056 1723 or see facebook.com/mtviewhotel. 23-24 JUNE Goovigen Rumble Bike Show & Poker Run, Goovigen Sports Grounds, Goovigen, Qld. Run starts Kabra Pub at 11am Saturday, then to sports grounds at 4.30pm for show & shine, live music, food and licenced bar. Camping available. Breakfast Sunday then stands up 9.30am to finish at Kabra Pub. Entry show & shine/poker run $25; show & shine $5; adults $5; U12 $2. For more information phone Jaci Jones on 0405…

A colleague once called it “a sort of horizontal Everest”. I wish I’d thought that up IT STARTED WELL over 100 years ago. 1907, to be precise. And it has just started again, like clockwork, as June heralds the approach of the northern summer solstice. It is, of course, the TT. Most venerable of all motorsport events, and the most extraordinary and profound. In so many ways. A British colleague once called the TT as “a sort of horizontal Everest”. I wish I’d thought that up. Like Everest, the 37.75 miles are celebrated in triumph, but also stained with blood and monuments. Like Everest, it still exerts an irresistible pull on professional and amateur alike. Stripped of championship status in the mid-1970s, the TT has survived triumphantly for competitors and…

Anthony West WorldSSP EAB antwest Racing Grid 15th, Race 11th, 9th. “I’m happy to take some points and was even more happy to see the chequered flag. I thought Donington would be more easy on the broken wrist, but was harder than Imola. I had to change my body position and riding style half way in the race to help take the pressure off. I can’t wait to be 100 per cent fit now that the bike is running better than when we started the year. Happy to still be the number-one Kawasaki in the championship, but I know we can do better and beat the Yamahas. Lachlan Epis WorldSSP300 Motoport Kawasaki Grid 18th, Race 28th, No Score Yet. Lachlan Epis started from 18th on the 39-strong grid. “I’m bitterly…

The rumour mill was in full swing at Mugello. Current factory Suzuki rider Andrea Iannone announced on race eve he would not be with the brand again next year. Joan Mir (pictured) is expected to join the Ecstar Suzuki team alongside Alex Rins, which would seem to block Jorge Lorenzo’s hopes of a Suzuki move. The five-time world champ confirmed on Thursday that he will not stay at Ducati, but move “to a competitive bike” for the next two years, and by the end of the weekend it appeared we are only awaiting official confirmation that Lorenzo will head a new satellite Yamaha team. Rumours strongly favour current VDS rider Franco Morbidelli as Lorenzo’s 2019 teammate. A strong new candidate to run this new satellite team is the Spanish Aspar…

WHEN MICHAEL DUNLOP crossed the line at Glencrutchery Road to claim the first win of the 2018 Isle of Man TT, it was an emotional moment for the 29-year old and his Tyco BMW squad. While the Northern Irishman notched up his 16th TT win, bringing him level with great rival Ian Hutchinson, he could barely celebrate, for it was practicing for the six-lap Superbike TT in which his teammate, Dan Kneen, crashed and tragically lost his life three days earlier. “I wanted to do something in Dan’s memory – that win is for his family,” Dunlop said in the post-race press conference. “It’s hard to celebrate this win. It’s been a hard week.” Rising star Dean Harrison (Silicone Engineering Kawasaki) seemed to have the Superbike TT in the bag…

AUSTRALIAN ANTHONY WEST leads the 600cc Supersport category of the Asian Road Racing Championship by 12 points after a third and a win at the third round of the six-round series, held at Japan’s Suzuka Circuit on 2-3 June. In Race 1, from seventh on the grid, Westy kept a level head to coax his underpowered Ikazuchi Racing Yamaha to within a second of race winner Azian Shah Kamaruzaman (Kawasaki Racing) and onto the third step of the podium, just behind Kamaruzaman’s factory Kawasaki teammate, Ahmad Yudhistira. “Third place, hard race, but was lots of fun passing. I wish I had the same top-end power as the factory teams, but happy to take a podium place today,” the Aussie said after the first race. However, his power deficit didn’t hinder…

Seems you all enjoyed the trip down memory lane for the competition last issue, as every entry was correct. We drew the winner at random, and Tim Redmond (no relation) from Qld won the prize. Can you identify a rider from his helmet colours? If so, you're going to be in the running to claim the prize for this issue ’s Mental Twisties on page 26. Who Graeme Crosby, Mamoru Moriwaki, Mick Hone and Dennis Neill What Honda Motocompo When 1970 Castrol 6-Hour Here are the answers to last issue's brain teaser.…

RIDER PROFILE Name Kel Buckley Height/Weight 164cm/60kg Hot tip Push your gloves in and around a warm engine when you stop for a wee in winter Second bike 1985 Honda XR100 THE BENELLI WAS well overdue for its first service. Up until it came into my possession, it had been around Tasmania as a packhorse for a photographer who was documenting a couple of Royal Enfield Himalayan adventure riders who were circulating the state. Fair to say this bike had been well and truly run in, and by no means gently. So when the engine light came on while I was climbing my nearest twistiest stretch of road up Arthur’s Seat on the Mornington Peninsula, I conceded it was probably time for my new mate to receive its tardy TLC.…

ENGINE Configuration 90° V-twin Cylinder head Two desmodromic valves per cylinder Capacity 803cc Bore/stroke 88 x 66mm Compression ratio 11.0:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI, single 50mm throttle body Power 55kW @ 8250rpm (claimed) Torque 68Nm @ 5750rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Slipper type Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Tubular trellis Rake 24.5° Trail 112mm SUSPENSION Kayaba Front: 41mm non-adjustable USD fork, 150mm travel Rear: Direct mount monoshock, preload adjustment, 150mm travel WHEELS/TYRES 10-spoke cast aluminium Front: 18 x 3 Rear: 17 x 5.5 Tyres Pirelli MT 60 RS Front: 110/80R18 Rear: 180/55R17 BRAKES Brembo Front: Single 330mm floating disc, four-piston radial caliper Rear: Single 245mm disc, single-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 170kg (dry, claimed) Seat height 790mm Max width 845mm Max height 1150mm Wheelbase 1445mm Fuel…

THE TIGER PLATFORM has been so successful throughout its reign that it has morphed into many different versions to not only suit intended riding purposes, but also a buyer’s back pocket. I rode the top-spec XRT and XCA models and they fared very well, but they come at a premium. By the time you buy an 800 XCA, you need to be thinking about spending well over $20,000 – and you can add another $10,000 if you want to step up to the top-spec off-road 1200. But if you can’t stretch that far financially (or your inner leg length holds you back), then there’s something in the updated range that will cater to your needs. The five-tiered 800cc range starts at $18,550 (plus on-road costs) for the XRX base model,…

1200 XCA (XRT) ENGINE Configuration Three-cylinder in-line Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 1215cc Bore/stroke 85 x 71.4mm Compression ratio 11.0:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling Multipoint sequential EFI Power 104kW @ 9350rpm (claimed) Torque 122Nm @ 7600rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet Final drive Shaft CHASSIS Frame material Tubular steel Frame layout Trellis Rake 23.4° (23.2°) Trail 93.5mm (99.9mm) SUSPENSION WP Front: 48mm USD, electronically adjustable damping compression, 190mm travel Rear: Monoshock, electronically adjustable semi-active damping with automatic preload adjustment, 193mm wheel travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Spoke (aluminium alloy) Front: 19 x 3 Rear: 17 x 4.5 Tyres Front: 120/70R19 Rear: 170/60R17 BRAKES Brembo/Nissin Front: Twin 305mm discs, four-piston sliding calipers Rear: Single 282mm disc, two-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 248kg (243kg) (dry, claimed) Seat height 835/855mm Max width 930mm…

Brass Rajah ENGINE Configuration Single-cylinder Cylinder head Pushrod-operated overhead valve, two valves per cylinder Capacity 346cc Bore/stroke 70 x 90mm Compression ratio 8.5: 1 Cooling Air Fueling 1 x 29mm constant vacuum carburettor Power 14.8kW @ 5250rpm (claimed) Torque 28Nm @ 4000rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Five-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Tubular steel Frame layout Single downtube Rake Not given Trail Not given SUSPENSION Front: 35mm telescopic fork, non-adjustable, 130mm travel Rear: Dual non-adjustable BSA-type shocks, 80mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Wire-spoked Front: 19 x 4.0 Rear: 19 x 4.0 Tyres Shinko E270 Front: 4.00-19 Rear: 4.00-19 BRAKES Front: Single 280mm steel disc, twin-piston caliper Rear: 153mm single leading-shoe drum brake DIMENSIONS Weight 155kg (dry, claimed) Seat height Not given Max width Not given Max height Not…

Chief Alberto Giribuola Rider Andrea Dovizioso Age 35 Lives Ravenna, Italy ALBERTO GIRIBUOLA BECAME fascinated by bikes when he was a kid. He wanted to contest the Aprilia Challenge series, but didn’t have the money, so he studied mechatronics (electronics and mechanical engineering). He joined Pramac Ducati in 2009, working mostly on electronics for Aleix Espargaro and Randy de Puniet. His first crew chief job came with Jakub Smrz in WorldSBK. He returned to the MotoGP paddock in 2013 as Dovizioso’s data engineer, then rejoined Pramac, working with Danilo Petrucci and others. Having worked on all aspects of performance, he became Dovizioso’s crew chief in 2016.…

Some days I worry about my fibre intake. But some days, like that day, I let excitement lead I WOKE AT 4AM. ‘Blinded by my own excitement’ is how my closest friends and co-conspirers (and humans within 50 paces) have described me on occasion. I knew today would be full throttle. Redmond on Redline. Do you remember waking up with your pushbike on your mind? Infant stuff, I admit, but I still hold on to flying carpets, candy castles, genies in bottles and adventure – even as I grind my bones halfway through their fifth decade. It was 4.02am as I put the collars on my unholy barking-crazy hyperactive fleet of three Jack Russells and went for a jog. We got home and I gave my trinity of Ratdogs each…

The seven European tracks are closer together than all the tracks in ASBK IN THE PAST few months I have been all around Europe testing and competing in the WorldSBK 300 championship. Here’s an insight into my new racing life. After a wildcard in the final round of the WorldSBK 300 in Jerez last October I signed up for the 2018 season with the Netherlands-based Nutec-Benjan-Kawasaki team. We gained the support of some great companies at home and, next thing, bags were packed and I was heading to Europe with mum and 87kg of luggage. Somehow we avoided excess luggage charges and 24 hours later arrived in Amsterdam. It was minus-eight degrees and extremely windy; welcome to Europe in March. The first weeks we spent by ourselves up in the…

ISLE OF MAN TT Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson announced changes to the event’s red-flag procedures following a collision involving a rider and an official course car during the opening week of the 2018 event. Kent rider Steve Mercer had a nasty head-on collision with an official course car as he made his way to the pits after the red-flagged practice session that claimed the life of Tyco BMW rider Dan Kneen. The 36-year-oldwasairlifted to hospital in a critical but stable condition and, according to his wife, Caroline, he suffered fractures to a heel, ankle and T12 vertebrae, as well as leg, pelvis, neck and larynx injuries, with the latter two meaning he’s not able to breath by himself. “They’re keeping him heavily sedated to make him more comfortable…

A FACTORY DUCATI team place for Jack Miller in 2020 has burst wide open with the departure of Jorge Lorenzo at the end of this season. Miller will ride for the Pramac satellite squad in 2019 aboard a factory-spec GP19, with Ducati anticipating his results will make him a prime choice for the factory outfit in 2020. Ducati looks certain to pass Lorenzo’s slot for 2019 to loyal servant Danilo Petrucci, upgrading him for one year. Miller already has his focus on showing Ducati he deserves a future factory gig. “This is the year I can be making mistakes because even next year I want to be fighting for the title,” Miller said.…

AFTER ONLY 12 WorldSBK race starts, 21-year-old Toprak Razgatlioglu, who even triple world champ Jonathan Rea rates highly, took his first podium finish – and in second place, not third – at Donington. And he did it ahead of Rea, and without an official factory bike. “I like the stop-go-track,” he said. “Long corners, no good! Normally all race long I have a problem with the front sliding. Imola was the same, but no problem here. I had a good feeling from the bike.” He retired from the Saturday race after clashing with his teammate for the weekend, Leon Haslam, and started the Sunday race from 10th on the grid. “It was not easy, but what was different today was the tyre. We changed the tyre choice and made a…

Super-huh? In a strange twist in Tom Sykes’ great WorldSBK Superpole success, his team at Donington got him to wear a superhero-style top and cape with the word ‘Superpoleman’ written on the front. In a possibly even stranger twist, Paddock Show host Michael Hill had invited Troy Corser onto the stage to comment on the prospect of Sykes moving one ahead of their shared record of 43 Superpoles, live as the session was going on. Argentina dreaming Slight concerns were raised in the paddock at Donington about the Argentinean WorldSBK round, scheduled for the middle of October, with a general lack of confidence that things really will be ready in time. Ears also pricked up in the entire paddock when it was recently announced in the general news media that…

KEEPING EVERYTHING on track for this one-day event was the usual band of hard working officials and volunteers. The day started with a dry track but then the rain set in for a few hours, making conditions slippery. Fortunately it dried towards the end so riders finished the day in a good mood. Of course, the PCRA are old hands at these events and just one race had to be dropped off the program. It was another great effort from a club that was formed in 1986, just as Post Classic racing was starting. The PCRA has always had its eye on affordability, running a Bucket Racing class in the late 1980s to help bring more people into the sport. In recent years, the club has turned the annual International…

DESCRIBED AS ‘Hollywood on the lake’, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como in norhtern Italy is regarded as the world’s most exclusive showcase for cars and motorcycles. As well as historic designs, major companies show off their latest concepts. BMW design chief Edgar Heinrich and American customiser Roland Sands received a standing ovation in 2013 when they rocked up on their Concept Ninety, a homage to the iconic BMW R90S that went into production as the R NineT.…

THERE’S BEEN PLENTY of news about autonomous and semi-autonomous cars in recent months, and there’s clearly a lot of interest in taking the strain away from humans behind the wheel. But on the face of it there’s less to be gained from riderless bikes – after all, who wants to be a passenger on a bike? That’s not the point of this new prototype from British firm AB Dynamics, which is not intended to be transport. Instead, its developers hope that the very companies developing autonomous cars and trucks will use its bike as a test vehicle to ensure that their systems accurately detect and safely respond to sharing the road with motorcycles. This isn’t a self-driving machine, more of an oversized radio-controlled vehicle, albeit one that can be programmed…

CHINA’S CFMOTO has launched a clever new sports-tourer based on the existing CFMoto 400NK parallel twin wrapped in new, all-enclosing bodywork. The company has been on a roll for a while now with a range of new machines styled with the help of KTM’s favoured design house, Kiska, and a tie-in to assemble KTMs for the Chinese market. Last year CFMoto made headlines with the V.02NK concept bike – a nakedbike powered by KTM’s LC8 V-twin engine. And its new sports-tourer, called the 400GT - just revealed in China, looks like a worthy addition to the line-up. Mechanically, it’s familiar to anyone with experience of the 400NK. It’s got the same 400cc parallel twin, making 31.5kW at 9500rpm and 35.4Nm at 7650rpm, and a near-identical chassis. But in place of…

Records tumble Superbike riders at the IoM TT are now recording sub-17min laps on the 37.75-mile Mountain Course, as the lap record creeps towards a 135mph average. Costly cruiser At almost $2.5 million, the Blue Edition custom Harley-Davidson Softail Slim is now the world’s most expensive motorcycle. TT course dangers TT star Steve Mercer collided head-on with a course car during a red-flagged practice session last week. Mercer was flown to hospital in a critical but stable condition. Red flag procedures have since been ammended. Vale Dan Kneen Manx rider Dan Kneen was killed in practice for the IoM TT Superbike race. Our condolences to his friends and family.…

IT MUST HAVE been a prerequisite of employment with AMCN back in the day that you be a Rossi fan. The place was full of them, so imagine the celebrations at Gassit HQ when VR claimed his eighth world championship! In other news, we tested a $35K race-built Honda CBR1000RR and Honda’s DN-01. The 680cc V-twin sports cruiser featured an automatic gearbox. Yarrive Konski was the new man in charge of the ASBK, and he seemed to have a lot of ideas to reinvigorate the local Superbike series. Aprilia released its new RSV4, and we had all the details. But all of that was incidental because it was MotoGP time at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Our 196-page Aussie MotoGP preview issue was packed with world championship goodness, including…

I’m back! Thank you for a great fortnightly magazine, it has helped me get my confidence back after not being on a bike for many years. Great articles for entertainment purposes, and reading about the experiences of others helps build awareness and confidence. It has been my silent companion, providing the subtle motivation required to get back into the motorcycling community. I have recently returned from the UK, where I lived for eight years. I rode probably once or twice in that whole time. Riding in Australia, especially Sydney, certainly teaches you how to ride defensively. Since returning, I’ve bought a bike and completed a returning rider course, which was the best money I’ve ever spent. You don’t realise how much you lose by way of reflexes, awareness and general…

TWO YEARS ROADSIDE assist as part of Benelli’s warranty package sounds like a pretty good deal, but what exactly does it offer? The service which is included with the TRK is looked after by a mob called National Roadside Assist (NRA) which has over 1700 service providers across Australia and New Zealand. According to its website, there are two levels of cover; Platinum and Platinum Plus and, due to the fact that my house is more than 50km (maximum towing distance under Platinum package) from Benelli HQ but less than 100km (maximum towing distance under Platinum Plus package), and my engine-light return request was denied, then I can safely assume it’s the so-called Platinum package you’re getting. As well as 50km free towing to your nearest dealer, you need to…

I’ve heard people get so attached to their Scramblers that they name them. Yep, I named my Icon ‘Sid’. The name comes from Scrambler Ducati SD. I wanted an Italian name but I only got as far as Sid. What attracted you to the Scrambler? I wanted a bike that was manageable, with a low seat height, but still with enough punch to easily manage traffic and open-road touring. The Scrambler is a great handling bike, with heaps of low-down torque, and a simple engine design that’s not overloaded with electronics. As an experienced rider, what do you like about the Scrambler? I love the old-school design of the bike. From a riding point of view, it has light handling with typical Ducati cornering prowess. Apart from the riding experience,…

The adventure bike market has evolved and grown exponentially during the last decade, so it’s serious business for the brands involved. They’re the dual-cab utes of the motorcycle world; one on every corner and nearly every manufacturer is trying to out-bling the competition to lure would-be owners into its dealerships. And the options are pretty much endless. No longer a high-end product, a swathe of brands new to adventure circles have come to the market with basic offerings at competitive prices in recent years. And while the range-topping BMWs and KTMs have ruled the roost over the last couple of years, Triumph is well and truly fighting back with its heavily updated triple-cylinder 800cc and 1200cc ranges. Multiple variants across two platforms can get confusing, so before we get into…

ENGINE Configuration Three-cylinder in-line Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 800cc Bore/stroke 74.1 x 61.9mm Compression ratio 11.3:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling Multipoint sequential EFI Power 70kW @ 9500rpm (claimed) Torque 77Nm @ 8000rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Tubular steel Frame layout Trellis Rake 23.4° Trail 93.5mm SUSPENSION WP (Showa) Front: 43mm USD, adjustable rebound and compression, 220mm travel (180mm travel) Rear: Monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound, 215mm travel (170mm travel) WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Aluminium alloy Front: 21 x 3 (19x3 ) Rear: 17 x 4.5 Tyres Front: 90/90/21 (100/90/19) Rear: 150/70/17 BRAKES Brembo/Nissin Front: Twin 305mm discs, two-piston sliding calipers Rear: Single 255mm disc, two-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 208kg (202kg) (dry, claimed) Seat height 840/860mm (810/830mm) Max width 805mm (795mm) Max…

Chief Silvano Galbusera Rider Valentino Rossi Age 61 Lives Milan, Italy SILVANO GALBUSERA STARTED out as a motocross fan. He worked at Gilera, initially in motocross and the Paris-Dakar, then with the factory’s 250 GP team in the early 1990s. In 1994 he worked with John Kocinski at Cagiva, then moved to the Yamaha World Superbike squad, with Paolo Casoli, Alex Gramigni, Ben Spies and others. At BMW he was Marco Melandri’s crew chief. He became Rossi’s crew chief in 2014.…

Climate change NEVER MIND THE melting polar ice caps, the most devastating consequence of climate change is shed neglect. Too hot? Too cold? Too damp? Do something about it! Even if it’s as simple as buying a fan to circulate air in the hotter months, or a heater to burn the midnight oil on those long winter projects. Plug up the drafts and insulate the work space as if it were your lounge room. Improve ventilation or even consider air-conditioning if you’re way up north. Whether it be a coffee machine to warm the cockles and perk the enthusiasm, or a bar fridge to keep the motivational amber-oil chilled, make it the place you most want to be. Remember, this is living space in every sense of the word. Get…

Top 3 TV 1 8 Hours of Oschersleben Eurosport 9 Jun 9pm Eurosport has the rights to broadcast the FIM EWC rounds so Foxtel subscribers can catch the 8 Hours of Oschersleben when the flag drops at 9pm on Saturday, 9 June. Check you local guides for full telecast details. 2 WSBK Rd7 LIVE Brno, CZ Fox/Videopass 9 & 10 Jun 9pm/7.30pm The seventh round of the Superbike World Championship will be aired live on Fox Sports and through the WSBK VideoPass. Race 1 kicks off at 9pm AEST Saturday and Race 2 at 9pm Sunday. The WSS race starts at 7.30pm Sunday. 3 MotoGP Rd6 LIVE Catalunya Fox/Videopass Sunday 17 June 7pm (AEST) MotoGP Rd7 will take place at Catalunya in Spain, and will be aired live on Videopass…

In the early 1980s, it was a big deal if you knew someone who had been to the 1978 Isle of Man TT FOR A FEW YEARS four decades ago, a coloured newspaper clipping was pinned to the wall of my small home workshop. Brought back from a friend visiting the UK in 1978, it was a photograph of Mike Hailwood easing his Ducati through Quarter Bridge during the Formula One TT. No knee-down action here, rather the toe was testing for ground clearance while the rest of the body was tucked well in behind the red-and-green fairing. That victory, by a rider well past his use-by date and on a motorcycle not many people thought capable of winning, resonated around the world. Its cultural importance can best be summed…

WorldSSP300 Ana Carrasco (DS Junior Team) had a 4.602sec advantage over her mostly male peer group this weekend, as she won her second successive WorldSSP300 race, after taking pole position on Saturday. Her South African teammate Dorren Loureiro was second and Borja Sanchez (ETG Racing Kawasaki) third, heading up a warring clan of five riders. Carrasco leads Luca Grunwald (Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team) by 22 points now, with Scott Deroue (Motoport Kawasaki) third, 27 points behind her. SSTK1000 Pole man Markus Reiterberger (alpha Racing Van Zon BMW) won his third race of the year to take a 10-point lead away with him after the Donington round. Maximilian Scheib (Aprilia Racing Team) was second, and Roberto Tamburini (Berclaz Racing Team SA BMW) third. In the championship it is Reiterberger on 86,…

DAVID JOHNSON, campaigning his eighth TT in 2018 on what is probably the best bike package he has ever had, matched his best TT finish in the opening race of the event. He rode his Gulf BMW S 1000 RR at a strong and consistent pace throughout the race and, like the three men ahead of him, was a beneficiary of Harrison’s retirement, which promoted the Aussie to fourth at the finish. Johnson posted four laps faster than 130mph, including his opening lap from a standing start. The race was the fourth time the Aussie ace has finished fourth in a TT. JOSH BROOKES rode the factory Norton SG7 to a creditible 10th place in the Superbike race, picking up a silver replica for his efforts in the first TT…

CASEY STONER HAS lauded the efforts of Jack Miller to establish himself as a growing force within Ducati. Stoner, Ducati’s only MotoGP world champion, says Miller’s streak of top results this season, including two fourth places, is the platform for a strong season. “In the past, Jack was a little inconsistent and struggling to find his feet, but this year his work ethic has impressed me,” Stoner said. “He has been trying really hard on and off the circuit. “Jack’s race in Le Mans was really impressive and I expect we will see him get stronger as the season goes on, and perhaps challenge for the podium.”…

FORMER AMCN STAFFER Rennie Scaysbrook will tackle ‘America’s Mountain’ for the third time when he races up the 156 turns of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on his Team Cycle News/KTM North America 1290 Super Duke R on 24 June. Scaysbrook finished an impressive fourth overall (and second in his Heavyweight category) on his 2016 Pikes Peak debut, despite crashing three-quarters of the way up the course and remounting unhurt to finish the race. He returned in 2017, this time with track experience and a determination to right his wrongs from the previous year. His 9m57.712s run was good enough to make him one of just five riders in the event’s 102-year history to have reached the top in under 10 minutes, though the Aussie was pipped to the…

Australian Motorcycle News road test photographs are posed for by skilled, professional riders under controlled circumstances. Attempting to imitate their actions may be dangerous. Australian Motorcycle News supports and endorses rider training and wearing protective riding gear. Especially if you find yourself in the gutter. Imagine the bloke with the longest legs in the world casually hoiking the front wheel of a V-Strom 650XT up the gutter to park in front of what is probably New South Wales’ busiest McDonalds. Now imagine the engine stalling before the rear makes it up and what happens when even those legs ain’t long enough to find Terra Firma. Keep an eye on the show CCTV: Caught on camera, there’s a fair chance Dobie just may get a starring role.…