Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 68 Issue 01 i Australian Motorcycle News

Any number of strangers will emerge from an adventure ride great mates WHEN IT COMES to riding on a wet and greasy racetrack, I feel right at home. And for some odd reason I go pretty good when the heavens open. But put me on a loose gravel surface on an adventure bike and, to be perfectly honest, I reckon I’m shit. Okay, I’m probably a little better than the average Joe, but given my rides are usually in the company of freakishly talented former professional riders and off-road adventurers, I’m often the guy down the back. I am cool with that because, despite my shortcomings (which I’m working on) I look forward to the annual AMCN adventure ride like a kid looking forward to a birthday. No other form…

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PREMIER Steven Marshall has put his hand up to help Harley-Davidson in its tariffs showdown with US President Donald Trump. Asked if the SA Government would be interested in getting involved with H-D again (Castalloy will stop manufacturing H-D’s alloy wheels next year), Marshall said he would “definitely” be in contact with the factory to explore production options. H-D has threatened to move a large part of its export production to Europe, its second-biggest market, to protect its income after becoming a victim of the US-EU trade war. The iconic US company claims it will lose $3000 on each motorcycle it builds if European authorities go ahead with their proposed hefty import tariff on US-made products. This is in response to Trump’s planned import tariffs on European steel…

Yamaha’s 2018 World Raid Tour has already included stints in Australia and North Africa, and there are more to come – in South America and Europe. The promotional tour will see current Yamalube Yamaha Dakar team racers Rod Faggotter and Adrien van Beveren, as well as former Yamaha racers David Fretigne and Stephane ‘Mr Dakar’ Peterhansel, riding the new bike. Noted big mile muncher and accomplished global roamer Nick Sanders will also join the final leg in the European Alps. Coverage of the Australian sector of the tour has already gone live – check it out at www.world-raid.com.…

Hour of power The annual PCRA 1 Hour Endurance Challenge at Wakefield Park Raceway is back for 2018. Mark the date 24-25 November on your calendar. Champion politician Kenan Sofuoglu has been elected to the Turkish parliament for the dominant AK party.AK won 295 seats, just under half of the 600-seat parliament. Teamless Pedrosa Regardless of who you cheer for, you’ve got to feel for MotoGP’s Dani Pedrosa. Once the great hope at Honda, he’s now tosing up a satellite ride in 2019 or retirement. Tariff war casualty The 31 per cent tariff imposed by the EU on goods imported from the US, in response to President Trump's steel tariffs, is putting stress on Harley-Davidson.…

“We made our adventure with what we had and under the conditions that prevailed” Access, AMCN, PO Box 20154, World Square, NSW, 2002 access@amcn.com.au The numbers game Chris, your analysis of the number of new riders versus falling bike sales (AMCN Vol 67 No 24) omits potentially significant considerations. Motorcycles last longer these days, and even last year’s bike is very competent, so we may well be buying new bikes less often. Of course, another factor may be that motorcycling is now being promoted as a fashionable lifestyle, a cool thing to do, with a range of bikes and associated gear deliberately targeting the young hipster. I started biking for the thrill, cheap transportation just being an excuse. I wonder whether those attracted to motorcycling simply for image reasons subsequently…

ENGINE Configuration Parallel-twin Cylinder head SOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 998cc Bore/stroke 92 x 75.1mm Compression ratio 10.0:1 Cooling Liquid Fuelling PGM-FI EFI Power 70kW @ 7500rpm (claimed) Torque 99Nm @ 6000rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Dual wet multiplate Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Semi-double cradle Rake 27.3º Trail 113mm SUSPENSION Showa Front: 45mm USD fork, 224mm travel, fully adjustable Rear: Prolink monoshock, 240mm travel, fully adjustable WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Wire spoke, aluminium rim Front: 2.15 x 21 Rear: 4.0 x 18 Tyres Pirelli Scorpion MT90 Front: 90/90R21 Rear: 150/70R18 BRAKES Nissin, ABS Front: Twin 310mm discs, four-piston calipers Rear: Single 256mm disc, single-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 252kg (wet) Seat height 900-920mm Width 930mm Height 1570mm Wheelbase 1580mm Fuel capacity 24.2L PERFORMANCE Fuel consumption 5.7L/100km…

GARETH JONES Age 31 Height 185cm Weight 78kg Experience 17 years racing, five years tyre development Dream adventure ride Overland from Europe to Oz Service station snack Red frogs Adventure soundtrack Audio docos Which bike would you own? The BMW. Looks awesome and is just so structured. Heaps of power and lots of tech. AIDAN HAYES Age 34 Height 178cm Weight 71kg Experience 27 years, ASBK Supersport racer Dream adventure ride A lap around Oz Service station snack Chocolate milk Adventure soundtrack Unique II’s Break my Stride Which bike would you own? The KTM. It can do the big trips but is still nimble enough to get in some tough off-road sections. CHRIS DOBIE Age 51 Height 192cm Weight 90kg Experience Four decades Dream adventure ride Anything without a tent…

Impressive power delivery can be subdued and tractable or deliver scintillating performance at the click of a mode button. ESA makes for easy suspension adjustments to suit changing riding conditions and loads. Dash angle is adjustable, the multi controller intuitive. A thoroughly refined machine. With the optional Navigator VI unit fitted, the dash can’t be viewed when standing. Sheer size and weight of the bike demands a confident approach, and the wide, low-slung cylinder heads intrude on your feet and shins when you have to start paddling on soft or sandy ground.…

Aidan Hayes THE DUCATI has oodles of power and a swag of completely adjustable electronic settings, so there isn’t a situation you won’t be ready for. I loved that you could have traction control on but wheelie control off. And the dash is exceptionally easy to read and use on the fly. On the dirt the Ducati felt steady, albeit a little top-heavy for my liking, but I felt that on the other bikes as well. I really enjoyed the power and had a lot of fun letting it hang out on the corners. I found the suspension slightly too soft when jumping water washouts. The tank is well shaped for wind protection when highway riding, and was comfortable while standing.…

Chris Dobie WHEN IT comes to riding off-road, I’m average at best. So you would think I’d be a little shy of the big-bore adventure bikes due to their size and weight, but that’s not the case. All the major brands' have ‘big mama’ adventure bikes that are refined to the point where they belie their size. But for me the difference between KTM’s surprisingly agile 1290 Super Adventure R and the 1090 R is the simple addition of confidence. On paper, there’s just 26kW and 10kg between the pair, but the 1090 R has an X-factor that I clicked with. Once aboard, its weight disappears, and because I’m such a long-limbed beast its slim profile means it feels like an enduro bike – with the added advantage of having…

Matt O’Connell THE V-STROM was one of the most basic of this year's bunch, but it’s a very capable little all-rounder. My first stint was across a long section of loose gravel and I was comfortable almost immediately. The low centre of gravity inspires confidence even though the standing position (for my height) didn’t feel that natural. It handles well on the bitumen, and the V-twin has very usable torque. For off road use I’d love to see switchable ABS and a metal bash plate fitted, but across the clay-based roads, traction – or lack of – was predictable and enjoyable. The Suzuki offers great bang for your buck, but has more going for it than that – the engine is punchy, it is light and not intimidating.…

Gareth Jones LINED UP against the other bikes, the little SWM appears to be outmatched with a single-disc front end, pint-sized (in comparison) 600cc thumper, and the main tech feature being able to switch off the ABS to the rear wheel. I pictured myself rattling away on the highway, but instead found it comfortable over distances. There’s plenty to be said for going back to basics. And it had a brilliant pair of panniers! The engine is gutsy yet linear and makes use of the single-cylinder torque through a tall final-drive ratio. The SWM is a nimble and intriguingly capable bike that I found myself pushing further and further. It would be a great choice for a wide range of riders and, although it doesn’t carry the prestige of the…

Gareth Jones THE TIGER initially felt like a gentlemen’s motorcycle. Easy to ride, smooth delivery and almost too comfortable. The engine note was far from aggressive, but this all changed soon enough. The song of that 1200cc triple was like listening to Triumph FM and I felt an overwhelming sense of safety from the silky-smooth power delivery. What the Triumph lacked in aggression and spirit, it made up for in confidence and ride-ability. And the tech! Suspension, traction control, ABS and power delivery could be completely reconfigured at the touch of a few buttons and there’s nothing gimmicky about it. I gave it a strenuous test, and it’s awesome.…

I rested the chin bar of my helmet on the Benelli’s tank and closed my eyes “Dalgety pub is only half an hour down the road, or do you reckon we can make it?” I asked travelling buddy Andy, hopeful he’d concede that the idea of an open fire, a pub meal and a bottle of red wine was far more desirable than what we were about to tackle. With only a handful of cryptic notes scrawled on a couple of bits of paper, and with 700km already under our belts after leaving Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula some 10 hours earlier, our task was to now locate a secluded hut on the remote banks of the Snowy River in southern New South Wales. “No, I reckon we can piece it together,”…

1 Trust is invaluable. I was with two blokes I trust unreservedly. This goes a long way to having the guts to say yes. 2 Traction control isn’t everything. Good on the road, but there were plenty of things I couldn’t have done as easily off it if the Benelli had traction control (it doesn’t) that I couldn’t switch off. 3 The Kawasaki Versys 300 probably isn’t designed to jump. 4 The Bonang Highway is most certainly my new favourite road and quite possibly Australia’s best motorcycling road. 5 Not even a gulp of diesel can upset the stride of an oh-so-robust Suzuki V-Strom 650! 6 A goat in distress sounds chillingly similar to a human in distress. 7 QJ builds ’em tough. I’ll never know how I managed to…

PICTURE HAVANA IN your mind and there’s a good chance you’ll see a fleet of brightly hued classic American convertibles. In reality, these are best viewed from a distance, as up close you can count the brush strokes over six decades of panelbeater’s bog. And what the pictures don’t tell you is that most of the original V8s have long since succumbed to worn rings, valves, pistons and anything else that once moved; replaced by Russian and Chinese tractor powerplants and heavily modified Lada gearboxes. Luis Enrique’s own 1954 Buick was relatively westernised, with a six-cylinder Perkins diesel held in place by two massive torque bars and running through a Kia Sportage gearbox. So the cars are not Concours, but after a couple of Mojitos or Cuba Libras and a…

AIDAN Spidi 4 Season jacket $799.95 Colours Black/Grey/ Yellow Sizes S-XL PROS Comfortable Totally waterproof Air vents CONS Breeze creep in extreme cold Moto National 1300 885 355 www.spidi.com.au Spidi 4 Season pants $559.00 Colours Black Sizes S-XL PROS Totally waterproof Good boot coverage CONS Tight round the knees Moto National 1300 885 355 www.spidi.com.au GARETH Airoh Rev helmet From $599 Colours Red/Blk,Blk/Wht, Ylw/Blk Sizes 2XS-3XL PROS Flip-back front section Bluetooth-ready CONS Ear recess doesn’t suit my head shape Shark MC Leathers and Accessories (07) 5573 5118 www.sharkleathers.com.au Highlander V2 jacket $329 Colours Blk/Wht,Gry/Wht Sizes 46-68 PROS Waterproof Tailored fit CONS Small external pockets Shark MC Leathers and Accessories (07) 5573 5118 www.sharkleathers.com.au Highlander V2 pants $299 Colours Blk/Wht,Gry/Wht Sizes 46-68 PROS…

Show time 7 JULY South Johnstone Bike Show & Gymkhana, South Johnstone, Qld. From 12 noon. There will be 22 categories, live music, a swag hall and three-course dinner. For more information phone Bones on 0438 406 246 or Shirley on 0468 318 240. 15 JULY Townsville Combined Motor Clubs Swap Meet, Townsville Showgrounds, enter via Kings Rd, Townsville Qld. 6am to 2pm. Displays of vintage, veteran and classic motorcycles, cars and stationary engines. Swap sites $10; general admission $5; U15 free. Food and drinks onsite and free camping available. For more information phone John Weber on 0408 181 354 or email Frank Cerutti at cerutfa@ozemail.com.au. 15 JULY Club Laverda Qld Concours 2018, Cleveland Showgrounds, Long St, Cleveland, Qld. This event is a static motorcycle display with more than 60…

Talent by itself is not enough. It’s even more the case – less room at the top – in bike racing QUESTIONS ASKED AT parties: number nine: “Do motorcycle grand prix racers get paid millions like F1 drivers?” My reply’s been the same for years. Racing is like rock music. Those who make it big make it very big. Rich beyond avarice. Think Rolling Stones. Or the rolling Stoner. But there are hordes of superbly talented musicians who end up starving in lonely garrets. Talent by itself is not enough. It’s even more the case – even less room at the top – in bike racing. In spite of successful commercialisation, and in spite of the continuing redistribution of wealth initiated by IRTA in the 1990s (currently aimed at giving…

MotoAmerica IN THE MOTOAMERICA Motul Superbike races at Laguna Seca Cameron Beaubier (Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha) took another double win to add to his recent successes at Road America. As a result, he now has the championship lead by 29 points, from Yoshimura Suzuki’s Toni Elias. Beaubier battled with Josh Herrin, who was also competing in the WorldSBK races, in both Saturday and Sunday races. After passing Herrin for the lead on lap 16, Beaubier was shadowed until three laps later, when Herrin fell at Rainey Curve, losing his chance to score. It was Beaubier’s fourth win of 2018, and came at what he feels is his home track, in California. “It was the perfect weekend really,” said Beaubier. “From the first lap Friday I just felt really comfortable with…

SETH CRUMP (Rock Oil – KTM RC-390) has broken through for his debut round win in the Australian Supersport 300 Championship, taking two race victories across the weekend. Fighting off a chasing posse that included good mate Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing – Kawasaki Ninja 300), Crump proved his podium form at The Bend was genuine. “For the first two rounds of the year I had a few issues with the forks, and I couldn’t feel the front end at all,” Crump said. “We fixed that for ‘The Bend’ so I was much happier with the bike and I was able to be in the battle there.” He didn’t have it all his own way, though, with Tom Bramich (YRT, JLT – Yamaha YZF-R3) winning the first race from Bayliss and…

Jack Miller MotoGP Race 10th “I’m disappointed, but glad to finish 13 seconds from the leader, in the top 10 … all my finishes this year are in the top ten. I was struggling a bit in the long corners on the edge of the tyre, and though I could make time again in the fast corners, there’s only so much you can do, and I couldn’t stay with those guys.” Remy Gardner Moto2 18th “That was a truly difficult race. The first three laps I was doing not too bad until something happened. It felt like the tyre went off. I was losing the front everywhere and just had no confidence. The data confirmed the tyre had turned, which is unfortunate, but at least points the finger away from…

“MARC WAS FIGHTING with us, but he had a margin to go alone and when he decided to go he won by two seconds,” Rossi said. “It is difficult because he is faster than everybody, so for the championship it will be very hard. “But we have a great fight for second place with another two or three riders minimum, and so we have to try.” Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi agreed: “[Marc] is very, very strong and so far ahead in the points that it will be very difficult [for the title], but never say never,” he said. “Marc will not win every race, but what is obvious now is that he can play for the podium at every race, in every condition.” Rossi, Yamaha teammate Maverick Vinales and…

THE ENTRY OF the three-cylinder Triumph 765cc engine as the control power unit for Moto2 next year is set to ignite a chassis war between main suppliers Kalex, Speed-Up, KTM and Suter. The lighter and more compact Triumph motor – with engine mounts at the top, unlike the current bottom-mounted Honda CBR600RR – will require a redesign and packaging of frames. With all engines of identical spec, the early advantage in Moto2 next year could go to the chassis supplier who comes up with the best solution. The process began at the recent test at Aragon in Spain, where Triumph engines in race trim were available for evaluation by manufacturers. The main testing duties fell to ex-racers Alex de Angelis, Ricky Cardus and Jonas Folger, respectively exercising NTS, Kalex and…

JUST SEVEN-TENTHS of a second was all that came between former AMCN staffer Rennie Scaysbrook (KTM 1290 Super Duke R) and celebrating his first-ever victory at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs. The motorcycle category was won by Pikes Peak legend Carlin Dunne, who rode a 2018 Ducati Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak edition to the summit in a time of 9m59.102s to claim his fourth victory, though cool and slippery conditions meant he was 10 seconds off the race record. “To come that close to the win and not get it is a hard pill to swallow,” Scaysbrook said after the race. “But I can hold my head high as I rode as hard as I possibly could. The track was super slippery and I made lots of…

AUSTRALIAN RED BULL Rookies Cup campaigner Billy van Eerde had mixed fortunes during the fifth round at Assen last weekend. The 18-year-old Central Coast rider picked up three points for 13th, but crashed out mid-way through Race 2, which claimed eight of the 24 starters. The weekend was dominated by 14-year-old Turkish rider Can Oncu, who won both events by over two seconds and from pole. Oncu currently leads the series by 49 points after five rounds with 115 points, from Spanish rider Carlos Tatay and Czech rider Filip Salac who each have 66 points. Van Eerde is in 21st place in the championship standings with four points. Round 6 will be held at the Sachsenring in Germany over 13-15 July.…

How close is the Ténéré 700 World Raid prototype Rod Faggotter rode at Hervey Bay to what will ultimately be the production version? Yamaha isn’t saying, but an educated guess suggests it will be similar – just don’t expect the carbon-fibre body panels and Akrapovič exhaust to make it to the showroom floor. Not as standard fitment anyway; maybe as optional extras, or perhaps fitted to a limited-edition, or a higher-spec off-road variant, should Yamaha elect to produce multiple versions. The prototype’s frame, 698cc twin-cylinder CP2 engine from Yamaha’s MT07 and Tracer 700 models, long travel suspension, and much of the bike’s running gear did look very production ready, and if that’s the case, the Tragics have plenty to be excited about. After spending five days in the saddle, Rocket…

DEVELOPMENTS ON the 2018 models include wider, rubber-topped, off-road-friendly footpegs mounted on stronger steel mounts and a larger bash plate. Pillion pegs have been shuffled to give the rider’s legs a better route to the deck. Changing the instrument cluster’s angle to make it easier to see is a nice touch, and it now boasts a little verandah on top to shade it from the sun. The Adventure Sport year sees a 24-litre tank that Honda claims will get you 500km before needing a bang-water refill, but in the real world I found a smidge north of 450 kays was what I could rely on. Despite my best efforts, the bike returned consumption figures just under six litres per 100km. The seat has had a makeover for 2018; it’s flatter…

DCT or not to DCT? HONDA IS NO stranger to automating gearboxes in bikes. From the centrifugal clutch on the 1958 C100 Super Cub through to the DN-01’s oddly named Human Friendly Transmission in 2008, it has been chasing efficiency and effectiveness. On a two-up tourer, DCT would be magic – it shoots at the horizon so smoothly, there’s almost no detection of the changes. On the dirt, the Gravel mode is quite aggressive and rewarding, but you need to anticipate its next move. Riding in a higher gear smooths out the rough stuff and a constant throttle setting has the bike doing this for you. The DCT will change on a slightly trailing throttle so I found myself in top gear in 60km/h zones. Rarely would I have a…

ENGINE Configuration Flat twin-cylinder Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 1170cc Bore/stroke 101mm x 73mm Compression ratio 12.5:1 Cooling Liquid/air/oil Fuelling EFI BMS-X 52mm Power 92kW @ 7750rpm (claimed) Torque 125Nm @ 6500rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet Final drive Shaft CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Tubular steel bridge Rake 25.5° Trail 92.7mm SUSPENSION Front: BMW Telelever, 210mm travel Rear: BMW EVO, Paralever 220mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Spoked aluminium Front: 19 x 3.0 Rear: 17 x 4.5 Tyres Continental TKC80 Front: 120/70 R19 Rear: 170/60 R17 BRAKES Brembo, ABS Front: Twin 305mm discs, four-piston radial-mounted calipers Rear: Single 276mm disc, twin-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 260kg (wet, claimed) Seat height 890/910mm Max width 980mm Max height 1450mm Wheelbase 1510mm Fuel capacity 30L PERFORMANCE Fuel consumption 4.25l/100km (tested)…

ENGINE Configuration L-twin Cylinder head DOHC, variable valve timing, four desmodromically driven valves per cylinder Capacity 1198.4cc Bore/stroke 106mm x 67.9mm Compression ratio 12.5:1 Cooling Liquid Fuelling Bosch EFI, 2 x 56mm eliptical throttle bodies, ride-by-wire throttle Power 112kW @ 9500rpm (claimed) Torque 128Nm @ 7500rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet, slipper Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Tubular trellis Rake 25° Trail 110mm SUSPENSION Sachs, semi-active electronic Ducati Skyhook Suspension Front: 48mm USD, fully adjustable, 200mm travel Rear: Monoshock, fully adjustable, 200mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Tubeless spoked Front: 19 x 3.0 Rear: 17 x 4.5 Tyres Pirelli Scorpion Trail II, Scorpion Rally (option) Front: 120/70ZR19 Rear: 170/60ZR17 BRAKES Brembo, with cornering ABS Front: Twin 320mm semi-floating discs, four-piston radial monobloc calipers Rear: Single 265mm disc,…

ENGINE Configuration Liquid-cooled 75° V-twin Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 1050cc Bore/stroke 103mm x 63mm Compression ratio 13.0:1 Cooling Liquid Fuelling Kehin EFI 52mm Power 92kW @ 8500rpm (claimed) Torque 109Nm @ 6500rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet slipper Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Chrome moly Frame layout Tubular steel trellis Rake 26° Trail 123mm SUSPENSION WP Front: 48mm UPSD, fully adjustable, 220mm travel Rear: PDS monoshock, fully adjustable, 220mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Spoked aluminium Front: 21 x 2.5 Rear: 4.5 x 18 Tyres Continental TKC 80 Front: 90/90 R21 Rear: 150/70 R18 BRAKES Front: Twin 320mm discs, four-piston radial calipers Rear: Single 267mm disc, twin-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Dry weight 207kg Seat height 890mm Ground clearance 250mm Height 1457mm Wheelbase 1573mm Fuel capacity 23L PERFORMANCE…

ENGINE Configuration Liquid-cooled 90° V-twin Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 645cc Bore/stroke 81 x 62mm Compression ratio 11.2:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling Suzuki dual-valve injection Power 52kW @ 8800rpm (claimed) Torque 62Nm @ 6500rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet Final drive chain CHASSIS Frame material Aluminium Frame layout Twin spar Rake 26° Trail 110mm SUSPENSION Front: Kayaba non-adjustable conventional style Rear: Kayaba preload-adjuster only WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Spoked aluminium Front: 19 x 2.5 Rear: 17 x 4 Tyres Bridgestone Adventure A40 Front: 110/80 R19 59V Rear: 150/70 R17 69V BRAKES ABS Front: Tokico, dual 310mm discs, twin-piston calipers Rear: Nissin, single 260mm disc, single-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 216kg (wet, claimed) Seat height 830mm Ground clearance 170mm Max height 1405mm Wheelbase 1560mm Fuel capacity 20L PERFORMANCE Fuel consumption 4.95L/100km…

ENGINE Configuration Single cylinder Cylinder head DOHC, four valves Capacity 600cc Bore/stroke 100mm x 76.4mm Compression ratio 12.4:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI, 1 x 45mm Mikuni throttle body Power 42kW @ 7500rpm (claimed) 35kW (LAMS, claimed) Torque 53Nm @ 7000rpm TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Single beam, double cradle Rake Not given Trail 120mm SUSPENSION Fastace, Sachs Front: 45mm USD, adjustable rebound, 210mm travel Rear: Monoshock, fully adjustable, 270mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Steel spoked, aluminium rims Front: 21 x 2.15 Rear: 18 x 3.5 Tyres Metzeler Sahara 3 Front: 90/90-21 (54S) Rear: 140/80-18 (70S) BRAKES Brembo, ABS (switchable) Front: Single 300mm disc, two-piston floating caliper Rear: Single 240mm disc, two-piston floating caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 169kg (kerb, claimed) Seat height 890mm Max…

The Tiger is fully-kitted as it rolls off the showroom floor, from its electronically adjustable screen to meaty off-road-ready foot pegs. All riders commented how the Tiger was so comfortable to simply get on and ride, on tar and dirt roads alike, especially if your agenda involves pounding out big-mile days. Having to come to a complete stop to change riding modes that involve a change in ABS or TC settings. The Tiger had a thirst for fuel on test and, with just a 20L tank, had the shortest range of the four 1000cc-plus bikes, so outback touring, with a pillion, fully loaded, into a headwind, could be touch-and-go between roadhouses.…

“It’s travelling with mates, being able to share amazing roads which turn into unforgettable rides” The loop Andy shared with me included some of the best riding I’ve ever done in Oz and I’ve done a bloody lot. Like Andy, this I’ve got to share. These are my highlights Beverleys Road Length 15km Where Stretches between Stockdale and the Bairnsdale-Dargo Road What Quick, quiet and belly-dropping elevation The Bonang Highway Length 160km Where Stretches between Orbost in Victoria and Delegate in New South Wales What One hundred clicks of continuous 45km/h-posted corners. So twisty I was nauseous at the other end, like sea-sickness. A 10km stretch of dirt at the northern end means very few cars The River Road Length 65km Where From Jingellic in New South Wales, stay north…

It might be the old Boy Scouts motto, but when it comes to adventure riding, especially when you’re heading well off the beaten track, it pays to be prepared. Bike set-up, luggage load, tools, spare parts, camping kit, riding gear, route selection, communication devices, first-aid knowledge and dealing with an emergency are just the beginning of countless aspects that should be well considered before you set off on your adventure ride. The more prepared you are, the more enjoyable your ride will be, and the better you will be able to deal with a crisis should things, heaven forbid, turn to crap. 1 BIKE SET-UP NOTHING BRINGS AN adventure ride to a halt faster than a broken-down bike. So making sure your bike is prepped and ready is high on…

A FEW YEARS back, our old mate Skip Mascorro became the first tour operator to negotiate approval from US authorities to travel Cuba with US citizens. Of course, Aussies have had no restrictions since Khrushchev removed his finger from the red button, but now we all have the opportunity to enjoy the welcome from the friendly locals, the legendary music, the historic sights and the endless colonial architecture – all before Cuba becomes a Canal Estate of Miami. Yes, you can now tour ‘old’ Cuba with the reliability and comfort of a well-maintained BMW GS. Check out motodiscovery.com.…

The premium had all but doubled cos I’d survived my 70th birthday ORGANISING A RIDE on home turf – be it a lap of the map or a hosted trek across the Simpson – is simple. You pay the asking price and turn up. If you don’t, you do your dough. Stiff. Planning your own ride doesn’t cost a cent. If you break a leg before you leave, at least you won’t be out of pocket. And should something go arse-up, our emergency services will get you to hospital where Medicare will defray most of the costs – though it pays to have Ambulance cover. Even contemplating a ride on foreign territory raises countless ‘what ifs’, which is why tour operators and rental agencies require your hard-earned up front. And…

Unlike Finke, it’s not the fastest who wins the Dakar – it’s the smartest WHAT A CRAZY weekend and what a crazy couple of months our Toby Price Motorsport Team had preparing the truck for our Iron Man Double attempt at the 2018 Finke Desert Race. I’m also stoked with six wins for KTM and it feels amazing that we’ve got the record for all-time bike wins. Events like these grab you and there’s something about them that keeps you coming back. There’s not much I enjoy more than being tapped out in top gear in the Outback for an hour or so. I first experienced this on a minibike growing up on a huge property in western NSW. I started on a little 50cc as a four-year-old and all…

“THE BEST THING about this result is I wasn’t sure how I was going to go here; I struggled at Hidden Valley on the Superbike last year. Tom (Toparis) is riding pretty fast, he was only one-tenth behind me in qualifying and I was riding pretty hard. I said to myself, my parents and my crew that if we get through this round with some serious points it should be a good year, because I love Winton and I love Morgan Park. I’m so happy to be leading the championship. The team has done a phenomenal job.”…

Stauffer down Just as he was finding some form on the Ducati, Jamie Stauffer suffered a terrible blow when he crashed heavily on lap two of the opening Superbike race in Darwin. Last reports had the Craig McMartin Racing rider in hospital awaiting scans for a suspected broken ankle. Epis back in Oz Lachlan Epis made the switch back to ASBK competition after a stint racing in the World Supersport Championship. Epis and his team decided to pull double duty at Hidden Valley and ride in both the Supersport and Superbike categories. It was a tough weekend for the youngster, who failed to register a finish, but he promised to continue double duties at Morgan Park and hopes for a better outcome. Glenn Scott, too Another ASBK returnee was Glenn…

MotoGP Assen, The Netherlands Circuit length 4.542km Race distance MotoGP 118.092km Moto2 109.008km Moto3 99.924km 2017 winners MotoGP V Rossi 41m41.149s Moto2 F Morbidelli 39m39.120s Moto3 A Canet 38m20.364s Did you know? Assen is the only venue that has hosted a Grand Prix event every year since the motorcycle world championship series started in 1949, making this the 70th Dutch TT. In 2016, the Dutch TT was held on a Sunday for the first time, and this year’s race was held in July for the first time since 1955.…

MARQUEZ’S MENTALITY IS what makes him MotoGP’s most feared rider. And after his Assen conquest, unfazed by the robust racing, he warned his rivals that more is to come. He has a 50 per cent win ratio from eight races so far and thinks that a 61-point advantage over the man he considers his main title rival, Andrea Dovizioso, is’nt enough. “It is time to attack. I will not relax, the opposite is the case,” Marquez said. “I have a gap (in points) that is big, but not enough. I want more.” Marquez has finished every race this season and in the six races he has scored points his worst result is second place to go with his four wins. Meanwhile, Dovi’s scorecard contains three DNFs from crashes, one in…

THE KEY PARTS of the new Petronas-backed Yamaha independent team for 2019 are now in place, including a supply of Yamaha YZR-M1 machinery and Italian ace Franco Morbidelli as one of the riders. The team will be morphed into the cash-strapped Aspar-Nieto outfit, using that team’s two grid spots. The plan is proceeding even as an increasingly destabilised Dani Pedrosa (below) contemplates his options – either retirement or a salary cut in line with a satellite team budget aboard an M1. Bradley Smith and Alvaro Bautista have also offered their services. The current MarcVDS MotoGP squad will fold at the end of this season and it appears those two grid spots will be taken back by Dorna and held in reserve, awaiting the entry of a VR46 team proposed for…

DESMOSPORT DUCATI RIDER Troy Bayliss won the inaugural Elite Roads Superbike Pole Position Award at Hidden Valley Raceway after stopping the clock in a record 1m05.601s. The YMF Australian Superbike Championship unveiled the new award for the remaining four rounds of the season, where the rider who stops the clock with the fastest time in qualifying will pick up $500 from Elite Roads. Elite Roads is a full-service road construction company that specialises in civil contracting, road rehabilitation, profiling and the supply and lay of asphalt. The company is run by former national-level racer Deon Coote, who is also behind the recently established Penrite Honda Racing Team, and he hopes the award will push riders to even faster qualifying times. “The reason behind the sponsorship is to add further excitement…

TAI WOFFINDEN HAS stormed to the lead in the 2018 Speedway Grand Prix standings after winning the Danish Speedway grand Prix at Horsens on 30 June. For Australian hopes, Jason Doyle and Chris Holder, there were mixed results as both had good moments and progressed beyond the heats, but they are now even further adrift of the series leader. Woffinden has deserved his 10-point advantage at the top after being the only rider to make each final during all three rounds this season – and he has won two of them. Previous leader Fredrik Lindgren came up one point short of a semi-final berth at Horsens, damaged by a tapes exclusion, while the other significant movement in the standings was attributed to Greg Hancock and Nicki Pedersen producing their best…

Alvaro to Supers? One of the names in the ring for a good World Superbike ride in 2019 is MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista, as well as Scott Redding. Some paddock sources indicate Bautista would be a better fit, as he is a top Spanish rider and capable of adding some more GP glamour (and a non-British passport) into the top end of the WorldSBK results. GORDON RITCHIE Yes, but no WorldSBK Red Bull Honda’s Leon Camier arrived in Laguna Seca having made a detour to Japan to test for the forthcoming Suzuka 8-Hour race. He was, officially, not there however, as the lineup for the race from inside Honda has not been officially declared, and so he remained silent on the subject. GR Building a base President of Yoshimura Racing…

THIS GREG BAILEY Cup is in honour of a much-loved Hartwell member who died after a racing incident in the UK in the 1970s. “Greg was a keen club rider who moved to the UK to compete in the mid-1970s,” Hartwell administrator Karen Skate explains. “Greg was sponsored by Vic Camp of Vic Camp Motorcycles in Walthamstow, London (a leading UK motorcycle dealership and racing supporter) and became a great favourite of the many fans.” Bailey died in the Derby Royal Infirmary as a result of an accident at Donington Park circuit in November 1978 where he and another rider collided during an event. He never regained consciousness. “Our Club Secretary at the time, Mr Wes Brown (now 95 years old), was invited to present a trophy in honour of…

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’re refuelling while basking in the last 100km of corners on the glorious Bonang Road, only to look up and realise you’ve reached for the diesel nozzle instead of the premium! Never mind, it’s a V-Strom! It’ll cope with just about anything. And aside from a little smoke here and there, the mighty wee-Strom didn’t miss a beat – did it, Strapz?!…

5 HOUR There are just three weeks to go until production-bike endurance racing returns to Sydney, when the St George Motorcycle Club hosts the inaugural Sydney 5 Hour at Sydney Motorsport Park on 29 July. It's set to be a great event and AMCN has free tickets to the event to give away. Check out amcn.com.au  to win! Matt’s top TT shots Our man Matt Coats from Aussie TT Photos was in the thick of the action at this year’s IOM TT event, providing a host of great shots, including the cracking image of Peter Hickman on last issue's cover. Unfortunately, we failed to include his byline on the feature story. Thankfully Matt has forgiven us and will be back trackside at the Classic TT in August to…

Congratulations Andrew, 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 Andrew Moncrieff Bike Suzuki DR600-Yamaha XJ600 hybrid He says This bike is a cross between a 1984 Suzuki DR600 and a 1984 Yamaha XJ600. I built it on the back verandah 22 years ago and, since then, it has covered 60,000km on all sorts of roads, from gnarly single trail (what a handful!) to freeways. Its latest trip was a 1300km jaunt through the Victorian and NSW high countries with my mate Tim riding it. It predates Kawasaki’s four-cylinder adventure bike by 18 years. We say And it looks like…

PROUDLY EMBLAZONED on the tank is a decal noting 30 years of Africa Twin. It’s a shame there was a decade’s hiatus when development of this iconic model seemed to get shoved under the bed. While the early Africa Twins enjoyed cult status in Europe, we Aussies were deprived of the pleasure. But when it eventually hit our shores a couple of years ago, it nailed a number of key targets. Sales figures of Big Red’s new-generation super chooky in Oz suggest it had been eagerly awaited… and for good reason. The 1000cc parallel-twin leveraged off its heritage (of Honda reliability and the Africa Twin name) and, along with a sweet price, saw it mono to the top of the lucrative adventure segment sales charts. The 30th Anniversary model adds…

Josh Evans THE BEEMER  almost makes me believe in reincarnation. The only explanation is a few lifetimes of riding this bike. Utopia doesn’t come to mind when climbing aboard, but when the big girl gets going (and going and going) time slows. Skills you didn’t think you had ripple into your fingers and toes. You can brake later and harder and those 260 kilos can get all squirmy and sideways in a corner without an anxious moment. BMW was obviously channeling Bertha, the goddess of the spinning wheel, when it created this bike. Cos all I have to do is select the mode that suits the surface and leave everything else standard. I mucked around with it a bit, but let’s face it, what BMW has dialled in to this…

ENGINE Configuration Three-cylinder in-line Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 1215cc Bore/stroke 85mm 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 23.2° Trail 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 (dry, claimed) Seat height 835/855mm Max width 930mm Max height 1540mm Wheelbase 1520mm…

To this day, I can remember the face-off between US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev in the early 1960s and how my school had prepared for a nuclear attack; crouching beneath our desks, noses buried in skidmarked Y-fronts, praying for relief from the odour. Or, as one wag had it, kissing our arses goodbye. Long after the Cold War ended, Cuba remained a no-go area for US citizens as part of George W. Bush’s Axis of Evil, so the notion of saddling up a vintage Harley-Davidson for a lap of Havana took some time to digest. But tenuous connections to the Harlistas Cubanos community promised access to a brace of privately owned classics for the adventure of a lifetime, and I was on the first…

Dehydration is something you may not notice HYPOHYDRATION IS THE medical term for as dry as a dead dingo’s donga. A condition which not only increases temperature and fatigue, but also induces brain fade. Not really that detrimental if you’re in the gym, but out on the road – even at a legal 100km/h – you’re covering six car lengths every second; so concentration and full body motor control is critical to your long-term survival. On a daily commute hydration is rarely a worry. Most static hazards are signposted – even if the signs are often contradictory – and moving threats are mostly controlled by fellow humans. And while there’s more than a few exceptions, most present a bigger danger than dehydration. On a weekend ride, where there’s less traffic,…

Top 3 TV 1WSBK Rd9 LIVE Italy Fox/Videopass 7 & 8 July 9pm/9pm (AEST) WSBK Rd9 will run at Misano and be aired live in Australia on Fox Sports and through WSBK VideoPass. Race 1 kicks off at 9pm Saturday and Race 2 at 9pm Sunday. The WSS race will air live at 7.30pm Sunday. 2 FIM MXGP Rd13 LIVE Indonesia mxgp-tv.com 8 July 2pm (AEST) Subscribers to MXGP-TV can catch the MXGP of Asia live from Semarang in Indonesia from 2pm on Sunday when the gate drops on MX2 Race 1. MXGP Race 1 follows at 3pm, then MX2 Race 2 at 5pm and MXGP Race 2 at 6pm. Qualifying will air on Saturday. 3 MotoGP Rd9 LIVE Germany Fox/Videopass Sunday 15 July 7pm (AEST) MotoGP…

Wills fitted easily into a racing crouch on the Norton SG7 McGuinness was doing parade laps on NOW THE HOO-HAA surrounding Harry’s wedding to Meghan is dying down, let’s talk about his brother’s looming crisis. Prince William is in stand-off mode with wife Kate over his love of two wheels. The potential heir to the throne has pursued this passion since he was a teenager, but now he’s a father of three, the pressure is on to hang up the helmet, so to speak. Of course, this is an issue common to any father who rides so this royal isn’t Robinson Crusoe. He’s going through a process familiar to all us former Seventies longhairs, still juggling our riding with family responsibilities. Late last year, Wills promised Kate to “put it…

Team Green With Jonathan Rea signed up to ride for Kawasaki for two more years, the real question for all now is who will be his teammate in 2019? Tom Sykes looked most likely to remain, but it is a difficult environment for him inside the Rea-centric squad right now, both in terms of results and relationships. Not-so silly season After so many possibilities at previous rounds it looks like the line up in 2019 is to remain much the same as now. The biggest recent expectation of Michael van der Mark joining Rea at Kawasaki has cooled, with the wildcard name in the KRT ring now being Leon Haslam. Haslam, leading BSB at present and with main rival Shane Byrne out through injury, looks most likely to win the…

“I SAID AT the start of the year racing with Troy (Bayliss) is just different, although it’s becoming normal now – unfortunately for us! We’ve had such similar pace all weekend… we are extremely strong in different parts of the track and I just didn’t want him to see where! In the first race he got me when I thought I had it, and the second race was a good battle… he got the start but really cottoned on mid-way through. A big congratulations to the Penrite Honda Racing Team and all my sponsors.”…

YOUNG SOUTH AUSTRALIAN racer Dallas Skeer scored the Best Presented Award for Hidden Valley. Dallas and his family often travel long distances to compete in the ASBK. “My bikes are prepared and maintained by my dad (Michael), myself and David Hall our mechanic, and painted by one of our team members, Richard Wills,” Skeer said. “We have a lot of really great sponsors who support us, like Penrite Oils, Barry Francis Motorcycles, Trident Tyre Centre, Pirelli, Stefs Transport to name just name a few.”…

Love lost Modern MotoGP racing has reached highly professional levels. But in the process it has lost romance. This is the view of Valentino Rossi, asked to explain the difference since the start of MotoGP in 2002, and why current racing is so much closer than in the past. “Over 15 years, the level of professionality is higher,” he said, talking about how riders must study their approach corner by corner, being aware of fine details of surface and grip. Fifteen years ago, it was more romantic. You rode your bike and you had your feeling. Now maybe it is more boring … but better for the fans.” Redding’s lifeline Plans at Aprilia to upgrade the factory’s testing team next year could prove a lifeline for current rider Scott Redding,…

JORGE LORENZO WILL lose the services of his acclaimed crew chief when he departs Ducati for Honda in 2019. Cristian Gabarrini won two world championships with Casey Stoner – at Ducati (2007) and Honda (2011) – and will remain with Ducati to guide 21-year-old Italian rookie Francesco Bagnaia at Pramac Ducati in 2019. Bagnaia joins the satellite squad as Jack Miller’s teammate next year; the Aussie will retain the services of Cristian Pupulin as his crew chief. Likely nominees for Lorenzo at Honda are HRC staff race engineer Ramon Aurin, formerly with Dani Pedrosa, or Giacomo Guidotti, who now runs Pedrosa’s race program.…