Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 68 Issue 04 i Australian Motorcycle News

Gardner had talent to burn, but barely a cent to his name when he headed to Europe THIS 1970S POEM by Norman Gunston didn’t put Wollongong on the map, but it did help Gary McDonald’s alter ego become a household name. Gunston was a Wollongong local who went on to excel at mediocracy and was destined never to become a world champion at anything. Maybe his creator thought such a thing beyond believable for someone from the seaside steelworks city. But the 1970s also saw a young Wollongong lad by the name of Wayne Gardner receive his life’s calling when he watched the classic motorcycle movie On Any Sunday. I’m more an admirer of Wayne Gardner than a fan. His nickname, the Wollongong Wiz, not only reveals his origins, it’s…

Who Wayne Gardner What Kawasaki GPz1100 Where Donington Park We always like to throw a tough one into the mix of our Who, What, Where competition. Last issue the Who and What were pretty straightforward, but the Where tripped a lot of people up. Congratulations to Brenton Erdmann from Magill, SA on being last issue’s winner, we have an IPONE Motorcycle Care Kit from Ficeda Accessories on its way to you. Turn to page 28 to have a crack at this issue’s!…

IS THAT OLD jacket you were saving for a mate, or the missus, still taking up room in your cupboard? Convert it into a Gassit Pack chock full of cool stuff. It’s our way of saying thanks for you giving your jacket a second, more meaningful life keeping one of Australia’s many homeless warm this winter. Everyone who sends in a jacket receives a Gassit Pack containing a $100 discount voucher off a new Macna jacket, a Gassit T-Shirt, an AMCN neck sock, an AMCN stubby holder, AMCN stickers, a copy of Fireside Tales of Uncle Fred, a copy of AMCN from our archives, a Motul cap, a Pirelli keychain and more.…

We rode 2018 Harley -Davidson Road Glide He rode 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 114 Coffee order Double-shot espresso Destination Goulburn Distance 200km loop DAN STRICKLAND’S OFFICIAL title is Mission Australia Area Manager – South Eastern NSW & ACT, but most AMCN readers will recognise him as the face of our annual Winter Jacket Drive, which has provided Australia’s homeless community with bone-warming, life-saving motorcycle jackets during the winter months since 2012. Thanks to Dan’s input, the annual drive has grown to a national event with a core group of committed corporate partners. AMCN had the honour of introducing Dan to motorcycling at the very first AMCN Winter Jacket Drive. Since then, he’s taken to life on two wheels like a duck to water. He’s now a keen Harley-Davidson rider and…

Reckon you’re pretty quick when it comes to two-wheeled trivia? Then have a crack at our new who-what-where series. If you’re finding it hard, here’s a clue – all the answers have appeared in AMCN at some time over the past 67 years. When you reckon you’ve worked out the bloke, the bike and the track, email your numbered answers to comps@amcn.com.au for your chance to win! 1. WHO? Can you name this Aussie legend taking part in the 1980 Castrol 6 Hour? You get an extra point for naming the make and model of bike. Clue We have given you enough clues 2. WHAT? What is the make and model of this mid-capacity eye catcher? Clue This marque also manufactured Mini Mokes 3. WHERE? This 1983 classic 500cc battle between…

ENGINE Configuration V-twin Cylinder head SOHC, two valves per cylinder Capacity 649cc Bore/stroke 81mm x 63mm Compression ratio 9.0:1 Cooling Air Fueling 28mm downdraft Mikuni carburettor Power 15.4kW @ 11,600rpm (claimed) Torque 20Nm @ 8600rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Five-speed Clutch Wet, multiplate Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Double cradle Rake Not given Trail Not given SUSPENSION Front: 41mm telescopic fork, non-adjustable, 140mm travel Rear: Monoshock, adjustable preload, 86mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Wire-spoked Front: 19 x 2.5 Rear: 15 x 3.5 Tyres Bridgestone Exedra G546 Front: 100/90-19 (57S) Rear: 170/80-15 (77S) BRAKES Front: Single 298mm disc, twin-piston caliper Rear: 200mm drum DIMENSIONS Weight 233kg (wet, claimed) Seat height 695mm Max width 880mm Max height 1075mm Wheelbase 1610mm Fuel capacity 16L (+3L reserve) PERFORMANCE Fuel consumption 8.0L/100km Top…

ENGINE Configuration Three-cylinder in-line Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 1050cc Bore/stroke 79mm x 71.4mm Compression ratio 12.9:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI, 3 x Keihin throttle bodies Power 110kW @ 10,500rpm (claimed) Torque 117Nm @ 7125rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Aluminium Frame layout Tubular twin-spar Rake 22.9° Trail 91.3mm SUSPENSION Öhlins Front: 43mm USD, fully adjustable, 120mm travel Rear: Monoshock, fully adjustable, 130mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Cast aluminium Front: 17 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 6.0 Tyres Diablo Corsa SP Front: 120/70ZR17 Rear: 190/55ZR17 BRAKES Brembo/Nissin Front: Twin 320mm discs, four-piston radial calipers Rear: Single 255mm disc, two-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 189kg (dry, claimed) Seat height 825mm Max width 775mm Max height 1070mm Wheelbase 1445mm Fuel capacity 15.5L PERFORMANCE…

IN 2010 I was looking for a new bike. I had only two requirements – it had to be comfortable enough for our annual pilgrimage to Phillip Island, but still be capable of mixing it with the best in the twisties. I settled on the 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200. A bit over seven years and 40,000 kilometres later, I still love the versatility of this motorcycle. I have followed its updates over the years with interest. Jumping from the original to the latest, the changes are clear. The original Testastretta 11° engine shudders below 3000rpm whereas the new engine is silky smooth, and I found myself shifting gears a lot less through the various speed zones. The revs build smoothly, and with the torque of the big twin there is…

1 Our KTM 1290 GT test bike returned from its trip along the Snowy Mountains Highway covered in dried-on road grime – wash time! If you’re parked on the grass, stop it sinking with a decent sized object under the stand. 2 The challenge for the IPONE cleaning kit was to leave the big Kato looking as good as new without scratching or degrading any surfaces. 3 Before you even hose the bike down, spray the Wheel Cleaner directly onto the wheels. While you’re starting where you’d normally start, it’s already working on significantly reducing the required elbow grease. 4 Using decent water pressure, give the whole bike a good hose down before concentrating on the wheels to remove the Wheel Cleaner which will strip the caked-on dirt away. 5…

NOT LONG AFTER getting my start with AMCN, I was kitted up with a pair of Draggin’s Twista jeans. Due to my inability to distinguish a race track from the Royal National Park, I low-sided my dad’s cherished motorcycle. Fortunately, the jeans held up amazingly well after sliding along the road for a good 20 metres, ripping only through the top layer on my left knee which hit the ground first. Thankfully the Kevlar lining created a barrier between my skin and the road, leaving not even a scratch or a friction burn from the asphalt. Inspecting the jeans post-crash revealed even the outer layer remained intact around by backside despite a decent slide. The Draggin Twista jeans are lined with genuine Dupont Kevlar in all the prime areas like…

If you can’t face the boring run back to the city from Nerang do what we did and take a detour left on the Beaudesert Road, then right up the Mt Tambourine Road. This is a fun ride up the hill if you are lucky enough to avoid the local traffic, and has outstanding views at the top all the way across to the Gold Coast in the east. Continue on to Mt Tambourine and drop in on the St Bernards Hotel at the top of the escarpment where a cold beer and a great view across to the coast is on offer. There are several ways to return to the city from here and you will be more relaxed for the detour.…

Top 3 TV 1 ASBK Rd5 LIVE Qld asbk.com.au Sun 19 Aug 11.30am (AEST) The YMF Australian Superbike Championship will be aired live online from Morgan Park at asbk.com.au/live-stream/. Superbike Race 1 kicks off at 11.30am and Race 2 at 1.45pm. See the ASBK website for the full schedule. 2 FIM MXGP Rd15 LIVE Frauenfeld mxgp-tv.com Sun 19 Aug 9pm (AEST) Go to MXGP-TV.com to catch the MXGP of Switzerland from 9pm on Sunday. MX2 Race 1 starts at 9pm, MXGP Race 1 at 10pm, MX2 Race 2 at midnight and MXGP Race 2 at 1am Monday. Other classes will be aired earlier on Sunday. 3 MotoGP Rd12 LIVE Silverstone Fox/Videopass Sun 26 Aug 7pm (AEST) MotoGP Rd12 from Silverstone will air live on Sunday evening on Videopass and Fox…

IN MY YEARS riding bikes, I’ve heard some clanger ‘truths.’ Myths abound in any past time, and motorcycling is no exception – it’s just that some of them have been around so long, they become a so-called fact simply because they have been told, and listened to, so much. “I had to lay the bike down,” for instance. Rubbish. You can’t convince me you can best avoid danger when skidding down the road on your own butt, with no steering or brakes. You just panicked and crashed before even hitting what scared you and thought telling your mates you had to lay it down was the best option – but that’s okay, we all know most of us motorcyclists have fragile egos. There was that time, of course, where I…

It was blazing all weekend at Brno. On Friday and Saturday, most of that came from the relentless sun. On Sunday, the weather was marginally milder – but the on-track action kept almost 85,000 fans cooking on the hillsides commanding the fine, sweeping circuit. The curtain-raising smaller classes were thrillers. The premier class was merely interesting, for the first 18 or 19 of the 21 laps. There were a few overtakes and even a popular change of lead – when Valentino Rossi’s Monster Yamaha went ahead for three laps before half-distance – but the pace was slow and steady, as all played at preserving tyres and strength. There were a couple of century men up front: Andrea Dovizioso in his 100th Ducati start and Marc Marquez in his 100th MotoGP…

Miller ain’t Marquez Australian Alma Pramac Ducati rider Jack Miller narrowly missed his chance to get through from Q1 to Q2, after being top Ducati in FP4, when he crashed on his fastest lap. “I’m really disappointed. It’s made hard work for us,” he said after the crash. “But I’m struggling with new tyres. On full lean angle with the gas on, it got away from me. I tried to pick it up with my elbow... but I’m not Marc Marquez.” Hybrid? Hardly Next year’s electric-powered MotoE series had sparked the interest of all manufacturers, but motorcycling is not ready – and probably never will be – to follow F1 cars into hybrid power. According to Ducati’s Gigi Dall’Igna: “I don’t know if electric bikes are the only option for…

Bautista to WorldSBK Displaced MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista has come into a strong run of form on the Angel Nieto Ducati – though the team is pulling out of MotoGP for 2019. His career might yet be rescued by the Ducati factory with a Superbike ride, sporting director Paolo Ciabatti confirming that Bautista is being considered for the factory World SBK team, alongside Chas Davies, who has already been re-signed. Should it come to pass, it would be at the expense of Marco Melandri. Mexico for 2019? Dorna wants to slot a Mexican race into next year’s calendar as the third round, between Argentina and Texas. Reaction to a possible 20th event as soon as next year has left many heads shaking, particularly in view of the perils of the…

THE EMBARRASSING APOLOGY by Yamaha to factory stars Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales at the Austrian Grand Prix was a waste of words. The grovelling, illogical attempt by YZR-M1 Project Leader Kouji Tsuya to smother the disarray within the Yamaha squad fell on deaf ears. Rossi made it clear after finishing sixth, a massive 14 seconds behind winner Jorge Lorenzo’s Ducati, that he wants action, not words. “It is more important they fix the bike,” was Rossi’s telling view on the emptiness of Tsuya’s apology for the M1’s dire lack of acceleration. Yamaha’s problems centre on corner exit acceleration, through a combination of electronic software weaknesses and engine specification. There is now huge pressure on Tsuji to fix the problems, which Rossi has been openly highlighting since August last year.…

A WELCOME SHOWER of rain was far from a drought breaker, but it settled the dust for a few hours as the Yellow Mountain cross country got underway on Saturday 4 August at Condobolin, New South Wales. The early-morning Prologue sorted out the start order of almost 200 riders, and Broc Grabham showed the skill that has him sitting in third place in E3 class of the Australian Off Road Championships, by blitzing the field on his Gas Gas 300EC two stroke. Grabham was first away, with each bike starting at 15-second intervals as each rider set his sights on Tottenham, some 220km away. The first section of the race was tight tracks which allowed Grabham to pull some time before hitting the open fast sections where the 450cc and…

ONE OF THE club’s major initiatives is its Academy of Motocross. Aimed at introducing youngsters to the skills of riding a motorcycle in a safe and effective way, and at an early age, it has been running for seven years. “We break down the program into four Sundays over a few months, introducing the riders to the safety requirements needed to ride a bike safely,” says Ken Watts. At the end of the academy the riders finish off with a test and can then apply for a race licence if they feel ready. Otherwise they can get a recreational licence.…

HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS had to reposition itself in a global marketplace or perish. It faces a tough road, but the one asset it has to fall back on is its proven ability to survive. As much as it sells motorcycles, Harley-Davidson sells a lifestyle, based on two-wheeled freedom and unashamed self-expression. It has done this since early last century, riding through the 20th-century Great Depression and the 21st-century recession. At the height of the Global Financial Crisis, Harley lost $55m in 2009. That may have seemed pretty bad but at the same time the Ford Motor Company lost around $16b, the worst in its 105-year history. In fact, for a while H-D was valued higher than Ford by stock market analysts. Just three years later, in 2012, H-D made $624 million.…

Road Warrior Aussie road racer Davo Johnson scored a podium on his debut with the Tyco BMW squad in the Ulster GP’s Superbike race aboard a BMW HP4 Race. Peugeot scoots Peugeot scooters have a new Aussie home with Urban Moto Imports signed up as the new Australian distributor. Hayden quits AMA Superbike legend Roger Hayden, brother of the late Nicky Hayden, has announced he’ll retire at the end of 2018. “I’ve been going to races on weekends since I was nine,” the 35-year-old Suzuki rider said. Tracks for housing Motorcycling Queensland has announced a proposal that could see Ipswich’s Tivoli Raceway developed as a 199-lot residential estate.…

THE RESPONSE TO this year’s AMCN Winter Jacket Drive has exceeded our expectations and we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Every time Dan Strickland and Chris Dobie head out for a ride on their Harley-Davidsons to deliver a pile of jackets, they return to Gassit HQ to find more have arrived, and Gassit feverishly packing and mailing Gassit Packs. There are still plenty of cold nights ahead for homeless around Australia so keep the jackets rolling in!…

News The V-twin musclebike that prompted Ducati to take legal action when pictures of a clay model were released (AMCN Vol 58 No 25) has been busted in Bologna. It was believed the bike was to be named Vyper, come EICMA the Diavel made its global debut. Sport It is time to get tough on dangerous blocking of some riders, according to Casey Stoner and Ben Spies. Stoner was vocal after he suffered five incidents in qualifying session during the Catalunya GP. Loris Capirossi, Hector Barbera and Aleix Espargaro were pointed out. Bike test Alan Cathcart did his best Bullit impersonation on the streets of San Francisco riding the Mission One E-Superbike. Producing a claimed 100kW and 156Nm, the Mission One was good for a top speed of 257km/h (measured),…

There is a vast range of accessories from Yamaha’s Y-Shop to further personalise or custom your XVS650. If I had either one of the bikes parked in my garage, this is what I’d add from the long list of available bits: Cruiselite Classic Saddlebags $637.16 The Custom just wants to cover kays, so luggage would be a must for my XVS. Yamaha has a range of luggage for the XVS models, however I like the clean and subtle look of the Cruiselite Classic Saddle Bag. They’re not cheap, but they’d be worth every cent for those long haul rides without wrecking the sleek look of the bike. There’s also a studded version, if you’re into that sort of thing, for an extra $37. Star Billet Mirrors $254.17 I wasn’t a…

BACK IN 2010 Pikes Peak veteran Greg Tracy took a more or less standard Ducati Multistrada to the famous hill climb and won his class outright. The Multistrada then went on to win the 1205cc class for another three years in succession, in 2011 setting the motorcycle outright record before the tar-and-dirt course was fully sealed in August that year. The Ducati USA team then took a number of years hiatus before returning to the famed mountain this year with the new Multistrada 1260 and Pikes Peak legend Carlin Dunne, who negotiated the 156-turn course in a time of 9m59.102s – returning the coveted trophy back to the Multistrada. Special mention must also go to Australian rider Rennie Scaysbrook, a former AMCN staffer, who narrowly missed out on the spoils…

WHAT HAPPENED TO the Hinton Special? Forty-two years after its Bathurst success, mystery still surrounds its whereabouts. Rob Hinton says he sold it to Sydney racer Sedge Deste in October 1976 and never saw it again, on or off the track. Deste says he kept it for a year and sold it, still with the Norton fork, but cannot recall who he sold it to. Rob was retired from racing in 1977, so he helped Jeffrey Sayle, who that year rode a Suzuki RG500 and Yamaha TZ750D for Gold Coast motorcycle dealer Donny Pask. “Mick Smith did the RG500 and I did the Yamaha,” Hinton said. “Then Jeff went to Europe and I helped Vaughan Coburn with the TZ750D. And then the kids [Eric’s boys, Peter and Tony] started racing.…

What to look for The MT-01 is a robust, well-engineered motorcycle with a bullet-proof engine and chassis. If the bike has been flogged it’s likely to show up in the clutch. So check that the clutch is slip-free and grab-free. Check also for worn steering-head bearings because MT-01s can be hard on them. As always adjust your offer to cover worn consumables like tyres, chain and sprockets and brake pads, also brake rotors close to minimum thickness. I’d give extra points for one with a full service record. Service history Capable DIY owners can look after a lot of the normal servicing on an MT-01. Access is pretty good – the dry-sump oil-tank is within easy reach at the front of the engine. Hydraulic lifters take care of valve clearances…

Natural Bridge is worth the short walk if you are into a bit of nature. There are a couple of features throughout the park including the natural basalt arch or bridge, but access has been limited around the creek area to preserve the ecology from marauding tourists. There are even glow worms in the cave if you are passing by after sunset. The historic town of Tyalgum in the shadow of Mt Warning is only a short ride down the road from Chillingham and has some interesting old buildings to wander around, as well as a very pleasant pub on the main street.…

Show time 18 AUGUST Bike Show & Shine, Burleigh Town Tavern, Cnr Tsipura Dr & Township Dr, Burleigh Heads Qld. Registration from 9am. Live music, sausage sizzle and raffle. People’s Choice, Best American, Best Paint, Best Engineered and many more categories. Hosted by Chariots of Light, Gold Coast Chapter. Show entry $20, general admission $10 and families $20. For information phone Retro on 0413 220 483 or see events@chariotsoflight.org.au. 25 AUGUST Rats, Tatts ’n’ Pinups, Racehorse Hotel, 215 Brisbane Rd, Booval, Qld. Custom car and bike show, rockabilly bands, family freindly. Gates open at noon, entry by gold coin donation. For information see racehorsehotel.com.au. 25-26 AUGUST Antique Motorcycle Weekend, Bulli Showgrounds, Bulli, NSW. British, European, Japanese and American bikes, parts and memorabilia, 35 years old and older only. Swap meet,…

WHO SAYS RACING lacks humour? Dorna has a way of addressing any such perception. Each year at Brno, after the summer break, it lays on a very subtle exercise in comedy, a show for connoisseurs of understated wit. It is the ‘group technical briefing’, where each MotoGP manufacturer sends a delegate to face probing questions. As if any one of them is going to voluntarily reveal technical secrets, let alone when sitting alongside all of his rivals. The Japanese companies have long been famous for secrecy beyond the call of duty, often achieved by pretending incomprehension. But Ducati has taken it to new heights, with special screens hiding their bikes from sight in the pit box – in case somebody might spy something important if they so much as take…

Jack Miller MotoGP MotoGP, 12th “On the third corner of the first lap Bradl passed us all in one go then lost the front. I had to grab the brake and slow right down. I got back into my rhythm and passed Morbidelli, Syahrin and Bautista, but the tyres dropped and I lost speed – six-tenths a lap – for the rest of the race. It was a strange feeling. Maybe the tyre temperature went up too quickly.” Remy Gardner Moto2 DNF (crash) “I knew I needed a good start. I got off the line well and made up a few places and felt comfortable. I got to Turn 6 and Mir was in front. I wasn’t trying to make a pass, but he slowed so suddenly he basically cut…

Jack Miller MotoGP MotoGP, 18th “The race was going well, in a group with Pedrosa, Zarco and Rossi, then I couldn’t stop the bike and I ran off. Got back, got my rhythm again, then … mistake, mistake, mistake. Data showed the front tyre was hotter than the rear, which is unusual. I’d been braking too hard trying to make up a lack of drive. But with hardly any dry practice, you’re always going to have some questions.” Remy Gardner Moto2 DNF (crash) “That wasn’t the race we were expecting. I had a good start but got held up on the first two laps. Then there was a big crash in front of me and I ran off. After that I was just pushing really hard to try to catch…

PRAMAC DUCATI team boss Francesco Guidotti says Jack Miller has “lost the feeling” for the Ducati, but that the team is fully supportive of his search for solutions. “When you go racing with no feeling you cannot have the same motivation,” Guidotti said. “Jack arrived at the beginning of the season and was very fast and understood what he needed to do. “But in this current part of the season we are struggling to understand what he needs to get back the feeling. “We don’t see anything very different, but we are looking at everything to get Jack back on the pace. “His feeling with the bike at the beginning was so good.”…

THE DARK AND sullen mood of Maverick Vinales after finishing 12th in Austria was further evidence that Kouji Tsuji and his engineering squad are failing to inspire their riders with the M1. Since joining Yamaha at the beginning of 2017, Vinales has won three races on the M1 – two more than Rossi, who has celebrated one victory – but Vinales’ last victory was 15 months ago at the 2017 French Grand Prix. Young gun Vinales, 22, does not handle the down days of racing well, a reflection of the intensity of his desire to win the MotoGP world championship. “It is impossible to enjoy racing in this way – I don’t enjoy seeing myself in 12th,” Vinales said. Rossi was adamant that Vinales has not lost his ability and…

SMITHS RACING BMW’S Peter Hickman was named Man of the Meeting at last weekend’s Ulster GP after winning the Superbike and Supersport races, and narrowly losing Superstock to Dean Harrison. Newly signed Tyco BMW rider David Johnson flew the Aussie flag at the popular Irish road race, finishing third in the Superbike race behind Hickman and Lee Johnson. Johnson also finished second in the Supersport race, while Manxman Conor Cummins rounded out the podium in third place in both Superstock and Supersport. French rider Fabrice Miguet, 49, remains on life support after crashing during the Superstock race, but his injuries have been reported as “unsurvivable”. Davey Todd, who was hospitalised after crashing during the Superbike race, was released from hospital the following day.…

AUSTRALIA HAS THUMPED Great Britain 57-33 in a one-off Speedway Test Match staged at Glasgow on 4 August. Making it all the more impressive was that Jason Doyle was still sidelined and neither Troy Batchelor nor Rohan Tungate were used, but there were no weak links in the Aussie team. Brady Kurtz, Max Fricke and Chris Holder all scored 11, Sam Masters nine, Jack Holder eight and Ty Proctor seven, while only SGP riders Tai Woffinden (12) and Craig Cook (9) for the Brits managed to outscore an Australian rider.…

THREE-TIME AUSSIE champ Dean Ferris will race the American outdoor series in 2019, confirming he will not be defending his Australian title. With a contract yet to be signed, the 28-year-old has time left to find a competitive seat before the Lucas Oils Pro Motocross series kicks off in May next year. It won’t be the Aussie’s first crack at the series, he had a berth in 2014 with the Red Bull KTM squad (pictured) after two seasons on the MXGP circuit. “I’ve always had the aspiration to go back and race internationally and the time’s come,” he said.…

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. And you might need a bloody good lawyer, too. Especially if it’s your turn to choose a Gassit cartoon ... it’s the problem when the magazine has been around for nigh-on 70 years, cos what was once considered humour, could now be misconstrued as extremely insulting. But we reckon Editor Dobie’s onto something when he talks about publishing a one-off Gassit issue in a sealed bag and covered with the appropriate warning labels.…

THERE HAS BEEN a lot of internet chatter about Honda’s rumoured new V4 Superbike, with many speculating that the Fireblade will be powered by a V4. However, the two projects are completely different. Patents over the last couple of years have revealed designs for a machine that uses an engine similar to that of the limited-production, ultra-expensive RC213V-S GP replica, mounted in a cast semi-monocoque chassis designed to be much cheaper to produce. Progress on the V4 has been slow, but if Honda does make a separate V4 Superbike to sell alongside the all-new Fireblade, it takes us all back to what happened when the original Fireblade was launched in 1992. There was no need to meet racing capacity rules, as Honda already had the RC30 V4. So it took…

$187,760 That’s how much the all-star Ducati Race of Champions Panigale V4 S ridden by Aussie legend Troy Bayliss fetched at auction following the recent World Ducati Week at Misano. Despite Bayliss finishing at the tail of the field, his bike fetched the highest price of the 12 raced, beating machines ridden by MotoGP stars Jorge Lorenzo ($96,535) and Andrea Dovizioso ($91,097). The cost of an X In our review of the new Benelli TRK 502 X (AMCN Vol 68 No 03), we quoted the price as $8790; this is the price for the standard TRK 502, the 502 X retails for $9390 ride away. Totally tyred The winner of our Metzeler Wanderfeel promotion, Garreth Pumbley thinks his new Roadtec 01 tyres look so good he’s going to wear them…

A SELECTION OF motorcycle jackets donated by AMCN readers has been delivered to Brett Fahey, the Mission Australia Regional Leader for the Illawarra and South Coast area. Brett has graciously offered the Wollongong Mission Australia office as a drop-off point for local riders wanting to donate a jacket to our cause, or those wanting to combine a donation with a weekday ride to the picturesque seaside region. The office, at 88 Swan St, Wollongong, is easy to find and has plenty of bike parking at the front door. When you donate a jacket, don’t forget to leave your postal details and shirt size in its pocket so we can get a Gassit Pack to you. Explaining some of the drug and alcohol services provided in his region, Brett said that…

Post your jacket to AMCN Jacket Drive, PO Box 20154, World Square, NSW, 2002, or drop your jacket off to one of the listed drop-off points. Be sure to include your postal address and shirt size. When posting use the return address option, when dropping off a jacket write your details onto a sheet of paper and place it in the pocket. DROP-OFF POINTS SHANNONS BRANCHES Unit 20, 2 Yallourn St, Fyshwick, ACT 65 Reserve Road, St Leonards, NSW Unit 5B, 305 Montague Rd, West End, Qld 863-865 South Rd, Clarence Gardens, SA 212-218 Murray St, Hobart, Tas 40 Corporate Drive, Heatherton, Vic Units 5 & 6, 1500 Albany Highway, Cannington, WA BENZINA GARAGE 84 High St, Preston, Vic MISSION AUSTRALIA 8/14 Sloane Street, Goulburn, NSW AND MCA! The chain…

Any potential streamlining effect was nullified by the 50kg of fuel, oil, water, tools and camp equipment strapped behind Wheeler’s bulky frame ‘BIG FRANK’ WHEELER wasn’t the first foreigner to lap Oz, but his choice of the humble Hodaka Wombat to do it on is mystifying. And just why Hodaka named its 125cc model after an Aussie marsupial is also a mystery. But maybe Combat Wombat is an appropriate appellation from a company whose stable also included the Road Toad, the Super Rat and the Thunder Dog. So here was Wheeler in 1972 on the shore of Port Phillip Bay, two metres tall and weighing in at 120kg in his riding clobber, standing beside the diminutive Hodaka with its custom fairing and a 25-litre fuel tank on the rear rack.…

Giz a squiz Rider Kayleen Pettit Bike Yamaha YZF-R15 She says This is my Yamaha YZF-R15. Her name is Avril and she is my first bike. I love her to bits and together we have just got our motorcycle learner’s permit. I’m super excited to get out on the road with my husband and Avril’s big sister, his Yamaha YZF-R6. I bought her six months ago when I had no riding experience at all; I could not even drive a manual car! But I was hooked after my first ride as a pillion on the R6, and determined to get my own bike and give riding my best go. Six months later and here I am with a motorcycle and a licence to ride. I’m so lucky to have discovered…

THE BENELLI AND the ’Strom were as perfect travelling companions as myself and Andy. They both like a strop, both more or less evenly matched in terms of capability and, while I’m not sure about the bike’s respective senses of humour, they both have a deep appreciation for the remote parts of this big brown land. On paper, the Suzuki V-Strom XT’s 52kW and 62Nm verses the Benelli’s 35kW and 45Nm seems vastly different. But in reality, the bikes were well matched. Admittedly, I had to ride the parallel-twin Benelli pretty hard to stay with the 146cc-bigger V-twin, but I could do it. It helped that the majority of our riding was sub-100km/h twisty stuff, but I expected the Benelli to lose out on acceleration out of corners. It absolutely…

EVERY TIME I clicked the XVS into gear, I knew we were going to have a lot of fun together. The XVS is a bike built for comfortable cruising, and it’s exactly how it makes you feel every time you ride it. It has an incredibly comfortable and low seat that you feel you could sit on for days. And, at a height of 695mm, for someone like me who has next to no legs, this was like music to my inseam. The long wheelbase (1610mm) provides a stable and well-balanced motorcycle, even at low speeds, and while I was initially sceptical, the 233kg melts away once you start rolling. You know you’re on a hefty cruiser, but even for a learner rider like myself, you don’t feel that weight.…

THE BIG-BORE nakedbike sector has all the big-name players fighting for a slice of a lucrative pie. Some go down the value-for-money route, like Suzuki with its GSX-S1000, while others opt for the ballistic missile route (Yamaha MT-10). Kawasaki has the Z1000 and Honda the new CB1000R. The Euros (KTM, BMW and Ducati) prefer to keep things classy. The engine on the KTM is a brute while the BMW has a clinical way of going about its business. The Triumph RS is a worthy bike to have in the shed. It can do a track day and look cool at a beach café without changing a thing. Its handling is now impeccable and the TFT dash is one of the most intuitive and easy to use in the class.…

Touring Pack $1650 Heated grips, side panniers and centre stand Sport Pack $1748 Road-legal exhaust (homologated only for EU) Ducati Performance by Termignoni and carbon-fibre front mudguard, CNC machined billet aluminium brake and clutch reservoir caps Urban Pack $1019 Top case, tank bag with lock and USB hub Commuter Pack $998 48L top case with coloured covers, power cable extension with USB port, handlebar bag Protection Pack $669 Frame plug set, tank adhesive, oil cooler grille Carbon Pack $729 Carbon-fibre front and rear mudguards…

ENGINE Configuration V-twin Cylinder head Desmodromic, four valves per cylinder Capacity 1262cc Bore/stroke 106 x 72.5mm Compression ratio 13.0:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling Bosch EFI, 56mm throttle bodies Power 116.2kW @ 9500rpm (claimed) Torque 129.5Nm@ 7500rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate, slipper-type Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Tubular trellis Rake 25° Trail 111mm SUSPENSION Sachs Front: 48mm USD, semi-active, fully adjustable, 170mm travel Rear: Monoshock, semi-active, fully adjustable, 170mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Cast aluminium Front: 17 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 6.0 Tyres Pirelli Scorpion Trail II Front: 120/70ZR17 Rear: 190/55ZR17 BRAKES Brembo, ABS Front: Twin 330mm discs, four-piston radial calipers Rear: Single 265mm disc, two-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 235kg (wet, claimed) Seat height 825-845mm Max width Not given Max height Not given Wheelbase 1585mm…

HOW’S THIS FOR a record? Multiple Bathurst winner Harry Hinton Sr’s three sons all won Australian TTs or Grands Prix, and all raced in Europe. Eldest son Harry Jr won the Australian 350 TT at Mildura in 1956 and joined brother Eric on the famed Continental Circus in 1957 and 1958. He died of pneumonia in 1959, a week after a broken conrod caused him to crash in the Imola Gold Cup race. Eric Hinton did two overseas stints totalling nine years, winning four non-championship national GPs, including the 1959 Czech 500 GP. He raced in Australia until the early 1970s. Eric later prepared machines, mentored and made parts for his sons, Peter and Tony, as they rose to the top level in Australia. Peter narrowly missed winning an Australian…

TO CELEBRATE 20 years since Rossi won the 1997 125 title, AGV, in collaboration with Drudi, produced a limited-edition replica of Rossi’s 1997 graphics, with the exception of other sponsors’ logos and the visor components and accessories. The famous sun and moon design has been adapted to the AGV Pista GP R helmet. The new design features visible carbon, neon yellow instead of yellow, and a revised logo to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his first title. The release of the anniversary helmet follows the release of a replica 2017 AGV Rossi Mugello Pista GP R helmet. The background colours of the helmet are green, representing the turf of a soccer field, and the inevitable signature yellow of the nine-time MotoGP world champion. Rossi is depicted as a soccer player…

There are plenty of fuel options at either end of this ride in Murwillumbah and Nerang, although the Taylors Corner servo at the southern start of this route has ULP only. There is also a petrol bowser at Chillingham. The Chillingham Store has pretty much everything and it’s a cool spot to sit for an hour and watch the world go by. It also has limited accommodation if you have a few too many in the beer garden. There is a restaurant at Natural Bridge and a café in Numinbah Village. Fix it There are half a dozen motorcycle shops on the strip at Lawrence Drive at Nerang. If you are on the NSW side of the border try Paul O’Brien Motorcycle Clinic at 4/48 Prospero St, Sth Murwillumbah. (02)…

TEN OF THE best years of my life were spent in Europe, going from one track to the next across the continent on the hunt for the next challenge, the next race and, hopefully, the next victory. I’ve seen, been through and experienced so much in that time that I honestly didn’t know that I could have ever pushed myself that far; often on the edge of catastrophic crashes – all in the name of sport. And while I’ll never regret my time in Europe, in fact, I would do it all again, the toll was heavy… All you young guns out there with a shed full of trophies, Australian Championships and race wins coming out of your ears, you might feel ready to make the move to Europe to…

THIS SEASON IS another dream come true for me. I’ve progressed from the KTM RC390 (winning the 2017 Australasian 400 Supersport title, and seventh overall in the ASBK Over 300 Production class) to a Suzuki GSX-R600 in the ASBK Supersport championship. I went into the season with not a lot of track time and we were targeting a top-10 finish. It was fantastic to get a podium first up. We’ve been moving forward ever since and it’s great to be just a couple of points away from third in the championship. This season all came about over a barbecue. You see, Jon Hafey, KTM’s national brand manager is good mates with seven-time AMA Superbike champion Mat Mladin. Mat was looking to put something back into the sport and help a…

Circuit length 5.403km Race distance MotoGP 113.463km Moto2 102.657km Moto3 97.254km 2017 winners MotoGP M Marquez 44m15.974s Moto2 T Luthi 13m39.035s Moto3 J Mir 44m41.314s Did you know? Brno (pronounced ‘bruno’) was once a fearsome 31km circuit using public roads, making it longer – and even more treacherous – than the Nurburgring in nearby Germany. The old circuit closed in 1986, when the current track was built. The Czech Motorcycle GP has taken place since 1950, and as a world title race since 1965.…

Circuit length 3.671km Race distance MotoGP 120.904km Moto2 107.95km Moto3 99.314km 2017 winners MotoGP A Dovizioso 39m43.323s Moto2 F Morbidelli 37m39.370s Moto3 J Mir 37m23.124s Did you know? This was the third MotoGP race held at the Red Bull Ring, a much shorter (and safer) version of the old Osterreichring. The new track is the fastest on the calendar but the old one was even faster. The Red Bull Ring is Ducati territory, the Italian bikes winning all three races to date (Iannone 2016, Dovizioso 2017 and now Lorenzo 2018).…

DEPARTING APRILIA RIDER Scott Redding laid bare the reality check and frustration triggered by the humbling under-performance of the Italian brand in the Austrian Grand Prix. Redding finished 20th, three places behind teammate Aleix Espargaro (17th), who was 31sec behind Jorge Lorenzo’s winning Ducati after the 28 laps. The Aprilia was embarrassingly outpaced by all factory rivals. “Every time I get on the bike it’s different,” Redding said. “There’s always a problem every weekend. “Now I have to go to the next round at Silverstone, smile and say I’m going to do a good performance – and it’s all bullshit. “You can’t do anything. You can’t make a piece of shit shine, but that’s what I’m trying to do. “I know it sounds harsh and that I shouldn’t say it,…

AUSSIE ROAD RACING star David Johnson was pumped to be signed by the ultra-competitive Tyco BMW squad ahead of the Ulster Grand Prix, telling AMCN: “I’m very happy and excited to be riding for Tyco BMW. Ulster is one of my favourite tracks so it’s great to have this opportunity with Tyco. The team knows what they’re doing and are proven winners, and with the HP4 I’ll have the machinery to challenge.” He finished eighth in the Superstock race and a fine third in the big Superbike event.…

Westy wins Aussie veteran Anthony West still leads the blue riband 600cc class in the 2018 Asian Road Racing Championship after snatching both race wins in the fourth round held at the Madras Motor Race Track in India over 3-5 August. Despite missing the second round held at The Bend in South Australia, the Yamaha rider leads his nearest rival, Malaysian Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (Kawasaki), by a significant 51 points. Of the six races he has contested, he’s won five and finished third in the other. KB Billy’s top 10 Billy van Eerde had his best-ever Red Bull Rookies Cup finish in Austria last weekend finishing ninth in the opening race to pick up seven valuable points. The Australian rider failed to continue his momentum in the second, ending with…