Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 68 Issue 08 i Australian Motorcycle News

Drafting a stranger into the AMCN test team was a nervous experience WE ARE WELL and truly into the AMCN silly season. Over the past month I’ve been to New Zealand for the launch of the Yamaha Tracer 900 GT, to California for the new Royal Enfield 650 twins, and organised our huge middleweight nakedbike test. By the time you read this, I will be on the road to Phillip Island for the Blessing of the Bikes at San Remo and to get an early start on this year’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Our annual Motorcycle of the Year shootout will also be in full swing. When fellow motorcycle enthusiasts find out what I do for a living, they claim I have the best job in the world, and at…

Kiwi Brainiac Rattle off a list of all the movers and shakers in the MotoGP paddock and odds are that Pete Benson is not going figure highly for a lot of people. But the talented Kiwi crew chief has assisted some of the best in the game, and has notched up three world titles – and counting. And, like all successful Kiwis, we’ll claim him as an honourary Aussie. Mat Oxley tells his success story on P68 Got a fixer-upper? We have all been guilty of eyeing off an advert for a bike that “only requires minor work.” Most of us wonder why the owner doesn’t carry out the alleged ‘minor work’ and sell it as a running machine. But we couldn’t resist a bargain BMW R 1150 GS and,…

The Boxer-engined GS has for almost 40 years been the category’s reference point. Ever since the debut of the BMW R 80 GS, based on BMW’s four-time Paris-Dakar winner, more than 700,000 members of the GS family have been built. More impressive is the fact that last year alone, 50,281 R 1200 GS and GS Adventure models found buyers, and it was the first time more than 50,000 such bikes had been sold in a single 12-month period. Adventure tourer, maxi-enduro, tarmac trailie, call them what you will; the GS family of bikes are the most important models in the German company’s entire lineup. And improving on a bike already established as the reference point in its category is probably the single most difficult task confronting any manufacturer. Whether conquering…

Australians have a mindset that bigger and more powerful is better, especially when it comes to motorcycles. Despite our roads being woefully inadequate to justify their performance – and heavy enforcement of speed limits – large-capacity motorcycles have long been the dream of boy racers. The reality is that small- and mid-capacity motorcycles is where the sales are, and the middleweight nakedbike class is arguably the most supported by manufacturers. Nakedbikes are popular due to their versatility. They can be put to use as mid-week urban transport then let loose on a twisting slither of tarmac on the weekend, and handle both brilliantly. They’re the go-to bike for riders looking for sporty performance in a comfortable package. There is plenty on offer in the mid-capacity nakedbike market, so we put…

COMPARING THEM AND declaring a winner would be an impossible task. So it was agreed that a voting system, covering eight points all riders should have on their motorcycle shopping list, would provide easy-to-understand feedback representing the thoughts of the entire test team. At ride’s end, the troops assembled and we scored each bike out of 10 for build quality (based on price), electronics (where applicable), engine performance (based on target market), handling, comfort, looks, enjoyment and value for money. The average of the eight scores in each category is displayed on the following pages.…

Paul Treverrow THE SV650 IS a seriously cool motorcycle. It has style in spades, as well as being amazingly functional, torquey and just damn fun to ride. Less really is more with this little bike. Nothing is left in the cupboard when you’re riding the greyhound-like Suzuki. Every last kilowatt of its proven V-twin is easily accessible, and its turn-in ability is beautifully deceptive. In an impromptu sprint with Gareth on the Triumph, the triple only pulled a small gap on the twin once things became lively. Railing your favourite twisties, pottering down to the local cafe or a 400km day are all equally enjoyable, with neutral and predictable handling, as well as sensible brakes, which feel solid and have plenty of power. As well as the high-quality finish, it's…

Josh Evans IT LOOKS GREAT from all angles. Any learner or even fully licensed rider would be happy to have the CB650F parked at the local cafe. The designers have done a brilliant job with the large and small visual details which give it an expensive look – two-tone engine paint job, sexy muffler, carbon-look plastics, perfectly fitting panels. It feels like a big bike, nice and solid. The seat height is tall but felt great for my 188cm frame. It’s an upright riding position with easy-to-reach ’bars and an adjustable front brake lever. Hit the starter button and that lovely Honda four greets your ears. But on the road it becomes apparent this engine has been put on a short LAMS-approved leash. The steering is great, the brakes are…

Gareth Jones BUILDING A bike that looks, handles, goes and stops well, while keeping within the LAMS regulations is surely a challenge. Enter the Kawasaki Z650L. It wasn’t until after I blasted through the National Park aboard this little rocket that I was informed it was a LAMS-approved bike – and I was shocked! Although it was a pretty tight fit for a taller rider, it is an incredibly user-friendly machine. The Z650L features a gutsy parallel twin, something Kawasaki has always done a great job of, and it has been tuned for plenty of low-down torque and a fat mid-range. The chassis setup was quite soft and absorbed the harshest of bumps well, which I reckon was intentional to limit overly aggressive riding, as well as offering a comfortable…

Paul Andrews I AM A BIG fan of Yamaha’s entire MT range and the MT-07 is by far my favourite. It’s considerably more compact than the MT-09 and the MT-10 – physically, it’s one of the smallest bikes in the bunch, and you notice that as soon as you jump on board. Once you start rolling, you realise its size translates to confidence, and it all feels very light and agile. I found the 805mm seat height perfect for my 183cm stature, the handlebar is well positioned, and the entire package feels easy to throw around anything that the road delivers. The useable torque and predictable but gutsy acceleration of the 689cc parallel-twin is a heap of fun, and the brakes always gave me heaps of confidence. Of all the…

Matt O’Connell IF THERE IS one bike I’ve recommended to learners or returning riders over the years, it’s the Monster. Regardless of the variant, the Monster has impressed me for over a decade and the 659 is no exception. You sit on it and immediately feel at home. Everything is in its place, the chassis is perfectly balanced and all the controls feel completely natural, especially the brakes. One advantage of plus-400cc LAMS bikes is they are built more robust and can handle being pushed harder. One gripe: it’s bloody hard to find neutral! The compromise in the LAMS specification is that the Monster’s engine has a narrow maximum torque band. The throttle feels like a quick-action racing version, it’s such a short twist of the wrist. I think it…

Alex Penklis KTM HAS developed the best parallel-twin on the market. It sounds like a V-twin and it pulls like a V-twin, so much so that you wouldn’t look like an idiot if you believed it was. Power is smooth from idle until a midrange surge punches you in the chest. The KTM is draped in electrickery mid-sized models usually miss out on, and comfort-wise, the KTM is really good – one of the best on the ride. The only thing I didn’t like about this bike is personal – I reckon it’s ugly. It may grow on me, but it is no 1290 Superduke, which is downright sexy. All-in-all KTM has produced a middleweight naked that would shame many Supernakeds on the road.…

Phil Harlum AFTER TWO DAYS of jumping on and off the Street Triple 765 RS, I was really struggling to find something I didn’t like about the middleweight Triumph. In the end it came down to the fact the spring on the Öhlins rear shock was way too soft for spirited riding for me. There is just so much to like about the Street Triple, starting with a great riding position featuring decent leg room that puts you in a comfortable stance for cruising, commuting or having a fang on a twisty road. I found the dash easy to read and navigate, I was also a big fan of the auto adjust feature for differing light conditions. There’s a comprehensive suite of electronic adjustments, including traction control and various riding…

Gareth Jones JUST LOOKING AT this bike makes me want to ride it. It’s without doubt one of the few machines that make you stop, stare and think ‘what a great looking machine’. When you hit the starter, it fires into life with the unmistakeable tone of a thoroughbred triple. It has plenty of leg room and an aggressive riding position, yet it’s not hard on your wrists over a long-distance tour of the hills. The good factory suspension setup inspires immediate confidence, something I rarely find from production bikes. The Brutale’s 798cc engine is a brilliant balance of peaky power yet it doesn’t overwhelm the nimble chassis with excessive torque. It has a lot of impressive qualities, but the production line must have missed the memo about seat comfort…

HITTING THE ROAD for a few days of riding is one of the great joys of life, as long as you have a suitable way to carry your gear. You may have noticed that our middleweight nakedbike test team is wearing matching Nelson-Rigg backpacks. Link International fitted up each rider with a choice of the adventure-orientated Hurricane pack or the urban-style Journey pack. We were comfortable the whole time and easily carried all we needed. The Journey backpack is designed for daily urban use. It has a shell-like Ultra-Max construction with EVA Foam preformed shape. The 25.5-litres of storage is split into two zippered compartments with internal pockets for smaller items. There’s also a collection of outer pockets for things you need to get your hands onto regularly. The design…

Just before you reach Nelligen, there is a dirt road on your left marked as The River Road. This follows the river for a distance before a concrete causeway at Shallow Crossing gets you over the water and then sets off via some decent unsealed roads that take you all the way through to Milton on the Princes Highway. There are a few detours on smaller roads and fire trails that link up with features like Pigeon House Mountain, and some good bush camping areas. We have ridden through here on adventure bikes several times and found it to be a great part of a longer off road route along the south coast region.…

Show time 13 OCTOBER Shovel Fest Bendigo, Lords Raceway, 646 McIvor Hwy, Junortoun, Vic. Shovelheads and Ironheads to be judged; other pre-1984 H-Ds welcome to show but will not be judged. Bar (no BYO), entertainment, catering and Harley swap meet. For information see Shovel Fest Bendigo on Facebook or phone 0457 469 389. 13 OCTOBER Kickin Tyres Spinning Skirts Motorfest, Griffith Showground, Murrumbidgee Ave, Griffith, NSW. Gates open 4pm to 9pm. Car, bike and truck show. Live band, market stalls, car boot sale, fashion parade, kids activites and food stalls. No alcohol permitted. Adults $2, families $5 and show & shine entry $5. Raising funds for Tilly Smith to purchase a new wheelchair. 28 OCTOBER Auto Show, Cars, Bikes & Trucks, Baxter Primary School, Baxter-Tooradin Rd& Grant Rd, Baxter, Vic.…

IT’S BEEN A great year for me. It started with two race wins and the overall points score at the Phillip Island International Challenge in January [Davo’s result gave Team Australia their first win in four years]. Then the absolute highlight was giving BMW a world-first podium for their new carbon-framed HP4 Race at the Ulster Grand Prix in August. Now I’ve just got the Macau Grand Prix in November to finish off a busy year. January’s Island Classic is a pretty special event, and once I realised I was on a competitive bike (Tom Dermody’s McIntosh Suzuki) I approached it like I would a BSB race weekend. Jeremy McWilliams is a fierce competitor and I had to use all my skills to beat him, that’s for sure. My focus…

The first Thai GP was steamy, gaudy, noisy… and feel-good fantastic. More than 100,000 first-time MotoGP fans in party mood, celebrating every rider, with no favourites and no booing, made it so. So too did the riders. They rewarded those fans with a tooth-and-nail fight to the bitter end, all the way down the points. The main fight was for the win, and in an unexpected role reversal Marc Marquez played the same last-corner tactics on Andrea Dovizioso that he had succumbed to three times last year. They had changed places with increasing frequency over the last five of 26 laps of the Chang circuit outside Buriram in the north-east of Thailand. On the first five occasions, long-time leader Dovi had passed Marquez straight back. On the last lap, the…

Lorenzo launched! Jorge Lorenzo was forced to miss the Thai GP (and possibly the next round in Japan) after a mechanical failure on his factory Ducati triggered a violent high-side crash in Friday practice, exacerbating injuries sustained when he crashed at the first corner of the Aragon GP two weeks ago. Although he was passed fit to ride, Lorenzo decided he wasn’t capable, interrupting a strong run of form as his Ducati career draws to an end. At Aragon, he dislocated the big toe and suffered a metacarpal fracture to his right foot. He said he had been feeling “okay on the bike, when suddenly it threw me through the air.” Lorenzo said that Ducati had confirmed it had been “something technical – and this was my relief”. More Marcs…

AS DUCATI AND Casey Stoner contemplate the future of their test-rider partnership, it has emerged that the double world champion is not a forgotten force at Honda. Stoner has told AMCN of his frustrations that Ducati is not taking full advantage of his services, although he is contracted to the Bologna firm until the end of this year. Stoner won the 2011 world title with Honda, and after his sudden retirement at the end of 2012 was a Honda test rider for three years until rejoining Ducati as a rider and ambassador in 2016. It is unknown if Stoner will be a free agent in 2019, or even interested in continuing in a test role, but he is highly regarded by new Honda team boss Alberto Puig, who helped guide…

Girl power Ana Carrasco became the first female to win an FIM solo Road Racing World Championship when she claimed the 2018 World SSP300 crown at Magny Cours, France. Three-wheeling! Yamaha’s mental MT-09-based Niken three-wheeler is finally headed Down Under and AMCN is head of the queue to test the innovative new machine. Shaky Silverstone Silverstone is in danger of losing the British MotoGP following the track drainage disaster that saw this year’s British round abandoned. Tough road ahead Female freestyle motocross rider Christina Vithoulkas, 23, has been left paralysed from the ribs down following a training accident.…

COME AND JOIN AMCN and stunt rider Lukey Luke at the annual Blessing of the Bikes on Saturday, 20 October. Thousands of riders from around Australia will help create one of Australia’s biggest motorcycle gatherings. Simply line up your motorcycle on Marine Parade, San Remo, between 9am and 4pm and enjoy the day. We will celebrate the new riding season and remember those we have lost while promoting rider safety. There will be food, bands and displays, as well as AMCN sponsoring Lukey Luke’s stunt expo on his MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR. Now in its fifth year, the Blessing of the Bikes is organised by Marcel and Sabine Widmer, the owners of Cape Woolamai’s popular Inline 4 Café. MV Agusta Australia has been an avid supporter, and AMCN is…

THE FIRM’S INNOVATIVE new Shift Cam Technology is the first time a variable valve control system has ever been fitted to a BMW motorcycle. Although project leader Norbert Klauer joined BMW Motorrad from its parent company’s automobile division just five years ago, he insists the R 1250’s system owes nothing to the 25-year-old Vanos technology used on BMW cars, nor the Valvetronic variable valve lift system introduced in 2001. Instead, the R 1250’s cylinder heads feature a combination of both variable valve timing and differential valve lift as a means of optimising cam timing and duration. For part-throttle openings, the cam has a shorter lift and reduced duration, meaning the inlet valves are open less. But ask for more throttle and the cam shifts sideways, bringing into play a higher…

CHRIS DOBIE Age 51 Weight 89kg Height 183cm Experience Over 40 years, doesn’t match my level of ability – and not in a good way. One thing I’d love to take on every ride Multiple packets of Allen’s Snakes, or Clinkers. Silliest reason I’ve ridden To pick up a mate and a slab of beer on an unregistered motocross bike. Bike that impressed me the most All four Japanese bikes. The value for money is now better than ever. ALEX PENKLIS Age 30 Weight 82kg Height 182cm Experience Road racer and former AMCN staffer. One thing I’d love to take on every ride A spare licence. Silliest reason I’ve ridden A 3am burnout under an open window to wake up whoever had already called it a night. Bike that impressed…

ENGINE Configuration 90° V-twin Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 645cc Bore/stroke 81 x 62.6mm Compression ratio 11.2:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI, 2 x 39mm Mikuni throttle bodies Power 56kW @ 8500rpm (claimed) Torque 64Nm @ 8100rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Tubular trellis Rake 25° Trail 106mm SUSPENSION KYB Front: 41mm conventional fork, adjustable preload, 125mm travel Rear: Monoshock, adjustable preload, 130mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels five-spoke, cast aluminium Front: 17 x 3.50 Rear: 17 x 5.00 Tyres Dunlop Roadsmart III Front: 120/70ZR17 (58W) Rear: 160/60ZR17 (69W) BRAKES Tokico, ABS Front: Twin 290mm discs, two-piston caliper Rear: Single 240mm disc, single-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 198kg (kerb, claimed) Seat height 790mm Max width 730mm Max height 1090mm Wheelbase 1445mm…

ENGINE Configuration Inline four-cylinder Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 649cc Bore/stroke 67mm x 46mm Compression ratio 11.4:1 Cooling Liquid Fuelling PGM-F1 electronic fuel injection, 32mm throttle bodies Power Not given Torque Not given TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Twin-spar Rake 25.5° SUSPENSION Showa Front: 41mm conventional forks, non-adjustable, 108mm travel Rear: Monoshock, with adjustable preload, 128mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Six-spoked Tyres Dunlop Sportmax Front: 120/70ZR17 Rear: 180/55ZR17 BRAKES Nissin Front: Twin 320mm discs, two-piston calipers, ABS Rear: Single 240mm disc, single-piston caliper, ABS DIMENSIONS Weight 208kg (wet, claimed) Seat height 810mm Max width 775mm Max height 1120mm Wheelbase 1450mm Ground Clearance 150mm Fuel capacity 17.3L PERFORMANCE Fuel consumption 5.8L/100km Top speed 125km/h CONTACT & SALE INFO Testbike Honda…

ENGINE Configuration Parallel-twin Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 649cc Bore/stroke 83 x 60 mm Compression ratio 10.8:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI Power 37.8kW @ 8000rpm (claimed) Torque 59Nm @ 6500rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet, multiplate Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Trellis Rake 24° Trail 100mm SUSPENSION Front: 41mm, non-adjustable, telescopic fork with 125mm travel Rear: Horizontally mounted monoshock with adjustable preload, dual-sided swingarm with 130mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Five-spoke, cast aluminium Front: 17 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 4.5 Tyres Dunlop Sportmax Front: 120/70ZR17 (58W) Rear: 160/60ZR17 (69W) BRAKES Front: Twin 300mm discs, two-piston calipers, with ABS Rear: Single 220mm disc, single-piston caliper, with ABS DIMENSIONS Weight 186kg (kerb, claimed) Seat height 790mm Width 775mm Height 1080mm Wheelbase 1410mm Fuel capacity…

ENGINE Configuration Parallel-twin Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 689cc Bore/stroke 80 x 68.6mm Compression ratio 11 : 5 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI Power 55kW @ 9000rpm (claimed) Torque 68Nm @ 6500rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Tubular diamond Rake 24° Trail 90mm SUSPENSION Front: 41mm fork, non-adjustable, 130mm travel Rear: Monoshock, adjustable preload, 130mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels 10-spoke cast aluminium Front: 17 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 5.5 Tyres Bridgestone Battlax BT023R or Michelin Pilot Road 3 Front: 120/70ZR17 (58W) Rear: 180/55ZR17 (73W) BRAKES Front: Twin 282mm discs, four-piston calipers Rear: Single 245mm disc, two-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 179kg (wet, claimed) Seat height 805mm Max width 745mm Max height 1090mm Wheelbase 1400mm Fuel capacity 14L PERFORMANCE Fuel…

ENGINE Configuration V-twin Cylinder head Desmodromic, two valves per cylinder Capacity 659cc Bore/stroke 88mm x 54.2mm Compression ratio 10.2:1 Cooling Air Fueling EFI, 2 x 50mm Siemens throttle bodies Power 37kW @ 9250rpm (claimed) Torque 46.5Nm @ 7500 (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Tubular steel Frame layout Trellis Rake 24° Trail 90mm SUSPENSION Kayaba/Sachs Front: 43mm USD fork, no adjustment 120mm travel Rear: Monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound, 148mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels 10-spoke, alloy Front: 17 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 5.5 Tyres Pirelli Angel ST Front: 120/60ZR17 (55W) Rear: 160/60ZR17 (69H) BRAKES Brembo, ABS Front: Twin 320mm discs, four-piston radially mounted monobloc M4.32 calipers Rear: 245mm disc, single-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 175kg (dry, claimed) Seat height 785mm Max width 870mm Max height…

ENGINE Configuration Parallel twin Cylinder head DOHC Capacity 799cc Bore/stroke 88 x 65.7mm Compression ratio Not given Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI, with Bosch EMS Power 77kW @ 9000rpm Torque 87Nm @ 8000rpm TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet, slipper type Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Chromium-molybdenum-steel Frame layout Tubular trellis Rake 24° Trail 98mm SUSPENSION WP Front: 43mm USD, non-adjustable, 140mm travel Rear: Monoshock, adjustable preload, 150mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Aluminium alloy Front: 17 x 3.50 Rear: 17 x 5.50 Tyres Diablo Rosso II Front: 120/70R17 (58W) Rear: 180/55R17 (75W) BRAKES Brembo, ABS Bosch 9 Front: Twin, 300mm discs, four-piston radial calipers Rear: Single-piston caliper, 240mm disc DIMENSIONS Weight 189.3kg (wet, measured) Seat height 825mm Max width Not given Max height Not given Wheelbase 1475mm Fuel capacity 14L PERFORMANCE Fuel…

ENGINE Configuration Three-cylinder in-line Cylinder head DOHC, four valves per cylinder Capacity 765cc Bore/stroke 78 x 53.4mm Compression ratio 12.65:1 Cooling Liquid Fuelling EFI Power 90kW @ 11,700rpm (claimed) Torque 77Nm @ 10,800 (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet, slip & assist Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Aluminium Frame layout Twin spar Rake 23.9° Trail 100mm SUSPENSION Front: Showa 41mm USD fully adjustable Big Piston Fork, 115mm travel Rear: Öhlins STX40 monoshock, fully adjustable, 131mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Aluminium alloy Front: 17 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 5.5 Diablo Supercorsa SP (RS) Front: 120/70 ZR17 Rear: 180/55 ZR17 BRAKES Front: Twin 310mm discs, Brembo M50 four-piston radial Monobloc calipers (RS) Rear: Single 220mm disc, Brembo two-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 189.5kg (wet, measured) Seat height 825mm Width Not given Height…

ENGINE Configuration Three-cylinder inline Cylinder head DOHC Capacity 798cc Bore/stroke 79 x 54.3mm Compression ratio 13.3: 1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI, six injectors, fly-by-wire throttle Power 103kW @ 12,300rpm (claimed) Torque 87Nm @ 10,100rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material ALS steel Frame layout Tubular trellis Rake Not given Trail Not given SUSPENSION Marzocchi, Sachs Front: 43mm USD, adjustable compression and rebound, 125mm travel Rear: Monoshock, adjustable compression and rebound, 124mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Aluminium alloy Front: 17 x 3.50 Rear: 17 x 5.50 Tyres Diablo Rosso II Front: 120/70R17 (58W) Rear: 180/55R17 (75W) BRAKES Brembo, ABS Bosch 9 Front: Twin 320mm discs, four-piston radial calipers Rear: Single 220mm disc, two-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 175kg (dry, claimed) Seat height 830mm Max width 875mm Max…

WHEN I’M NOT on a motorcycle, I tend to find myself on a mountain bike. I live in an area surrounded by magnificent trails built just for the purpose and I ride regularly with mates, my kids and all manners of happy-to-be-there people. There’s no rules in the bush, other than basic community-minded good manners, and it’s fun, involving, keeps me fit and feeling younger than my 45 years. It’s not quite as good as motorcycling, but it ain’t far off it. Even MTB racing is a relaxed, fun affair, the same way I remember my first ventures into club motorcycle racing. I do, however, see it changing rapidly and in a way that could absolutely damage motorcycles. Pedal-assist electric bikes are taking off and – I hate admitting this…

Magny Cours offered Jonathan Rea and his KRT crew the first chance to clinch the 2018 WorldSBK Championship, and they needed no second invitation. Saturday’s 21-lap race was all it took to get the job done with five races of the year remaining – and just for good measure he won again on Sunday as well. In doing so he matched, then overtook, Troy Corser’s record total of 131 WorldSBK podiums – from just 240 starts. Not bad, particularly considering the Aussie made 377 starts. Rea’s latest winning rampage was out of the top drawer again, and gave him 14 race victories so far in 2018. While his near start-to-finish Race 1 win, from the front row, was virtually a demontration, Sunday’s second race was tougher. From grid nine he…

She did it! The most tense season finish imaginable saw Ana Carrasco (DS Junior Team) become the first female rider to win an FIM championship, but from 13th place at the flag in another crazy WorldSSP300 race. Scott Deroue (Motoport Kawasaki) got in a fight with Mika Perez (Kawasaki ParkinGO), with Carrasco – 25th on the grid – having to fight for even 20th place in the early stages. A gearchange link failure put Deroue out, and then Perez was stung in the last two corners and lost his lead – and with it the championship to Carrasco, by one single point. And so did he Markus Reiterberger (Alpha Racing Van Zon BMW) won the last-ever European Stock1000 Championship after finishing third in a sometimes dramatic 15-lap race, in which…

Jack Miller MotoGP 10th I enjoyed it a lot, but I was struggling with the left side of the rear tyre from the start. I’d be in the group, then lose it on the left-handers, then catch up, lose it again – sort of yo-yoing. With 15 laps left I found my rhythm and closed on the front group, but in doing so I spun my rear tyre too much and lost it again. Remy Gardner Moto2 12th I kind of saved that race. The first lap was amazing. I went up the inside and went from 20th to about 10th. That was an easy pick-up. But we were missing a bit in straightline speed. I was pushing really hard and wasted a lot of energy. Probably could have done…

VALENTINO ROSSI SAYS MotoGP is becoming a mirror image of long-distance cycling races like the Tour de France, with the need to conserve the performance of the latest-generation of Michelin tyres. The Thailand GP was another example of the trend. “Now we never push for the whole race,” said the 22-year veteran. “It is more a cycling race now, everybody is waiting. Sometimes somebody pushes for two laps and the other guys follow and then another one tries at the front.” The upside is that these scenarios more often trigger robust last-lap, last-corner duels for the win, as in Thailand and the recent Austrian GP. Marquez, Rossi and Dovizioso all took turns at towing the front group along out front.…

MARC MARQUEZ EVOKED memories of 500cc legend Kevin Schwantz with a desperate, opposite-lock, rear wheel-bouncing braking move to win in Thailand. And the Spanish speedster was happy to concede that he fits the mould of the original Sultan of Slide. “Maybe I’m like Schwantz, because I am braking on the limit and that braking was a special point,” Marquez said after his seventh win of the season. “My target is to change to a style more like the Dovi style; brake, lean a little bit and accelerate. He is smoother, more like (Wayne) Rainey.” Recent titanic battles between Marquez and Dovizioso are also reminiscent of some the classic contests between American rivals Schwantz and Rainey. Dovi has no doubt who he most resembles as rider: “For sure, Rainey – not…

JASON DOYLE CONTINUED his late-season form by winning the prestigious Czech Golden Helmet meeting. Doyle won the 70th staging of the event at Pardubice, beating Martin Vaculik, Vaclav Milik, Anders Thomsen, Emil Sayfutdinov and Antonio Lindback in the final. Chris and Jack Holder were both eliminated in the semis. This was the 11th victory by an Australian rider in the past 22 years, four of them scored by Leigh Adams. Chris Holder had joy the next day when he won the 50th staging of the Lubos Tomicek Memorial meeting in Prague, beating Sayfutdinov, Vaculik, Nicki Pedersen and Peter Kildemand in the final. There was nearly a triple treat for Australian riders, courtesy of Poland-based Mildura youngster Jaimon Lidsey. Lidsey fell in the final of the Junior Golden Helmet after having…

This issue’s six finalists have won themselves an Oxford Helmet Bag and Fred’s fave picks up an IPONE Care Kit, all thanks to the team at Ficeda Accessories! To go into the running, send a photo of the first bike you ever owned or rode. If you don’t have a pic ofthefirst, we’ll acceptoneof the first. Email your entry to comps@amcn.com.au and make sure you include your full name and mailing address so we can send you your loot! FRED’S FAVE…

RATHER THAN COMPETE for the limelight at Intermot, Honda chose the Paris Motor Show to reveal its new retro hope. And with Suzuki expected to have its Katana on sale by mid-2019, Honda looks like it will rush its latest Neo Sports Cafe concept into production. A year ago it turned its first Neo Sports Cafe into the CB1000R that was launched recently. The latest concept bike is likely to arrive just as quickly, this time as the 2019 CB650R. The engine comes from the CB650F, while the chassis and most components look familiar - albeit with a new cast section around the swingarm pivot. The styling takes its cues from the CB1000R, CB300R and CB125R, launched simultaneously last November. Like this trio of CB-R models, the latest Neo Sports…

Britten rebuilt The painstaking rebuild of legendary New Zealand motorcycle designer John Britten’s Christchurch house launched the latest TV series of Grand Designs New Zealand last week. Britten’s daughter Isabelle and her husband Tim undertook the daunting task of salvaging the former stables he had turned into an avante garde living space in the late 1970s. The buildings had been severely damaged in the 2011 earthquakes. Mondial sold After three years of developing Euro4 models, Mondial has been sold to Zhongneng Vehicle Group. Its new Chinese owners intend to continue production in Italy and add new models of varying engine sizes. DGR raises $8m The worldwide Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride on September 30 has raised more than $8m for prostate cancer and mental health. Donations can still be made up to…

Congratulations Gary, 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 Rider Gary Edgar Bike 1965 Ducati Monza Junior He says My 1965 Ducati Monza Junior is one of only 32 imported into Australia. I bought it in 2007 and it had already been converted to approved monoposto, painted yellow, fitted with ace bars, a Japanese front end, 18-inch Japanese rims and a dodgy Keihin carby. And it came with a mixed bag of parts from the round and square-look Junior models. Thankfully, the engine had been rebuilt and electrics rewired. It came with all the original parts, including seat, fork and hubs, but I…

ENGINE Configuration Horizontally opposed twin cylinder Cylinder head Two overhead gear-driven cams with variable intake, four valves per cylinder Capacity 1254cc Bore/stroke 102.5 x 76mm Compression ratio 12.5: 1 Cooling Air/liquid Fueling EFI, 2 x 52mm throttle bodies Power 100kW @ 7750rpm (claimed) Torque 143Nm @ 6250rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate, slipper-type Final drive Shaft CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Tubular-steel bridge Rake 27.1° Trail 109mm SUSPENSION Front: BMW Telelever, 190mm travel Rear: BMW Paralever, adjustable preload and rebound, 200mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Die-cast aluminium Front: 19 x 3.0 Rear: 17 x 4.5 Tyres Bridgestone A41 Front: 120/70R19 (58W) Rear: 170/60R17 (75W) BRAKES Hayes Front: Twin 305mm discs, four-piston calipers Rear: Single 276mm disc, two-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 249kg (kerb, claimed) Seat height 850-870mm Max width…

Pete Benson grew up in rural New Zealand, where he skived off school to ride motorbikes around the farm. His first proper bike was a Yamaha RD350, which inevitably got him into racing. The 350 was followed by an RD400, a TZ250, a TZ750 and a Suzuki RG500, for which he built his own frame. After a while he realised he preferred engineering to racing. He first went to Europe in 1994 to work for the WCM 500 Grand Prix team. Jobs with the Castrol Honda World Superbike squad, Repsol Honda GP and Marc VDS followed. Between 1994 and 2004 he fettled bikes for Niall Mackenzie, Doug Polen, Aaron Slight, Tady Okada, Mick Doohan, Valentino Rossi and Alex Barros. Since 2005 he has been crew chief to Nicky Hayden, Andrea…

What to look for The Dorso has an enviable reputation as a trouble-free motorcycle. No pattern of issues shows up, with electrical issues affecting earlier Aprilias being part of history. As always check for signs of neglect or damage. Then it’s down to allowing for any consumables that will soon need replacing – tyres, brake pads, chain and sprockets, steering head bearings, and brake rotors. The best prospect will be a low-medium-kilometre example with good service records. Service history The naked styling of the Dorso offers reasonably easy access to major components, allowing DIY owners to carry out routine oil and filter changes. We would suggest 5000-7500km oil-change intervals rather than the factory’s extravagant 20,000km recommendation. This is fine for majors, though, including valve clearances, which are best left to…

GARETH JONES Hurricane Likes Its 100 per cent waterproof design with hydro pack integration is great, ample storage space and adjustable straps. Dislikes Additional internal and external pockets would help keep things in order. Reflective strips might help at night, too. ALEX PENKLIS Hurricane Likes The quality is outstanding, with thick material and strong clips. The two side-mounted bottle holders offer an alternative to the bladder. Dislikes There are no internal compartments, everything is loose, making it difficult to find smaller items. PAUL ANDREWS Hurricane Likes The air purge valve is brilliant for compressing the pack down and limiting movement. The wide straps and back padding allows you to wear it all day fatigue free. Dislikes The straps are quite long and tend to flap around if not tucked away…

It’s only 60km from Braidwood to Batemans Bay and there is plenty of PULP at both ends. There is also a huge variety of places to get a feed or accommodation, particularly at the Batemans Bay end of the route. Fix it There are a few small motorcycle repair stores at Batemans Bay. Try South Coast Motorsports on 0413 086 854 or Bike Worx on 02 4472 2022, but we don’t like your chances on the weekend, so carry enough to get yourself out of trouble. Sleep Big 4 Holiday Park has a good range of options from campsites through to cabins and villas. It is right on the water’s edge of the Clyde River and directly across the road from the Steam Packet Hotel. 970 Kings Hwy, Nelligen (02)…

Top 3 TV 1 WSBK Rd12 LIVE Argentina Fox/Videopass 14 & 15 Oct 6am (AEDT) WSBK heads to Argentina for Round 12 and action will be aired live on Fox Sports and through VideoPass. WSBK Race 1 starts 6am (AEDT) Sunday, WSS at 4.30m Monday and WSBK Race 2 at 6am Monday. 2 Red Bull Straight Rythm Red Bull TV Sun 21 Oct 11.30am (AEDT) Straight Rythm Supercross is back for another season at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, but this time around there will be only two-strokes racing side-by-side on the half-mile of massive rollers, whoops and tables. Watch it live at redbull.tv. 3 MotoGP Rd16 LIVE Japan Fox & Videopass Sun 21 Oct 11.30am (AEDT) Settle in for a fanastic Sunday arvo of MotoGP action as Rd16 from…

SO THAT’S IT then. Jonathan Rea has joined the ranks of giants, stomping imperiously to a fourth successive World Superbike title after already breaking legend Carl Fogarty’s total of 59 wins. Rea now has 68, including the last nine in a row, with still four more races to go this year With Welshman Chaz Davies his main title challenger, and Englishmen Tom Sykes (his teammate), plus podium-challenging Alex Lowes, Eugene Laverty and Leon Camier, the production bike series is still a very British affair. But sadly for all of them, and for their rivals (many ex-MotoGP jobseekers, including next year’s new Ducati signing, Alvaro Bautista), the other four-stroke series is starting to look increasingly isolated and more than slightly pointless. There are still some universal truths. One is that you…

Tom Edwards - Nutec Benjan Kawasaki WorldSSP300 Grid 3rd, Race DNF, 21st. “The race was really disappointing because I knew I had a great chance for a strong finish and what happened was out of my control (technical issue, so DNF). Still, taking the positives from it, I knew I had a good chance to take a podium or possibly a win. It was a tough session for us. We came into it as a learning year and that’s what it has been! Coming into it fast from the first test was awesome. The start of the season, I was fast, but in the last laps I would make a mistake, causing a crash. The end of the season was much better for us, qualifying on pole in Portimao and…

MotoGP Chang, Thailand Circuit length 4.554km Race distance MotoGP 118.404km Moto2 109.296km Moto3 100.188km 2017 winners None – first event in 2018 Did you know? Although known more formally as the Buriram International Circuit, a sponsorship deal means the track carries the name of local beer brand Chang (which means ‘elephant’ in Thai). It was opened in 2014 and is the first full international-standard circuit built in Thailand. For the past four years it has hosted the World Superbike Championship. In September last year, Dorna announced the first Thai MotoGP round would be held at the circuit, which has a three-year deal running through to 2020. Round 15 Finishing positions…

Pioneering Carrasco ANA CARRASCO’S WORLD title, however closely won in the end, was a truly historic happening and is expected to be the news that travels furthest outside the WorldSBK paddock. She had no idea if she had won or not until she looked at the crowd in one of the grandstands at Magny Cours, shrugged and gesticulated a questioning ‘1’ in mid-air. They cheered an answer out, but it was only when she saw her team trackside, with celebratory T-shirts with the logo ‘Ride Like A Girl’ emblazoned on them, that she really knew it was true. GR The future of Ana MOTOGP RIDERS WELCOMED the historic achievement of Ana Carrasco, who became the first woman to win an FIM solo world championship at the World Superbike round in…