Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 68 Issue 12 i Australian Motorcycle News

WELCOME TO THE 67th year-ending edition of Australian Motorcycle News. It’s a biggie – packed full of top-quality motorcycle madness to get you through the Christmas break. There’s new bikes galore, a swag of exclusive and insightful interviews with newly-crowned Australian and World champions and, of course, the announcement of our annual and highly coveted Motorcycle of The Year gong. I’m incredibly excited about the future of AMCN It’s a shootout that can pit delightfully basic retro-styled machines against ones boasting unprecedented technological advancements. The fascinating bit is how eight thoroughly different machines all get thrown into the same cross-fire of criteria, all very much step up the challenge and every one of this year’s finalists had the goods to take the gong. The result is both predictable and surprising,…

A big man in Kawasaki leathers on a small bike in Europe in 1979. It just had to be Gregg Hansford. But the other questions tested our readers and it was Kevin Beale of Balwyn North in Victoria who was the first through with all the correct answers. An IPONE kit is in the post. Turn to P36 to have a crack at this issue’s Mental Twisties! Who Gregg Hansford finished the 1979 GP season third in the 350cc class What BMW F650 was in production from 1993 until 2000 Where Symmons Plains, Tasmania, the 125cc riders were waiting…

AT THE OPPOSITE end of the electric spectrum is the new Arc Vector. Brainchild of former Jaguar Land-Rover ideas man Mark Truman, the Arc claims to be the world’s most advanced electric bike. It combines a carbon-fibre monocoque frame with a 399-volt electric powertrain, claiming 103kW and 85Nm at the motor, which translates to 397kW at the rear wheel once it’s been geared down. A single-speed transmission takes the 220kg bike to a 200km/h top speed, and from 0-100km/h in a fraction over three seconds. Each bike will come with a special helmet incorporating a heads-up display – and a hefty price tag of $158,650.…

Bangers and mash $18 Chargrilled Scotch Fillet $32 Duck and Ginger Spring Rolls $14 BBQ Rack of Pork Ribs $36 Chicken Schnitzels $21 If you have a local hangout you’d like to nominate for one of Australia’s best, drop us a line at amcn@amcn.com.au…

Mikuni throttle bodies Power 83.9kW @ 10,120rpm(claimed) Torque 87.5Nm @ 8480rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Six-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate, slipper-type Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Tubular Steel and Aluminium Frame layout Twin spar Rake 20° Trail 74mm SUSPENSION Front: 41mm/43mm dual-tube USD fork, fully adjustable, 109mm travel Rear: Monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound, 125mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Aluminium alloy Front: 2 x 15 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 5.5 Tyres Bridgestone Battlax Adventure Front: 120/70R15 Rear: 190/55R17 BRAKES Front: Twin 298mm discs, four-piston radial calipers, ABS Rear: Single 281mm disc, two-piston caliper, ABS DIMENSIONS Weight 263kg (wet, claimed) Seat height 820mm Max width 975mm Max height 1250mm Wheelbase 1509mm Fuel capacity 18L PERFORMANCE Fuel consumption 5.56L/100km Top speed 245km/h CONTACT & SALE INFO Testbike Yamaha Australia Contact www.yamaha-motor.com.au Colour…

CHRIS DOBIE Age 51 Height 192cm Weight 89kg Riding experience The older I get the better I am Best bit of MoTY 2018 Knowing it was my last group ride for AMCN (and knowing no one else knew) MATT O’CONNELL Age 42 Height 182cm Weight 82kg Riding experience 20+ years hooked on this Best bit of MoTY 2018 Awesome bikes, great company, great roads and a few beers DAVID WATT Age 34 Height 180cm Weight 100kg Riding experience Chucking wheelies and doing skids since 1987 Best bit of MoTY 2018 Taking my wet weather gear off each time the sun came out PAUL TREVERROW Age 46 Height 188cm Weight 93kg Riding experience Over 35 years: commuting, motocross and a London courier Best bit of MoTY 2018 Talking bikes and life with…

Paul Treverrow PRIOR TO MoTY, I’d had never even sat on a Harley-Davidson. The first leg of this year’s MoTY route was all highway, perfect for me to get accustomed to the nicely proportioned seat, wide and low-set handlebar and foot pegs well positioned for my 187cm frame. The easy-to-pull clutch, firm yet-predictable gear shift and brakes with plenty of feel meant most of my long-held Harley beliefs were left in my rear-vision mirror in the first few kays. And by the time we were attacking the undulations and switchbacks of Kangaroo Valley Road, I was revelling in the new 107 cubic-inch Milwaukee-Eight engine, grunting out of one turn and into the next (the engine, not me). I was also surprised by the compliant suspension package and general rideability of…

David Watt THE 790 DUKE had a lot to live up to. Its big brother – the 1290 Super Duke R – re-wrote the rules for nakedbike fun and it appears the 790 has not baulked at the challenge. It carves a twisty road like a boss, it’s light and the wide handlebar makes it such a pleasure to flick from corner to corner. It comes to life when you grip it by the scruff of the neck and hammer it. The parallel twin may not be arm-stretching quick, but it has plenty of go, and doesn’t sound like a wet fart when you give it the berries. It has got an enjoyable angry bark, but a slip-on pipe would be on my shopping list. The electronics package is the…

PAUL ANDREWS BENELLI LEONCINO AS THE LEAST experienced rider in the test group, there are two things I look for when choosing a bike; ease of riding it, and how much fun I have on it. For me, it was close between the Kawasaki and the Benelli – and it was the Leoncini which came out on top. The Benelli oozes fun for new riders. It doesn’t feel like it’s LAMS approved, and it has a super comfortable riding position and seat. It may not be the biggest bike, but it left with me with the biggest smile! JOSH EVANS BENELLI LEONCINO As an atheist, I have no moral compass or method of measuring life’s purpose, so I made up my own: don’t be an arsehole and have fun. Fun…

DUCATI’S FIRST 90º V-twin desmo engine was the air-cooled sohc bevel-drive design that on its competition debut in 750cc form powered Paul Smart to victory in the 1972 Imola 200, then later in 900TT1 guise took Mike Hailwood to his legendary comeback win in the 1978 Isle of Man TT. But soon after the desmo V-twin’s successful debut the new government-appointed manager of the then state-owned Ducati, Cristiano de Eccher, had shut down the race operation as an unnecessary luxury. Eager to continue his policy of using racing as a means of developing roadbikes, Ducati technical chief Fabio Taglioni skirted this by designating the nearby NCR tuning shop as Ducati’s satellite race team, although all the engines used in NCR racebikes were the product of the Ducati factory’s technical department.…

SUZUKI IS PLANNING more of these Sportsbike Track Day experiences which will give you the opportunity to experience the firm’s flagship 1000cc machines on the most picturesque racetrack in the world. And we don’t have tell you the difference between rolling out of pit lane at Phillip Island and rolling out into traffic outside your local Suzuki dealership. The next one is slated in for 1 February at Phillip Island’s Grand Prix Circuit. For more information visit www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au…

IN THE TTC1 Superbike category, Matthew Harding (Kawasaki ZX-10R) from the NSW Hunter Valley successfully defended his crown, taking four wins and a second place from Stephanie Redman (Addicted To Track R1) who finished second overall, with the evergreen Karl Schmidt (Kawasaki ZX-10R) using his 30 years of racing experience to claim the final spot on the overall podium. Harding has not been racing much of late due to personal commitments, but he still has plenty of pace, which makes Redman’s performance extra impressive, as it was her first time racing a 1000cc machine. In fact, her efforts were all the more applaudable by the fact that she broke her right foot the week before at a race meeting in Sydney after a big off. She might have been limping…

MEET NATHAN MARTIN, he is the coolest new friend I made on Safari! Not just because he would jump in and help anyone who needed it or because he had a real ‘go get-em’ attitude, but because the story of how he got to Safari was an epic adventure in itself. He is a Marine Technician in the Australian Navy and it was five years between buying a GS and finally, actually rolling out onto the docks at Devonport to participate in a Safari. However, he didn’t roll out with us on the Spirit of Tasmania, he and his GS came off a Naval War Ship! What had kept him away all this time was, ironically, what got him there in the end. His ship happened to be docked there…

WHEN HONDA RESTRUCTURED their Superbike team for 2018 it meant changes from the ground up. The new one-bike outfit would be known as Team Penrite Honda Racing, with Deon Coote taking over as team owner. Coote, along with his brother Jordan, have a lengthy history in racing and have also long held ambitions of team ownership. Both are accomplished business owners with Deon’s Elite Roads (they also put up the $500 Pole Position Award) specialising in road construction and profiling while Jordan’s company, Apex Civil, is heavily involved in civil works and construction and also sponsor several riders. One of the team’s bolder decisions was to make the switch to K-Tech suspension – a move which paid off. And what’s it like working with the now dual ASBK champion? “I…

TOURISM IS THE principal activity across BC and there are cable cars, skytrains, gondolas, ski lifts and zip lines around every bend. Whitewater rafting operations abound and cycle hire is a popular activity – with and without battery power. The staff in the ubiquitous Visitor Information Centres are most helpful and knowledgeable. The ghost town of Barkerville was the best I’ve seen and the Dreamcycle Museum on the Trans-Canada Highway at Sorrento is a must see; as is the Trev Deeley Exhibit in Vancouver.…

Show time 9 DECEMBER Maddie Hill Breast Cancer Show & Shine, Newcastle Kart Racing Club, Cameron Park Dr, Cameron Park, NSW. Motorcycles, muscle cars, hot rods and more. Stalls, food and drinks. Show entrants $10; public gold coin donation. For information phone Barry on 0418 427 937 or email gaylea.hill@bigpond.com. 17 FEBRUARY Maitland Speedway Festival, Maitland Showground, Blomfield St, South Maitland, NSW. Vintage speedway bikes, sidecars and more. Come and see these animals back in action at their original stomping ground. Exhibition only; no competitive racing. Exhibitors gates open 7am at Louth Park Gate, general public to enter via Blomfield St gate. For more information check out facebook.com/MaitlandSpeedwayFestival/. 2 MARCH Thunder West Bike Show, 71 Scotts Creek Rd, Murrurundi, NSW. Live music, tattoo comp, tyre throw, Ironguts Challenge, fireworks spectacular…

ONE OF MY year-end pleasures is putting the mighty 320-page Motocourse annual tome to print. It has to be done mighty quickly. Christmas is coming. And one of the pleasures of editing it for the past 15 years or so is the chance to nominate the editor’s Top 10. This is both easy, and difficult. Easy, because it is a whimsical and often obvious choice. Kind of goes in championship order. The criteria for being chosen are not that different from competing in the championship. You have to be really good at motorbike racing. Consistently. The hard part is: who do you leave out? And how do you explain it to them, if called upon to do so (and it does happen)? Why no Jack Miller, for instance, when the…

KENAN SOFUOGLU RULED WorldSSP for years, challenged only when another, usually Yamaha-mounted racer threatened him (only for that rider to inevitably head off to another class). So when the Turk re-injured his already fragile pelvis in yet another tyre related crash at PI and he confirmed the end of his career, all eyes turned to see who would walk through the door marked ‘Kenan’s successor’. This year that was a gaggle of riders on official and private Yamaha YZF-R6s. The neo-stock rules almost guarantee that there will be one dominant model of bike each season from now on, as many said before the class got ‘dumbed down’. Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) was eventually the champion after a superb nail-biting finale on a distinctly iffy track surface at Losail. And, as…

A YOUNG AUSSIE inventor has unveiled what could become Australia’s first electric motorcycle. Dennis Savic, 26, told patrons at Melbourne’s Moto Expo that his company, Savic Motorcycles, plans to have a range of motorcycles in production by 2020 and selling worldwide by 2022. Savic launched the C-Series at the Moto Expo, with a complete prototype plus design drawings of other proposed models. Customers will be able to choose from several specifications of power and style. They include the C-FE (founder edition), Alpha (60kW, from $20,000), Delta (40kW, from $15,000) and the Omega (LAMS, 25kW, from $12,000). The C-FE models are limited to 10 orders, planned to be delivered in 2019, while the Alpha, Delta, and Omega orders will be delivered in 2020. Each model comes with several battery pack options,…

News A summary of the proposed 1995 WSBK rules was released; “In order to attract the interest of three-cylinder machines, the minimum weight limits will be: 147kg for twin-cylinder, 155kg for three-cylinder and 162kg for four-cylinder machines as of Jan 1, ’95.” Sport Anthony Gobert and Scott Doohan thrilled the crowd at the fourth round of the Australian Superbike Series at Mallala. Back then, Gobert would ride the wheels off of anything, the 19-year-old finishing second in race one and first in the second race, to win the round. Bike test John Westlake was sent out to test an absolute animal of a bike, the CB1000, smacking out a claimed 100kW, as it was a detuned version of the CBR1000F. Some things never go out of fashion, like the CB’S…

Novocastrian Ian Webster visited the Linga Longa Inn for the first time after travelling between Newcastle and Tamworth for 40 years. He rode down through Crawney Pass on the same 1993 BMW R 100 GS PD he has owned for 22 years. “The bike itself is about to turn 25. It was actually given to me; I did a bloke a favour and he came back six months later and gave me the money to buy it!” The GS PD has about 130,000km up on it now, and Ian said the last decent ride he had on it was through the Simpson Desert.…

Send an image and details about your two-wheeled pride and joy to access@amcn.com.au Giz a squiz Rider Nick Basiliou Ride 1984 Yamaha SR185J He says Here is a pic of my first bike, which I still own, a 1984 Yamaha SR185. I’ve owned it since I turned 21 and I haven’t had the heart to get rid of it. The little engine endured college life, work commutes and freeway speeds with amazingly minimal maintenance. Freeways were easier after I explored various sprocket sizes, but I wasn’t too sadistic and mainly rode it around town. I did eventually look after it, learning about valve adjustment, cam chains and bushes in the starter motor that seems to wear out too quickly. A few years ago, I enthusiastically stripped it down,…

Alex Penklis I AM AN avid Ducati V-twin fan, so I was worried the V4 powerplant might lose what I love so much about the Italian marque. My doubts were put to ease the moment my thumb hit the starter button. The V4 fires into a V-twin soundtrack – it’s very different from other V4 machines I have ridden. The power this engine makes is nothing short of astonishing. Power wheelies are the norm in the bottom three gears as bigger and bigger numbers are piled onto the speedo faster than any other motorcycle I have ridden. The power is not only brutal, but also very linear and predictable – there are no surges or insane bands, just a relentless wave of acceleration. The quickshifter is faultless, with seamless upshifts…

Alex Penklis A SUPERCHARGED 1000cc four-cylinder engine producing in excess of 200hp (154kw) – your brain instantly tells you this motorcycle is going to be a manic and uncontrollable ride. It’s anything but. The engine makes its power so smoothly that it is one of the most deceptively fast motorcycles I have ridden. No matter where you are in the rev range, there seems to be the same amount of grunt on tap – it’s more like a gas turbine than a conventional engine. Coupled with a long wheelbase and a modest weight of 250kg, the Kawasaki is super-stable under acceleration and maintains its track. Throughout the twisty sections, its handling is more solid than agile, a little slow on the change of direction but is confidence inspiring nonetheless. The…

Mark Penklis THE YAMAHA Tracer 900 GT has one of the best riding positions of any sports-tourer. When you jump on this bike, everything falls perfectly to hand, and within a couple of minutes the bike feels like a comfy pair of slippers. That’s not to say the 847cc triple-cylinder engine is any slouch. Quite the contrary – the engine is spirited, with a good balance of power and torque which is typical of three-cylinder engines, and when coupled with the up-only quickshifter it provides a solid sports tourer-level of acceleration. The Tracer 900 GT has upgraded suspension over the standard model, allowing the bike to steer with precision in all road conditions. The slightly longer swingarm included in this update has improved stability over the previous model. As with…

ENGINE Configuration 90º V-twin Cylinder head SOHC, two valves per cylinder Capacity 905cc Bore/stroke 88 x 74.4mm Compression ratio 11:1 Cooling Air Fueling 2 x 40mm Dell’Orto carburettors Power 89hp @ 8500rpm (claimed) Torque Not given TRANSMISSION Type Five-speed, close ratio Clutch Dry, multiplate Final drive Chain CHASSIS Frame material Chrome-moly steel Frame layout Cradle spaceframe Rake 27° Trail 100mm SUSPENSION Marzocchi, Girling Front: 38mm telescopic fork Rear: Dual 13-inch ‘Black’ gas shocks WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Magalloy Campagnolo Front: 18 x 2.5 Rear: 18 x 3.5 Tyres Continental Road Attack Front: 100/90-18 Rear: 130/80-18 BRAKES Brembo Front: Twin 278mm cast-iron discs, two-piston calipers Rear: Single 278mm disc, two-piston caliper DIMENSIONS Weight 163kg (oil, no fuel) Seat height Not given Max width Not given Max height Not given Wheelbase 1450mm Fuel capacity…

SPUD ANDERSON Hometown Yamba, NSW DH experience First timer Riding experience Nothing too serious, I just love bikes Machine 1980 Yamaha XT250 Category Old Mates “It was a 1980 Yamaha XT250 that a mate gave me. I had a plan to rake it, chop it and make it rigid. I chopped the back half off and lowered it. The rear frame is made from a steel kitchen chair and all the rest is made from old street signs. “I built it to show it, but when I heard that this was coming up I thought why not give it a go. I hadn’t even ridden the bike before today, so heading out for the first ride I just thought ‘please go’ and it’s been working great. When I got on…

I’m not gonna lie. To me, a millennial who spends their days burning rubber on closed-circuit race tracks like Phillip Island, the words ‘BMW’ and ‘GS’ don’t exactly appeal to my thrill-seeking side. But I love motorbikes and I love adventure. I’d never been to Tasmania, I am a BMW fan and I’ve heard of the Apple Isle’s reputation for beauty and riding for far too long. I signed myself up. To me an adventure bike is the motorcycling equivalent of a caravan. It’s something you buy when you want to settle down and enjoy a slightly slower-paced lifestyle… at least that’s what I thought. Man, was I wrong! The trip started on Sunday afternoon at the BMW head office in Melbourne, where I was introduced to the BMW R…

How many GSs have you owned? I bought my first GS in 2009 and have owned four since. The latest, the GS 1200 Rallye X I purchased after doing the GS Experience at Wisemans Ferry. How many Safaris have you been on? I have been on two GS Safaris and two GS Enduros. The first one I did was the Enduro from Darwin to Palm Cove and it was epic! I think still the best one I have done to date. Why do you continue to come back and do these events? I have a group of guys and for 10 years I’ve organised my own tours, Europe twice, America three times, we’ve done Tassie, but that’s road riding and most of the time we take our wives as well.…

“HOW MUCH? THAT’S obscene, mate…” I had just been stooged over $1600 for an annual bike service with tyres and brake pads. $1600? Bloody hell. The new bike industry is suffering at the moment. New bike sales are down, even more so if you consider the population has grown and bike sales haven’t. Blatant rip-off services like this one are part of the problem. For that particular service, I ended up with things I didn’t want, such as a new gear lever rubber on a bike with just 8000kms on it. And the old brake pads? They miraculously couldn’t be found when I asked to see them. At nearly $400 a set, I want to know I needed them. I’m more inclined to buy a 2008 YZF-R1 and service it…

The year started with one big question: who could beat Marc Marquez? It was answered with three races to spare; nobody. Older, faster, the one-time youngest-ever champion took a fifth title in six years but he never made it look easy. That’s not his style. Flirting on the edge of disaster, accomplishing one knife-edge save after another, crashing 23 times – his way of finding the limit in practice – Marquez stretched the laws of physics beyond his rivals. Did he need to take so many risks? Particularly given what was revealed at year’s end, that his left shoulder has been so often dislocated that even a friendly hug from Scott Redding made it pop out again at Motegi? A proper crash at Valencia did so again. But the 25-year-old…

Anthony West It is impossible to think of Anthony West without thinking of battling underdog attitudes, controversy and occasionally brilliant performances at the very highest level. On a slow-ish EAB antwest Racing Kawasaki in the WorldSSP we got some of that again in 2018, which was probably his last chance to make it big on a global scale again. His second career suspension for doping, eventually upheld, ended his season too early, with three sixth places in eight races to show for his year. Lachlan Epis Not a happy year inside the Team GoEleven Kawasaki squad in WorldSSP, and Lachlan only made it to Assen and round four, parting company afterwards. The Kawasaki was not the best bike in 2018, outside of the main Puccetti team especially. He rode in…

The world’s most expensive Vincent Alan Cathcart rode the Jack Ehret Vincent Back Lightning, which sold soon after for a staggering $A1.2m. AMCN Vol 67 No 13 First around The Bend Hamish Cooper and Superbike racer Daniel Falzon christened Australia’s newest and international-standard 4.95km circuit in a world exclusive ride before it officially opened. AMCN Vol 67 No 19 Naked Guns Australia’s biggest shootout of the bikes that give performance and value for money. AMCN Vol 68 No 08 Stoner v Lorenzo Casey Stoner unintentionally revealed to AMCN’s MotoGP reporter Colin Young what was wrong with the Lorenzo-Ducati failing marriage. “You just have to find a way to work with the bike.” AMCN Vol 68 No 10 Duck’s guts Former editor Chris Dobie was one of a handful of journalists…

Chrissy spirit Toy Runs are on this weekend in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, along with other regional centres. Price fight Royal Enfield announces surprisingly low prices of $8440 for its new Interceptor twin and $8640 for the Continental GT version. Road closed New Zealand’s street racing venues are in decline. Paeroa’s annual Battle of the Streets has been discontinued and the Nelson street races canned for 2019. Vale Godet Patrick Godet, the world-renowned producer of Vincent spares and Egli Vincent motorcycles, passed away on Sunday 25 November.…

New South Wales’s Hunter Valley has some hidden gems for riders and one place you may not have heard of is the Linga Longa Inn located at Gundy, a little town that sits about 15 minutes east of Scone off the New England Highway. Surrounded by thoroughbred horse studs and sitting pretty much in between Newcastle and Tamworth, this is a gateway to some of the most picturesque riding in the state, either on the bitumen or off it. The historic Linga Longa is filled with country charm and has been a favourite watering hole with locals for years. They serve top-quality food, with all the pub staples covered. The chargrilled steaks are brilliant and there are plenty of different beers on tap, not to mention the locally produced Tilse’s…

Reckon you’re pretty quick when it comes to two-wheeled trivia? Then have a crack at our 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? Who is this 1990s superbike champion on the podium at the Belgian GP? 2. WHAT? What make and model is this fully faired tourer 3. WHEN? The Niken might seem futuristic, but who remembers what year Yamaha revealed the Tesseract concept? 4. WHY? Why did Valentino Rossi include a blow-up doll in his post-race celebrations after the 1997 Italian 125cc GP? 5. WHERE?…

ENGINE Configuration In-line four cylinder, DOHC, two valves per cylinder Capacity 1102cc Bore/stroke 71.5 x 68.6mm Compression ratio 9.2:1 Cooling Air Fueling Carburettor, 4 x 35mm Mikuni constant vacuum Power 70kW @ 8500rpm (claimed) Torque 90Nm @ 6500rpm (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type Five-speed Clutch Wet, eight drive plates Final drive Shaft CHASSIS Frame material Steel Frame layout Tubular, full cradle, twin down tubes F and R Rake 29.5° Trail 130mm SUSPENSION Front: 37mm Kayaba fork, nonadjustable, 175mm travel Rear: Dual shocks, adjustable preload, 80mm travel WHEELS/TYRES Wheels Spoke-style cast Front: 19 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 4.5 Tyres Avon Roadrunner Front: 110/90R19 Rear: 120/80R17 BRAKES Front: Twin 298mm metal discs, single-piston calipers Rear: Single 298mm disc, single-piston caliper, DIMENSIONS Weight 256kg (dry, claimed) Seat height 798mm Max width 775mm Max height…

When did the development process for the Niken begin? The plan for the Niken you see today started in 2013. We saw the concept as early as 2007 with the four-wheel Tesseract (AMCN Vol 57 No 09), why did Yamaha decide to pursue the Leaning Multi Wheel concept? To bring sustainability to motorcycle industries. Our slogan and policy is “to realise a non-roll over leaning vehicle.” It was 2010, just after the Global Financial Crisis, [the] YMC board decided to create a future growth strategy from scratch. Because of the GFC, we stopped many advanced developments. So they built a special and temporary task-force that consisted of the younger generation, with several functions like sales, engineers, designers, product planning, etc. Originally, the main purpose or intention of them was to…

WHILE THERE WILL be a winner, the AMCN Motorcycle of The Year presented by Swann Insurance was not a comparison test; pitching the Benelli Leoncino against Ducati’s Panigale V4 S would be a futile exercise. Each bike is judged on its own merits against a set of criteria that has defined AMCN’s MOTY since the day dot. How well each bike meets its design brief, value for money, technology, performance, looks and that all-important X-factor were all considered by our eight-strong test team. The bikes are all measured and weighed, and we even calculate fuel economy. If our eight finalists represent the 2018 motorcycle market, then our rider roster represents a similarly broad spectrum of the buying public. The experienced AMCN test riders were joined by ex- and current racer,…

Paul Andrews Being the only LAMS bike on MoTY 2018, I was curious to see how the Benelli would stack up against the more powerful and more expensive rides out there on the road. It’s a seriously cool looking motorcycle. The styling of the bike is all class, Benelli has given it an expensive look without the price tag. Any learner or licensed rider would be happy to park it in front of their local cafe. It screams style – as well as being very functional – but most importantly, it is fun to ride. Being a LAMS bike, I wasn’t expecting it to keep up with the rest, but the parallel-twin engine impressed, possibly because the engine has been designed, developed and built as is, it’s not a higher-capacity…

Matt O’Connell HONDA’S INLINE four looks fantastic when it’s naked, it’s got big header pipes out front and the overall styling is muscular and ready for action. This is more than just a naked ’Blade. There are several riding modes, and I’m impressed by how easy it is to switch between them. A few simple button presses is all it takes, it’s intuitive, no instructions required. To feel the difference between riding modes you need to get the bike up and moving because the power curve is most active in the mid-range and top end, and what a beautiful mid-range it is. The power stays smooth through the rev range, topped off by an intoxicating exhaust note as you reach the red line. The transmission is light and precise –…

Josh Evans IT’S FAST WITH a brilliant roaring triple-cylinder engine. I giggled every time I used the flawless up-and-down quickshifter – it’s the best invention ever. It stops with one finger on the brake lever, and corners like an assassin hunting down sportsbikes. It may be a little slow on the change of direction, but that is a known tall-bike weakness. Simple-to-use electronics and a dash that wipes clean without trapping dust. It’s super comfortable sitting down, especially in the cold and rainy conditions we found ourselves in – I actually think it is one of the most comfortable bikes I’ve ridden. I was surprised by the Tiger’s dirt capabilities, so much better than the Explorer it replaces. It’s hard to fault, but the rear shock felt a bit saggy,…

EACH TIME IT looked like another contender may cause an upset, Ducati’s Panigale V4 S superbike would pull away again, seemingly toying with the opposition just as Casey Stoner had done during his time with the Italian marque. On just about every voting criteria, the Ducati scored strongly and was the only bike to draw a perfect 10 from the judges, not once, but on several occasions. In the areas of performance and technology, the Ducati was given top marks by at least one judge, putting it a step ahead of the opposition from the get-go. The advantage was driven home with a swag of perfect 10s for rider confidence. Five of the eight judges then gave it their vote as Motorcycle of The Year. Attempting to explain what makes…

IN A MARKET crowded with opportunists, Taiwanese manufacturer KYMCO stands out as a player whose plans include serious provisions for the batteries powering its electric scooter range. It’s called ‘Ionex’ and looks like fixing just about all of the problems associated with these scooters. You know how you don’t refill your barbecue gas bottles any more, but just swap an empty for a full one? That’s part of the Ionex concept; but imagine if your barbecue had a gas reserve, so even if you emptied a cylinder you could still continue to cook? That’s part of Ionex’s model too – and there’s more. It’s really simple – but it’s going to take a considerable amount of investment. The idea involves building charging stations all over the place, where riders can…

‘TWO-UP’ AND ‘enduro’ do not normally go together, however a stick in the radiator, 150km still to ride and the support vehicle some four hours away for a tow, it seemed the only option. At first, I was scared, but an adjustment to the electronic suspension to match the additional weight and the bike was plush. And 10 minutes in I was actually starting to have fun. As we fuelled in town the more adventurous riders were being led out by Miles to what he’d named the Convict Track due to its cobble stones and difficult nature. With a mischievous smirk, an approving nod we were on the chase. Wet clay, rocky sections, dried creek crossings and a slippery log bridge I’d not actually managed to cross on my own……

Bathurst race fans received a star-attraction bonus at Easter 1980. Gregg Hansford, rated the number-five rider in the world by prestigious yearbook Motocourse, raced on the Mountain – while his peers were at England’s Trans-Atlantic Match Race meetings or France’s Circuit Paul Ricard for the Moto Journal 200km. Hansford was a few days short of his 28th birthday and Australia’s most successful rider in terms of world championship grand prix victories. He had won 10 world championship GPs and four world Formula 750 championship races in the previous two and a half years. At that stage, he was the only Australian with a double-figure GP victory tally. New Zealand’s Ginger Molloy was the only other racer to compete on two wheels at Bathurst with a world championship GP victory already…

Round One Phillip Island, Vic Result 1-4-4 Championship position 3rd “When the drops of rain came, in my eyes it didn’t matter, I was going to the front no matter what. I knew I needed to come out on top to show my competitors that I was going to fight. And battling with Troy [Bayliss] for the first time, it was the most memorable win of the year.” Round Two Wakefield Park, NSW Result 2-1 (Round winner) Championship position 1st Championship lead 10pts “Qualifying was epic – it was a real mental win for me. I was lucky enough to get in behind Wayne on the last lap of qualifying and I can tell you it was the most risks I’ve taken in 57 seconds of my life! I did…

Round One Phillip Island, Vic Result 2-2-2 Championship position 2nd Round Two Wakefield park, NSW Result Pole-1-1 Championship position 2nd Round Three The Bend, SA Result Pole-1-1-1 Championship position 1st Round Four Hidden valley, NT Result Pole-1-1 Championship position 1st Round Five Morgan Park, Qld Result Pole-1-1 Championship position 1st Round Six Winton, Vic Result Pole-2-1 Championship position 1st Round Seven Phillip Island, Vic Result Pole-1-DNF Championship position 1st 53-point advantage…

UNLESS YOU INTEND to stay a month or more on the other side of the Pacific you’ll never justify the return shipping charge for your own bike. And while bike rental is twice as expensive as car, BC Cycle in Vancouver wi put you on a BMW R 1200 GS, a Yamaha FJR1300, a Suzuk V-Strom or a Honda CB500 – depending on your preferenc and budget. Or, if you wish a ‘all American experience’ Eagle Rider will provide a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide, an Indian Scout or a three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot. All you need is your Passport, your Australian rider’s licence and an eTA (electronic travel authorisation), which costs $7.50. Fix it Given the popularity of motorcycling in BC there are numerous bike shops in Vancouver, Jasper, Banff and Kamloops.…

Top 3 TV 1 WSBK Relive Classics Videopass On demand Anytime World SBK is over for another season, but for those who just cant get enough of the action, subscribers to Videopass can watch Classic Superbike Races dating all the way back to 1999 whenever they want. 2 H-Dtv 7plus On demand Anytime 7plus has all the episodes from seasons 4 and 5 of Australia's only dedicated Harley-Davidson TV series. H-Dtv claims to be a lifestyle show like no other, featuring entertaining and original Harley-Davidson content from Australia and New Zealand. 3 Follow Me Red Bull TV On demand Anytime FMX rider Tom Pagès and drone pilot Thomas Panaiva get together to create a film in an undisclosed location that puts the viewer right in the heart of the action.…

I’VE ENDED MY first season in the premier class of Australian road racing and what a roller-coaster ride it was. We started the ASBK season off at Phillip Island qualifying in 23rd place and turned it all around by finishing the last race of the season back at Phillip Island in fourth place! I have to give huge thanks to the NextGen Motorsports team for sticking by me through the low points this year, and also helping me celebrate the achievements. Stepping up to the Superbike class was definitely a lot more challenging than I had expected, but all the hard work was well worth it to finish inside the top five at the final round. I still have a lot to improve on in myself to make the next…

THE LAST YEAR of the original Honda CBR600RR was, ironically enough, probably the very best since the class replaced 250s in 2010; certainly, it was the closest. There were just seven points in it at the end, between winner Pecco Bagnaia and runner-up Miguel Oliveira. In a year of seven different race winners on three different types of chassis, Bagnaia on the SKY VR46 Kalex was the classiest act and tied up the title with a race to spare, with eight wins to Oliveira’s three. The Red Bull KTM rider, Portugal’s first star, had more podium finishes but Bagnaia was equally consistent in scoring every round, and when he faltered, it wasn’t usually through any fault of his own. The decisive moment was their hand-to-hand combat at the Red Bull…

AT THE CONCLUSION of 2017 Cru Halliday was ready to step back from racing due to the enormous cost of supporting a privateer Superbike effort. The Yamaha Racing Team offered him a factory backed lifeline to campaign the new YZF-R6 in 2018 and Halliday didn’t disappoint. Eleven race wins and six pole positions later, there was no doubt Halliday had carried out everything asked of him and more. He was the class of the field against some very impressive young talent who had to do their best against the impenetrable Yamaha of Halliday. One of those was Cube Racing rider and championship runner-up, Tom Toparis. He remarked that while it was tough going chasing Halliday, ultimately the experience will make him a better rider as he slashed over a second…

ARGUABLY THE BEST entertainment of the weekend, Tom Bramich (Supersport 300 Champ), Hunter Ford (R3 Cup winner) and Zac Levy – all seasoned competitors from the Blu Cru Yamaha team – dominated the championship. A number of riders had breakout performances, with Seth Crump (#57) stealing the spotlight, winning several races on his KTM RC390 and looking comfortable at the front. Max Stauffer impressed by winning races at Winton and Tayla Relph (#28) finally broke through for her first podium at the final round. Harry Khouri established himself as a front runner early in the year and Oli Bayliss figured strongly at every round. Queenslander Locky Taylor showed a step up in pace this year, winning several races and becoming a legitimate title contender. With the lead group up to…

Superbike AT 23 ARTHUR Sissis could be considered a journeyman, having moved from Moto3 to BSB before switching back to Speedway. In his first year in ASBK he raced a near-stock Suzuki until taking up the offer to switch to Honda machinery prepared by the Penrite team. He finished 10th overall. Supersport MAX CROKER stepped up from 300s to a Mat Mladin Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 and scored several podiums before breaking through for victory at Winton. He made a remarkable recovery from a broken collarbone (in four places) in round one at Phillip Island. He was back at Wakefield Park a few weeks later. Supersport 300 AT THE BEGINNING of the year nobody had heard of Harry Khouri, but by the end he was the fastest newcomer in the Supersport…

Sad to see you go Michael Blair was forced to retire due to injuries sustained during a high-speed crash at Phillip Island in 2014, leaving him with permanent damage to his wrist. Having won a race in the 2017 MotoGP supports, it was bad news for the Central Coast privateer, who had really started to find confidence. Qualifier of the Year There were two riders in contention but the stand out was Supersport star Cru Halliday from the Yamaha Racing Team. Halliday took pole at every round except the opener at Phillip Island. Incredible dominance and focus all year – but stay tuned; word is he will once again join the Superbike ranks in 2019. Special mention to Troy Herfoss who picked up three pole position awards in the Superbike…