Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 66 Issue 14 i Australian Motorcycle News

Letter of the issue The nod is alive and well I had a few things to do today... so I hopped on the bike. The day was too glorious to NOT be on the road somewhere. Going anywhere. I wasn’t the only one feeling it today. I found myself in good company with plenty of opportunity to practice the ‘nod’. Now, I’m not real good at it yet. I still tend to give the farmer nod – throw your head back as vigorously and as far as you can. Chin up, enthusiastic, but all casual like. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about. You can take the girl off the farm but not the farm out of the girl so to speak. Anyway, what you want is the…

I’ve got a confession to make. I’m guilty of thinking negative thoughts about other motorcyclists. We’re all part of the brethren right? Wrong. When I see someone rolling past the café strip on a retro bike, sporting vintage designer gear, full sleeves, and an open-face helmet that shows off impossibly perfect facial hair, I immediately assume they’re a poser. Now wait just a minute before you crucify me for being an elitist. When my obsession with two wheels took hold, the market for modern classics was confined almost exclusively to those who wanted a bike from their youth but were no longer able to find it in reasonable nick, or for a fair price. The ‘old is new’ cool theme was there, it just wasn’t as mainstream as it is…

The Street Cup’s strengths are indeed centered around real roads racing FOR THE WEST-COAST return leg we jumped aboard the Street Cup. While it has the same powerplant as the T100, it is worlds apart in terms of feel, application and even perceived performance. Weighing in at 200kg dry, it uses a combination of parts from Triumph’s modern classic family to offer café racer geometry and deliver a riding experience to match the styling. The bike benefits from the more compact and rigid frame of Triumph’s 2016 Street Twin, along with longer rear shocks, Thruxton-style rearsets, and dropped ‘Ace’-style ’bars. Despite this blend of components, it was refreshing to discover that commuting abilities hadn’t been overlooked either. When we first rode the Street Cup to escape from Hobart’s congested CBD,…

MotoGP has been a mostly clean-living sport for a good decade or two. As 1970s US champion and notorious hell-raiser Gary Nixon said shortly before his death in 2011, “Man, these guys are going too fast to party!” Indeed, today’s MotoGP paddock is very like most working environments: everyone going about their business in a sober, professional way. Things were different in Nixon’s day. Back then the paddock was mostly populated by wild men running away from the nine-to-five as fast as they could go and living their lives like an adventure. Now there is only one surviving member of this old-school breed. And the last of the species is easy enough to find – just look for the clouds of tobacco smoke, the blackout shades and the mess of…

“A PRETTY BLOODY epic journey,” is how Toby Price’s mate Johnny McLean describes the series of tragic and triumphant events that led to the Australian off-road legend claiming his historic victory in the world’s most dangerous race just one year ago. The comment comes 31 minutes into a 38-minute documentary on the bloke’s road to 2016 Dakar Rally glory, and he’s dead right. It’s called Paying the Price, narrated by Aussie ex-F1 star Mark Webber, and provides a genuine insight into the personal tragedy and emotional turmoil Price had to overcome to get himself on the top step of the coveted off-road rally podium. It starts from his first ride on his big brother’s Honda when he was two-and-a-half years old and follows the twists, turns and tragedies the likeable…

’TWAS THE NIGHT before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Then a rat-tat-tat at the door disrupted my Christmas Eve sleep on the lounge. Was it Saint Nic? No, it was the Toll Express dude acting on his behalf and delivering one last package before he buggered off for a well-earned break. The parcel contained a veritable treasure trove of bits from the Sol Invictus accessories catalogue that will allow us to start the conversion of our Nemesis long-termer. It was proof that Santa is a hipster at heart, and his beard is more about fashion than warmth. Our Nemesis has proven to be a great little run-around, and despite being ridden with the throttle at the stopper almost everywhere, the…

PLUS Enviro-touring Sir Alan takes Zero's electric adventure bike bush, to a place far from power-points The beautiful bike that almost killed Bimota The Italian firm's two-stroke was set to revolutionise. But it turned on its creator instead One-on-one with double WSBK champ Jonathan Rea Kawasaki's super-fast Ulsterman is on course to become the first to score a hat-trick of WSBK titles NEW RELEASE FIRST RIDE HELLO MOTO Youngy hits the road to test CFMoto's two-pronged assault on the LAMS Market, the NK400 and NK650…

KEN ROCZEN (HRC) stamped his authority on the opening rounds of the AMA Supercross season in Anaheim and San Diego with back-to-back victories on his new CRF450. The reigning 450SX class champion, Ryan Dungey (Red Bull KTM), ended up settling for a pair of runner-up positions despite taking the holeshot in Round 2 and threatening Roczen in the final stages. Dungey’s teamate Marvin Musquin scored two third-place finishes, and made an impressive recovery at Petco Park after running off track on the opening lap. Chad Reed tangled with hard man Weston Peick one too many times in Round 1 and damaged his water pump before bowing out with a solitary point. He bounced back in San Diego to take ninth. Fellow Aussie Joel Newton lined up on his Factory backed…

MITCH LEVY ANNOUNCED last Sunday that he will make the leap up from the Supersport class to the Superbike category in this year’s ASBK. Levy will campaign the seven-round series on his ATR Yamaha YZF-R1 with support from YRD (Yamaha Racing Development) and Team Manager Sam Costanzo from Landbridge Transport. “I know it’s not going to be an easy year as there are a lot of fast riders who are lining up on the grid. However, I believe if we do enough testing and stay calm on the bike, we should do alright,” Levy said. The 22-year-old has admitted that the hardest thing to come to grips with will be learning to get the most out of his 1000cc bike without destroying the tyres in the early stages of the…

THE HARTWELL MOTORCYCLE Club was formed in 1931 and has grown to become one of Australia’s strongest road racing clubs. Based in Bayswater, Victoria, it has around 500 active club members Australia wide. Hartwell MCC prides itself on running professional and efficient race meetings with a friendly and nurturing atmosphere for people of all age groups and all backgrounds. In 2017, Hartwell’s Club Racing Series will be run over five rounds and take riders to the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, McNamara Park in Mount Gambier (SA) and the newly surfaced circuit at Winton Motor Raceway (Vic). Classes will be available for all levels of riders and motorcycles, as well as sidecars. If you have a bike and have ever entertained the idea of road racing, there’s a class and…

Tell us about your Aussie memories... Australia is one of my favourite places: it’s where I first rode the (HRC) 250 and 500 together at the old Surfers Paradise racetrack. One of my last really good races was at Phillip Island in ’89 – one my ex-teammate Wayne (Gardner) ended up winning. I was catching the lead group and with three laps to go I got a little bit impatient going into Lukey Heights and the front tucked. I was catching it on my knee every lap before and I didn’t catch it and went down. For sure it was the last really great grand prix I had a chance to do well in. What’s your fondest racing memory? Without a question, the battles with Kenny (Roberts) because we were…

AMCN SOURCES IN Japan have let slip there’s an all-new CB1000R supernaked in the wings, set for a late 2017 launch to join the Japanese ranks as a 2018 model. According to our sources, the new nakedbike will be powered by an engine similar to that in the latest generation Fireblade and, in the face of competition like Yamaha’s R1-based MT-10, KTM’s 1290 Super Duke R and Aprilia’s Tuono V4 1100, the latest motor has the performance to put Honda on a par with its rivals while still meeting all the latest emissions limits. In terms of appearance, we’re told the styling comes from Honda’s Italian R&D arm, which has shown its worth with the CB4 Concept (revealed back in 2015) as well as last year’s CB1100TR concept. The computer-generated…

AMCN CAN REVEAL that Phillip Island has taken delivery of 24 grand prix world championship motorcycles which will form a rare and permanent collection in the History of Motorsport Display at the Phillip Island Visitor Centre. Sourced from private owners, the collection is made up of 15 Aprilia-branded machines as well as nine Cagiva models. Each and every example experienced world championship success in the 14 years from 1987 to 2000. Ridden by the sport’s greats such as Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi, Max Biaggi, Eddie Lawson and John Kocinski, the machines have amassed a total of 53 wins and 165 podiums on their way to multiple world championship titles. “This is a significant collection of world championship- and race-winning bikes, ridden by some of the leading riders of the last…

2012 Honda VTR250 The Honda VTR was released as a naked, learner-legal bike to the Australian market in 1997. Apart from an instrument panel update to add a tacho in 2003, and a transmission change from six down to five speeds, the carburetted model continued virtually unchanged until it received electronic fuel-injection in 2009. The EFI version was produced from 2009-2012 and, despite being discontinued, remains sought after as a fuel-efficient and reliable LAMS model that offers predictable handling for new riders. What it’s got The Honda VTR250 is powered by a liquid-cooled, 249cc, 90° V-twin, fuel-injected four-stroke engine with four valves per cylinder. Power runs through a five-speed constant-mesh gearbox. The front suspension is a 41mm telescopic fork with 117mm of travel. The rear swingarm has a monoshock with…

The whisky sipping pace evaporated as soon as we left the driveway IN A SOBERING but welcome start to the Bonneville T100 launch, participants were invited to sample a few holes on the majestic Barnbougle golf course in Tasmania’s north before commencing the first leg to St Helens. And the humiliation from this endeavour had just about worn by the time we regrouped in the carpark and inspected the T100s that we’d be riding south from Bridport along the east coast. Despite the bike’s vintage appearance and the relaxing surrounds, the whisky sipping pace evaporated as soon as we cleared the driveway and it rapidly became clear that this new Bonnie is a vast improvement on its predecessor. The 2017 T100 may be a smaller version of last year’s new…

Triumph’s attention to detail can only be described as top notch Pipeburners Twin-skin chrome or matte black headers feed classically styled peashooters on the Bonnie, while the Street Cup gets brushed units with twin megaphones Rear End The Street Cup uses a longer rear shock than the Bonneville T100 to increase rear ride height, and distribute more weight to the front end Fork’n Ell Both the Bonnie and Street Cup use a non-adjustable cartridge-style 41mm Kayaba fork this year, albeit clad in different protective covering Juice boxes Multipoint sequential EFI has allowed the Bonnie to run with a smaller 14.5-litre tank; the Street Cup holds 12 litres. Both have a real-world range of 230km+…

The new Multistrada 950 undercuts the more potent 1200 model by more than five grand Looking back, this bike was inevitable. The story started in 2003, when Pierre Terblanche conceived the Multistrada for Ducati as an innovative blend of supermoto, street enduro and sports tourer powered by an air-cooled 1000DS desmodue engine. This was followed two years later by a 620cc junior version that was a good seller for the Italian firm, being more accessible and quite a bit less expensive. But in 2010 Ducati completely revamped the model as a supersports adventure tourer by launching the Multistrada 1200, powered by the 1198cc liquid-cooled Testastretta 11° eight-valve motor. Since then, almost 50,000 versions have been sold of what has slightly improbably become the Italian manufacturer’s best-selling single model, second only…

The New Zealand-built Britten V1000 shocked the motorcycle world in 1992 with its innovative design. And while it was only eligible to race in niche events, such as Battle of the Twins and BEARS competitions, it made a legend of its creator, John Britten. As well as setting world land-speed records in 1994, it was featured in the New York Guggenheim Museum’s groundbreaking The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition in 1998. Britten’s creation really was performance art. Many people think John Britten built his bike alone. The truth is the charismatic Kiwi free-thinker surrounded himself with like-minded enthusiasts. They were hugely talented and freely donated their time to a project that embraced all aspects of motorcycle building. Once it was ready to ride, the next mission was to find people…

Aero-d-Zero This was a Ducati-powered special built by Mike Brosnan, with John Britten making the bodywork and the swingarm. Aero-D-One This bike featured a speedway-based, air-cooled Denco V-twin engine, a monocoque-type frame, White Power suspension and Marvic wheels. Precursor A clean-sheet design employing Britten’s own fuel-injected, 60o liquid-cooled V-twin engine and GP-spec suspension and brakes. In what would be a typical Britten modus operandi, the all-new bike was finished just in time for the annual BEARS Sound of Thunder meeting in 1989. Over at Daytona, Gary Goodfellow led the pack into the first corner in the annual Battle of the Twins race, out-accelerating factory-supported Ducatis. Then the bike’s ignition cut out. Back in New Zealand, John established Britten Motorcycles and the team built a second Precursor. The two bikes travelled…

Man and machine: two Kiwi legends head to Phillip Island 1 Hear and see the Britten V-1000! IN WHAT IS truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, attendees at this year’s AMCN Island Classic will be able to see and hear the New Zealand-built Britten V1000 racebike being ridden by none other than the bike’s winningest rider, Andrew Stroud. The nine-time New Zealand champ retired from racing in 2013, but not before racing three 24-hour world endurance events, four Suzuka 8 Hours events, no less than 41 World Superbike races, 20 500cc grand prix races and even one crack at the Isle of Man TT. Only 10 V1000 machines were ever built, and the bike which will attend the Phillip Island event is the very one which Stroud rode to victory in the…

It’s hard not to tap into the Speed Triple’s hooligan character, at least a bit ALTHOUGH THE TRIUMPH Speed Triple commenced life in 1994 as a conventional café racer, by 1997 the model had undergone a significant identity change – to factory streetfighter. Powered by a gutsy, exposed 885cc three-cylinder powerplant, with an aggressive stance and quirky bug-eye headlights, it resembled home-built British ‘courier-specials’. Here we’ll review the 2005-10 Speed Triple models that retained the styling attitude of the 1997 model while boasting seriously boosted performance thanks to the 94.9kW fuel-injected 1050cc engine. Its uniformly black alloy engine, frame and swingarm present as a monolithic chunk of heavy-duty machinery. Splashes of bright colour on the tank, front guard and seat cowl, along with the gleam from mufflers set high under…

THE LATEST GOPRO Session has arrived at Gassit HQ – just in time for a couple of bike launches. The new Hero 5 Session is Go Pro’s latest addition to its mini-camera line-up. The little cube-shaped cam shoots stabilised 4K video with a selection of wide angles, and can be controlled via button, smartphone or voice command. It’s also waterproof without the need for a case. Early indications are that this camera is a huge step up from the Hero4 Session, but you are paying extra for the increase in quality. To help us obtain some eye-catching camera angles, GoPro has also provided us with a new Pro Handlebar mount which uses an Allen Key locking system to ensure we don’t lose our cam. The camera and the mount will…

Grom Gear Goodies Kenma Australia From 449 1800 251 145 kenma.com.au The versatile Ventura Aerodynamic Bike-Pack is now available for the Honda Grom MSX125. Fitted with L-brackets, the bike can accommodate a range of luggage options via the Astro Top-Box, Sport-Rack, Pack-Rack or Grab-Handle. Capacities range from a 10L Sport-Pack to 102L with two Aero-Spadas zipped together. Keeping it Cool Rad Guard Australia From $145 (02) 6658 0060 radguard.com.au Rad Guard has developed new radiator and oil cooler guards for the Yamaha MT-10. The guards can be purchased separately or as a set, and are designed to prevent damage from rocks and other road debris without interfering with airflow. Like all Rad Guard products, they are tough and easy to fit. Ramp it Up A1AccessoryImports $169.95 (07) 3451 1300 a1accessory.com.au…

SAM MASTERS WON his first Australian Speedway Solo Championship with a come-from-behind effort in the 2017 four-round series. The leader going in to the final round was Justin Sedgmen, and he also finsihed on the rostrum, with Dave Watt third and Troy Batchelor fourth. Without Australia’s two Speedway Grand Prix regulars again this year, a close battle was expected. And it ensued, with fortunes fluctuating right to the end. There was often little between the main contenders and although some riders could point to setbacks, the final outcome was probably fair on those who made the most of their opportunities, most often. Nine riders in the line-up took all the berths in the B and A Finals over the four rounds, but no rider appeared in all A Finals and…

EIGHTEEN MONTHS AFTER AMCN revealed that Triumph was planning to replace its Street Triple with a range of near-800cc machines, the British firm has done exactly that. The new line sees the bike upped from 675cc to 765cc thanks to a 1mm increase in stroke and a 4mm wider bore, with a new crankshaft and pistons. For 2017, the Street Triple R gets 86kW from its 765cc engine, up from 78kW last year. And above it in the range sits a new Street Triple RS with 90.5kW, again from a 765cc powerplant. While the new bikes look familiar, and indeed have much the same chassis as before, there’s a new swingarm and reworked styling that includes new lights, side panels and a revised tail, as well as a new bellypan…

THE FUTURE LOOKS bright for the new motorcycle market in Australia after it posted the fifth-highest sales result in the industry’s history in the 2016 calendar year – the strongest since 2009. The 114,783 new motorcycles, scooters and ATVs sold last year represents a 6.6 per cent increase over the 107,710 units sold in 2015. The 2016 result was undoubtedly helped by the burgeoning ATV and side-by-side segment, which grew 14.4 per cent over the same period last year. Four-wheeled machinery made up almost 20 per cent (or 22,834 units) of total sales. Roadbikes accounted for 41.6 per cent of the market, with 47,753 units sold – an increase of 5.3 per cent over 2015. And Harley-Davidson can lay claim to having Australia’s most popular range of roadbikes. The American…

THE HANDLEBAR-MOUNTED dials we once referred to as gauges are these days going by the name of the Integrated Connectivity Cluster – at least in the hallways of both Bosch, who developed it, and KTM, the first brand to nab it as OEM fitment. The instrument cluster as well as Bosch’s all-new Lean Connectivity Unit enabled the German tech company to collect a trio of gongs in the Innovation Awards ahead of CES 2017 in Las Vegas earlier this month. The Integrated Connectivity Cluster, which you’ll find on KTM’s latest 1290 Super Duke R (world launch AMCN Vol 66 No 13) took out the prize in the show’s In-Vehicle Audio and Video category, as well as scoring the runner-up in the Vehicle Intelligence category. It was in the same category…

“For the first time, a racer was sliding a big-bore four-cylinder roadster like a dirt-tracker” Spectacular Sydney rider Max Robinson was in a very strong position to win the inaugural Chesterfield 5000 Superbike series in 1973. But a few months out from the final round, the white-hot Ryde MCC member died. On Friday 31 August, on the way to contest the Marlboro Two-Hour production race at Calder Raceway, his car blew a rear tyre near Glenrowan in northern Victoria. He attempted to correct the slide, but the vehicle left the road and Robinson, 29, sustained fatal head injuries. His wife Janice survived the accident. Pole position for the Calder two-hour was left vacant in his honour, and Ron Toombs, Len Atlee and others wore black armbands. Fellow Ryde member Garry…

The only vehicle I have ‘ridden’ that has the same giggle factor as a bike TECHNICALLY THE POLARIS Slingshot is a trike, you need a bike licence and a helmet to ride it, but in reality it is about as far removed from one as you can possibly get. This is a three-wheeled sportscar that’s shorter than a Mazda MX-5 yet with a front end the same width as a Lamborghini Aventador and a rear wheel driven by a 2.4-litre car engine. What happens when you have supercar front-end grip levels and a single rear wheel trying to deal with all this power? Powerslides – and plenty of them! Pictures simply don’t do the Slingshot justice. In the flesh it is insanely styled and everywhere you go people stop, stare…

THE FOUR-DAY Tasmanian Tourist Trophy was a bold test for these latest additions to the Bonneville family, and left no doubts about Triumph’s faith in the performance and handling of its new modern classics. The route was a veritable paradise for the group of 10 motley bike testers who bribed, blagged and begged their way to an invite, with several stages that have all graced the world-famous Targa Tasmania rally at one time or another. By lunchtime of Day 1 the Bonnie’s low-set ’pegs had been ground down on the pine-fringed sweepers of Derby. The remaining trip through Waratah Creek Reserve comprised a series of steep mountain climbs and tight, technical switchbacks to Binalong Bay, a few clicks south of St Helens. That afternoon we passed through Scamander and on…

The market for ‘modern classics’ is a Pandora’s box that was opened by savvy manufacturers with little heed for the complex engineering required to match vintage looks with modern standards of performance. True, the bikes were appreciated by those who knew the backstory, but that kind of loyalty rarely flows on to the next generation. Well, those days are gone now and with these new models, Triumph has reinvigorated the Bonneville legacy with better handling, and more fuel-efficient, performance-oriented modern classics. Triumph could have tried harder to bring the price of this new Bonneville down to make it an easier pill to swallow for those weighing up the choice of a T100 or T120. After all, it comes sans centrestand, pillion grabrail, heated grips, switchable engine modes, twin front disc…

I LIKE WEARING an open-face helmet when riding a cruiser-style bike, but I’ve always been a bit dubious of their effectiveness in an accident. More than once I’ve also been caught in a sudden rainstorm with nothing more than a pair of sunglasses or a gloved hand to shield my face from the pelting rain. You may have spotted me wearing this interesting-looking number from stylish Italian helmet manufacturer Nolan in the AMCN Yearbook (Vol 66 No 12) while testing the Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited. It’s the Nolan N-40 Full, full denoting it’s the full-face version of Nolan’s popular N-40 model. Now, before you rush to your keyboards to fire off a sternly worded letter to the editor, I know I’m wearing an open-face helmet – but that’s the beauty of…

Zero SR 13.0 Z-Force® 75-7R motor 175km range (estimate) 8.9 hours charge time 50kW @ 4000rpm & 144Nm (claimed) 188kg (kerb, claimed) $26,490 (+ ORC) THE IDEA BEHIND having a long-term fleet is to learn more about a motorcycle than a launch or a two-week loan will reveal. And usually it’s the everyday riding that ends up revealing any nasty surprises a bike is hiding. Thankfully, poorly built motorcycles are few are far between these days, and our long-term updates generally revolve around our adventures, or the accessories we fit. But our Zero SR long-termer took me on a journey of understanding that revealed how easily an electric bike fits into everyday modern life, and it’s all thanks to the smartphone. What’s the first thing most of us do when…

With Aussie Dakar hopeful Toby Price out of the running, what was left was a compelling race of luck, weather and determination When Australia’s Toby Price crashed out of the 2017 Dakar Rally and broke his left femur just four days into the two-week event, you could be forgiven for losing interest in what’s classed as the most gruelling off-road race in the world. But with the race favourite out of the running and Mother Nature often dominating proceedings with her unpredictable antics, what unfolded was an intriguing race of anticipation, determination and, on very many occasions, luck. Because not only did Red Bull KTM star Toby Price line up as the race favourite, he lined up as the only rider to have previously won Dakar. So with the 29-year-old…

IN A LAST-MINUTE deal, Josh Brookes has teamed up with Rob Winfield and the Anvil Hire Yamaha Team to campaign the British Superbike Championship in 2017. Brookes enjoyed a sensational BSB season in 2015 with Milwaukee Yamaha, and secured the title with 13 wins to his credit. However, a lackluster season in WSBK on a BMW last year led to an acrimonious split with the Shaun Muir Racing Team, and limited opportunities for 2017. “In one way I’m happy to be back on a Yamaha, it wasn’t the only factor I was focused on but it certainly was a good element to the project that I’m back on a bike that I’ve won on before. It certainly has its advantages and it’s a positive step for me. Knowing what I…

At GILLMAN (4 Jan), Watt beat Sedgmen, Batchelor and Morris in the A Final, after Batchelor headed Tungate, Fricke and Masters in the B Final. Progress points: Watt 17, Sedgmen 17, Morris 14, Batchelor 12, Tungate 10, Masters 10, Fricke 9. At MILDURA (7 Jan), Masters led home Fricke and Watt in the A Final. Sedgmen beat Brady Kurtz, Morris and Batchelor in the B Final, but was then excluded after a first corner fall in the A. Progress points: Watt 32, Sedgmen 29, Masters 26, Fricke 25, Morris 22, Batchelor 20, Brady Kurtz 15. At UNDERA (11 Jan) Sedgmen took the A Final from Masters, Fricke and Batchelor. Fricke had to win the B Final ahead of Holder, with Morris and Brady Kurtz non- finishers. Progress points: Sedgmen 46,…

 WINNING THE MOTOGP World Championship is an ambition that history dictates requires a place in a factory team. “My lifestyle is a lot more chilled, I’ve calmed down a bit and I’m really happy in the place that I’m in” It’s been 34 years since Franco Uncini became the last rider to win the premier class with a privately entered team, Roberto Gallina’s Suzuki squad. But with all the factory contracts tied up until 2019, it will be at least two years before Miller gets the chance to have a crack at one of the prized slots in MotoGP. The primary targets will be Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki, who have shared every world title for the past 40 years. Which is why Miller, who turned 22 earlier this month,…