Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 70 Issue 12 i Australian Motorcycle News

BUT STILL, DESPITE all the horrendous-ness, there were some positive unintended consequences during the world’s crappiest year this century. One of the most memorable MotoGP seasons ever, which on top of the every year since 2013, is absolutely amazing. Some impressive new bikes have popped out, too, as you will see in our Motorcycle of the Year feature. The hibernation inflicted on the world has bred some ‘make-do’ spirit, too, and I can’t help but wonder if the progeny of smart engineers being locked up and bored might sprout some ideas that may never have come to fruition back when life was easier. Some impressive new bikes have popped out in , too A feature of American motorcycle building folklore were the harsh winters, during which frustrated, snow-bound motorcycle riders…

1994 WAS THE ‘Year of the Dog’, according to the Chinese Zodiac and ‘International Year of the Family’ by the United Nations. Many people regard their dogs as part of the family so, same/same. Family was definitely on OJ Simpson’s mind when he and a mate led Police on a slow speed chase in his white Ford Bronco because he didn’t want to chat with the coppers about an alleged mishap with his missus. On a lighter note, Woodstock ’94 kicked hoping to capture the energy of 1969 event on its 25th anniversary. Maybe the POTUS, Bill Clinton attended and felt the love, even though he didn’t inhale. Brazilian Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna died in the San Marino Grand prix, and, because you need useless trivia, Heather Whitestone was…

125Nm of torque at 8750rpm. Compared to the old V-twin, that peak power figure is up by 7.5kW and, like the torque, higher up in the rev range. Peak torque, however, is down from 131Nm to 125. Now, like me, you might be thinking the V4 must be heavier and larger than the twin, but it isn’t. In fact, the new V4 engine is 1.2kg lighter than the previous twin-cylinder; 8.5cm shorter, 9.5cm lower and only 2cm wider. The V4 now sits higher in the chassis, which gives the new Multi 220mm of ground clearance, 46mm more than before. But it’s not just an adapted, conventional V4 engine, because the Multi has the very latest cutting-edge technology. For the first time on a production motorcycle, the Multistrada is equipped with…

THERE ARE FOUR modes to choose from, which can be changed on the fly: Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro. Sport is full power, has a sporty ride, and deploys low levels of rider aids. Touring is still full power but has a less direct throttle, with rider aids increased, ABS is on 3, which controls rear wheel lift, and on the S model suspension is set for comfort. Urban sees power reduced to 85.75kw, suspension set to take on speed humps, and rider aids set higher. Enduro power is reduced to 85.75kW, with off-road oriented suspension, rider aids reduced, and the ABS set to 1 for low grip surfaces, there’s no rear lift detection, no cornering ABS and no ABS on the rear. Each mode can be altered and tailored,…

Covid or no Covid, this bit doesn’t change BUILD QUALITY It’s gotta be built well to earn this crown INNOVATION Is it advancing development, or responding cleverly to the market? DESIGN BRIEF Does it deliver to the rider what it promises it’ll do on the tin? RELEVANCE OF FEATURES Is it useful, or tech for tech’s sake? VALUE FOR MONEY Remembering that an expensive bike can still represent top value and vice versa important aspects of a modern motorcycle, but in MOTY terms we also do this to compare a cruiser with an Adventure bike with a sportsbike and so on.…

Ever since Aprilia displayed its RS660 concept bike at the 2018 Milan Show, the longed-for production version of this sexy-looking SuperTwin has been top of their wishlist for many riders. Now it’s reached production, seemingly no different than that tantalising first taste of affordable performance combined with designer looks. Its specification and appearance, plus its compact build, herald this as the modern successor to the legendary RS250 ring-a-ding racer-with-lights, so sadly legislated out of existence in 2004. Yet, at somewhere around the $18,500 mark, the RS660 costs less than half the RSV4 Factory it’s derived from, despite its parallel-twin motor being the World Superbike champion’s V4 engine sliced in two. And in real world terms it’s considerably more accessible, while arguably just as thrilling to ride. Even for more experienced…

Take the ridiculously fast and highly acclaimed Ducati Panigale V4 S, remove its bodywork, add some super-aggressive styling and welcome the new Streetfighter V4 S. All 153kW and 178kg of it. This bike has so much grunt it needs upside-down biplane wings to control the power. But there’s more to it than muscle. At low speeds the fuelling is perfect. The gearbox flawless and the Panigale’s engine heat is barely present. In fact, so smooth and easy to ride is the new Streetfighter that with its wings removed and a different badge stuck to the tank, this Italian could be Japanese. Away from town, when it’s time to poke the beast in the eye, it’s a similar story. The revs start to build, but not alarmingly so; the power is…

A supercharged nakedbike with 147kW (197hp) and over 135Nm of torque! Kawasaki was always gonna be on to a winner with the Z H2. In fact, that peak figure is just shy of Kawasaki’s benchmark superbike, the ZX-10R. Not bad for a naked. While every other major manufacturer seems to increase capacity in search of extra power, Kawasaki has opted for a different and highly addictive alternative, a supercharger. Kawasaki’s first supercharged bike, the H2 (and H2R) launched in Qatar back in 2015, was a colossal 150kW statement of intent. That was followed by the H2 SX, a sublimely refined hyper-tourer that brought the supercharged concept into mainstream use. Unsurprisingly, the Z H2 uses the SX’s 69mm diameter ‘balanced’ supercharger impeller to help deliver a huge vat of midrange torque…

The seductive, striking MV Agusta Superveloce 800 is a literally unique blend of old and new, retro and avant-garde. There’s nothing else quite like it in the marketplace, and though it’s not cheap at $32,990 ride away, it comes with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty (and two years’ roadside assist) for a bike that’s sure to get you noticed anywhere you go. Based on MV’s three-cylinder F3 800 platform, the Superveloce design has clean, exquisite lines combining classic references from Ago’s ’60s GP racer with modern styling. Build quality is stellar – it looks like it was handmade by an artisan, rather than on a production line, as it indeed was. Climbing aboard reveals a subtly more welcoming, even comfortable riding position than its F3 Supersport sister’s more extreme stance.…

BMW HAS ALREADY announced the second model in what will be a multi-tiered R 18 range. As well as the First Edition, the R 18 Classic now joins the big-bore cruiser party and adds running boards, leather panniers and a dual seat for that, well, classic cruiser appeal. But if neither of those options are your bag, there’s an enormous variety of genuine accessories you can add to the enormously versatile base platform. Versatile in the fact that the rear subframe can be . easily removed if you’re going for the bobber look and, when it comes to different bars – and there are plenty to choose from – they can be switched out without having to fiddle too much with wiring and hardware. It’s clever forethought, the kind of…

IS IT AS powerful as it’s big brother the 1290 Super Duke R? No, of course not, but it’s no bloody slouch either. We’re so obsessed with mega power figures these days that most of us won’t – or can’t – ever use because of certain laws that mean we’ll go to jail if we do, or we don’t have the talent, or the bravery, required. The 890’s power figure might seem underwhelming to the 2020 supernaked fanatic but its 89kW (121hp) would have been formidable figures not that long ago. See?…

MIR IS ENGAGING, alert and polite in conversation. There is no real ego there. And he has the intelligence to maintain perspective on events. “Pressure? Pressure is what is happening with COVID-19 or with people who can’t pay rent,” he said in Valencia. “He’s one of the most normal people,” noted Pete Benson, Mir’s crew chief in Moto2. “He’s like Franky (Morbidelli, the man Mir replaced) – very easy to get along with. He has a broad knowledge of life and also a good balance. As much as he wants to win races, he also has another side to him, where he has good fun and enjoys himself. He’s just an everyday kind of guy with a special talent.” Sanchez added, “He’s not extravagant. Away from the track he trains.…

SAVE OF THE YEAR In the absence of Marc Marquez, jaw-dropping saves have been few and far between but the save of the year goes to Marc Marquez. The opening round of the MotoGP World Championship was just five laps old. The reigning champ had just picked Maverick Vinales’s pocket for the lead and was desperate to put some air between himself and his countryman. It was turn four when his front tyre screamed no more, and turn four where he left a 40m-long skid mark as he mustered every one of his cat-like reflexes to not only keep his RC213V from washing away from underneath him, but get the thing back to something resembling upright before barrelling into the gravel at a hell of a speed and opening the…

THE 2008 HONDA Gold Wing Luxury had its first service at 1000km with a general checkover plus an engine oil and filter change. At 6000km the crankcase breather was cleaned as well as brake pad and disc wear inspection, but no oil and filter change. The 12,000km service saw new engine oil and filter fitted, as well as inspection of all fuel lines and components, cooling system, reverse gear, brake system, and electronic system. The 18,000km service was a repeat of the 6000km with the air filter getting replaced, plus new brake and clutch fluid. 24,000km was a repeat of the 12,000km procedure but the major at 36,000km included a new air filter, engine oil, filter and coolant, new final drive oil, brake and clutch fluid, plus a full checkover.…

WHAT A FANTASTIC way to finish a crazy year of MotoGP. Jack Miller ends up second in the Portugal race and helps Ducati win the Manufacturers title. Remy Gardner sets pole, then wins the Moto2 race. Both these Aussies have a huge 2021 coming up and they will walk into their respective factory teams with shoulders pushed back and chests puffed out. Confidence is king in all forms of sport. Even in golf, where you can have a disastrous 17 holes then hit par on the 18th and suddenly feel like you can conquer the world! In Jack’s case, his seventh-place finish in the points table certainly doesn’t reflect a year in which he has battled bad luck and a degree of inconsistency. Fortunately he’s come good at just the…

Jack Miller MotoGP 2nd “I’m thinking of what could have been this season. I finished seven points off of third with four DNFs, one I crashed. For sure, a little ticked off about that. I’ve never in my whole career ever been in a team for more than two years. When I arrived here I was a bit of a question mark, let’s say. I feel like we’ve proved a few people wrong and closed a few mouths along the way. Hopefully we can just keep that ball rolling.” Remy Gardner Moto2 1st “I’ve had some tough times over the last few years. The win has always alluded us. But I worked on myself really hard last winter. The team has done an amazing job this year to give me…

THE NORMS OF WorldSSP racing have been remodelled by an almost complete lack of new models in recent years, to the point where if you don’t have a Yamaha you are generally toiling for diminishing rewards. In 2019 you ideally wanted a Bardahl Evan Bros Yamaha, which seemed to be the fastest of the fast and delivered a championship 1-2 finish. In 2020, the lone Bardahl bike, allied to yet another Moto2 refugee in Andrea Locatelli, just smashed all opposition in his wake, from the first race onwards. Only shocking weather and a couple of small late errors prevented Locatelli from a potential complete clean-up. He proved an all-time class act in just one short (long for his opponents) season. Teenage rider Andy Verdoia is the first to admit that…

Jack Miller MotoGP, 7th THERE WAS A bit of a lull midseason, but the 25-year old showed plenty of promise on his way to seventh in the championship. A win eluded him, but five podiums was his highest haul in a premier-class campaign yet, and he was top Ducati in five of the 14 races. It could’ve been even better but for a blown engine at Le Mans and a stray tear-off at Misano 2. Performances at Valencia and Portimao suggest he’ll be a multiple race winner in 2021. Remy Gardner Moto2, 6th This was Remy’s best season to date, by some distance. Gardner wasn’t just fast in 2020, by the season’s second half he was as consistent as anyone, racking up six-straight top-seven finishes. Then there was a maiden…

Jeremy Alcoba: the reigning Junior Moto3 World Champion didn’t make many friends in his rookie season. He was fast, but erratic, paid no heed to penalties handed out mid-race and on more than one occasion he ticked off a more experienced name by being too aggressive with his overtakes, even by Moto3 standards. But even at tracks he didn’t know (Brno, Red Bull Ring), Alcoba was in the mix. He beat talented teenagers Deniz Oncu and Carlos Tatay to the Rookie of the Year prize and his first podium at the final round is a sign of things to come.…

THOUGH MISSING FROM the post-season tests, BMW has announced it will support two single-rider satellite teams for the 2021 WorldSBK season as well as its two-rider factory effort. Eugene Laverty will continue his association with the brand as the rider in the new-look RC Squadra Corse Team, while former MotoGP rider Jonas Folger will make his return to world championship competition in the BMW-backed Bonovo Action squad. “Jonas Folger is the first German to compete in the WorldSBK with a Bavarian motorbike – that is a special combination,” said BMW director Markus Schramm. “ I am also delighted that Eugene Laverty will remain an integral member of our BMW family, applying his talents and his knowledge of BMW superbikes in our satellite team RC Squadra Corse.” Tom Sykes and Michael…

AKUBRA HATS ARE very Australian. They are made in Kempsey and the company has backed a very-Australian motorcycling discipline – dirt track racing – with the Akubra Classic staged at Kempsey’s Greenhill Speedway since 1991. Two things show just how significant the event is; that it has become known simply as ‘The Akubra’, and the honour roll of winners contains a who’s-who of two- and three-wheel dirt track stars. Chris Watson, Paul Caslick, Jamie and Daniel Stauffer, Ken Bisley and more recently Michael Kirkness, Luke Richards, Marty McNamara plus gun locals like Jamie and Jarryd Oram and Michael Booth are among the solo winners. Australian champions abound among the sidecar winners as well with Daryl Woodhead’s wins spread over a remarkable 26 years. In the 2020 staging of the Akubra…

WORTH THE WAIT Exclusive first rides on Yamaha’s slow-birthed Ténéré 700 and Triumph’s Moto2-inspired Street Triple RS. AMCN VOL 69 NO 13 SPORTS-TOURING HEAVEN Plenty of lockdown reading with our Sports Touring issue. A five-bike shootout, lots of advice and the best routes around. AMCN VOL 69 NO 19 OLD SCHOOL RULES Our nine-way retro road shootout is an AMCN reader favourite and we also ride Aprilia’s RS600, the forerunner of a new era of scaled-down Superbikes. AMCN VOL 70 NO 11 BACK LIVE Finally, WorldSBK fires up with Ducati’s Scott Reading storming to the top of the points table ahead of Kawasaki champ Jonathan Rea. AMCN VOL 70 NO 04 COVID COMES CALLING The pandemic starts to hit and we investigate just how fast and hard it would hit.…

MULTISTRADA V4 Weight 215kg, riding modes, cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, daytime running lights, 5-inch TFT clocks. Fully adjustable 50mm USD forks and rear shock. Twin 320mm discs, Brembo four-piston radial calipers, 265mm rear disc with Brembo twin-piston caliper. Available in accessories pack, Enduro, Touring, Urban, Performance and Functionality. Radar not available. MULTISTRADA V4 FROM $28,990 RIDE AWAY MULTISTRADA V4 S Weight 218kg. As above plus cornering lights, hill control, Skyhook suspension, quick-shifter, cruise control, backlit switchgear, 6.5-inch TFT display. Larger 330mm front discs with Brembo M50 Stylema caliper. Keyless ignition standard, choice of spoke or alloy wheels. Choice of Travel, Travel and Radar, Performance and Full trims, and choice of Enduro, Touring, Urban and Performance accessory packs. MULTISTRADA V4 S – TRAVEL PACKAGE FROM $35,990 RIDE AWAY MULTISTRADA…

ENGINE Capacity 1158cc Type 90-degree V-four, DOHC, 16-valves Bore & stroke 83 x 53.5mm Compression ratio 14:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI Transmission Six-speed, with two-way Quickshift Clutch Wet, anti-patter servo Final drive Chain PERFORMANCE Power 125kW @ 10,500rpm (claimed) Torque 125Nm @ 8750rpm (claimed) Top speed Not Given Fuel consumption 6.6L/100km (claimed) ELECTRONICS Type Bosch Rider aids 10.3ME cornering ABS, Wheelie control, Traction Control, Vehicle Hold Control, Skyhook Suspension system, cruise control, Ducati Connect Rider modes Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro CHASSIS Frame material Aluminium Frame type Monocoque Rake 24.5º Trail 102.5mm Wheelbase 1567mm SUSPENSION Type Marzocchi, semi-active Skyhook Suspension, programmable and self-levelling Front: 50mm USD fork, fully-adjustable,…

And what a fine fleet of nominees we took into battle. In no particular order, KTM’s 890 Duke smacked us between the eyes from the moment we swung aboard, BMW’s R 18 is a whole new take on cruisin’ life, Honda joins the fray with a tricked-out Adventure bike in the 1100cc Africa Twin, the aforementioned Ducati V4 S simply couldn’t be ignored and neither could the same marque’s outrageous Superleggera V4. MV Agusta’s delectable Rush and Superveloce mark an incredible year for the brand, while Kawasaki’s Z H2 and BMW F 900 XR herald new found practicality and competency for the pair. As for Aprilia’s radical RS660, a breath of fresh air among a sea of big horsepower releases. And Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 took its legendary Adventure lineage to…

Can you believe it? BMW hasn’t made a true custom cruiser since Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond rode a R 1200 C back in 1997 – yet with the new R 18 the German factory has hit the nail on the head first time around. Stunning to look at, cleverly engineered and clearly inspired by BMW’s early R 32 and R 5 boxers from the 1920s and ’30s, the R 18 works brilliantly. An enormous, 1802cc boxer engine is its magnificent centrepiece. Including gearbox and intake system, it weighs 110.8 unabashed kilograms, while each cylinder has a bore size of 107.1mm, or well over eight inches in old money. As you’d expect from a 1.8 litre air-cooled twin, peak power and torque chime in way down in the rev range, with…

Ducati’s fastest, most powerful and most advanced production bike ever. Just read that again. Ducati’s fastest, most powerful and most advanced production bike ever… This isn’t hyperbole: the 2020 Superleggera V4 is a truly special motorcycle. This showroom bike is lighter than Ducati’s World Superbike-spec V4 while its huge bi-plane wings create more downforce than even the factory’s current GP20 MotoGP machine. In the right hands, on the correct tyres, this roadbike could qualify for WorldSBK (and be ridden home from the track afterwards). Let’s talk numbers. Peak power is 167kW (224hp) in standard road trim, or 274kW (234hp) with the supplied race exhaust, which is only 10bhp or so short of Scott Redding’s factory V4 R. Peak power is at 15,250rpm and peak torque at 11,750rpm but the frictionless…

ONCE I RODE IT, IT WAS ON MY LIST OF FAVOURITE BIKES I’d heard good things about KTM’s 790 Duke but never really factored it into my list of cool bikes, because the coolest bikes have massive horsepower and look like rolling works of art. Once I rode it, it went from ‘not on the radar’ to ‘jostling for a podium’ on my list of favourite bikes. The 890 Duke R is less of a step up in performance than it is another flight of stairs all together. Any short comings the 790 had, and they were few, vanished with the addition of an 890 R badge and an orange frame. The 890 Duke R will strip the bank account of $19,195 ride away, four grand more than the 790.…

DIRT ROADS ARE THE TÉNÉRÉ’S HAPPY PLACE Yamaha whet would-be T7 owners’ appetites with snippets of information drip fed slowly over three long and arduous years. The firm had promised so much from a relatively basic package and it had to deliver. Designed and developed in house at Yamaha Italy by the same crew responsible for the WR450 Dakar contenders, it is easy see where the Ténéré gets its form. Built with quality components like KYB suspension and Brembo brakes to go the distance. Almost unheard of in the current adventure bike segment, the crew decided to cut back on tech – now that’s innovation. We don’t need traction control, active suspension, tubeless wheels or even an adjustable windscreen. Heated grips? Nope. Ride modes? No. Heated seat? Hell no. What…

ENGINE Capacity 1802cc Type Horizontally opposed twin, OHV, eight-valves Bore & stroke 107.1 x 100mm Compression ratio 9.6:1 Cooling Air/oil Fueling EFI, twin 48mm throttle bodies Transmission Six-speed Clutch Dry, single-plate Final drive Shaft PERFORMANCE Power 67kW @ 4750rpm (claimed) Torque 158Nm @ 3000rpm (claimed) Top speed 180km/h (claimed) Fuel consumption 5.6L/100km (claimed) ELECTRONICS Type Bosch ECU Rider aids Traction control, ABS Rider modes Rock, Roll and Rain, CHASSIS Frame material Tubular steel Frame type Twin loop Rake 32.7º Trail 150mm Wheelbase 1731mm SUSPENSION Type BMW Front: 49mm fork, non-adjustable, 120mm travel Rear: cantilever shock, nonadjustable, 90mm travel WHEELS & BRAKES Wheels Wire spoked Front: 19 x…

ENGINE Capacity 890cc Type Parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves Bore & stroke 90.7 x 68.8mm Compression ratio 13.5:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling Bosch EFI with RBW Transmission Six-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate, slipper Final drive Chain PERFORMANCE Power 89kW @ 9250rpm Torque 99Nm @ 7750rpm (claimed) Top speed 250km/h (est) Fuel consumption 4.8L/100km (measured) ELECTRONICS Type Bosch Rider aids Cornering ABS, cornering traction control, wheelie control Ride modes Rain, Street, and Sport CHASSIS Frame material Chromium-Molybdenum-Steel Frame type Ladder Rake 24.3 degrees Trail 99.7mm Wheelbase 1482mm SUSPENSION Type WP Front: 43mm USD fork, adjustable compression and rebound damping, 140mm travel Rear: Monoshock, fully adjustable, 150mm travel WHEELS & BRAKES Wheels…

Even when he was closing in on the MotoGP crown, Mir rarely looked flustered. His first – and only – win of the season at the European GP came in a weekend of events which would have caused lesser men to come unstuck. When asked the key to maintaining serenity, he quipped, “Chamomile!” Even those close to him found this startling. “I couldn’t understand,” said Sanchez. “He was fighting for a championship, a one-off opportunity and he was so calm.” Aside from herbal teas, what was his secret? “He has a lot of self-belief,” according to Sanchez. “He trains so hard every day and that gives him a lot of confidence. Every day he’s training like he’s competing. It’s not a party. When you do that every day, you have…

“I’VE ALWAYS HAD A DESIRE TO GET FAT INSTEAD OF BEING A SLAVE TO THE RACING DIET. SO I’LL HAVE A YEAR DOING THAT AND THEN I’LL PROBABLY LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR AND BE DISGUSTED” - Cal Crutchlow “THERE’S NO FEELING LIKE IT, JUST GET THE MULLET FLAPPING IN THE BREEZE... IT MAKES YOU FEEL FREE” - Toby Price “THE DECISION TO PRINT THE SUSIE POSTER REALLY IS A SHOCKER. YES, WE DO LIVE IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES BUT THE NAME OF THE GAME IS SOLIDARITY, NOT DIVISIVENESS” – Peter Dyer, Barwon Heads, Vic “HE HAD TO LEAVE HONDA AS A LOSER. IF HE CAME BACK AND WON ONLY ONE RACE, HE COULD RETIRE WITH A CLEAR CONSCIOUS” – Who needs enemies when you’ve got a dad who says…

REALLY, THERE IS absolutely no need to go searching for aftermarket parts for a Gold Wing Luxury. It has everything from a stereo, Sat-Nav, more storage space than many car boots, cruise control, heated grips, heated seats, CB radio, electronic suspension, reverse gear, foot-warming vents, remote locking panniers – the list just keeps going. It would be nice to have a bigger tank size than 25L though, as 220km is about all you’ll get if you’re doing anything above low speed touring.…

1 KTM 690 DUKE R  A perfect example of having to be more things to more people, the once aggressively styled motard is these days a user friendly package with a far wider appeal. On paper, the current Austrian-built 690 Duke R and the 2010 model are very similar — similar weight, capacity and dimensions but ride them back to back and they’re two very different beasts. Not least because the 2010 R-version of what was then a hugely niche segment was very much a dirtbike with high-end road-going running gear. These days it’s a well-mannered nakedbike. 2 HONDA CBR250RR  This applies to any of the inline four-cylinder 250cc sportsbikes of days gone by. Sure, the current parallel-twin CB300R will offer you things like switchable engine maps, ABS and a…

WELL, WE MADE IT. No thanks to Covid-19. A kind of full GP season, that overcame threats of further cancellations all the way to the hastily replanned November conclusion. And – maybe thanks to Covid-19 – it was a season of rare fascination. The year the big beasts bit the dust. Literally for Marc Marquez, who took Honda down with him after his horrible Jerez crash. No one would wish it on him, but boy, wasn’t it compelling without him? The unexpected came in battalions, and the preconceptions did a big face-plant. Yamaha didn’t need a big crash or bad luck. It managed it internally. Its latest factory bike more often hampered than helped Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales; and while it looked for a while as though Fabio Quartararo…

Circuit length 5.077km Race distance MotoGP 114.800km Moto2 105.616km Moto3 96.432km Nothing Lite about 2020 The 2020 MotoGP season will be remembered for lots of reasons but maybe it should go down as The Year of the Satellite Team. Yes, factory riders finished first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth in the final points but satellite team riders took victory in eight of the 14 races. Petronas Yamaha SRT won six races to the Yamaha factory team’s one and Tech3 won twice to the KTM factory team’s single win. As if to underline how strong the satellite teams were Portimao featured an all-satellite podium of Miguel Oliveira, Jack Miller and Franky Morbidelli. In fact that has not happened since Qatar 2004, when Movistar Honda scored a 1-2 with Sete Gibernau and…

ALBERT ARENAS WON the Moto3 title for Aspar KTM but it was a nervous final few laps for the long-time points leader. His mission was clear; finish either first or second and he’d be champion. From sixth on the grid, a place behind chief rival Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia), eight points back, that seemed likely, especially as Tony Arbolino (Snipers Honda), 11 points behind, botched his qualifying, forcing a start from 27th and row nine. In some ways, his job was made easier when polesitter Raul Fernandez (Ajo KTM) hit the front early and began dictating the pace. No one could even get close, as the Spaniard started extending his lead by the tune of one second per lap. By lap 10 he was close to 8s clear. The…

Tom Edwards Edwards (Kawasaki ParkinGo Team) had some up and down experiences in WorldSSP300, finishing up 23rd overall. Seventh in the Algarve and eighth at Magny Cours were his two points scoring displays. Tom Bramich Back on a Carl Cox-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki, Tom once again raced in the WorldSSP300 class. Not his best season but there was the highlight of scoring points at the penultimate round in France. Sharni Lee Pinfold Injured before she got a chance to actually race in the penultimate WorldSSP300 round at Magny Cours, Pinfold took her initial practice place inside the Smrz Racing by Blue Garage Kawasaki squad.…

AS HE NEARS the end of his career as a full-time MotoGP rider, Cal Crutchlow managed to land a few verbal blows on Jorge Lorenzo, the man he is replacing as Yamaha’s test rider in 2021. Lorenzo described Yamaha’s decision as “like replacing gold with bronze” when answering fans’ questions on Twitter. Crutchlow replied, “I fully respect him as a racer, five-times world champion. He will tell you a lot he’s five-times world champion, but he’s incredible as a racer and he’s very, very special on the bike. “But that doesn’t mean he’s a great test rider. It’s as simple as that. I think you have to take some things he says with a pinch of salt and get on, so I’m sure it’s affected him more than it’s affected…

Bonanza canned The 2021 Broadford Bike Bonanza has fallen victim to the Covid-19 pandemic for the second year in a row, with Motorcycling Australia announcing the cancellation of the 2021 event. “We are devastated to share this news with you a second time this year after the 2020 event was also cancelled due to Covid-19, the event’s Rachelle Pettifer said. “We will now use this opportunity to plan and forge ahead with a revitalised 2022 Broadford Bike Bonanza, that will undoubtedly be the best in Bonanza history.” The 2021 International Island Classic at Phillip Island has also been canned. KB AORC is go A full 12-round calendar held over six weekends has been announced for the 2021 Australian Off-Road Championship. Kicking off at Nowra for rounds one and two (27-28…

WILLIAM WASLEY HELD off a determined last-corner challenge from defending champion Jay Martin to take out the 2020 Senior Engineering Junior Road Racing State Championship at the Wanneroo International Kart Track last month. Wasley started the round with the slenderest of margins and he extended that with a Race One victory over Martin. The finishing order was reversed in Race Two and whoever won Race Three won the championship. Calvin Moylan finished third in the championship. CLUB ME! Please send your club news to amcn@amcn.com.au and pop Club Sport in the subject line…

Middleweight magic THE MARKETPLACE WILL realign towards middleweight motorcycles. Half a Superbike engine and loaded with race-track-developed tech, Aprilia’s RS660 is the show pony of this new era. Major brands like Yamaha are refreshing their middleweight twins and triples, while Triumph has joined the fray, launching the Trident 660 and a lower-cost introduction to its Tiger 900 range, the Tiger 850. This issue we focus on a flurry of upgrades and new models from other manufacturers cementing their place in the sub-1000cc market. The significance of this shift has already been recognised by racing authorities. The UK’s BSB is widening its Supersport class for 2021 to include twins and triples of varying capacities. WorldSBK is also considering a similar move. Stay tuned for an interesting year. HC Era of new…

Remy on the rise A pole position and race win sets Remy Gardner up for a potentially stellar 2021 Moto2 season as a factory KTM rider – with an option for MotoGP in 2022. Track cash injection The UK Government allocates $11m to motorsport venues affected by Covid restrictions. Should Australia do similar? Roberts rejects Talented American rider Joe Roberts has turned down an offer of an Aprilia factory MotoGP ride despite mentor John Hopkins advising otherwise. H-D closes museum The Covid surge in the US has forced the closure of Harley-Davidson’s Museum in Milwaukee until at least 3 January.…

LOCAL MEDIA IN India is reporting that dealers are considering legal action against H-D to get compensation for its withdrawal. H-D spent a decade trying to establish a market there. Now just a month after withdrawing it has linked with Hero Motor Corp to develop models to be sold under the H-D brand name. “It could go two ways. Unless H-D has a very firm grip on how the brand is used there’s a risk that the name could appear on inappropriate bikes,” says Purvis. “However, if handled well it will bring Harley to prominence in one of the world’s biggest bike markets. Hero is the world’s biggest bike firm by volume and has the production capacity to meet potential demand quickly.” Meanwhile the Milwaukee Business Journal has reported that…

ENGINE Conventional spring operated valves, the 1158cc V4 Granturismo engine delivers 125 kW and 125 Nm. Wide service intervals mean it’s 60,000km before the valves need checking. RADAR A world first, front and rear radar detection, which allows the introduction of Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Sport Detection (BSD). The system has been produced in partnership with Bosch. RIDER AIDS There’s cornering ABS, wheelie control and traction control. The S model gets electronic suspension, cornering lights, daytime running lights, hold control and the quickshifter. DASH The base model gets a five-inch display, the S gains a joystick on the left bar and the screen increases in size to 6.5 inches. With the Ducati Connect system you can convert the dash to mirror your phone. WHEELS Both the stock and S…

DUCATI HAS MADE huge gains in the off-road capabilities of the new Multistrada V4, with the introduction of a larger 19-in front wheel and greater ground clearance than before, along with a specific Enduro riding mode and electronic suspension. To allow us to get a flavour of the new bike’s off-road capabilities, Ducati provided a more off-road oriented model, with spoked wheels, crash protection and off-road biased Pirelli Scorpion Rally rubber. In the specific Enduro mode, the Skyhook suspension is more accommodating to off-road riding, ABS is set to 1, there’s no cornering ABS, no ABS on the rear and no rear wheel lift up prevention, while rider aids are also reduced. I went a little further and turned off the TC. We also re-positioned the standard ’bars a little…

OUR 2020 MOTORCYCLE of the Year celebration couldn’t be run like the usual all-in test, because not all bikes were available thanks to weird Covid-19 conditions. Could we leave out a bike like the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S because a test bike wasn’t available in Australia? That didn’t seem right, especially since we had all the information and expertise we needed in the testers who had ridden and tested these bikes in 2020. The nomination criteria is a bit different, too – if AMCN tested the bike in 2020 prior to the Yearbook, it was eligible. If you saw it in these pages in 2020, we considered it for Motorcycle of the Year, and despite all the disruptions, narrowing down that huge list of AMCN-tested machinery wasn’t easy. Once we…

2020’S MOTY test team is built from the experience and passion required to keep one in this game for so long – and the combined game has indeed been long! Sir Al, Kel and Sam have been testing bikes for AMCN for a combined 80 years! Motorcycle of the Year testing is different to the usual shootout, focussing as it does on how well a bike hits each of those five judging points. So it is not just a seat-of-the-pants test; it’s how the bike fits across a range of riding tasks and design criteria. The riders below form the core of how you have digested your AMCN bike tests in recent years. Here’s how they fit in, their experience and their riding preferences. ALAN CATHCART Age Ageless Height 178cm…

The new-for-2020 F 900 XR is practicality epitomised. A sporty, comfortable and sophisticated do-it-all that has far more personality than its pretentious European accent might initially suggest. Using a bored-out version of the firm’s torquey F 850 GS motor which increases capacity to 895cc, the ‘middleweight’ XR is a far more lively and engaging ride than any road-biased F-model that’s preceded it. Employing longer-stroke suspension than its naked R-model sibling, as well as more relaxed ergonomics and excellent wind protection, the XR is a convincing all-day affair let down only by the 15.5L fuel tank which may force you to stop more frequently than you’d like. In terms of tech, there’s plenty. There’s a two-way quickshifter as standard fitment, switchable ride modes, ABS, traction control, a large, easy-to-read full-colour TFT…

I’d done it again, Adventure biking’s cardinal sin – arrived at something I didn’t see, just a little too fast. Shit. Except, on Honda’s new Africa Twin Adventure Sport, deep in Australia’s heart on what would turn out to be the last local bike launch before Covid hamstrung us, it wasn’t shit. It was, instead, a chance for this bike’s main strength – stability – to shine through and carry me through and over the mess I’d made for myself. This is a design brief element the Honda nails: an Adventure bike that makes life easy during and beyond a mistake on some trail flotsam is worth its weight in gold. That stability comes at the price of outright agility, it is less sporty feeling than the KTM Super Adventure…

IT’S AN ENTICING COMBINATION OF MATCHLESS PERFORMANCE BY NAKEDBIKE STANDARDS The limited-edition 300-off MV Agusta Rush 1000 proves just how true the old cliché is that nothing succeeds like excess. It got the name because a top-level planning meeting of key executives convened in MV Agusta HQ eight weeks before the 2019 EICMA Milan Show to finalise the launch of the Brutale 1000 RR, which degenerated into a what-if discussion on how they could customise that very same bike into a two-wheeled version of a top-fuel dragster. They all liked the result so much they decided to build it, so from there to get the prototype ready for the Show was a big, well, rush! So as a remodelled version of the $52K Brutale 1000 RR, the Rush is a…

APRILIA RS660 ENGINE Capacity 659cc Type Parallel-twin, DOHC, four valves per cylinder Bore & stroke 81 x 63.93mm Compression ratio 13.5:1 Cooling Liquid Fueling EFI, 2 x 48mm throttle bodies Transmission Six-speed Clutch Wet, multi-plate, slipper Final drive Chain PERFORMANCE Power 73.5kW @ 10,500rpm (claimed) Torque 67Nm @ 8500rpm (claimed) Top speed 230km/h (est) Fuel consumption 4.1L/100km (measured) ELECTRONICS Type Not given Rider aids Traction Control (ATC), Wheelie Control (AWC), Engine brake (AEB), Engine map (AEM), cruise control (ACC) up and down quickshifter. Rider modes Road: Commute, Dynamic and Individual. Track: Challenge and Track Attack CHASSIS Frame material Aluminium Frame type Twin spar Rake 24.1º Trail 104.6mm Wheelbase 1370mm…

BMW DREW ITS inspiration from the 1936 BMW R 5. A groundbreaking model by Rudolf Schleicher who designed the bike with a double-cradle frame from racing motorcycles and telescopic forks. The R 5 also boasted a foot-operated gear lever, a first for BMW. It was a 500cc OHV boxer twin with 24hp powering it to a top speed of 135km/h. Styling cues were carried straight over to the R 18 like the engine appearance, frame design, exposed drive shaft, fuel tank shape, headlight and dash cluster. If you choose the optional bobber rear end from BMW you can fit the springer seat and make your R 18 look even more like the original R 5.…

We snuck our Adventure Test between a general travel lock down and Victoria’s much longer one –it was memorable for so many reasons!…

THE GOLD WING’S QUALITY of finish is second to none. Paint is beautifully thick and luminous, and the body panels all seem to line up almost perfectly. The list of options that come with a Luxury ’Wing are as large as the engine, so obvious checks to electronic systems like the Sat-Nav, cruise control, electronic preload, stereo and CB radio need to be carried out because inoperative units of any of these options can prove quite expensive. If the rear is set too soft the ’Wing can easily bottom out on large bumps so check around the exhaust and general undercarriage for marks and wear. The sheer weight on the ’Wing at times can mean the chassis bearings can cop a hammering, so checking swingarm/steering head bearings is on the…

FORTY YEARS AGO, a couple of acquaintances returned to Sydney from Far North Queensland boasting of an off-road ride to Cooktown along the Cairns Regional Electricity Board (CREB) Track. In a classic case of ‘anything you can do we can do better’, a ride to Cape York was on the agenda, motorcycles were acquired and brightly-coloured crash helmets were put on display in the office for weeks prior to departure. It seems ridiculous now, but back then obtaining a motorcycle endorsement on a car licence required no more than a visit to the Motor Registry where, if you could remain upright in the queue for 90 minutes without becoming enraged, you were deemed competent to ride. On ‘the trip to the tip’ no one got seriously injured, the bikes survived…

Merry Christmas Mr Lorenzo As he nears the end of his career as a full-time MotoGP rider, Cal Crutchlow managed to land a few verbal blows on Jorge Lorenzo, the man he is replacing as Yamaha’s test rider in 2021. Lorenzo had described Yamaha’s decision to employ the Briton to lead its European test team in his place as “like replacing gold with bronze” when answering fans’ questions on Twitter. Crutchlow replied, “I fully respect him as a racer, five-times world champion. He will tell you a lot he’s five-times world champion, but he’s incredible as a racer and he’s very, very special on the bike. But that doesn’t mean he’s a great test rider. It’s as simple as that. I think you have to take some things he says…

Remy Gardner making the last round of the Moto2 title extra special for Aussies with a long-awaited win on a sub standard machine made for a positive end to a tough year. While his famous father took to social media to recommend no one follow in their footsteps, it’s simply too hard and too expensive, he did have to acknowledge that win went part way to making it all worth it. The next two years with KTM should be exciting. Billy Van Eerde snapped his femur, which is never going to bode well for results, but up until that point the young Red Bull Rookie was running well overall in two of the loosest, most hotly contested junior race series’ in the world. Jason O’Halloran made it an Aussie British…

DOMESTICALLY MAX FRICKE  stopped the run of seven different champions in seven years when he emphatically made it back-to-back solo crowns, beating Jack Holder, Rohan Tungate and Chris Holder. Jaimon Lidsey had a tougher than expected struggle before winning a third consecutive Under 21 Championship, while Western Australia produced only its third Under 16s 125cc champion in Luke Killeen. South Australian duo Harry Sadler and Ashley Jansen-Batchelor won the Teams event. Sidecars did not get to stage their Australian Championship, nor were national title showdowns staged for track or dirt track racing.…

APRILIA’S SEARCH FOR a replacement for Andrea Iannone bore no fruit as it was denied several of its key targets. Chief among them was Moto2 race winner Marco Bezzecchi, whose Sky Racing VR46 team blocked a possible step up to MotoGP. Then there was Joe Roberts. The Californian was a surprise target after Aprilia identified him as a candidate thanks to his much-improved performances in 2020. The fact Roberts would have become the first American to gain a full-time ride in the premier class since Nicky Hayden in 2015 was another draw. A spokesman for Aprilia said negotiations were “most advanced” with him than any other rider. Aleix Espargaro even went as far as talking him up over the weekend. “Actually, I was in Qatar this year, in the paddock…

Australian Motorcycle News road test photographs are posed for by skilled, professional riders under controlled circumstances. Attempting to imitate their actions may be dangerous. Australian Motorcycle News supports and endorses rider training and wearing protective riding gear. Especially if you are AMCN’s crayon-wielding art director who copped more than a couple of ribbings in the pages of this issue. One or two were justified, but being asked to redesign the cover late Friday night after a long, long week and coming up with the cracker you’ve got in your hands deserves some hefty accolades. It wasn’t all lost, though. Many an awesome cover has been relegated to history without ever seeing the light of day. But not this one – did you spot it?…