Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 72 Issue 17 i Australian Motorcycle News

“THE RAIN HAD GONE, REPLACED BY SUNNY SKIES AND MILES AND MILES OF DRY, TWISTY ROADS” FINALLY! IT seems as though Pete’s rain curse has been lifted. Sure, it was drizzling consistently as we all made our way to the meeting point for AMCN’s upcoming nakedbike shootout, but by 8.30am the rain had all but gone, replaced by sunny skies and miles and miles of dry, twisty roads over three solid days of riding. We had a fabulous line up of bikes for this ride too; the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory, BMW S 1000 R M-Sport, Ducati Streetfighter V2, Kawasaki Ninja H2, KTM 1290 Super Duke R, Suzuki GSX-S1000 and Triumph Speed Triple R. But it just keeps getting better. Our destination was Gingers Creek on the Oxley Highway, which…

CFMOTO’S IMPRESSIVE 450SR sportsbike is about to be joined by a hotted-up version with a single-sided swingarm and improved rider aids. This image from its official type-approval documentation confirms the new swingarm and reveals it adds just 1kg to the weight, now 169kg. Like the base model, it uses CFMoto’s all-new parallel-twin engine, which features a compact design and a 270-degree crankshaft to replicate the firing intervals of a 90-degree V-twin. This adds more character and improved traction compared to conventional 180-degree parallel-twins. Another notable update is the switch from Bosch 9.1 ABS to Bosch 10.3 ABS. This suggests an upgrade to an IMU and a cornering ABS functionality, as well as lean-sensitive traction control. Outright performance is unchanged, with the 449cc engine making 37kW at 9000rpm and 39Nm at…

DID YOU KNOW? Your arm accounts for about six percent of your body weight. We didn’t either. Until we spoke to an amputee who built one to get back on a bike. Check out page 18. “It’s great to have the hard work of last year recognised. It certainly wasn’t easy” Aussie Supersport champ John Lytras joins motorcycle racing royalty by picking up the RK Chains Samurai Trophy for the 2022 season. He joins the likes of Mick Doohan (1988), Darryl Beattie (1990) and Troy Corser (1993). Full story page 108. £240 The amount a 23-year-old Ian Hutchinson won at a casino in 2003, and which happened to be the exact amount he needed to enter the 2003 Manx GP. The rest, they say, is history. But to find out…

THE YEAR WAS… 1995 The halfway point of the 90s. There were no iPhones, no Netflix or no keyboard warriors on Facebook. If you were bored during that period you watched Friends on the television, you read AMCN while on the throne instead of playing with your phone, or you played with your brand spanking new PlayStation console or Power Rangers. You had to remember to put new batteries in your Discman before leaving the house to catch Forrest Gump, The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction or Arnie in True Lies at the local cinema. Paul Keating was the Prime Minister of Australia and the very slippery Christopher Skase managed to avoid extradition from Spain, just a few weeks before Mr and Mrs Viñales welcomed little Maverick into the world on…

Access, AMCN, PO Box 6, Bittern, Vic, 3918 access@amcn.com.au LETTER OF THE ISSUE The lost overland The SBS documentary The Last Overland recreating the 1955 Oxford & Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition in a Land Rover got me thinking about the similar journey my uncle Johnny and his mate Albert Cannon from Seymour did on their motorbikes in the same year. Their plan was to ride across the continent to London then ship the bikes to the USA, visit my aunty in Texas before returning home to Australia. My uncle was riding his 500cc Norton Dominator, not sure what Albert was riding. Unfortunately, their trip was cut short in central France around Gennes when they were hit by a truck while repairing a puncture – my uncle was tragically killed and…

On a positive and unexpected note, Bob’s fuel economy has barely suffered at all from the dose of power parts. Average consumption went from 6.1L/100km to 6.3L/100km but the time frame those averages were taken included the thrashing I gave Bob heading over the Mountains and back. Back to normal programming I wouldn’t be surprised to see fuel consumption levels return to 6.1L/100km, meaning that not only is Bob performing better but also running far more efficiently. I’ll take some more fuel figures between now and next update and report back.…

1 2023 WORLDSBK, Rd2, LIVE Fox Sports, Kayo & Video Pass 3-5 MARCH Check website and local guides After a spectacular Phillip Island opening, the 2023 World Superbike title makes its way to another universally admired circuit: Mandalika on the Indonesian island of Lombok. 2 2023 World MX, Rd1, LIVE Stan & livestream 12 MARCH Check website and local guides The massive 19-round championship all begins in Argentina, with Aussie Mitch Evans a major contender in the premier MX1 class as part of the Kawasaki Factory Team on a KX450. Details at www.mxgp-tvcomhome 3 2023 AMA SX, Rd8, LIVE Fox Sports, Kayo & Video Pass 5 MARCH Check website and local guides The Daytona round of the series is always a highlight, and it surely will be again in 2023…

3-5 MARCH 2023 BMW Earle’s Fork Gathering, Olympic Highway, Henty, NSW. All Earle’s Fork BMW owners across Australia, current and previous, along with all other BMW riders are invited to attend. Tired bikes on trailers very welcome. Bring any old pamphlets, pictures, trivia and stories to share. Will be based at the Headlie Taylor Header Museum. RSVP by 13 February. For more informatiuon, email hpj333@gmail.com, call 0457 034 488 or search ‘BMW Earle’s Fork Gathering 2023’ on Facebook. 10-13 MARCH 2023 Open Roads Rally, Myrtleford, Vic. Off-road navigation-based rally plus activities, stalls, workshops, test rides and more. Ride in the navigational challenge, barrel race and other activities for participation and bonus points, with the more points the greater chance of winning. Event is open to anyone, all skills and ages,…

THE MI-BIKE Australian Superbike Championship began for 2023 with Josh Waters and the McMartin Racing Ducati V4 R setting the standard, recording maximum championship points and leaving his rivals with plenty of soul searching to do. Despite a crash in practice, Waters had lowered his own qualifying record to 1m31.100s. The obvious goal was to break through the 1m31s barrier, which Waters believes is only a matter of time. “I thought if I had put another tyre on we would have been below the 1m31s mark,” he smiled. “Next time.” The Yamaha Racing Team duo of Mike Jones and Cru Halliday were showing some fight, both recording personal-best times. Several laps into the opening race though, it was apparent who was in control with Waters almost five seconds clear of…

FACEBOOK Post of the issue INSTAGRAM @atacamaki_photography @thepreviousowners > Don’t Forget #amcn_mag Comment of the Issue Bernard Spink is rooting for Remy Gardner to shine in the WorldSBK opener “Hopefully the young fella will do well in his home country” Reaching out Want to see your pride and joy featured in AMCN? The only thing we love more than writing about bikes is looking at your bikes. Tag your social pics with @aumotorcyclenews on Facebook or @amcn_mag on Instagram, or fire them off in an email to amcn@amcn.com.au And don’t forget to tell us why you love it. GET IT OFF YER CHEST! Got something funny, new, old or wise to say or share? Do it! Head to www.facebook.com/aumotorcyclenews AMCN’S WEBSITE IS THE PLACE TO BE! Get all the latest…

AFTER RENZO Pasolini’s death at Monza on the 250GP Aermacchi two-stroke, his XR750-TT sat around the Varese race shop for a few months before ending up in the hands of ex-BSA works rider Tony Smith, then running a racing school in France using Aermacchi single-cylinder four-strokes supplied by the Italian factory. But by now F750 was in the hands of the Japanese two-strokes and, after some abortive outings in Smith’s hands in 1974 at French circuits, the Harley was sold to the school’s chief mechanic, Lawrence Lee, who brought it with him when he returned to Britain at the end of 1974. Lee entered the bike in British club races the following season in the hands of Chris Brendish, and my first memories of the bike are racing against it…

“This is a really tough challenge,” he starts, “especially as in the early years it was mainly me, John McGuinness and Bruce Anstey. I started riding on the Isle of Man in 2003, which was the year we lost DJ (David Jefferies) – but he has to be in my 10. I’m sure there is someone I’ll forget, so sorry if I do – and these aren’t in any order, they’re just my top 10. JOHN MCGUINNESS Nationality GB, Age 50, TT wins 23 John is just John, isn’t he? The fact is he doesn’t train or work on fitness, and just turns up and does the job is incredible. After all, facts are facts: if you are lighter and fitter, you go faster. But that doesn’t seem to apply…

ROAD RACING 2023 MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Rd1 26 Mar, Portimao, PT Rd2 2 Apr, Termas de Rio Hondo, AR Rd3 16 Apr, Austin, US Rd4 30 Apr, Jerez, ES Rd5 14 May, Le Mans, FR Rd6 11 Jun, Mugello, IT Rd7 18 Jun, Sachsenring, DE Rd8 25 Jun, Assen, NL Rd9 9 Jul, Sokol, KZ Rd10 6 Aug, Silverstone, GB Rd11 20 Aug, Spielberg, AT Rd12 3 Sep, Barcelona, ES Rd13 10 Sep, Misano, IT Rd14 24 Sep, Buddh, IN Rd15 1 Oct, Motegi, JN Rd16 15 Oct, Mandalika, ID Rd17 22 Oct, Phillip Island, AU Rd18 29 Oct, Buriram, TH Rd19 12 Nov, Sepang, MY Rd20 19 Nov, Losail, QA Rd21 26 Nov, Valencia, ES 2023 AUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP Rd2 24-25 Mar, Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW Rd3 28-30 Apr,…

“In 2021, we celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Indian Chief with a line-up that pays homage to the glory days of American motorcycling,” said Ola Stenegärd, Director, Industrial Design for Indian Motorcycle. The Swede has been described as a customising visionary, able to create model platforms that can have multiple spin-offs. “With the Sport Chief, we wanted to maintain the same carefree attitude and American muscle but elevate it even further with componentry that not only delivers a style and attitude that exudes performance but raises the bar entirely for performance cruisers.”…

AS SALES OF new motorcycles slow after a two-year boom, importers are starting to offer some impressive deals. One of the biggest is Aprilia slashing the price of its Tuono 660 (AMCN Vol 71 No 08) from $20,430 (ride away) to $16,990 (ride away) with a free quickshifter valued at $610. That keeps $4050 in the buyer’s pocket. It’s also hacked a full $1100 off its SR GT 125cc scooter (AMCN Vol 72 No 06) just eight months after its Australian launch. Meanwhile, until 30 April or while stocks last, Triumph is offering Rocket 3 GT (AMCN Vol 69 No 18) buyers free 25-litre Givi sports panniers and mounting kit included in the ride-away price of $37,550. This represents a $2k saving on normal retail. Until 31 March, Benelli is knocking…

MODEL 2017-23 BMW (K50) R 1250 GS, (K51) R 1250 GS Adventure, (K52) R 1250 RT-P Authority Vehicle IMPORTER BMW Australia Ltd NUMBER OF AFFECTED MOTORCYCLES 3887 ISSUE Under certain circumstances, operating the vehicle with abrupt and major speed differences between the engine and final drive can result in overloading, and subsequent damage to the transmission input shaft. This may cause the rear wheel to lock, resulting in a loss of vehicle control. POTENTIAL HAZARD Increased risk of an accident. MODEL 2022 Can-Am Spyder F3 and F-S NUMBER OF AFFECTED MOTORCYCLES 41 ISSUE Due to a manufacturing defect, the rear-view mirror lenses may detach from the mirror housing. POTENTIAL HAZARD Increased risk of an accident. ACTION REQUIRED Owners of affected motorcycles should schedule an appointment to have the safety recall…

THE 2023 local off-road season is shaping up as a brilliant one, with one of the main combatants, Empire Kawasaki, readying for a big year. As well taking on the Aussie motocross and supercross titles with the KX250, the team will also compete in the Victorian and national off-road championships, the Australian Four-Day Enduro and the Hattah Desert Race. In 2023, Empire Kawasaki continues with the support of Kawasaki Australia – the fifth year running the company’s motocross and supercross offensive. Team manager Tyson Cherry said he’s determined to produce consistent front-runners in both MX and SX, while continuing to make even more inroads into the enduro and desert scenes after first expanding into the off-road classes last year.…

Unsurprisingly, Shane is also responsible for the design, manufacture and wiring of the modified switch blocks and controls of all three bikes. “I wanted to use the standard throttle cables and throttle tube and I eventually found a switchgear housing that worked on both the SWM and Royal Enfield,” he said. “I took the headlight switch out and put in a indicator switch and some other switchgear, and I repurposed the killswitch for high-low, and the killswitch is now repositioned down near the starter housing. “The TRX was a ground-up design, which I designed and 3D printed. Every time I modify a bike, it has to be certified engineered, but I get by with an ADR exemption for the position of the controls.” I did experiment with longer ’bars on the…

Retail price $31,750 (ride away) Distance covered 5862km Fuel Economy 6.3L/100km (measured) Servicing: First: 1600km Minor: 10,000km Major: 18,000km. Warranty: Two years, unlimited km If you haven’t been reading our long-term Harley-Davidson Fat Bob series, then you won’t be aware ‘Bob’ was due to head to Harley HQ to have a Screamin’ Eagle Stage 2 kit put through him. That kit, which Bob now wears proudly, consists of a full exhaust system, a cam kit and a H-D Pro Tuner. No longer the strong and silent type, Bob has a new lease on life: he’s shouting from the rooftops with the freer-breathing Screamin’ Eagle exhaust, while the cam kit has given him an ominously lumpy idle – he’s now turning heads for his fat sound and not just his unique…

BMW R 1250 RT ENGINE 1254cc Boxer twin POWER 100kW (136hp) TORQUE 143Nm FUEL CAPACITY 25L WEIGHT 279kg (wet, claimed) SEAT HEIGHT 805mm – 825mm PANNIER VOLUME 70L FROM $40,750 (ride away) HONDA GOLDWING ENGINE 1833cc flat-six POWER 93kW (125hp) TORQUE 170Nm FUEL CAPACITY 21L WEIGHT 364kg (wet, claimed) SEAT HEIGHT 745mm PANNIER VOLUME 60L $41,999 (plus on-road costs) YAMAHA FJR1300AE ENGINE 1298cc inline four POWER 107.5kW (144hp) TORQUE 138Nm FUEL CAPACITY 25L WEIGHT 292kg (wet, claimed) SEAT HEIGHT 805/825mm PANNIER VOLUME 60L $33,999 (ride away)…

Phillip Island Ride Days / 0490 281 840 Phillip Island, Vic Sydney Motorsport Park Ride Days/0490 281 840 SMSP, NSW Murray Valley Training Co 0459 415 787 Barnawartha North, Vic Champion’s Ride Days (07) 3287 4144 Broadford, Vic Collie Motorplex, WA Morgan Park, Qld The Bend, SA Trakdayz 0401 484 898 Barbagallo, WA California Superbike School / 1300 793 423 Phillip Island, Vic SMSP, NSW Broadford, Vic Morgan Park Qld Mount Gambier MCC Coaching / Ride Days 0448 951 163 Mac Park, SA Ride-Tek MTA 1300 788 382 Sandown, Vic Ridedays WA (08) 9409 1002 Barbagallo, WA Collie, WA Top Rider 1300 131 362 Various venues, Qld Phoenix MCC Junior Coaching 0403 386 788 Tailem Bend, SA Mallala, SA…

THE 2023 WORLDSBK season got underway at its traditional starting point of Phillip Island, after a two-day test at the same venue. It all ended a short European winter of anticipation since WorldSBK was last here just four short months ago. The quick reload and return to ‘normally’ didn’t disappoint, even if there was no variety whatever in the winners of all the main event WorldSBK and WorldSSP races. Bautista, the reigning champ, was almost back to 2019 levels of domination, but nothing much else went to plan for the other big stars. The variety came in other areas and it came thick and fast and sometimes coated in unexpected gravel. In among the vast swings in weather conditions, red flags because of geese and the whole motophile world watching…

WITH A BUMPER field of 29 entries – four of those competing for the newly established Super Twins Cup – the Supersport field came alive, especially with the added interest of a cameo from Europe-bound CEV Moto2 star Harry Voight (Link International – Yamaha). Aft er taking pole, Voight carved up the opening bout, breaking Bryan Staring’s 14-year-old race lap record by three-tenths of a second. With victory seemingly assured, Olly Simpson (Simpson Crash – Yamaha) and Jack Passfield (Stay Upright Rider Training - Yamaha) led the charge behind him, followed by Supersport debutant Cameron Dunker (Motostars – Yamaha). Dunker diced with his more experienced rivals, eventually falling into the clutches of Scott Nicholson (Traction Control Motorsport – Yamaha). Meanwhile, Tom Bramich (Apex – Yamaha) had begun his move, picking…